Meet Jerry Marcellin of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry Marcellin.

Hi Jerry, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in Haiti, I always had a passion for writing. The colorful people, turquoise water, ubiquitously delicious smells and ever-present music in the Caribbean island turns one into the most lyrical storyteller. It most likely ignited my love for traveling. At the tender age of twenty-one, I left everything I knew and loved to start over in the United States. After a brief stint in the US military, I spent years roaming around earth, looking for the next picturesque sunset or the most outlandish anecdote. Only to realize it was home all along! That’s when I decided that the world needed to hear our story and how we overthrew Napoleon’s rule against all odds to become the first black republic. But, of course the Islander in me had to add a little flair, some spices and seasoning. Thus was born “This is AYITI”, the novel.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasn’t an easy process. Far from it. Sometimes I would get a general idea of where I wanted the story to go but for the life of me I couldn’t find the right words. And yes, it had to be perfect! Other times, inspiration would strike while I am on a plane or even at work and I would stop whatever I was doing to pull out my laptop and capture the moment. I hope my boss is not reading this! Imposter syndrome would hit at times and I would spend weeks second-guessing myself. “Am I the right person for this project?” “Is there anybody else better suited for this?” Then I would remember that I am one of one. There is nobody else like me, and that’s how I was able to share my unique perspective with the world!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Besides my creative life and my full-time traveling hobby, I work in Information Technology for the federal government. I consider it as some sort of a side quest as it gets in the way of me living my best life quite frequently. I hold a security clearance and that’s all I can say about work.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
For me, I feel like my most important trait is that boundless curiosity, that relentless drive to learn everything. I read a lot. I was reading “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery at age 5. From that moment, I spent years devouring anything I could get my hands on, only to discover ChatGPT got me beat. I think that in this social media age, books and magazines are becoming a thing of the past. Nonetheless, I am glad I was able to add to the world’s collective library. If I can leave you with anything today, it’s that there’s a big world out there. Beyond your neighborhood, beyond your city, beyond your country… Travel the world. Read about it. Learn everything you can about other people and their culture. It will make you a better human being.

Pricing:

• 12.99 at Amazon
• 12.99 at Barnes and Noble
• 12.99 at Walmart Books

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerrybergy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerry.makandal