NEWEST! Devra Thomas and Joanne C. Hillhouse
Thanks to the media and other platforms that have helped amplify our message including Antiguanice.com (which has for many years included a Wadadli Pen page on its platform in addition to sharing each new release), the Observer Media Group, ABS TV and Radio, and ZDK Radio (all of which have extended invitations to be interviewed in addition to disseminating our information across their audio-visual and print/online platforms), and the various online platforms which have shared our press releases.
Patrons who have specifically supported the 2021 season of Wadadli Pen are in alphabetical order:
RILYS ADAMS – The author, who writes as Rilzy Adams, recently won a Ripped Bodice Award for Excellence in Romance Fiction (for her book Go Deep), and has been a finalist in the Rebel Women Lit readers choice awards (for Birthday Shot) and the Swoon Awards (for Go Deep and Birthday Shot), and a nominee for a Black Girls Who Write prize (for Go Deep). She is currently a contender for the #readAntiguaBarbuda2021 readers choice book of the year prize (for several books). Rilys has contributed EC$300 to the Wadadli Pen 2021.
Remember to #readAntiguaBarbuda #voteAntiguaBarbuda as your vote will boost a local author and ensure a gift in that author’s name to a local school. In addition to Rilys, other Wadadli Pen team members in the running for book of the year are Barbara Arrindell, Joanne C. Hillhouse, and Margaret Irish. This is just FYI; vote in the comments below the relevant post for your favourite from the complete list. You do not have to have read all the books to vote.
BARBARA ARRINDELL – The bookseller, author, playwright, HR and public speaking trainer, amateur historian, community activist, and Wadadli Pen team member ran zoom sessions (what I’m calling zoom-shops) offering tips for (1) creative writing (2) using local history in your writing (3) bringing inanimate objects to life in your stories for people interested in participating in the Wadadli Pen challenge. She also offered to contribute 3 copies of her book Antigua My Antigua and A Short Guide to Antigua by Brian Dyde.
THE BEST OF BOOKS BOOKSTORE – The St. Mary’s Street bookstore is a local institution and has been a Wadadli Pen patron consistently from the very beginning, its contributions ranging from gifts of books and other concessions to hosting the annual awards to sponsoring the Alstyne Allen Memorial plaque which bears the name of each winner. The bookstore has also pledged six secondary level revision guides and two for the advanced level. They will also be hosting the awards ceremony as they have since 2011, this time virtually.
THE BOCAS LIT FEST – The Trinidad and Tobago based festival has become an appointment destination for Caribbean literature even with having to go virtual in both 2020 and 2021. It hosts the region’s major literary awards and rolls out development programmes quite often as well. We are, therefore, happy to report that they have offered spots to 2021 Wadadli Pen category winners in a future Bocas workshop (virtually) and free membership access (valued up to US$50) for up to a year to the main prize winner – including discounts on merchandise, events, workshops, and access to event archives. These prizes will be a growth opportunity for anyone serious about the craft of writing.
FRANK B. ARMSTRONG – the leading wholesale distributor has contributed to Wadadli Pen for the past 10 years and continues to be one of our most generous patronages with its usual contribution of EC$500.
DARYL GEORGE – this past Wadadli Pen finalist (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) was one of the first to step up, proactively, to offer to contribute a gift (EC$250) to Wadadli Pen 2021.
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS – 78 books – 12 each of Collins Caribbean School Dictionary, Sea Turtles by Carol Mitchell, Turtle Beach by Barbara A. Arrindell w/illustrator Zavian Archibald, Finny the Fairy Fish by Diana McCaulay w/illustrator Stacey Byer, The Jungle Outside by Joanne C. Hillhouse w/illustrator Danielle Boodoo Fortune, and six each of You can write Awesome Stories by Joanne Owen, Social Studies Atlas for the Caribbean and Social Studies Atlas for the Caribbean Workbook
CEDRIC HOLDER – plaque in the memory of his son Zuri Holder who, at the age of 20, was tragically the first road fatality of 2021 in Antigua and Barbuda. Zuri was a Wadadli Pen finalist in 2011 and 2013 in the 12 and younger category – the category set to benefit from the prize. The plaque will be called the Cushion Club Zuri Holder Achievement Award and will be accompanied by a gift certificate. Cedric is the chief volunteer with the Cushion Club, which he has made a contribution on behalf of since 2004, the very beginning of Wadadli Pen, and has also volunteered in the past as a Wadadli Pen judge in 2016.
JOANNE C. HILLHOUSE – Founder and Coordinator of Wadadli Pen, sometime (including 2021) Wadadli Pen judge, and writer, my contribution this year is four copies of my book Musical Youth.
GARFIELD LINTON – This Jamaican, US based individual, keen on supporting literary arts development in the region in some way, has signed on to contribute two payments of US$500 to cover Wadadli Pen founder-coordinator Joanne C. Hillhouse, who offers workshops through her Jhohadli Summer Youth Writing Project, facilitating workshops (facilitator fee and expenses). At present, the plan is to select up to 10 of the most promising writers (finalists and non-finalists), 16 and older, and offer them the opportunity to participate in two workshop sessions (virtual or in person depending on what’s safe/practical) between pre-summer and late 2021. One goal is the development of a piece of writing through intensive workshopping, covering writing tips and practice, and story development through to self-editing and peer evaluation.
SEKOU LUKE – a private individual who one day dropped off some books for Wadadli Pen which we are grateful to receive.
DIANA MCCAULAY (via PEEPAL TREE PRESS) – The Jamaican author has gotten her publisher to pledge a copy of her book – Daylight Come. They’re in the UK and it should be en route; so, fingers crossed.
MOONDANCER BOOKS – Wadadli Pen team member Floree Williams Whyte is the owner of this independent publishing imprint which is creating and sponsoring ads for the Wadadli Pen Challenge 2021 season.
NIA COMMS – Founder Marcella Andre reached out to offer EC$500 and we receive it with thanks as we welcome her on board as a first time patron.
ROTARY CLUB OF ANTIGUA – The service club which is well known for its contribution in the realm of literary arts via its annual Reading Competition has had to curb the contest due to COVID-19 restrictions and, in lieu, is supporting the efforts of Wadadli Pen by gifting the Prize a number of kindles, gift certificates, and other gifts for us to re-gift to this year’s prize recipients, making this year’s prizes more abundant than we had anticipated.
OLIVE SENIOR – the Commonwealth and Bocas prize winning Jamaican author is a much respected and still high producing member of the literary canon – delighted with her offer to contribute US$200 to the prize.
TEN PAGES BOOKSTORE – The latest bookstore on the scene – launched in 2020 as a local, online bookstore whose mission is to connect people to good books – is owned by Glen Toussaint who is a part of the Wadadli Pen family as a past judge and, for several years, master of ceremonies at our awards ceremony (and all around advocate for the literary arts, including organizing activities like the Wadadli Pen Open Mic). We are delighted that he has offered to contribute (and we already have in our possession) children’s books (favourites like Hardy Boys #6: The Shore Road Mystery, Nancy Drew #4: The Mystery at the Lilac Inn, Theodore Boone: The Accused by John Grisham, plus Barron’s SAT Premium Study Guide 2020 – 2021) to our prize package.
DEVRA THOMAS – A past winner (2011), and volunteer (2012 – ) and Wadadli Pen partner since 2016, Devra became a judge and patron in 2021 with an EC$200 contribution.
PATRICIA L TULLY – This first time author stepped forward to contribute a copy of Pioneers of the Caribbean written by Ingrid V Lambie and Patricia L Tully
JUNETH WEBSON – This business woman, Anitguan-Barbudan, based in the US, has been a patron since 2014, contributing in cash and kind towards the annual challenge and the building of Wadadli Pen. In 2021, her cash contribution to the prize will be EC$600.
For all news relevant to the Wadadli Pen 2021, see this link.
N.B. One longer term goal (pending funding) is publication (possibly, given the 2020 sub-theme, a reflection on 2020) and/or short film development of one or more of these pieces (If you would like to support/finance the latter effort, contact wadadlipen@gmail.com). We also continue to work on finalizing the non-profit status of Wadadli Pen and ideally this publication/film development aspect could potentially benefit from crowd sourcing and, in addition to showcasing local literary talent, assist with Wadadli Pen fundraising. This is shared in the interest of transparency (and speaking possibilities in to reality) but be mindful that these are ideas in development, not fixed.
If you would like to support the work of Wadadli Pen, email wadadlipen@gmail.com
As with all content (words, images, other) on wadadlipen.wordpress.com, except otherwise noted, this is written by Joanne C. Hillhouse (author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Oh Gad!, Musical Youth, With Grace, Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure, and The Jungle Outside). All Rights Reserved. You can also subscribe to and/or follow the site to keep up with future updates. Thanks. And remember while linking and sharing the links, referencing and excerpting, with credit, are okay, lifting whole content (articles, images, other) from the site without asking is not cool. Respect copyright.
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