St Ann JP turns personal trials into 16 books
Published:Friday | March 6, 2026 | 12:06 AMPaul H. Williams/ Gleaner Writer
St Ann Justice of the Peace Everton G. Walker did not pass the Common Entrance Examination or the Grade Nine Achievement Test. He left St Mary’s College in St Catherine with only two subjects–geography and principles of business–and took eight years to secure three more.
Today, he holds a Master of Educational Technology (distinction) from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor’s degree in Literacy Studies from The University of the West Indies, Mona, and a teaching diploma in primary literacy from The Moneague College in St Ann.
Walker has been an educator for more than 25 years across the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and is now in his 18th year as a lecturer at The Moneague College. He has also served as an educational-technology integration trainer for the Ministry of Education and as an online course designer for the Commonwealth of Learning.
The Gleaner encountered Walker recently standing over a table of books–14 individual titles, with additional copies alongside. Each bore his name. He had written them all, and was promoting and selling them. Two more titles elsewhere brought the collection to 16.
He began writing in 2019. A year later, the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped daily life. Asked what had inspired the series of inspirational books, Walker was candid. “The inspiration came through depression where I had to seek rescue through words. There, I discovered the true power of positive and timely words. By extension, I figured that a single word can make a difference, so I assumed books of inspiration can make significant positive changes,” he said.
His work spans themes of self-discovery, hope, happiness, faith, resilience, perseverance, love, wisdom and rural memory. Two titles – The Boy From Omeally and Country Boy – The Omeally Memoirs – are autobiographical. The former, he says, is closest to his heart. Both carry messages of hope, determination, diligence, patience, faith, learning to be satisfied, trusting God and the process, and humility.
Other publications include Survival 101; Waiting on the Move; Things You Need to Know Before Choosing Friends; The Beauty of Hope; Believing in the Unknown; The Growth Agenda; 50 Slaves of Love, Wiser – Life Lessons Magnified; Struggle – The 119 Emergency; Humility: A Ticket to Wisdom; Success Storeys – The Reachable Heights; A Mother’s Open Secret and his most recent, A Note to Self – Facing the Mirror, published in 2024.
Walker says the reception has been encouraging. “The feedback is overwhelmingly positive and acts as the main inspiration behind my desire to continue the writing journey,” he said. He self-publishes under the imprint “Eyeland Xpreshonz”, with Amazon and his social media platforms serving as the main outlets.