🌴 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

🍬 Coming Soon: Sweet Like Sugar Cane

Before Kadeem, there was Gwendolyn.

Discover the love story that changed everything. Sweet Like Sugar Cane is the emotional prequel to Neither Out Far Nor In Deep, revealing the life of Gwendolyn — Kadeem’s mother — in her youth. A story of first love, island pride, and the choices that shape generations.

📅 Available June 1

👉 Learn more about Sweet Like Sugar Cane

📚 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.