Welcome to my chronicles of the Caribbean and the announcement of my new book: The Jamaican Bobsled Captain: Dudley “Tal” Stokes and the untold story of suffering, struggle and redemption behind Cool Runnings.
Here, you’ll find my articles about the region’s rich and turbulent past, including fierce female pirates, sunken treasure, African and Indian free divers, walloping hurricanes, the first Columbus landing, whaling, Loyalist plantations, daring slave escapes, and heroic rescues at sea.
And through my blog you’ll get an insider’s look at today’s unfolding stories in Turks & Caicos and Haiti–from the perils of tourism overdevelopment to the disparity between billionaire wealth and absolute poverty. From the desperate calculations migrants make to cross the ocean in a crowded sloop to the changing dynamics of gang power. This is my beat where I challenge assumptions, celebrate courage, and spotlight trends. In the end, it’s all about “Who gets a piece of paradise inside the reef.”
The Jamaican Bobsled Captain / Dudley “Tal” Stokes and the untold story of struggle, suffering and redemption behind Cool Runnings captures the West Indian spirit of never giving up. The near-death crash at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics should have been the end of the captain’s quixotic quest with his Jamaican teammates to enter a winter sport in which they had zero experience. But he kept at it, beating some of the best world and entering into the pantheon of bobsledding’s Olympic elite. Watch this site for book launch in early Ocboter 2024. Meanwhile, please see the “New Book” tab for more.
Want to add zest to an evening or an event with riveting tales about the islands? Contact me to book a storytelling hour.
Instagram: benstubenbergstories
