Jennifer M Garnatz

Author

Jennifer M. Garnatz was born in Lucea on the Caribbean Island of Jamaica in 1953. From the age of 4, she was raised in Kingston by her extremely strict single father. Her mother migrated to the UK. Due to his busy work schedule, he immediately placed her in a boarding school, later at diverse private homes. She was also boarded with the nuns at the Convent of Mercy Alpha Academy High School. Seeking independence after graduating, she pursued a secretarial course then worked as a legal assistant.

Creative writing and composing songs have been her passion since early childhood, providing her soul with solace. Excepting her daily communication with God, growing up she had no one to confide in. The first 20 years of her life had its share of traumas, among them, six weeks before her 20th birthday seeing her father’s body lying in a pool of blood with a bullet hole in his head minutes after he was murdered by criminals. Suddenly, she was on her own. Independence came in an undesired manner.

Her sources of inspiration come from her vivid imagination, personal experience, her observations, a word spoken or read, as well as happenings in the world.

In 1980, she spontaneously migrated to Germany to study the language. However, she remained there working as a bilingual management assistant in Hamburg. She also began presenting her poetry in English and German at various literary events in various cities. In 1999, she represented Hamburg at the National Poetry Slam Team Competition in Weimar.

In New York she has appeared onstage at Bar 13, Sugar Shack, St. Nick’s Pub, and the Nuyorican Poets Café, where she also featured in 2001. In Chicago she co-featured at the Green Mill Lounge; in Toronto at A Different Booklist.
In Kingston she appeared at Red Bones, Weekendz, at Buddy & Cissy Pouyat’s Saturday morning events, at the Bogues, and recently co-featured at the Sky Gallery.

Her self-published poetry book "Romantically Erotic, Deadly Spiritual Society" is available via online bookstores. It is divided into 4 sections dealing with various aspects of human emotions and nature. In her own words: “I am a spiritual, fun-loving, yet very deep individual. I enjoy communicating with people of all races/ages/spiritual beliefs. I do believe we all have a purpose in life; mine is to help those less fortunate than myself.”

She is divorced and resides in Hamburg