🌴 Why You'll Love It

  • Authentic portrayal of St. Kitts island life

  • Relatable teen emotions, family dynamics, and self-discovery

  • A fresh voice that blends humor, growth, and culture

  • Ideal for middle and high school readers

  • Perfect companion to the upcoming prequel, Sweet Like Sugar Cane

“🗣️ “An honest, heartfelt story grounded in Caribbean culture and teen truth.” ”
— Kirkus Reviews

🌊 Neither Out Far Nor In Deep

A Caribbean coming-of-age novel by Leah T. Williams

📘 The Journey Begins

What if the only way to move forward… was to go back?

Seventeen-year-old Kadeem Johnson has just landed his third suspension — and his mother’s had enough. But instead of another lecture, she hands him a plane ticket to St. Kitts. One-way.

What begins as punishment quickly becomes a challenge: no Wi-Fi, no fast food, no escape. Just an unfamiliar island, a strict grandfather, and too much silence.

But beneath the heat and hard lessons, Kadeem begins to find unexpected peace: in the rhythm of the waves, in his grandfather’s quiet strength, and in a girl who isn’t afraid to call him out. Slowly, he starts piecing together who he really is — not the boy people fear, but the young man he’s becoming.

Rich with Caribbean culture, sharp dialogue, and heart, Neither Out Far Nor In Deep is a powerful story about finding yourself where you least expect it — and realizing that home might be somewhere you’ve never looked before.

✍️ Author’s Note

“This story is for every young person who’s been told they’re too much or not enough — and for the parents and teachers trying to guide them anyway. I wrote Kadeem’s story as both a mirror and a reminder: you are allowed to grow into yourself, and the journey is rarely simple.”
— Leah T. Williams

📚 For Educators & Book Clubs

  • Discussion guide (Grades 7–10) — Coming soon

  • Creative writing & culture-based classroom activities

  • Book club questions

  • Author visits available upon request

📩 Contact: kittiwriter@gmail.com

🎧 Get the Book

  • 📘 Paperback: Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold
    📱 Kindle Edition: Read on Amazon Kindle

🎧 Audiobook Available On:

🎧 Before the Island Changed Him

Get a first listen to Neither Out Far Nor In Deep, a coming-of-age story rooted in family, consequence, and culture. This chapter one excerpt introduces Kadeem just before everything shifts — before the island, before the stories, before the change.

Press play and step into the beginning.