Jasmaine Payne, a Guyanese author, editor, and communications specialist, is stepping into uncharted territory with her debut novel LEECH—a psychological thriller that not only breaks genre barriers but also redefines what it means to be a Caribbean writer on the global stage.
Set for release on September 20, 2025, LEECH is already generating buzz as the first psychological thriller penned by a female author based in Guyana. It is a story that takes readers deep into the shadows of obsession, recognition, and the human psyche.
For Payne, the book is more than fiction. It is a piece of her own journey as a writer. Arianne, the central character, carries shades of Payne’s personal frustrations and experiences, as well as the immigrant story of her parents. In weaving these realities into the novel, Payne creates a bridge between her Caribbean roots and a genre often dominated by Western voices.
At the heart of her novel is John Thomas Reginald Leech, a man who, more than a century after his death, awakens in modern-day New York to pursue immortality through a struggling writer, Arianne Smith. But as Arianne transcribes his haunting tale, she quickly learns that telling his story comes at a cost—one that blurs the line between sanity and madness.
“I was inspired by the anti-hero and the thin line of morality one must tread when faced with difficult decisions,” Payne explains. Her fascination with true crime, thrillers, and horror—nurtured by her admiration for Stephen King—found a natural outlet in LEECH. The novel took 11 years to write, evolving across New York, Guyana, and Paris, each place leaving its imprint on the story.
Payne is not new to storytelling. She was first published at just 11 years old after winning the UNICEF Environmental Awareness Poetry Competition in 1999. Since then, she has built an impressive career, with 15 years in journalism and more than 8 years as a professional editor. Her works have appeared in anthologies and publications such as Guyana at 50, 50 Women 50 Years, GEM Magazine, and Lady Magazine. In 2025, she was named an Influential Women Leaders Award recipient and became a finalist in the Page Turner Awards.
While the region’s literary tradition has thrived on poetry, postcolonial narratives, and folklore, Payne is venturing into the darker corners of fiction—territory that is less explored in the Caribbean canon. By doing so, she is carving out space for new voices and new genres, proving that Caribbean literature can be as unsettling, complex, and chilling as any global bestseller.
Her commitment extends beyond her own writing as Payne leads workshops for media professionals and aspiring creatives and mentors young writers across the Caribbean. For her, storytelling is not just a career but a way of giving back—ensuring that the next generation of writers has both a platform and the confidence to tell their stories.
As LEECH prepares for its official release, anticipation is growing not just for the book itself but for what it represents: a milestone in Guyanese and Caribbean literature. Payne’s work challenges readers to ask uncomfortable questions, to sit with unease, and to confront the darker sides of human ambition. It is, as she describes it, a “slow burn” designed to linger long after the last page.
