A Barbuda Adventure

Barbuda is Antigua’s sister island and Barbuda Express, a ferry connecting both islands, was one of this year’s Wadadli Pen patrons providing two tickets each to the three main finalists. So when a friend of one of the finalists shared her experience of their April 23rd trip, with some urging on my part, on my facebook, it was a no brainer that I’d bring it to you here at Wadadli Pen. Here’s Latisha’s Barbuda Express and Barbuda experience, with only some mild editing, in her own words:

“I accompanied a family friend on a trip he won to Barbuda. Being energetic and adventurous, I couldn’t wait to leave again to explore the sister isle. This was my second time going to (the) island in years; (I) was only in primary school the first time I went to Barbuda, so this trip would have been my second. Myself and my friend boarded the ferry at exactly nine o’clock, the ferry was to leave the point wharf (at) exactly nine thirty. Must I say the Barbuda express has a very well mannered captain and staff.  A big ‘thumbs up’ goes out to the safety person – One Love, that’s the name he goes by – he made the boat ride an enjoyable one by putting the safety tips into a poem. The ride over was a little rough but I must say the view of the beautiful water was amazing; different parts of the sea had different colors. We arrived in Barbuda in an hour’s time; we were greeted by the new Minister of tourism Calvin [I believe she means Head of Tourism on the Barbuda Council Calvin Gore] and the bus driver Jala. Although Barbuda is flat, it has beautiful scenery – the bird sanctuary, the caves, and must I say Barbuda has one of the most beautiful pink white sandy beaches. I even learned about plants that are grown on both islands that can cure a cut and even plants that grow only on rocks for tea. We were even shown the beach where Princes Diana walked on. At the end of the tour we were transported by boat to a private beach were we sat and had lunch. Lunch was to die for; I must say (hats) off to the chef. Then we relaxed on the beach for two hours I even met a family from the Bahamas who were very kind. My experience in Barbuda was excellent, I can’t wait to go back; but I think the government should build a bridge from here to Barbuda, that’s something to think about.”

By the way, the friend she went with was Zuri Holder, author of The Big Event, and winner of third placed over all and best writer in the 12 and younger age category in 2013.

FEEDBACK RE WADADLI PEN 2013

So, I thought I’d share some of the feedback to the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize Challenge 2013 season. In part because I hope it’ll continue to spark interest among other young writers still hiding their light under a bushel, potential patrons, media and the general public (and I hope that interest will translate into more support for the programme). In part, because I just want to take a moment to celebrate another successful year of pulling this off against the odds. Thanks to all patrons, partners, and well wishers; thanks especially to our young writers, FOR DARING (it’s not easy putting your work out there as all of us who’ve ever written a word and submitted it somewhere or even asked someone for feedback know all too well). So go read the stories, okay?

Okay, comments, here goes…

Comments VIA EMAIL (scrubbed of identification markers, I hope):

From the mom of one of our younger finalists:

“(My daughter) would like to thank the sponsors who donated her gifts and rest assured she will be reading them.  She has almost finished reading Trapped (in) Dunston’s Cave. She is all fired up and is already working on two pieces for next year.”

 

From one of the teachers:

“I really wanted to say thank you for affording my students and me the opportunity to share our stories and drawings. We will definitely by looking out for the next WADADLI PEN COMPETITION …Now that I’m exposed to what is expected (the stories that won were awesome!!!) I will definitely have to put in some extra work!! Awesome job!! You are a role model to aspiring writers. Shine on!!”

From one of the finalists:

“Just want to let you know that I think that the Wadadli Pen Prize is a great initiative and hope to see it continue!”

 

Left to right, overall winner Asha Challenger, third placed Zuri Holder, and second placed Daryl George.

 

ON FACEBOOK:

One teacher said:

“Congrats to Joanne C. Hillhouse and Barbara Arrindell (of the Best of Books) for keeping reading alive, and more importantly, for encouraging our young people to tell our own stories.”

 

Comment re St. John’s Catholic Primary’s win of US$500 worth of books from Hands across the Sea as the primary school with the most submissions:

“I am so proud to be a part of this school family. Blessings!!!”

“Congrats to my Primary School, I am so proud.”

 

To the overall winners:

“Education is power, keep up the good work; you guys are our future. I like what I see.”

Re winning story Asha Graham’s Revelations Tonight:

“I really enjoyed this… the scenery was amazing!”

Excerpts from reader comments AT CARIB ARENA:

“ Really like ‘Ceramic Blues’….we really need to come to terms with things and hypocrites in our midst. The story must be told!”

 

“Great to see this competition for our island’s young people. Congratulations to all winners! Keep up the great work, Joanne Hillhouse and others!”

Me, with the youngest of the 2013 Wadadli Pen finalists – art and lit. (Photo courtesy Antigua Chronicle)

 

“The Wadadli Pen Challenge is the ONLY serious story competition for the young people of A&B. It deserves far more support, from both the private and government sectors.”

 

“CONGRATULATIONS to all……keep working on the next chapter because ‘until the Lion tells (writes) his story it will always be told (written) by the hunter’. We’ve already heard a million hunter stories. It is a crying shame that this project, ‘The Wadadli Pen Challenge’ does not get the public support it deserves.”

Comments right here ON WADADLI PEN:

“Giant congratulations to ALL………….keep on taking it to the next chapter.”

“Keep Writing and a big Congrats to all the writers and winners this year.”

“Congratulations on a very timely story Mr. George, one need not be a rocket scientist “to get it”. I hope it gets read by more than just the “usual suspects”…………………….”

FINAL THOUGHT: Okay so for the first time, I think, I’ve left the comment section beneath the stories open. In the past, I felt very protective of the writers because of their ages and so closed the stories off to comments. But you know what, feedback is part of the writing life, so feel free to comment; but be constructive – abusive statements will be deleted.

Thanks for reading…and thanks to Antigua Chronicle for permitting the use of their photos.

So, pictures…

I don’t have any. But there’s Received permission to repost images from a great album at Antigua Chronicle’s facebook page. We want to thank them (and specifically past Wadadli Pen winner Angelica O’Donoghue) for coming out.

Here are a selection (go to their facebook page and like them, okay?)

Winner, winner, winner! The top three—-> 

WADADLI PEN WINNERS THROUGH THE YEARS – STORY LINKS

To see the winners through the years, you can click on the individual year in the drop down menu on the main page, and, of course, you can also use our search feature. But I thought it might be convenient (and appropriate) to have an easy and convenient listing of all the winners (writers only) from a single space in the section on Antigua and Barbuda Writings as well. So, here goes.

2004

Verdanci Benta (Shirley’s New Roommate)

Gemma George (Stray Dog Prepares for the Storm)

Siena K. Margrie Hunt (A Nuclear Family Explosion)

Liscia Lawrence (The Day I saw Evil)

Lia Nicholson (Tekin’ Ahn Dey!)

Damani Tabor (The Irate Beggar)

2005

Rilys Adams (Fictional Reality)

Chatrisse Beazer (A Scary Night)

Verdanci Benta (Boysie’s Fixed Account)

Kennella Charles (Awaken to the Night)

Debesha S. A. Grant (Blue Mountain Hike)

Liscia Lawrence (Misinterpreted)

Sarah Ann Li (Lucky Dollar)

Sandrena Martin (The Torturer)

2006

Rilys Adams (Unheard)

Chatrisse Beazer (The Rescue)

Verdanci Benta (The Village Obeah Woman)

Ayoka [Angelica] O’Donoghue (Road Trip to Paradise)

Rosalie Amelia Richards (The Creation)

Kemal Osmel Nicholson (Ma Belle)

Blair A. Rose (The Day I became a Man)

2010

Terrikia Benjamin (Happy to be Black)

Shakeema Edwards (Skin Deep)

Hilesha S. Humphreys (Black and Beautiful)

2011

Chatrisse Beazer (The Legend of Banana Boy)

SA Dixon (Cocos Nucifera)

Shakeema Edwards (The Curse of the Kumina)

Orique Gordon (The Lost Coin)

Zuri Holder (The Scary Night)

Ardis Lavelle (Pre School Days)

Keillia Mentor (Mongoose in a Hole)

Devra Thomas (Sands and Butterflies)

Latisha Walker-Jacobs (Market Day)

2012

Vega Armstrong (The Legend of the Sea Lords)

Naleka Beckford (Origin)

Akeile Benjamin (The Adventures of Mr. Coconut)

Ariel Dunnah (Angela’s Baby and Every Rose has its Thorn)

Darryl George (Snowcone Melancholia)

Aarati Jagdeo (The Yard and Thirty-Six Hundred)

Jordee Josiah (Let’s Dance)

Karenna Nicholson (The Caribbean Flavour)

Rosalie A. Richards (Smitten)

Tiffany Smith (The Colour Red and The Untitled)

2013

Chammaiah Ambrose (How Tigers got Stripes)

Vega Armstrong (Hide and Seek)

Daryl George (Julie Drops and Ceramic Blues)

Asha Graham (Revelations Tonight and Remembrance)

Michaela Harris (Secret of de Mango Tree)

Zuri Holder (The Big Event)

Jamila Salankey (Her Blackest Sin)

Each Year of Wadadli Pen

(for more convenient navigation)

Sections by Year

2004

2005

2006

2010

2011

2012

2013

Winners and prize break down by Year…with links to the winning stories

2004

2005

2006

2010

2011

2012

2013

Press release – the wrap

Wadadli Pen once again proves that when it comes to talent, age is nothing but a number. The top three in the 2013 Challenge are writers from each age category. The overall winner is 15-year-old Antigua Girls High School student Asha Graham with her tale of quiet yearning ‘Revelations Tonight’ which also won the 13 to 17 age category. Graham was, also, third in her age category with her poem ‘Remembrance’. Second overall is 27-year-old Daryl George; also winner in the 18 to 35 age category, with the haunting ‘Ceramic Blues’; he also claimed the runner up spot in his age category with ‘Julie Drops’. Third overall and winner in the 12 and younger category is Antigua Grammar School student 12-year-old Zuri Holder with his sports themed story ‘The Big Event’.

The Awards ceremony at which these writers and all finalists were recognized was held Sunday afternoon at the St. Mary’s Street store of long time Wadadli Pen partner The Best of Books.

The other big announcement of the day was the US$500 worth of books each to be gifted by Hands across the Sea to Antigua Girls High School and St John’s Catholic Primary for most submissions.

Wadadli Pen’s organizers are also pleased to recognize and express gratitude for the support of regular patrons like Conrad Luke, Stephen B. Shoul, and the Cushion Club. Shout outs are also due to Art at the Ridge, Barbuda Express, Jane Seagull, Pamela Arthurton, Bayhouse Restaurant, Keyonna Beach, Heavenly Java 2 Go, Raw Island Products, Silver Lining supermarket, and Koren Norton. Several writers contributed copies of their books: namely Antiguan and Barbudan writers Dorbrene O’Marde, Althea Prince, Claudia Elizabeth Ruth Francis, and Marie Elena John; Jamaican writers Diana McCaulay and Diane Browne; Trinidadian writer Kris Rampersad; Kittitian-Nevisian writer Carol Mitchell; and British writer Elaine Spires. There is one other major patron who wishes to remain anonymous. Gratitude also to Wadadli Pen’s media partners, especially Antiguanice.com and 365Antigua.com both of which maintain Wadadli Pen pages on their popular online hubs.

Wadadli Pen partners and writers in their own right Brenda Lee Browne, Barbara Arrindell, Floree Williams, and Joanne C. Hillhouse, who founded the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize back in 2004, have added to the prize pool: two spots in Browne’s Just Write Writers Retreat, and copies of Arrindell’s Legend of Batman’s Cave and Other Stories, Williams’ Pink Teacups and Blue Dresses, and Hillhouse’s Oh Gad!

Taking their portion of these prizes are writers Jamila Salankey, Vega Armstrong, Chammaiah Ambrose, and Michaela Harris; and art winners Avecia James, Dennika Bascom, Jamika Nedd, and Gavin Jeffrey Benjamin. Other shortlisted writers were Juliet Browne, Rhea Watkins, Isheba Simon, Danielle M. Benjamin, Latoya Aretha Honoré, Arati Jagdeo, and Latisha Walker-Jacobs.

Hillhouse reminds that Wadadli Pen’s purpose is to nurture and showcase Antiguan and Barbudan youthful literary talent. As such the top stories are returned to the writers with the editors’ notes for revision. In time, she hopes with funding and support to conduct workshops in schools and community.  

For the full breakdown of2013 winners and prizes, and the project’s history visit http://wadadlipen.wordpress.com To support future activities email wadadlipen@yahoo.com

WHO WON IN 2013?

THE WADADLI PEN CHALLENGE 2013 FINALISTS ARE…

ANTIGUA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
ASHA GRAHAM
AVECIA JAMES
CHAMMAIAH AMBROSE
DARYL GEORGE
DENNIKA BASCOM
GAVIN JEFFREY BENJAMIN
JAMIKA NEDD
JAMILA H. K. SALANKEY
MICHAELA HARRIS
ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY
VEGA ARMSTRONG
ZURI HOLDER

*see all shortlisted writers here.

*re prize split – please note that each shortlisted writer receives a Certificate of Achievement as well as discount cards from the Best of Books; and the overall winner’s name has been emblazoned alongside the name of past winners onto the Challenge plaque – sponsored by the Best of Books.

 

SCHOOLS WITH THE MOST SUBMISSIONS

Primary School – St. John’s Catholic Primary – US$500 worth of books sponsored by Hands Across the Sea

Secondary School – Antigua Girls High School – US$500 worth of books sponsored by Hands Across the Seatop

ASHA GRAHAM

Author of Revelations Tonight and Remembrance
Overall Winner (Revelations Tonight), Winner in the 13 to 17 age category (Revelations Tonight) and Third placed in the 13 to 17 age category (Remembrance)

Total prizes:

Cash

$500 sponsored by Conrad Luke of R. K. Luke and Sons and the Leonard Tim Hector Memorial Committee

Literary Opportunities

Sponsored spot – Just Write writers retreat courtesy Brenda Lee Browne

Books

So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing by Althea Prince

Oh Gad! by Joanne C. Hillhouse

LiTTscapes: Landscapes of Fiction from Trinidad and Tobago by Kris Rampersad

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg and other gifts courtesy the Best of Books

Send out you Hand by Dorbrene O’Marde

The Caribbean Writer Volume 26 & the Antigua and Barbuda Review of Books - women’s edition contributed by Joanne C. Hillhouse

Huracan by Diana McCaulay

Island Princess in Brooklyn by Diane Browne

The Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Stories by Barbara Arrindell

And more

Original one of a kind journal created by Jane Seagull

Pen sponsored by Pam Arthurton of Carib World Travel and the Antigua and Barbuda International Literary Festival

Two tickets on board Barbuda Express

Gift bag from Raw Island Products

Gift courtesy Joanne C. Hillhouse  top

DARYL GEORGE

Author of Ceramic Blues and Julie Drops
Second placed Overall (Ceramic Blues), Winner (Ceramic Blues) and Second Placed (Julie Drops) in the 18 to 35 age category

Total prizes:

Cash

$200 (patron prefers to remain anonymous)

Literary Opportunities

Sponsored spot – Just Write writers retreat courtesy Brenda Lee Browne

Books

Unburnable by Marie Elena John

So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing by Althea Prince

Dog-Heart by Diana McCaulay

Althea Prince’s In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (contributed by Joanne C. Hillhouse)

Send out you Hand by Dorbrene O’Marde

Tides that Bind and the Road to Wadi Halfa by Claudia Elizabeth Ruth Francis

Sweet Lady by Elaine Spires

Book gift courtesy Silver Lining supermarket

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books

And more

2 tickets on board Barbuda Express

Lunch for two at Keyonna Beach

Lunch for two – Bayhouse Restaurant @ Tradewinds Hotel

Gifts courtesy Joanne C. Hillhouse  top

ZURI HOLDER

Author of The Big Event
Third placed overall and first placed in the 12 and younger age category

Total prizes:

Books

So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing by Althea Prince

The Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Stories by Barbara Arrindell

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books

And more

$200 Gift certificate – Stephen B. Shoul

2 tickets on board Barbuda Express

Gift courtesy Joanne C. Hillhouse top

JAMILA H. K. SALANKEY

Author of Her Blackest Sin
Third placed in the 18 to 35 age category

Total prizes:

Books

Send out you Hand by Dorbrene O’Marde

So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing

Tides that Bind and the Road to Wadi Halfa by Claudia Elizabeth Ruth Francis

And More

Gift certificate for Latte, Capuccino or Coffee – Heavenly Java 2 Go.top

MICHAELA HARRIS

Author of Secret of de Mango Tree
Second placed in the 13 to 17 age category

Total prizes:

Books

Island Princess in Brooklyn by Diane Browne

Pink Teacups and Blue Dresses by Floree Williams

So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing by Althea Prince

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books

And More

$50 book gift certificate – Cushion Club top

VEGA ARMSTRONG

Author of Hide and Seek
Second placed in the 12 and younger age category

Total Prizes:

Books

Caribbean Adventure Series – three pack by Carol Mitchell

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books top

CHAMMAIAH AMBROSE

Author of How Tigers Got Stripes
Third placed in the 12 and younger age category

Total prizes:

Books

The Legend of Bat’s Cave and other stories by Barbara Arrindell

Caribbean Adventure Series – three pack by Carol Mitchell

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books top

DENNIKA BASCOM

Winner in the junior section of 2013 Wadadli Pen Art Challenge

Total Prizes:

Seascapes by Carol Mitchell

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books

Gift courtesy Jane Seagull

Gifts courtesy Art at the Ridge top

 

AVECIA JAMES

Second placed in the junior section of the 2013 Wadadli Pen Art Challenge

Total Prizes:

Antigua My Antigua by Barbara Arrindell

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books

Gifts courtesy Art at the Ridge top

 

JAMIKA NEDD

Third placed in the junior section of the 2013 Wadadli Pen Art Challenge

Total Prizes:

Antigua My Antigua by Barbara Arrindell

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books

Gifts courtesy Art at the Ridge top

GAVIN JEFFREY BENJAMIN

Winner in the young adult section of the 2013 Wadadli Pen Art Challenge

Total Prizes:

Gifts courtesy the Best of Books

Gift courtesy Art at the Ridge

Cash gift courtesy Koren Norton and anonymous donor

That he may have the opportunity to collaborate with writer Barbara Arrindell on her next children’s picture book is something we can all look forward to top

Special thanks as well to all the 2013 partners: Barbara Arrindell and the Best of Books, Floree Williams, Devra Thomas, Linisa George, and Brenda Lee Browne. Thanks as well to our media partners who help get the word out, especially Antigua Nice and 365 Antigua who for several years and ongoing have hosted pages for Wadadli Pen on their very busy hubs.

I am Joanne C. Hillhouse. I am first and foremost a writer (author of The Boy from Willlow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Oh Gad! and contributor to other anthologies and journals) who could’ve benefited from this kind of encouragement back in the day. That’s why I do this. Congratulations to all the winners, and remember this is not just a contest; this is our attempt to nurture and showcase Antiguan and Barbudan literary talent. We’ve taken the time over the years to provide feedback to the winning writers, conduct writing workshops including online workshops right here on this site, visit schools, and other activities (such as this site) designed to help young writers hone their skills. As we showcase your best efforts here on http://wadadlipen.wordpress.com we encourage you to keep writing and to remain open to the opportunities to become a better writer.

REMEMBRANCE BY ASHA GRAHAM

Sand painted toes

And salty tongues,

A blood red sunset stains the sky pink,

Yet the days reach no end.

And with a brilliant spark

The sun fuses with the distant horizon.

The spray of the angry waves,

Christens us as we clamber the rocks.

With seaweed hugging our ankles,

And the salted mist possessing our souls.

The torn nets and fading footprints

Calmly remind us of who we used to be.

The crash of the waves rings its own music,

Calling us to become one with its song.

Chilling and familiar,

That’s what the evening brings.

Dry, rotten coconuts scatter the beach,

And the breeze feels strange as it holds us.

Eyes wide open as we taste the view

So in time we are almost happy.

We want nothing,

We have nothing,

Yet the sun is ours;

Still the sea is ours.

And the sand has not forgotten us;

Though we had forgotten ourselves.

BIO: Remembrance earned Antigua Girls High School student Asha Graham third place in the 13 to 17 age category of the 2013 Wadadli Pen Challenge. Her other entry, Revelations Tonight, a short story, won her not only the category but the overall prize. Asha’s been writing since age 10 and is a “wishful thinker” who dreams of being a future bestselling author. Our verdict: her success in this year’s challenge marks her as one to watch…clearly, with talent like this, the bestseller list could very well be in her future if she keeps reading, keeps dreaming, and keeps layering skills unto her remarkable talent. 

Please respect the writer’s copyright; do not use or alter without permission.

REVELATIONS TONIGHT BY ASHA GRAHAM

She turned around quickly. Her messy hair caressed the form of her neck. Her hair, it was red, juicy orange red like how I imagined the flames of hell after Mama read the dreaded book of Revelations when I was little. It always seemed to rub against the side of her distinct jawline when she talked, that being only when. The girl never spoke much, at least not to us, Mama said she thought she was better than us folks but I could never believe it. I always sat at the window, well-hidden by the curtains, next to Granny’s picture and watched her as she walked past our house to hers. She fascinated me not only because of her oddly shaped face or her sunburnt tangle of hair I daren’t call curls, but because she stood out like white on a black background.

‘What did you say?’ she asked softly. I had never heard her speak before, but her voice barely above a whisper hit me like a sudden drizzle on a sunny summer day. Her hazel eyes flickered upwards to my face as I let mine hit the ground.

‘The time,’ I repeated. She looked at her watch.

‘A quarter past twelve’

‘T-Thank you’

‘You’re welcome’

I looked up at her face to catch a last glance before she quickly turned around and continued her stroll to her house. It was then I realized that for the months that I had hidden behind that window, truly hiding behind myself that I had never really observed her slight features fully. I noticed way more in that glance than I had ever around anyone else. I saw her eyes flittered like a wounded butterfly, still picking up every movement; the sparse freckles that spread from the bridge of her nose to her tan cheeks, her trembling lips that spread to show a faint flash of teeth and the small scar planted on her otherwise perfect chin. Though her beauty did not depend on symmetry no amount of side glances and sneaky glimpses could ever fully capture it; however no matter how full the view it could never be devoured at once.

Mama wondered why I didn’t touch my dinner that night, why I just stared out of the window when she called me to help her peel potatoes, why I sang while watering her half-dead roses in the whole-dead backyard she called a garden but she wouldn’t understand. She never seemed to understand anything I wished she would, or she just never cared enough to give a good answer, it was always a ‘Dats life, boy!’ or the more popular ‘I ain’t got no time fo’ your curiosity, chile!’ Now I wasn’t prepared for her shrugs or careless answers so I somehow promised myself to gather the courage to probably ask the girl the date this time. She never walked past our house that day or any other day after that.

The old village gossip Miss Esma claimed she moved to the better half of town, some rumored she was getting married to a politician’s son. I was reassured of two things that day: I lived in the worse part of town and I was no politician’s son (Mama’s daily reminder about how much I was like ‘ma fadda’ had me quite sure.) I was just some nineteen year old boy who still lived with his Mama, who sat at the louvered window by the black-and-white picture of some stern, old lady and watched the passersby, just another lonely boy who never knew the time.

Life just went by after that day. But I never forgot her; every time I read the book of Revelations she came to mind, yes, the girl with the hell-flames hair.

‘Johnny you by de damn window again? Hurry up chile we reading Revelations tonight.’

But I was content.

BIO: “Love should be differentiated from enchantment” Asha Graham writes in her notes appended to this story; a statement marking the 15-year-old winner in the 2013 Wadadli Pen Challenge 13 to 17 age category and overall winner as an old soul. Graham attends Antigua Girls High School and says she “enjoys listening to music, eating and listening to music while eating.” She’s been writing since age 10 and dreams of being a future bestselling author. Our verdict: hey, she was tapped as the best in show for this year’s Wadadli Pen, plus her poem Remembrance also earned her third place in the 13 to 17 age category…clearly, with talent like this, the bestseller list could be much more than “wishful think(ing)”  if she keeps reading, keeps dreaming, and keeps layering skills unto her remarkable talent. 

Please respect the writer’s copyright and do not repost, use, or alter without permission.

Gavin Jeffrey Benjamin (Winner, Art, Young Adult)

The 2013 Wadadli Pen art challenge was Barbara Arrindell’s idea. Barbara is owner/manager of long time Wadadli Pen partner, the Best of Books and also an author of illustrated books. She had a notion that she might find her next drawing partner (the person to help her re-imagine that iconic Caribbean literary character, Anansi) through the Challenge. They were to draw Mrs. Anansi a as a modern Caribbean woman and two other scenes: Mrs Anansi cussing while Anansi looks sheepish, a family portrait with three children, Anansi driving a sports car, the Anansi home - ’round South, or the Anansi children flying kites. We can’t say for sure if she’s found her collaborator, but Gavin Jeffrey Benjamin’s submissions caught her eye and won him the young adult prize.

Who is Gavin Jeffrey Benjamin? “I’m a young, gifted Antiguan with the passion for art, and writing stories. My main career goal is to be a world famous cartoonist and make my country proud.”

For his efforts, he’s received gifts from Art at the Ridge and the Best of Books.These are his drawings: