About
Samuel K. Leonard is the pen name of used by author Joel Armand.
Joel Armand was born in Brooklyn, New York , the son of Haitian immigrants. Joel was raised mostly in New Jersey but spent some time in Haiti. Joel moved to the city of New Windsor, New York in 2010. Since an early age Joel has had a passion for fiction writing, often engrossing himself in writing short stories. The Broken Harmonica is Joel’s first and only novel. It was first conceived in 1986 where an initial but incomplete draft was created. The actual manuscript was not completed until 27 years later as the project had been abandoned and then reconceived in 2012. The work was sparked by Joel’s strong interest in African American history and history in general. The novel was inspired by such works as Roots and Invisible Man.
The Broken Harmonica
The Broken Harmonica is the story of Cornelius Wright. The story begins with Cornelius in the later years of his life where he is elderly and living alone in his New York City apartment. There he is met by a researcher who asks him to reflect on his long and tumultuous life. Cornelius recounts his story starting from his birth into slavery on a Georgia plantation. Cornelius reflects on both his absent mother who passed away and his spirited father who was often brutalized by the oppressive system of slavery.
20 reviews
Stories that Shaped a Nation
From Struggle to Strength
The Broken Harmonica Kindle Version
The Broken Harmonica is the story of Cornelius Wright. The story begins with Cornelius in the later years of his life where he is elderly and living alone in his New York City apartment. There he is met by a researcher who asks him to reflect on his long and tumultuous life. Cornelius recounts his story starting from his birth into slavery on a Georgia plantation. Cornelius reflects on both his absent mother who passed away and his spirited father who was often brutalized by the oppressive system of slavery.
20 reviews
What People Say
“As a supervisor, Joel retired from service in June of 2022. Since May of 2023, Joel has been working with asylum seekers in the city of Newburgh.”