Who would imagine an individual capable of making character inferences by interpreting penmanship?
A specialist in graphology is able to deduce behavior from each upward stroke and downward slant, the dots, darts, hyphens, question marks, and exclamations in handwriting.
At least, so says Beverley East, an expert in handwriting analysis, qualified forensic document examiner, and author.
The graphologist, who was born in Kingston, will relaunch her fourth book at the Jamaica Consulate on Oct. 17.
East plans an evening of meet-and-greets and book signings, offering insights into her profession during the relaunch of the novel Whose Signature is it anyway: Complexities of Caribbean Fraud.
Borrowed from the title of a popular television game show — “Whose Line Is it?” first released May 5, 2025, the 400-page textbook provides cover to cover interpretations of vowels, consonants and punctuations collaborated to form paragraphs of enlightening reading.
The author’s official title defines a professional who delves into the study of “handwriting analysis to uncover clues about an individual’s behavior and psychological state.”
Her storied upbringing in London, England, and Kingston, Jamaica, may have prepared her to detect less-than-obvious behavior patterns. She is primarily tasked with authenticating documents.
According to her biography, as a youth, she shuttled back and forth between locations.
However, after returning to her homeland with several honors in education and certification from the International Graphoanalysis Society in 1989, where she earned a master’s degree, East opted for permanence on the Caribbean island.
Eventually, the Caribbean national realized her potential by using her talent to solve mysterious occurrences there.
East established a new career by branding a company she named Strokes & Slants.
Initiated in 1989 in Washington, DC, her self-made enterprise expanded to London, England, in 1991.
Prior to that, she had worked in the private and public sectors of personnel management in Jamaica. Introduced to graphology in 1987 by a company that relied on the process in determining qualification for recruitment of clients, East embarked on intensive study in the United States.
Qualifications from the acclaimed, world-renowned Institute of Graphology, based in Chicago, earned her accreditation and the title she now commands.
East proved her mettle with a millennium book release titled “Finding Mr. Write: A New Slant on Selecting the Perfect Mate.”
It was the first best-selling publication she penned, and its publication helped quell the fears of many who feared doom and destruction from theories associated with Y2K.
The catchy spin on words enticed optimists to open the book, turn the pages, and read her words.
Before that, a curious fan base on the island had subscribed to her weekly “Writefully Yours” newspaper columns, which were published in the Sunday Gleaner for six years.
Similarly, “Reading Your Writes” provided insights for readers of the Sunday Herald and the X-News weekly tabloid.
Prominently featured in the three leading media outlets, East was evidently to emerge as the island’s most acclaimed literary consultant on handwriting technique.
Asked to opine on solving criminal court cases, domestic conflicts, and other controversies, East also filled a void otherwise deficient.
She became a prophet, visionary, and marriage counselor.
As time progressed, thoughts of a youthful tragedy seemed to consume her creative instinct.
Putting pen to paper, she added reflections of a national disaster to her cache.
The grim page-turner revealed her second significant effort — “Reaper of Souls.”
It seemed a salve to reconcile a train wreck that took the lives of 14 family members. She was only four years old when the declared worst disaster occurred.
As it turns out, the historical, fictional novel is based on her real-life experience and delivers a virtual thesaurus on nostalgia, grief, and the long-term impact of tragedy.
Not just for her but for citizens who lived through a period of mass burials and unprecedented uncertainty.
Reflecting on the 1957 Kendal train tragedy, “Reaper” won praise from baby boomers and generations who had only heard of the incident.
On the 60th anniversary of the catastrophe, the government of the island dedicated a monument in memory of the disastrous tragedy which took the lives of 187 Jamaicans.
Sadly, reports were that a train traveling from a church picnic in Montego Bay to Kingston derailed in Kendal, near Manchester.
At the site, a memorial now reflects the names of relatives and other victims still aggrieved by their lost souls.
Together with her celebrated reggae deejay relative Carol, aka Sister Carol, the Easts commisserated with survivors who escaped the devastation.
East has amassed credibility with titles including “The Write Stuff” and “Bat Mitzvah Girl: Memories of a Jamaican Child.”
The latter, in 2013, focuses on an immigrant child whose reunion with parents in England transforms her when a Jewish philanthropist enters her realm.
In addition to providing input to newsworthy events, East’s credibility placed her in a position that resulted in the prison release of members of the renowned Jamaica Stone Crusher Gang.
Apparently, due to testimony proving that police had fabricated witness statements, the crime group was freed from incarceration.
Reportedly, East provided the expertise.
Added to her credit, during the tumultuous impeachment tenure, President Bill Clinton faced in defense of his besmirched reputation against alleged lover Monica Lewinsky, reporters from the Washington Post summoned East to review the intern’s handwriting.
Last May, the immigrant provided a forensic textbook to authenticate fraud investigations in the Caribbean.
Offering 536 pages of solid information from marking an X on documents to verifying the uniqueness of signatures written, “Whose Signature is it…” invites conversation and consideration.
The event will be held at the Consulate of Jamaica, 300 East 42nd St. in Manhattan.
Catch You On The Inside!
