Not your average Joe

Latoya Grindley, Staff Reporter

Writer, Jonathan Burke knows how to captivate children's imagination through his literary work. Aware of the importance of poems and storytelling in the development of a child, Burke is inspired by his biological children and everyday experiences, which he uses to compose his work.

Born in Nigeria, Burke came to Jamaica to attend the University of the West Indies in pursuing a bachelor's degree in English literature. After finishing his degree, he spent some time in the Dominican Republic before returning to Jamaica, which he now calls home.

A single parent of two boys, aged 15 and 18, Burke has always had an appreciation for stories and poems. This affinity began in his very early years when his mother would tell him stories, many of which she made up.

With a distinct appreciation for the ones that were made up, Burke carried on the tradition to his children, and began publishing the stories he composed.

Burke recently launched his first book, Bolo the Monkey. An excited Burke spoke to Flair about his first official project.

Good reception

"The reception has been good so far. It was a year ago that Tanya Batson saw my work and she agreed to publish one of them," he revealed. Grateful to her, Burke said this story was as a result of a teacher inviting him to do story-telling at her class.

"I shared my poems with the students and, following that, the teacher sent me a CD of the children reciting my work. I was so moved."

The feedback he got from the students' parents was also a very clear motivational factor for Burke. So when the request came from the students for him to write a poem which featured a monkey, the writer gladly obliged. And so Bolo the Monkey was born.

With his educational background, utilising words for entertainment is almost second nature for Burke.

In fact, he shared with Flair that while he was attending university, he landed a contract with Caribbean Cards, where he coined greetings and messages.

Hectic lifestyle

With a full-time career focusing on national development, Burke is currently working on a project with GREENRG, a renewable energy solutions provider.

"Under a memorandum of understanding we are responsible for the installation of 5,000 solar street lights, and I am really happy that a part of the project will entail setting up a factory to make the street lights."

This, he said, will no doubt provide employment opportunities, giving Jamaican youths hope.

"What is really depressing is to see amazing young people giving up because they can't get a job. This factory will be able to employ persons in an exciting field."

Now a published author, a full-time employee and with two children, Burke is a busy man. But finding the time, especially for his sons, is of utmost importance to him.

"I have to do it. I often ask myself how some women do it and manage. I have profound respect for them, because it is not easy. I can't complain about being a single parent because women successfully do it and many successful persons are a product of a single-parent family."

With his continued love for writing, Burke is steadfast on continuing to add to his current collection.

"People say I am an author now, but who I really am is an average Joe who loves to write."

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com