‘Cayman Kind’ Book Launch

By Stuart Wilson

The book launch for ‘Cayman Kind’, the most recent work by Author Michael C. Ferrier, was held on 10th June at a private residence along the Seven Mile Beach.

A room filled with the author’s closest friends, supporters and interested onlookers came to celebrate the occasion.

“Caymankind” is a collection of short stories penned by Mr. Ferrier, which illustrate the essence of life in the Cayman Islands and what it is about the Islands and their charm that make them unique and distinct among other destinations.

“People thought we were mad when we said we were moving to the Cayman Islands,” noted the author, who is originally from Amsterdam.

In an exclusive sit down with the Caymanian Times, he joked that it was not long after their initial bemusement that those same people began to ask questions such as, ‘Do you have a spare room?’

He said that as a ‘thank you’ to the ‘amazing Islands’ that he now calls home, he wanted to write a book that put the thoughts, actions and impression of his experience together for others to enjoy.

“It is from the perspective of, why we came and how it feels to be here for residents and perspective residents; those wishing to come,” he said.

The forward of the book was written by prominent Caymanians such as former Finance Minister, Mr. Marco Archer, Mr. Stephen Price, and Nicolas Joseph - Partner at the Law Firm, HSM Chambers.

The Caymanian endorsement legitimised the work’s authenticity to a great extent and cast the writer as being sincere and sensitive in the tenor of his work and its reflection on the Cayman Islands and its people; a nice touch!

During the evening, those in attendance had and opportunity to listen to an excerpt from chapter 6 of the book, which was read by the author.

“What is the Caymanian angel dust; the secret of Caymanian charm….. So seductive… First, it’s the people”, noted Mr. Ferrier, who read about some of his more remarkable experiences in Cayman whilst just going about everyday life.

It was the policeman who drove he and his wife to their destination, the Cayman Airways employee who bumped them up to business class and the young man and crew of bystanders that helped him to turn his car around after driving on the wrong side of the road.

The room erupted into laughter at some of the wonderful stories being told and the anecdotal nature of the writings read in first person made for an all the more entertaining oratory rendition.

Mr. Ferrier was living in Monte Carlo before moving the Grand Cayman and has lived in over 15 countries.

He counts Cayman, Monte Carlo and Mexico City as his favourite places in the world.

“What the book is saying is here is a very successful country in terms of finance, governance, salary, etc. And yet it does not celebrate industrialism but instead ‘Kindness’, he remarked.

Michael Ferrier spend 40 years with an advertising agency and on the suggestion of his wife wrote a book for the company, which was published and given to staff. It was such a hit with his colleagues that he began to write formal books for publication to a broader audience/public.

In addition to his his first book, which was written about Mexico, he has also written a biography of his father’s life, which celebrated the 35th anniversary of his passing.

‘Cayman Kind’ by Michael C. Ferrier is available at The Next Chapter book store in Camana Bay and was published by CLM Publishing.