Kata, The Iron Thorn

Caribbean-born disc jockey Terry Lee Barrett works in Philadelphia as DJ Terry Love (TL). On a trip home to Jamaica, TL learns the legend of Kata and the Iron Thorn, a mighty warrior and his supernatural sword, a man who fought against ghosts and pirates in 1655. TL also discovers that he's the youngest descendent of Kata—a family secret his Father never wanted him to learn. But when TL meets his Uncle Wilvo, he's persuaded that he must find Kata's sword and other magical items for fighting against the violence, greed, ignorance, and prejudice still thriving in the present day.

TL's quest sends him on a suspenseful and thrilling adventure, where he soon finds love and learns life lessons. But can he live up to his ancestor's greatness and bring virtue to the world again? TL could become a legend in his own right…if he survives.

A word from the author, Terry Lee Barrett:

I have written this semi-autobiographical story in honor of my late Father and world-renowned anthropologist, Doctor Leonard E. Barrett, Sr. (1920-2003). Dr. Barrett was the author of the classic books "The Rastafarians," "The Sun and the Drum," and "Soul-Force." The Rastafarians has been honored as the #1 Best Seller on Rastafarianism.

However, my Father's "The Sun and the Drum," which covers witchcraft and psychic Phenomena in Jamaica, inspired the Kata story.

I have wanted to write this story since I was six years old when my Father related fascinating Jamaican history and, yes, ghost stories that scared me to no end.

Since Covid 19 put the Hollywood production of the Kata Live-Action movie on hold in 2019. I decided to put the Kata screenplay into novel form. The publisher's love the Kata manuscript and describe it as "a fast-paced fantasy similar to The Princess Bride, by William Goldman, and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne."

Terry Lee Barrett was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the Reverend Dr. Leonard E. Barrett and Theodora Jackson-Barrett.

Mr. Barrett is an award-winning DJ, journalist, and radio personality. Barrett's on-air entertainment debut began as the youngest host on the all-talk-radio formatted WHAT-AM program in Philadelphia. There, he produced and hosted the "Express Yourself to Terry Lee Barrett" talk show.

In 1979, he produced "The Infinite Hourglass," an African-American History commercial series nominated for the CEBA Award. His work drew WDAS AM/FM Radio's attention, where he worked from 1980 to 1987 as a news reporter and producer of the legendary "Georgie Woods Talk Show."

Barrett started a "Video-to-Go" company, which created the "Video Hawk" cable show and highlighted an array of artists from Janet Jackson to the Third World reggae band.

Music was always Barrett's real love. He continued his rise on the entertainment and music scene by hosting the top-rated Caribbean/World Music Show, "Caribbean Rhythms" on WRTI FM, from 1987 to 1995. He produced, hosted, and emceed numerous live shows.

During this time, two Philadelphia building developers invited Barrett to an abandoned pier on the Philadelphia waterfront. They said they were going to build a club in honor of his show, and the legendary "Katmandu" Restaurant, Nightclub, and Marina was born. Barrett became the House DJ at this world-renowned world music hot spot for the next 12 years. A second Katmandu opened on the New Jersey waterfront, where Barrett also deejayed.

Barrett has worked at four radio stations in Philadelphia: WHAT AM, WDAS FM, WRTI FM, WKDU FM, and WMMR FM.

Now a screenwriter, Barrett is marketing his screenplays worldwide and has written his Caribbean epic screenplay entitled "Kata The Iron Thorn" in honor of his late father, the world-renowned anthropologist and author, the Reverend Dr. Leonard E. Barrett, Ph.D.