N.B. This is the master list. For genre specific listings, search for fiction, non-fiction, poets, screenwriters, playwrights, children’s literature, songwriters, or whatever else. This list is all books including some books that are exclusively ebooks or spoken word CDs, but you can also search this site for publications by Antiguans and Barbudans in journals, contest wins, and performances. Chances are it’s somewhere here on the site. If you’re looking for Wadadli Pen winners, use the drop down menu on the right or search Wadadli Pen by year, name, story or other feature (e.g. ‘Wadadli Pen winning stories’, ‘Wadadli Pen story links’). This list and related author, book, or other information is as comprehensive as possible but may not be as complete or up-to-date as we would wish – it continues to be a work in progress. Hope you find what you’re looking for.
I (Joanne C. Hillhouse – an Antiguan and Barbudan author, freelance writer-editor-writing-coach-and-course-workshop-facilitator, and founder and coordinator of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize) started putting this list together back in 2005 for the Independence literary arts exhibition at the national Museum; I’ve been editing and updating it ever since. I’ve tried to include books by Antiguan and Barbudan writers, both born and adopted, as well books by Antiguan-Barbudan descendants born elsewhere. Some by writers with limited or no connection to the islands who nonetheless feature Antigua and/or Barbuda prominently in their writings may also make the cut (though I’ve since given its own page to non-Antiguans-Barbudans, primarily those using the country mostly as backdrop). The list is not exhaustive as, solely at my discretion, I’ve limited it to writers with a book or CD. I will continue to build this list, time allowing. I have not read them all…and, realistically, I won’t. So, this is not a list of recommended reading from Antigua and Barbuda; rather, more broadly every book in the stated genre that could arguably qualify as Antiguan and Barbudan writing (do your own research re the quality of the books listed here and feel free to search the site for reviews of Antiguan and Barbudan books for those books that have received critical treatment). That list is ever in development as well. Some listed books are traditionally published (i.e. the rights acquired by trade publishers for sale with writers receiving an advance and royalties per contract), published with a small or independent press (still traditional but on a different scale), published via a hybrid press (a mix of traditional publishing and self-publishing), or self-published (including vanity press or any mechanism through which the author pays to publish). See Resources and Opportunities for more on publishing. All are linked through the R & D page.
Finally, no problem with people utilizing or sharing the list (I myself have pulled from various sources, including but not limited to, the authors themselves, Edgar Lake’s “Nascent Aspects of an Antiguan Literary Heritage”, the Antigua and Barbuda Review of Books, the Best of Books bookstore Antigua and Barbuda shelf, pre-existing bibliographies like Riva Berleant-Schiller, Susan Lowes, and Milton Benjamin’s Antigua and Barbuda: an Annotated Critical Bibliography, online book retail sites, online library data bases, online review sites and blogs, social media, and, really, all around the Internet -including wikis, media, publisher sites, the authors…), but a lot of time went into checking, double-checking, pulling it altogether, expanding, updating etc., so please give credit where due for the work involved and link back to us. Thanks.
MIXED/ANTHOLOGY/OTHER
Name: Heather Doram
Books:
The Heather Doram Caribbean Collection Coloring Book: Daily Life. 2021.
The Heather Doram Caribbean Collection Coloring Book: Sea Life. 2021.
The Heather Doram Caribbean Collection Coloring Book: Nature. 2021.
The Heather Doram Caribbean Collection Coloring Book: Homeland. 2021.
About the Books:
This is a colouring book series by one of, if not top, Antiguan and Barbudan artist Heather Doram and it’s categorized as Other instead of Children’s Lit, here because we believe it’s intended for adults, not children. Just look at the official summary (excerpted):
Are you looking for a way to relax after a long day? Need to release stress and spark your creative juices? Anxious for a new adventure? Well, reach for your colored pencils because these fanciful hand drawn illustrations will surely bring joy, peace, colour and creativity to your life. According to researchers, picking up a coloring pencil and book could be beneficial for your mental health. So Improve your mood, reduce your stress and boost your creativity with The Heather Doram Caribbean Collection. In creating the books, Heather was influenced by the people and their daily lives, the culture, and the flora and fauna of the landscape. She was mostly drawn to the working class; the farmers and the market vendors surrounded by stalks and baskets of luscious, colorful fruits and vegetables; and she would make up stories about the conversation they would be having as they went about their day. Details: beautiful, hand drawn illustrations; quality, single-sided paper to prevent bleed-through; suitable for markers, colouring pencils, and gel pens; large 8.5×11 format which can be removed and framed; suitable for all skill levels.
About the Author:
Heather Doram, MFA, GCM, is both a veteran and Antigua and Barbuda’s leading contemporary artist.
She believes in art as a catalyst of change. She studied art at Jamaica’s Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts and the Savannah College of Art and Design – distinctions from her time there include being named to the Who’s Who in American College Universities, her art being selected to represent the college at the Venice Biennale, and the college purchasing almost her entire thesis show for its permanent collection. She was one of only 12 Caribbean artists selected in 2004 for a US$20,000 prize and one of only 40 featured in the Textile Museum of Canada’s show at the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games. As a textile artist, Heather manipulates felt to create a visual experience at once personal, domestic, and universal. She works with a mix of elements – acrylic paints, metallic threads, found objects, while using colour and animal (butterfly, lizard, dragonfly) symbolism as a visual shorthand. Her work celebrates womanliness while also acknowledging its complexity. Most emblematic of this has been her signature show Strength of a Woman. But it runs throughout all of her major series: We have So Many Stories to Tell, Sands of Time, and the Shadow Boxes made of found objects, which probe at Antigua and Barbuda’s societal shifts with a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. Off canvas, Heather explores various creative avenues: actress in The Sweetest Mango, No Seed, The Amazing Maizie and Em comedy shorts, and several stage productions; talk show host (ABS TV’s Keeping it Real), and a gallery owner (Ulanda). Her work has showed up on the Carnival stage and street (due to her multi-decade, multi-award winning costume collaborations with husband Connie), book covers (The Boy from Willow Bend), in the airport (a commissioned mural), on non-traditional surfaces like bottles and trays, and on the bodies of many Antiguans and Barbudans on National Dress Day (as the artist behind the dress’ official design). She has worked as an educator, education administrator (visual arts curriculum officer with the Ministry of Education), and chief examiner for visual arts over a decade with the Caribbean Examinations Council. She retired in 2006 after peaking as culture director. In retirement, she offers art workshops while producing new work prolifically. Her Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit was bestowed in 2002. See her features on her work in CREATIVE SPACE here, here, and here.
***
Name: Robin Forward and Marie Kinsella
Book: Images of the Sun. 2011.
About the Book:
An anthology by Robin Forward illustrated by Marie Kinsella in aid of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine Antigua W. I. Restoration Fund.
About the Authors:
Robin Forward – In 1800, his great grandfather Cap Tiller first came to the island – in Nelson’s Navy. Cap Tiller’s daughter Jane was born in Antigua and later married Robert McDonald beginning five generations of Robin’s family born in Antigua. Born in 1934, he became a doctor – an anesthesiologist – while also developing an interest in writing poetry. He’s published three collections and his epic poem For the Ancestors was published in 2005 in The Journal of Caribbean Literature. He retired in 1999.
Marie Kinsella – born Ireland – moved to England at 13 – came to Antigua in 1984 – where she fell in love with the people and the beautiful light of the island and stayed.
**********
Name: various (including Alexia Baird, Motion, Itah Sadu, Brenda Lee Browne, Trey Anthony, Sister Soiuljah, Jully Black, Barbara Arrindell, Jemini, D’bi Young, Tiffani Powell, Glenda Prince, the editors etc.); editor – Althea Prince; co-editors Gayle Gonsalves and Aisha Wilks
Book: 
The Black Notes. Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
About the Book:
The Black Notes contains stories and poems written by 12 black women. The storytelling crosses intergenerational, and local, national, and international cultural sensibilities, giving the reader a glimpse of the way the storytellers ‘receive’ and ‘share’ story.
About the Author:
Prince is covered in Fiction, Children’s Fiction, and Non-Fiction.
Gonsalves is covered in Fiction.
Arrindell is covered in Fiction, Children’s Fiction, and Non-Fiction.
Baird (“Fashion Trends” and “Stay Woke”) is the daughter of Glenda Prince.
Browne is covered in Poetry and Fiction.
Motion is covered in Plays/Screenplays and Poetry.
Powell (“My Heart is his Prisoner“).
G. Prince (“Giving Thanks“).
*******
Name: various (including Vivian Michael, Jhohadli, Eulie Frederick, Carl E. Samuel, Malaka Parker, Monique James-Roberts, Linley Wynter, Gavin Crump, Karil Sampson, and anon.)
Book: Collective Soul. Chrysalis. Antigua. 1998.
About the Author:
Michael is covered in Poetry.
Jhohadli is Joanne C. Hillhouse, covered in several sub-lists.
*******
Name: various (including Catherine Bain, George Elliott Clarke, Gayle Gonsalves, Joanne C. Hillhouse, Clifton Joseph, Dwayne Morgan, Motion, Jelani Nias/J-Wyze, Djanet Sears, Mansa Trotman); editor – Althea Prince
Book: In the Black: New African Canadian Literature. Insomniac. Canada. 2012.
About the Book:
In a mix of short fiction, poetry, dub poetry, and hip hop, some of Black Canada’s foremost writers from across generations explore history, community, love, and healing.
About the Author:
Prince is covered in Fiction, Children’s Fiction, and Non-Fiction.
Gonsalves is covered in Fiction.
Hillhouse is covered in Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s Fiction, and Poetry.
Joseph is covered in Poetry.
Motion is covered in Poetry, Plays/Screenplays, and Fiction.
Nias is covered in Fiction.
Trotman is covered in Poetry.
**************
Name: Various (Joel Lewis, Noah Yeboah, Destiny Simon, Delicia Howell, Shenika Bentick, Sheneilla Somerset)
Love Friendship & Betrayal: An Anthology of Lessons Learned. I & I Books. 2020.
About the Book:
Collection of six stories.
About the Authors: Members of the Antigua and Barbuda Film Academy.
**************
Name: various (Zahra Airall, Barbara Arrindell, Madeline Blackman, Brenda Lee Browne, Shakeema Edwards, Linisa George, Gayle Gonsalves, Joanne C. Hillhouse, D. Gisele Isaac, Dotsie Isaac-Gellizeau, Yvonne H. Pamela James, Tameka Jarvis-George Clifton Joseph, Llewelyn Joseph, Kaliq Lowe, Monica Matthew, Rosie V. McMaster, Motion, Jelani Nias, Dorbrene O’Marde, Althea Prince, Janis Prince Inniss, John Prince, Ralph Prince, Taija Ryan, Heidi Skerritt, Glen J. Toussaint, Mansa Trotman, Amber Williams-King); editor – Althea Prince
Book: 
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: an Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Voume 1. A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
About the Book:
A collection of Antiguan and Barbudan modern literature including established and fresh voices.
About the Authors:
Airall is covered in Playwrights and Screenwriters, Plays/Screenplays and Poetry.
Arrindell is covered in Fiction, Non-Fiction, Playwrights and Screenwriters, and Children’s Literature
Blackman is a former Consul General for Antigua and Barbuda in Canada.
Browne is covered in Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry.
Edwards is covered in Poetry and Fiction.
George is covered in Poetry.
Gonsalves is covered in Fiction.
Hillhouse is covered in Poetry, Fiction, Children’s Literature, Playwrights and Screenwriters, and Non-Fiction.
Inniss, born in Guyana, is the daughter of Antiguan writer Ralph Prince, to whom this collection is dedicated.
Isaac is covered in Fiction.
Isaac-Gellizeau is covered in Poetry.
K. James is of Antiguan parentage; he is, also, a lecturer with a PhD in aerospace engineering.
Y. James is a retired teacher.
Jarvis-George is covered in Poetry, Children’s Literature, and Fiction.
C. Joseph is covered in Poetry.
L. Joseph’s ‘first poetic attempt at 8 – “to see ants march in perfect line/as some ascend and some decline.” His aunt laughed, and despite his mother’s encouragements, he never saved or showed anything he wrote for years.’ (p.168, So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End)
Lowe won first place in the 2008 Independence Literary Arts Competition and was a finalist again in a subsequent year.
Matthew is covered in Non-Fiction.
McMaster is covered in Poetry.
Motion is covered in Poetry, Fiction, and Playwriting and Screenwriting.
Nias is also covered in Fiction.
O’Marde is covered in Non-Fiction, Fiction, and Playwriting and Screenwriting.
A. Prince is covered in Fiction, Children’s Literature, and Non-Fiction.
J. Prince is covered in Poetry.
R. Prince is covered in Poetry.
Ryan (“Choices“ and “Third Time“) – this is her first publication; her maternal grandmother is Antiguan.
Skerritt was born in England to Antiguan parents and grew up in Canada. She migrated to Antigua in the 1990s, and started the Sistas with Books book club.
Toussaint is covered in Poetry.
Trotman is covered in Poetry.
Williams-King is covered in Poetry.
************
Name: various (including D. Gisele Isaac, David Spencer, Dianne Carrott, and others); editor – Lucilla Benjamin*
Book: Young Antiguans Write: Prize-winning Selections in Poetry and Prose from School Creative Writing Annual Competition, 1968-1978. Ministry of Education and Culture. Antigua. 1979.
About the Authors:
Benjamin was, among other things, a series advisor for the New Caribbean Reader published by Ginn and Company.
Isaac is covered in the Fiction section.
*******
Name: Elaine Warren-Jacobs (co-author)
Book: All This is Love: A Collection of Virgin Islands Poetry, Art & Prose (w/Daisy Holder Lafond, Hilda Lewis Joyce, Jeanne O’Day, Tregenza A. Roach). 2009.
About the Book: All This is Love: A Collection of Virgin Islands Poetry, Art & Prose is a poignant reminder of the reservoir of artistic talent constantly percolating in the Virgin Islands. The contributors, each an accomplished artist in her or his own right, have brought a plethora of personal experiences and insight gleaned from individual journeys. Yet these stories, poetic entries, and artwork often recount, retell, and recapture the essence of Virgin Islands and West Indian narratives.
About the Author: Elaine Jacobs was born in Antigua and spent most of her life in the USVI.
********
PLAYS/SCREENPLAYS (specific to items written for the stage or screen which have been published in book form)
Name: Zahra Airall
Book:
“Makeba’s Walk” (p. 96) and “You should have been there” (p. 102) in Voices Monologues and Plays for Caribbean Actors (ed. Yvonne Weekes). House of Nehesi Publishers. St. Martin. 2021.
“Over the Hill and Through the Wood” in 
She SEX – Prose and Poetry: SEX and the Caribbean Woman. Bamboo Talk Press. Trinidad. 2013.
About the Book:
Per Weekes’ introduction in Voices Monologues and Plays for Caribbean Actors, theatre arts was introduced as a CXC and CSEC course offering in 2001. Voices, which includes monologues on historical figures and real events, dramatically fictionalized, offers students across the Caribbean insight to the region and what sets it apart from the rest of the world.
Sex, Prose and Poetry, SEX and the Caribbean Woman has been described as “an important gathering of women’s voices” (Tiphanie Yanique, author of How to Survive a Leper Colony). Airall’s story, “Over the Hill and Through the Wood” is about an older woman finding sexual gratification for the first time.
About the Author:
Zahra is an educator, photographer, spoken word artist, poet, and stage and TV writer, director, and producer. She is a part of the following teams: Women of Antigua (which brought The Vagina Monologues and When a Woman Moans to the Antiguan stage), August Rush (producer of the Expressions Poetry series), and the team that brought the first TEDx event to Antigua. She’s also put on several well-received productions under her Sugar Apple Theatre and Zee’s Youth Theatre banner, in Antigua and abroad, and has racked up several awards as writer-director in local and regional secondary schools theatre competitions. See her credits for film-TV and stage productions in Playwrights and Screenwriters (The Antigua-Barbuda Connection). See also writings on her plays in CREATIVE SPACE here, here, and here. She is, also, a teacher, writer, and photographer.
Wadadli Pen connection: Zahra was part of a small grouping of Antiguans who organized a week of Black History Month activities culminating with the Wadadli Pen Challenge awards. This was the return of the Wadadli Pen Challenge after a three year break and the first year of the Wadadli Pen visual arts challenge. The Wadadli Pen/BHM week of activities included a national Museum exhibition of visual art by Antiguans and Barbudans including Zahra/byZIA Photography, who, also directed ‘Word Up! 2010’ (sequel to ‘Word Up! 2006’, a joint Museum-Wadadli Pen fundraiser and literary arts showcase) which was a mix of fashion, poetry, calypso, theatre, with Zee’s Youth Theatre headlining, and the Challenge awards. 2010.
***
Name: Edson Buntin
Book:
Anu Bantu: Treasure Island and Haunted Park. Antigua Printing and Publishing. Antigua. 2007.
About the Book:
“The format of this book is that of both a novel and a play rolled into one”–p.324.
About the Author:
Edson Buntin is a dramatist and an instructor in French at the Antigua State College. His contributions to theatre are both onstage and off, as an actor including serving as a cast member in the 1979 production of Dorbrene O’Marde’s Tangled Web and as founder of the Scaramouche Theatre and overseeing several productions at the College, such as Conjugal Bliss. Plays written by Buntin include Con Man Sun Sun, Mr. Valentine, and Wedlock. He has also acted in local films such as Once in an Island.
***
Name: David Edgecombe
Book:
Lady of Parham.Caribbean Reads Publishing (second edition). St. Kitts. 2014.
About the Book:
Lady of Parham, set in Antigua, introduces the audience to five revelers who have come together to form a Carnival troupe but settle for dramatizing the tale of the Parham ghost. In the telling of the ghost legend, Justin, Tulip, Sauna, Kyle, and Mabel must confront the demons that threaten to derail their lives. Lady of Parham is based on a local Antiguan legend. The play has been staged, including an eight night run at the Little Theatre, University of the Virgin Islands.
About the Author:
Edgecombe’s inclusion on this list is due to the Antigua-specific nature of this play. He hails from neighbouring Montserrat where he was the founder of touring company, the Montserrat Theatre Group. He has written over a dozen plays which have been staged throughout the Caribbean, in Canada, and in Nigeria. He joined the faculty of the University of the Virgin Islands in 1990 to teach English and was artist-in-residence in 1991. He also taught Journalism, Speech Communication, and Theater before becoming Director of the Reichhold Center for the Arts. He went on to become a full-time professor in the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, University of the Virgin Islands. He has published several of his plays with Caribbean Reads Publishing; but, notably, Lady of Parham was shortlisted for the Guyana Prize for Literature Caribbean Award.
*****
Name: Gus Edwards
Books: 
The Offering & Other Plays by Gus Edwards.
Black Heroes in Monologues (ed.). Heinemann. US. 2006.
50 African American Audition Monologues (ed.). Heinemann. US. 2002.
More Monologues on Black Life (ed.). Heinemann. US. 2000.
Monologues on Black Life (ed.). Heinemann. US. 1997.
Classic Plays from the Negro Ensemble Company (w/co-editor Paul Carter Harrison). University of Pittsburgh Press. US. 1995.
The Offering. Dramatists Play Service Inc. US. 1978.
Old Phantoms. Dramatists Play Service Inc. US. 1969.
About the Books:
Black Heroes in Monologues – What is a hero? How is one defined? When Gus Edwards discovered that the majority of the young actors, playwrights, and teachers he encountered didn’t know who Nat Turner was—nor many other key men and women in black history—he summoned the power of theatre to correct the situation. Black Heroes in Monologues brings these and other influential African Americans to life once again.
50 African American Audition Monologues – Finding authentic African American material has never been easy for actors. Gus Edwards continued to remedy that situation with this third collection of powerful, original monologues for African American men and women. The pieces offer a refreshing alternative to recycled standards. And they showcase the language and frame of reference that are immediately recognizable, both emotionally and culturally, to the people who will perform or view them. Edwards has arranged the monologues by performance length, a key component in auditioning.
More Monologues on Black Life – This collection presents fresh material written in a voice that reflects the modern African American experience. The collection offers the complete text of Gus Edwards’ remarkable ‘Lifetimes on the Streets’, in a volume with another collection of monologues entitled ‘Reaching for the Dream’. Together, these two sets of monologues are a vital resource for actors and actresses looking for honest, vibrant material. The characters in ‘Lifetimes on the Streets’ range from a woman on her way to her hairdresser who enters into a strange relationship with a painter who invites her to have a cup of tea with him, to the Common Man, an old man carrying a bag who warns that Harlem is entering a new ice age, to a businessman who, on the death of a homosexual friend, wanders into a porn movie and is forced to confront his own discomfort and lack of confidence. The rest of this volume is a collection of monologues for men and women, ranging in age from 15 to 50.
Monologues on Black Life – In acting classes all over the country, African American students are routinely given monologues either from old Black plays like A Raisin in the Sun or contemporary Anglo plays, prompting them to ask, “Where are the new works aimed at us?” Students need material that is fresh and authentic, material that speaks in their language and to their concerns.
Classic Plays from the Negro Ensemble Company – This anthology celebrates more than twenty-five years of the Negro Ensemble Company’s significant contribution to American theater. Collected here are ten plays most representative of the eclectic nature of the Negro Ensemble Company repertoire. The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) was formed in New York City in 1967 with support from the Ford Foundation to aid in the establishment of an independent African-American theater institution. Under the artistic directorship of Douglas Turner Ward, the NEC offered a nurturing environment to black playwrights and actors who could work autonomously, guaranteeing authenticity of voice, full freedom of expression, and exploration of thematic views specific to the African-American experience. Since its inception, the NEC has introduced audiences to more than 150 theatrical works. Classic Plays from the Negro Ensemble Company allows scholars to review a diversity of styles which share common philosophical, mythic, and social ideals that can be traced to an African worldview. A foreword by Douglas Turner Ward and an afterword by Paul Carter Harrison and Gus Edwards assess the literary and/or stylistic significance of the plays and place each work in its historical or chronological context.
The Offering – The scene is a shabby basement apartment on New York’s West Side, where Bob Tyrone, an aging black, lives with his young wife, Princess. Now on welfare, Tyrone spends most of his time dozing, or glass in hand, watching television. Unexpected visitors arrive in the form of Martin, an obviously prosperous young black man, and Ginny, his beautiful white girlfriend. Martin offers Tyrone a large sum of money, but Tyrone declines and invites his visitors to stay the night. In a series of highly atmospheric scenes, it develops that Martin, a hired killer, had known Tyrone when he too was a power in illegal activity, and he still regards him with awe. At first the action seems to be concerned with Martin’s desire to help his former mentor. But gradually, as the sense of menace deepens, we are aware that a struggle for sexual dominance has now become the focus of their relationship – as Tyrone seduces Ginny, and Martin, suddenly powerless, yields to the psychological battle of wits to which his now reinvigorated master has subjected him. Successfully produced by New York’s renowned Negro Ensemble Company, this arresting first play blends menace and humor, with unique stylistic originality, as it details the confrontation between a young man, his aging mentor and the women with whom they share their lives.
About the Author:
About the Author: Gus Edwards was born 1939 in Antigua and raised in St. Thomas. He moved to New York in 1959. His plays have been showcased by the Negro Ensemble of NY among other companies across the US. Initially, a protégé of Stella Adler, he worked as an actor in films and on stage. But limited by his accent, he began writing his own material. These included The Offering (1977), Black Body Blues (1978), Old Phantoms (1979), These Fallen Angels (1980), Weep Not for Me (1981), Tenement (1983), Manhattan Made Me (1983), Ramona (1986), and Louie and Ophelia (1986). Most of his plays are reportedly set in “the slums and ghettoes of New York…his characters often exist outside of the boundaries of what is thought to be appropriate behavior in society.” (Notable Caribbeans and Caribbean Americans: a Biographical Dictionary, p. 157). His works for television include Aftermath (1979) and a TV adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel Go Tell It on the Mountain. He also wrote narration on the Negro Ensemble Company for PBS. Though self-taught, the critically acclaimed playwright has taught theatrical writing at several US colleges and became associate professor of theatre at Arizona State University, directing where the multi-ethnic theatre and teaching in the film studies programme. In 2000, he was appointed artistic director to the Scottsdale Ensemble Theatre in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Gus Edwards is one of the first Caribbean writers to contribute to American theatre.” (Notable Caribbean and Caribbean Americans: a Biographical Dictionary, p. 158)
********
Name: Fransene Massiah-Headley
Books:
Pepperpot…A Caribbean Woman’s Story…Poems for the Stage. Dominica. 2008.
About the Books:
Pepperpot is a Look at the Antigua culture. It documents a Caribbean woman’s life story while revealing some of Antigua’s rich history employing the Antiguan Nation Language to tell the story of the characters.
About the Author:
Fransene Massiah—Headley is an Antiguan educator, writer and dramatist. Writer and Dramatist.
******
Name: Ian McDonald
Books (select):
“The Tramping Man” (one-act play) in A Time and A Season (a collection of eight Caribbean plays). UWI’s School of Continuing Studies. 1976.
About the Books:
“Tramping Man” was performed in Guyana in 1969, broadcast by GBS in 1972, and published in A Time and A Season ed. Errol Hill, 1976. It is about a Dionysian carnivalesque figure, a spirit of unquenchable freedom who is seen by the state to challenge its power. The play has been frequently staged.
About the Author:
McDonald is the author of several books of fiction and poetry, including Caribbean Classic The Hummingbird Tree – which has been made in to a BBC production. He has described himself as “Antiguan by ancestry, Trinidadian by birth, Guyanese by adoption, and West Indian by conviction.” Ian McDonald’s Antigua connection is through his father (who is of Antiguan and Kittitian extraction, while his mother is Trinidadian). He himself was born in Trinidad in 1933 and went to Guyana in 1955. He has lived there ever since. From a white West Indian family, he worked in the sugar industry, pre-and-post retirement. He wrote a weekly newspaper column and worked to revive the seminal literary journal Kyk-over-Al. His writing began in the 1950s with publications in BIM and New World. He has considerably more publications than mentioned here, including appearances in The Caribbean Writer, Poui, and the Caribbean Review of Books. He has received an honourary PhD from the University of the West Indies. Adept at sports – specifically tennis – he was Guyana’s 1957 Sportsman of the Year. His backstory includes a five times great-grandfather Edward Dacres Baynes, 1790 to 1863, who served as a soldier in Jamaica just after emancipation and after that a colonial civil servant in the Leeward Islands including the post of President of the Council of Montserrat, who eventually settled in Antigua with his wife and fifteen children. Baynes published a poetry collection entitled Child Harold in the Shades. His family line also includes a great-uncle Donald McDonald, an Antiguan trader, businessman and Assembly member who also wrote verse and published a volume in London in 1917. His grandmother, Hilda McDonald was the first female member of the Antiguan House of Assembly and author of a small booklet of verse, Sunflakes and Stardust.
***
Name: Motion
Books:
“Aneemah’s Spot” (pg. 181 – pg. 207) in Give Voice: Ten Twenty Minute Plays from the Obsidian Theatre Company Playwright’s Unit (edited by Rita Shelton Deverell). Playwright’s Canada Press. 2011.
About the Books:
“Aneemah’s Spot” is a riveting dramatic duet set over one night in the Toronto mega-city. The real-time tale is a stealthy mix of dialogue, rhyme and spoken word that follows two childhood friends – Aneemah and Wan – left to deal with the fallout of a tragedy that comes too close to home. The murder of “G” brings them together to mourn and share histories as they are forced to let go of the past, and decide how they will navigate life from this moment on – apart or together. Written by Motion, the most recent award-winning production (up to this posting in 2018) was directed by Charles Officer, starred Amanda Parris and Shomari Downer, and featured an infectious sound-scape by DJ L’Oqenz.
About the Author:
Motion is the daughter of an Antiguan mother. She is an award winning artist whose accolades began when she became the first female Hip Hop artist to be nominated for MuchMusic’s Best Rap Video. Her pioneering presence continued when her commentary on urban life and love in Toronto made her the winner of the CBC National Poetry Face-Off with her nationally acclaimed poem ‘Connect the T.Dots’. Motion is the first Hip Hop artist in Canada to publish a collection of writings, Motion in Poetry, with the companion album, the Audio Xperience. She’s performed at Russell Simmonds Def Poetry Jam on HBO and is a member of the Obsidian Theatre’s Playwrights Unit. She’s written for stage and screen.
Wadadli Pen connection: Motion and her publisher Women’s Press (Canada) contributed copies of her debut collection Motion in Poetry, a poetry book/CD combo, to the Wadadli Pen Challenge prize package. 2005.
***
POETRY
Name: Rilys Adams
CD: Laid Bare. Chosen Sounds. Antigua. 2009.
About the CD:
Rilys did this CD when she was just 19 in what was described by one reviewer in floetry style; it is produced by J. Omari Harrigan.
About the Author:
Rilys Adams is a lawyer, poet, novelist, and past Wadadli Pen finalist.
Wadadli Pen connection: Rilys Adams is a past finalist in the annual Wadadli Pen Challenge. 2005 and 2006. Nominated by Wadadli Pen to receive an Optimist award for literary arts which she collected alongside two other Wadadli Pen nominees. 2005. Rilys was also one of two Wadadli Pen finalists invited to participate in the Word Up! 2006 literary arts showcase and fundraiser held in partnership with the national Museum. Her novel, The Gift, was a top three finalist for the Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year. while Just One More Time was in the running. 2019.
***
Name: Zahra Airall
Book:
“From the Window” and “Missing Him” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Author:
Zahra Airall is a writer, women’s rights activist, film maker, teacher, photographer, and playwright from Antigua and Barbuda. She is a founding member of the theatre arts activist group Women of Antigua which produced local stagings of The Vagina Monologues and its local counterpart When a Woman Moans. She is the director of the Sugar Apple Theatre, Honey Bee theatre, and Zee’s Youth Theatre. She has written plays including award winning productions for the Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival. Zahara is one of the contributors to She Sex, a collabarative book with sections written by different Caribbean women. She has won multiple awards at the National Youth Awards (Antigua).
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Name: Sylvanus Barnes
Photo by Gemma Hazelwood (@ 2006 Wadadli Pen fundraiser, Word Up!)
Books:
Fling Stone inna Hog Pen: Volume 2 – Humorous, Studious, and Lugubrious. Antigua. 2009.
Fling Stone inna Hog Pen: Volume 1 – Loyal Mates and Reprobates. Antigua. 2009.
Barney’s Wit ‘n Wisdom. Antigua. 2005.
Riotous Rhymes ‘N Remedies. Antigua. 2000.
About the Books: Sylvanus’ books lean toward the humorous and are steeped in Antiguan and Barbudan vernacular and culture generally.
About the Author:
Sylvanus Barnes works at the Ministry of Education. He is the proud recipient of a UNESCO prize for his contribution to the literacy arts in Antigua and Barbuda. He enjoys writing humorous pieces.
Wadadli Pen connection: Sylvanus participated in the Word Up! 2006 literary arts showcase and fundraiser held in partnership with the national Museum.
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Name: Edward Dacres Baynes
Books: Child Harold in the Shades.
About the Book:
A volume of poetical odes and a magnum opus in Byronic style in two cantos and 120 stanzas .
About the Author:
The five times great grandfather of Caribbean author Ian McDonald lived from 1790 to 1863. He worked as a colonial servant in the Leeward Islands including the post of President of the Council of Montserrat. He landed in Antigua, where he and his wife raised his 15 children after a stint as a soldier in Jamaica just after emancipation.
***
Name: Blue
Book: Metamorphosis: Love and Life in Antigua, Poetry by Blue. Seaburn. USA. 2015.
About the Book:
Made up primarily of poems written in Antigua, and in the Antiguan dialect.
About the Author:
Blue is an American citizen resident in the Caribbean. Her real name is Wendy Knight.
***
Name: Brenda Lee Browne
Books:
“Where is my Daughter” in Women in War: Saying NO to Gender Violence. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. USA. 2015.
About the Book: Women in War is a book written to join the campaign against women exploitation and oppression.
About the Author: Brenda Lee Browne was born in England to Antiguan parents; she lives in Antigua where she has mentored other young writers while continuing to work on her own and work behind the scenes of one of the Caribbean’s greatest past times, cricket. She is former coordinator of the Independence Literary Arts Committee. See coverage of the launch of her book London Rocks in CREATIVE SPACE.
Wadadli Pen connection: Brenda Lee Browne was a participant in the Wadadli Pen fundraiser and literary showcase Word Up! 2006. She has served as a Wadadli Pen judge. 2010 – 2014. She has been a patron, contributing scholarships to her Just Write Writers Retreat, cash, and copies of her books the Just Write journal and the novella London Rocks to the Wadadli Pen Challenge awards since 2012. Both of her books were in the running for the Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year. 2019.
***
Name: Irene Browne-Bowen
Books:
Literary Collection No. II. 1997.
Literary Collection No. I. 1995.
***
Name: Elloy de Freitas
Book: Chant Down Babylon: a Performance of the Poem (CD). Trinidad Tunes. 2004, 2018.
About the Author:
Elloy de Freitas worked for 28 years as a career civil servant. His is a name familiar to most Antiguans and Barbudans as a civil servant who was fired for marching against the ruling government and who had to go all the way to the Privy Council to have his rights to free assembly and speech re-asserted. Born in Antigua, he now resides in Trinidad. He has taught human resource management at the university level and at this writing works as a consultant.
***
Name: Roy H. S. Dublin
Books:
Tomorrow’s Blossoms. Magnet Printery, 1934; SCRIP-J, Trinidad/Entertainment Bazaar, Antigua, 2010.
Thoughts from Benwar Hill. ?
Out of the Unknown. 1932.
About the Books:
Dublin’s Tomorrow’s Blossoms, recently issued, was first published in 1934 to commemorate the tercentenary year of the colonization of Antigua and the centenary year of emancipation. It was awarded the King’s Medal. The second edition of the book commemorates the 100th anniversary of his birth.
About the Author:
The late Roy Dublin (1907-1949) of Cedar Grove, Antigua was a poet, scholar, teacher, and musician; also a social worker and family man.
***
Name: Bille Dyer
Book:
As Man Ascends.
***
Name: Shakeema Edwards
Books:
“This Dance of Ours“ in Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings by Joanne C. Hillhouse Insomniac. Canada. 2014.
“Let the Black Woman Sing” and “When Jazz Meets Blues” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Book:
“This Dance of Ours” is poetry inspired by Dancing Nude in the Moonlight. It was awarded a prize, along with fan fiction ‘Chapter Forty Five‘ which won the Next Chapter contest organized by the Best of Books bookstore in 2008 as part of a Moonlight Street Fair organized in celebration of the book. Both were included in the book’s anniversary edition made up of the original anthology and other fiction and poetry by Hillhouse, in addition to fan fiction and other extras. Dancing Nude in the Moonlight: 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings (by Joanne C. Hillhouse) was originally published as a novella and was re-issued with fan fiction by Edwards and others in addition to other extras.
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 (edited by Althea Prince) is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
Shakeema is a former Wadadli Pen finalist. She’s also won the Women of Antigua V-Day Literary Competition, the Best of Books/Joanne C. Hillhouse Dancing Nude in the Moonlight Next Chapter contest, the Floree Williams Childhood stories competition, and the Independence Literary Arts Competition. She has gone on to work in publishing in the US.
Wadadli Pen connection: Shakeema is a former Wadadli Pen Challenge finalist. 2010, 2011 .
***
Name: Tanya Evanson
Books/CDs:
Nouveau Griot. Frontenac House. 2018.
Bothism. Ekstasis Editions. Canada. 2017.
ZENSHIP. Mother Tongue Media. 2016.
More Caught In The Act: An Anthology Of Performance Art By Canadian Women [edited by Johanna Householder and Tanya Mars] Yyzbooks, Canada 2016.
Love Where The Nights Are Twice As Long [edited by David Eso And Jeanette Lynes] Goose Lane, Canada 2015.
The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry [edited by Valerie Mason-John and Kevan Anthony Graham], Frontenac House Ltd., Canada, 2013.
Language for Gods. Mother Tongue Media. 2012.
Love Letter to Anatolia. Mother Tongue Media. 2012.
Blue Bop – Volume 1. Dark River Media, USA, 2009.
The Memorists. Mother Tongue Media. 2008.
800 – Mercan Dede. Doublemoon Records, Turkey, 2007.
Southfull – Brifo. La Baleine Records, France, 2006.
Invisible World. Mother Tongue Media. 2004.
Coastal Tongue: CD Anthology of Women in Spoken Word in Vancouver [Ed. by T. L. Cowal and Tory Bricker]. Canada, 2004.
Bluesprint: Black British Columbian Literature and Orature [edited by Wayne Compton]. Arsenal Press. 2002.
All Wound Up: Alternative Writing from BC. Ripple Effect Press. 2002.
The Golden Section. Mother Tongue Media. 2001.
Ribsauce: A CD Anthology of Words. Wired on Words, Vehicular Press, Canada, 2001.
Cut of Buddha/The Vancouver Eloquence. Mother Tongue Media. 2000.
Throwing Skin: South American Poems 1997-1998. Mother Tongue Media. 1999, 2000.
World Class Animal. Mother Tongue Media. 1997.
La Vache Enragée Anthologie 1996 – 1997. [Edited By Mitsiko Miller]. Revue Stop. 1997.
Blood in Blood Out: A Universal Preparation. Mother Tongue Media. 1996.
About the Books/CDs:
Nouveau Griot is the result of 20 years on stage and in studio. It is the text from four spoken word audio recordings made between 2004-2016: Invisible World, The Memorists, Language for Gods and ZENSHIP. This work is in the continuum of the griot, which is a french African word meaning “poet, singer and traveling musician […] to whom supernatural powers are often attributed.”
Bothism is an experimental Sufi text. It is both sorrow and joy, day and night, content and form, dot and circle, the threshold between worlds. It moves from unity to multiplicity and back again exploring that which can be split and reunited: a cell, a relationship, society, faith, time, words on the page. It posits that if one thing is true, then the opposite must also true, and when asked to choose, the poet’s answer is always both.
ZENSHIP is Tanya Evanson’s fourth audio recording of poetics, trance and jazz. It is inspired by The Ten Bulls progression of short poems and accompanying pictures used in Zen Buddhism to illustrate stages of enlightenment.
More Caught In The Act is the second anthology in a series that explores performance art by Canadian women.
Love Where The Nights Are Twice As Long is an anthology that collects letters and epistolary poems from more than 120 Canadian poets.
The Great Black North is a contemporary remix of the story of Black Canada. Told through the intertwining tapestry of poetic forms found on the page and stage, The Great Black North presents some missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that help fit together a poetic picture of the Black Canadian experience.
Language for Gods is the third spoken wor.l.d music album for Tanya Evanson. A fusion of poetics + dub + jazz + experimental soundz exploring concepts of family, mythology, dialect, silence and technology.
The Memorists is an audio CD of poetry with music jewels of jazz, Africa, Anatolia and Arabia. It is based on work written during four years of life in Istanbul, Turkey, and features collaborations with classical and gypsy musicians as well as well known Vancouver jazz, funk, and world artistes.
Invisible World is an audio CD featuring original poems, songs, stories and traditional prayers based on work written during extensive world travels.
About the Author:
Tanya Evanson is an Antiguan-Canadian writer and performer. She is a graduate of Concordia University Creative Writing and program director of Banff Centre Spoken Word. Evanson is a past recipient of the Golden Beret Award and was Poet of Honour at the 2013 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Since 1995, Tanya Evanson has been performing spoken word and dub poetry with Canadian, Turkish, and other musicians backing her. She is a relation of Veronica Evanson Bernard.
Wadadli Pen connection: Tanya Evanson’s Bothism was in the running for the Wadadli Pen 2017-2018 Readers Choice Book of the Year. 2019.
***
Name: Veronica Evanson Bernard
Books:
Coconut Walk. Creative Print & Graphics. 199?
Pineapple Rhymes [w/illustrations by Eddie Granderson]. Blackwood Press. Atlanta. 1989.
About the Books:
The 2010 edition of the Antigua and Barbuda Review of Books including Veronica Evanson Bernard, noting that her poetry included the local vernacular at a time when it was still taboo to do so.
About the Author:
Veronica Evanson Bernard is a pioneer of Antiguan verse. Born at Fort Road, Antigua, she graduated from the Antigua Girls High School, and taught at schools in Antigua before going on to earn her first degree at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica. She would ultimately earn a PhD Ed from Columbia University after migrating to New York in the mid-1960s. She became, among many other things, an Associate Professor of English at Georgia State University before passing to the afterlife in 2010 at age 80.
***
Name: Dean Fenton
Books:
My Time at the Door. 2021.
Waltzing in the Breeze. 2020.
About the Books:
My Time at the Door is a collection of poems and short stories which explore life, love, and the resilience of existence.
Waltzing in the Breeze is a collection of poems spanning four decades touching on themes of inspiration, solace, hope, and cheer.
About the Author: Fenton left Antigua in his teens for the US. With his degree in Market Research, earned at Baruch college in NYC, he went on to work for various research companies before segueing to tourism. He has worked for the Anguilla Tourist Board and later became Antigua and Barbuda’s USA director of tourism.
***
Name: N. Erna Mae Francis Cotton
Books/CDs:
Poetic Vibes to Help You Thrive.
About the Books:
Poetic Vibes to help you Thrive is spoken word.
About the Author:
N. Erna Mae Francis was born in Swetes, Antigua, and relocated to St. Maarten at age eight. She holds a Bachelors in psychology, a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. She is a certified success coach and the visionary behind Victorious Living.
***
Name: Linisa George
Books:
“Add Cream” and “The Phenomenal Black Woman Remixed” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
“Brown Girl in the Ring” in The World Record: International Voices from Southbank Centre’s Poetry Parnassus. Bloodaxe Books. UK. 2013.
About the Book:
The World Record is an international anthology of work by poets from all the countries taking part in the 2012 London Olympics, featuring a poem from each of the 204 Olympic nations, from Armenia to Tuvalu, Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan. There are new voices as well as world greats, rappers and spoken word artists, poets and storytellers. The World Record marked the first time so many living poets from so many countries had gathered together in one anthology – and 2012 was the first time so many poets had gathered in one place.
About the Author:
Playwright, producer, stage director, and theatre director, Linisa George is originally from Guyana, but migrated to Antigua as a child. She’s been writing since childhood but it wasn’t until her return to Antigua from Canada in 2005 that she went public with it. Since then, she’s been quite active as a member of Women of Antigua, producers of local stagings of the Vagina Monologues and architects of its local counterpart When a Woman Moans; founder of the Young Poets Society of Antigua and Barbuda; and partner in August Rush, producers of the Expressions open mic series and more. She’s also behind several online and artistic projects – Black Girl in the Ring and Art. Culture. Antigua magazines, and The Black Project – which produces local arts showcases among other activities.
Wadadli Pen connection: Linisa George is a former Wadadli Pen Challenge judge. 2013 – 2015. She is also a Wadadli Pen patron, having contributed cash prizes to the Wadadli Pen Challenge. 2017 – 2018.
***
Name: Richard Georges
Books:
Epiphaneia. Outspoken Press. 2020.
Giant. Platypus Press. 2018.
Make us all Islands. Shearsman Books. 2017.
About the Books:
Epiphaneia is set in the immediate aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Irma, the most catastrophic storm to strike the British Virgin Islands. Beyond the loss and devastation that such a natural disaster brings, Georges’ ideas span beyond the physical world, asking us to consider the ways in which families and communities come together amidst such tragedy. Georges locates in the negative space of aftermath both the ghosts of history, and the mythic beginnings of a yet unlived, rejuvenated world. The book was the 2020 winner of the Bocas prize for poetry and the main Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature.
Giant is a manifestation, a creation story born of the ocean. Words turn over and under, shipwrecked then safe-shored. A blend of ghosts and myths meld and coalesce into being, as headstrong as the mountains, as wavering as the sea. Giant was highly recommended by the Forward Prizes (UK) and long listed for the Bocas Prize for Caribbean literature.
Make us all Islands was shortlisted for the Felix Dennis Prize (one of the Forward Prizes) for best first collection. His debut collection crafts narratives of long forgotten migrations, shipwrecks, and the personal with a vivid and sensual aesthetic that is located in the contested space between the sea and the shore.
About the Author:
Richard Georges was born in Trinidad, grew up and still lives in the British Virgin Islands writer. He is listed here in acknowledgment of his Antiguan roots – his grandmother was Antiguan and his grandfather met her while attending secondary school (Antigua Grammar School) here. Georges still has family in Antigua. He is a writer of essays, fiction, and poetry. His work has appeared in Prelude, Smartish Pace, The Poetry Review, WILDNESS, Wasafiri, The White Review and elsewhere. He has won and been shortlisted for several awards including the Hollick Arvon Prize, the Wasafiri New Writing Prize, the Forward Prize for Best First Collection, and the OCM Bocas Prize.
Name: Eileen Hall Lake
Books:
The Fountain and the Bough. C. Scribner’s Sons Co. USA. 1938.
About the Book:
Eileen Hall Lake’s collection received a fine review in Poetry Review in 1939, according to the 2012 edition of the Antiguan and Barbuda Review of Books.
About the Author:
Born Eileen Hall in Antigua, she became Eileen Lake and Eileen Hall Lake after marrying Dr. Michael Lake. Her father’s family was from Oxford and her mother was part French-part Irish, with the French side having been in the then British West Indies since the mid-17th century. In addition to writing poetry and stories – published in Harper’s, Poetry, and American Mercury among others, she was also known for her translations of works by short story writers (e.g. ‘Emil und die Detektive/Emil and the Detectives’, in 1966, for the BBC’s children television series Jackanory – there’s also a credit for this story in 2016 collection Der Krimi: Crime Fiction in German – and It Isn’t Enough, in 1959, for Saturday Playhouse). There’s a credit as well to a 1956 translation of Johanna Spyri’s classic Heidi for Penguin Books. Her association with English novelist and critic, a key player in the development of early 20th century literature, Ford Maddox Ford, is well documented.
Read also Do You Know Eileen Hall? and this CREATIVE SPACE.
***
Name: Lauchland Henry
Books:
Talk to Me. L H Publications. USA. 1979.
Touch Me Inside. High Q Publications. USA. (second edition) 1975.
About the Author:
Born in Antigua, resident in America, Lauchland is a poet and former member of the marine corps who also holds a PhD in engineering sciences.
***
Name: Agnes Cecilia Hewlett-Carrington
Book:
Allo et au ‘Voir. London. 1972.
***
Name: Joanne C. Hillhouse
Books:
“Under Pressure” in A River of Stories (Volume 4 – Fire). Lift Education/Commonwealth Education Trust. New Zealand. 2016.
“One” and “A Religious Experience” in She SEX – Prose and Poetry: SEX and the Caribbean Woman. Bamboo Talk Press. Trinidad. 2013.
cover art by local artist Lyndell Benjamin
On Becoming [as jhohadli]. Poetry. self-published. Antigua. 2003.
About the Books:
A River of Stories travels from tiny island to vast territory, each a member country of the Commonwealth of Nations . There are four volumes in the series – each expressing a different element (air, earth, water, fire) via story or poem. Each entry sizzles with its own energy – whether relating the genesis of the sun or the origins of smoke, recounting the adventures of warriors dancing on hot coals or the bravery of heroes stealing fire from the gods. Together they are testament to the awe-inspiring power of fire across cultures and our enduring fascination with this most dangerous of elements. Longlisted for the north somerset teachers’ book award quality fiction category.
Sex, Prose and Poetry, SEX and the Caribbean Woman. “She Sex is an important gathering of women’s voices.” – Tiphanie Yanique, author of How to Survive a Leper Colony
On Becoming. In this voice, jhohadli (Joanne) speaks from her soul, exploring pain and joy, love and hate, and various things in between.
About the Author:
Joanne C. Hillhouse, born in Ottos Antigua. Her writing also appears in several anthologies and various international publications. She freelances as a writer, editor, writing coach, and course/workshop coordinator.
Wadadli Pen connection: Joanne is the founder of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize and has served as its coordinator and – at various times – Challenge judge, Wadadli Pen workshop facilitator, fundraiser, media liaison, administrator, blogger,and more. 2004 – ongoing. She has also contributed copies of her books Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary and Other Writings, The Boy from Willow Bend, Oh Gad!, Musical Youth, With Grace, The Jungle Outside, Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure, ¡perdida! Una Aventura En El Mar Caribe (Spanish Edition) (the latter two in the running for the Wadadli Pen 2019 Book of the Year), and other prizes (e.g. CDs, books by other authors, literary journals and magazines, scholarships to her Jhohadli Summer Youth Writing Project workshops, one on one coaching sessions, and other gifts) to the annual Wadadli Pen challenge. 2004, 2011 – 2014, 2016 – 2018. Ongoing.
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Name: Sheryl Inigo Joseph
Book:
The Falling Rain.
Poetry and Reality.
***
Name: Dotsie Isaac
Photo by Laura Hall (@ 2006 Wadadli Pen fundraiser, Word Up!)
Books/CD:
The Royal Wedding. Antigua. 2018.
I am Speaking (CD). Antigua. 2014.
“Brain Freeze” and “The Saddest Story” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
Ab-SOUL-utely Dotsie. Antigua. 2004.
About the Books/CD:
The Royal Wedding is a spoken word poem released as a CD single in response to the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
I am Speaking is a spoken word CD.
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
Ab-Soul-utely Dotsie is a spoken word CD.
About the Author:
Dotsie Isaac Gellizeau, a former Wadadli Pen judge, built her rep on the Antiguan and Barbudan open mic scene before putting out her first CD. Her poetry has been performed in theatrical productions like When a Woman Moans. Dotsie has been featured in CREATIVE SPACE.
Wadadli Pen connection: Dotsie has been a judge (2011) and has donated copies of her CD Ab-Soul-uuutely Dotsie (2006 and 2014) to the Wadadli Pen Challenge; she was also a guest presenter at the Wadadli Pen Awards ceremony (2015) and participated in the Wadadli Pen fundraiser/literary showcase ‘Word up! 2006’. Her CD The Royal Wedding was in the running for the Wadadli Pen Book of the Year (2019).
***
Name: Sylvester Itoyah
Books:
She Stood Naked. 1996.
***
Name: Tameka Jarvis-George
Books:
“Selfish” and “Uncomfortable” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
I am. 
Hidden Brook Press. 2005.
I am that I am. Watermark Press. MD. 2000.
Thoughts from the Pharcyde. Hidden Brook Press. 1999.
About the Author:
Tameka Jarvis-George is a poet, novelist, children’s book and comics author, song writer, screenwriter, filmmaker, blogger, fashion designer, wife, mother, and more.
Wadadli Pen connection: Tameka participated in the Wadadli Pen fundraiser and literary showcase Word Up! 2006.
***
Name: Joseph Jermaine
Books:
Creative Thoughts. 2002.
***
Name: Clifton Joseph
Books:
“Memories” and “I Remember Back Home” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
“Chuckie Prophecy”, “*footnote to the end of a love affair”, “RITES/FOR WALTER RODNEY” in In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (edited by Althea Prince). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2012.
Oral/ Trans/Missions [w/the Livestock Band]. Europe. 1990.
Metropolitan Blues. Domestic Bliss. Canada. 1983.
About the Author:
Clifton Joseph is a journalist and broadcaster in addition to being a poet. He is a founding member of the Dub Poetry movement in Canada.
***
Name: Llewelyn Joseph
Books:
“I saw My Father Naked” and “Immigrant Blues” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
Poetry has been part of Antiguan, Llewellyn Joseph’s life from infancy – hearing it read, recited; reading and reciting to parents, church congregations, and school concert audiences. Influences on his poetry include living the Black experience, the midsixties to late seventies, and coming to appreciate what he calls ‘the condition of being Black’; nodal life experiences; becoming a parent; and the changing relationships with aging parents.
***
Name: Sarah P. King
Book: 
Life is…. 2019.
About the Book: Sarah draws inspiration from life experiences in hopes of motivating and inspiring the reader to live their best life ever.
About the Author: King is a general physician and trainer from Antigua-Barbuda.
*******
Name: Joy Lawrence 
Books:
“The Whirlwind” in A River of Stories (Volume 3 – Air). Lift Education/Commonwealth Education Trust. New Zealand. 2016.
Island Spice. Antigua. 1996. 1997.
About the Books:
A River of Stories travels from tiny island to vast territory, each a member country of the Commonwealth of Nations . There are four volumes in the series – each expressing a different element (air, earth, water, fire) via story or poem. Longlisted for the north somerset teachers’ book award quality fiction category.
About the Author:
Born in Bethesda village Antigua, Joy Lawrence would grow to become an educator as well as a prolific poet, historian, and folklorist. She was a senior lecturer at the Antigua State College and founder of the ASC/UNESCO annual poetry contest. Ms. Lawrence was awarded the 2004 UNESCO Honour Award by the organization’s literary arts committee, for her contribution to literary arts in Antigua and Barbuda.
Wadadli Pen connection: Joy Lawrence contributed copies of her books The Footprints of Parham, The Way We Talk and Other Antiguan Folkways, and Bethesda and Christian Hill, in addition to a plaque for the Teachers’ Challenge to the 2014 Wadadli Pen Challenge, and as a Wadadli Pen partner in 2013 travelled to schools on the island to promote the Challenge. She also participated in the Wadadli Pen fundraiser and literary showcase Word Up! 2006.
***
Name: Kaliq Lowe
Books:
“Some Things Never Change” and “Free-Falling” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
Kaliq Lowe wrote his first poem in Grade 2 for an English assignment for his teacher, and in 2008, he won first place in the poetry competition for the Antigua & Barbuda Literary Arts Competition.
***
Name: Iyaba Ibo Mandingo
Books:
Fu You Tongue Heavy Lakka 56. USA. 2022, 2018.
Sins of My Fathers. USA. 2014.
Self-Portrait (CD). USA.
40 Days n 40 Nites of Write. USA.
Amerikkkan Exile. USA.
41 Times: Poems. Iyaba Arts. USA. 2000.
About the Books:
Fu You Tongue Heavy Lakka 56 is a look back at the body of work by Iyaba Ibo Mandingo. It includes his early work, the works written after his 9/11 arrest and detainment by homeland security and the latest work following his return to Afrika. “Fu You Tongue Heavy Lakka 56” is Antiguan patois. It is a favorite saying of Iyaba Ibo Mandingo’s Great Grandmother, “Rozzy” Guy. It means you have a lot to say. As the grandchild of former enslaved Africans she remembers the elders talking about the heavy plows they used during slavery and the days of shooting hard labor (sharecropping) that followed. The size of each plow was designated by a number stamped on the handle. 56 was the number of the heaviest of them all. It was a perfect way to honor his Eguns (ancestors) and the perfect title for a collection of poetry
Sins of My Fathers is the debut novel of painter, poet, playwright, actor and teacher Iyaba Ibo Mandingo.
41 Times: Poems – “Iyaba’s poetry has many of the characteristics of his paintings, the narration, the subject matter and the emotions which flows from a well spring of Black experience i.e. slavery, Black on Black crime, police brutality, Rastafari, Black love and more.” [from the back cover]
About the Author:
Iyaba Ibo Mandingo – poet, painter, writer, teacher and playwright – is a native of Antigua, West Indies, who came to the United States in 1980 as a young boy. His earliest exposures to the arts were through his mother, a professional singer, and his grandparents, a tailor and a seamstress who first introduced him to colors and patterns, paving a path to the many ways of expression: drawing, painting, sculpting, writing and performing. Iyaba studied fine arts at Southern Connecticut State University and teaches in and around the tri-state area as a Master Teaching Artist. Iyaba’s 1man play “unFRAMED” had a sold out Off-Broadway debut in Spring 2017 at the Elektra Theater NYC after enjoying a successful two-year run off-off Broadway in 2011-12. The play also had a successful run at Harlem Arts Festival 2017 and the Rhode Island Fringe Festival. In 2015 he embarked on his first African tour bringing his 1Man play “unFRAMED”, his first novel “Sins of My Fathers” and his poetry to South Africa and Nigeria. He is a repeat Connecticut Grand Slam champion and Yale University’s Martin Luther King Birthday Invitational Slam. He appears regularly as a performance poet in venues across the United States and abroad, including Nuyorican Poetry Café, Brooklyn Moon, and Next Door Café among others in the NY area and was the keynote performer at the 2011 Westchester, NY Poetry Festival. Iyaba was awarded a national Percent for the Arts Program artist grant, as well as grants from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, and multiple commendations from the Nassau County African American Museum. His artwork has been included in over a dozen group and individual shows in the tri-state area.
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Name: Monica Matthew
Books:
“Wha You Come From? What Makes You Who You Are?” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
Monica Matthew was born in the parish of St. Phillips, and grew up in the Grays Green community, in Antigua. In Grays Farm, a loving woman, Mary Ambrose, raised her, along with her many children. She taught for many years at the Greenbay Government School, the Antigua Grammar School and then the Ottos Comprehensive School before leaving to teach Home Economics and Nutrition in Tortola, the British Virgin Islands. At New York City Technical College in Brooklyn, Monica earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Management and The Applied Sciences. She was named Tourism Ambassador of Antigua in 2008. She is the founder of Grays Farm Publishing.
Wadadli Pen connection: Monica was a 2015 Wadadli Pen judge.
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Name: Carolyn Matthew Nation
Books:
Poetry for Life. Trafford Publishing. 2009.
About the Book:
Poetry for Life is a collection of poems to encourage the soul, heart, and mind. It is all about life:- our creator – God Almighty, challenges, trials, love, successes, attitudes, humor etc. Some of these poems are true life experiences of the author.
About the Author:
Carolyn Matthew-Nation is from Antigua and Barbuda. She pursued Business Management Studies at the Antigua State College where she graduated in 1994. She went on to pursue basic training as well as various accomplishments within her field of study. In 1993, a year after meeting her would be husband was when her poetic skills emerged. She wrote her first poem that August entitled ‘Strangers at the Seashore’. It was from there she knew she was gifted with a passion for poetry. She went on to marry her sweetheart and they now have two children.
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Name: Hilda McDonald
Books:
Sunflakes and Stardust. 1956.
About the Author: Hilda McDonald is the grandmother of Ian McDonald, the Trinidad born, Guyanese based author of Caribbean classic, The Hummingbird Tree. She was the first female member of the Antiguan House of Assembly.
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Name: Rosie McMaster
Books:
“The Pain of Old Age” and “The Blind are Very Blessed” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
Rosemarie V. McMaster is the owner, and Managing and Production Director of Antigua’s famous pepper-sauce, Susie’s Hot Sauce. McMaster’s sauces have won first place in the Texas Shout Out (Susie’s Tamarind Tango), several Golden Chile awards (2001 for best international hot sauce for Susie’s Original, best fruit hot sauce for Susie’s Mango Mandingo and Susie’s Pineapple Pleasure in 2002 and 2003, respectively), among other awards. She is also an accomplished travel consultant, and is a dedicated public servant. In 2005, Rosie was awarded the ‘Business Woman of the Year’ Award in Florida; and also the Most Illustrious Order of Merit in Antigua, for her contribution to industry and commerce. In October 2009, she was presented the prestigious MBE Award by HRH Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.
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Name: Franklin Michael
Books:
published in Out of the Stars 2. 1976
***
Name: Vivian Michael 
Books:
“Words Left Unsaid” and “My Inspiration” in Collective Soul Volume One. Chrysalis. Antigua. 1998.
About the Author:
Vivian Michael has worked as a journalist/news broadcaster for many years with Observer Media Group/now Newsco. He ran a lit arts column, Writer’s Block, in the Daily Observer introducing new writers/writing over the years. He has also been an open mic feature with groups like Crysalis etc.
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Name: Kimolisa Mings
Books:
Dark Warrior Vol. 1 (Manga in Verse). 2015.
Woman Defined. 2014.
She Wanted a Love Poem. 2014.
About the Book:
Dark Warrior Vol. 1 (Manga in Verse). In the land of the Rising Sun, an unusual individual begins an epic journey. Join the journey as a traveler, known as the Dark Warrior, battles mysterious opponents. Will the Dark Warrior survive a battle against an opponent that is anything but human? A manga written in verse, paying tribute to the epic poems of the distant past.
Woman Defined. How do you define a woman? Do you define her by her experiences in the past? Her choices in the present? Or her dreams for the future? This collection of poems illustrates the defining moments in the life of the poet. Moments that shaped the choices she made and held her back from truly living in the present. In coming to terms with the past, one can let go of it, and enjoy the present.
She Wanted A Love Poem is a collection of poems with the common theme of love. But there is more to the four letter word than the intense affection between a man and a woman. There is the love between members of a family, there is forbidden love and loved tied up in the web of complexity. Like all things, there is a beginning and an end, and as easily as it is found, love is lost. Hopefully at the end of this collection of poems, you will comprehend the complexities behind the four letter world called love.
About the Author:
Kimolisa Mings started writing poetry after she was encouraged to do so by her English teacher, Ms. Joseph. Although her body of work grew with the passing of years, it was only in 2005 that Kimolisa started to share her work at local open mic events. In 2008, she started a blog called Kim or Lisa, where one can find her older poems and her latest poems. In 2011, Kimolisa won the Independence Literary Award for Poetry in the adult division. In 2012, one of her poems was featured in “When A Woman Moans”, a local twist on the Vagina Monologues. Kimolisa’s first book was the short story ebook Martine, self-published in 2012.
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Name: Motion
Books/CDs:
“four-day morning” and “Vancity: 3 Blocks” in The Black Notes: Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls edited by Althea Prince (co-edited by Gayle Gonsalves and Aisha Wilks). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
“Home” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: New Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [edited by Dr. Althea Prince] A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
included in The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry [edited by Valerie Mason-John and Kevan Anthony Graham], Frontenac House Ltd., Canada, 2013.
“Locks and Love”, “Graf”, “SheLand*”, “Be Girl” in In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (edited by Althea Prince). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2012.
40 Dayz. Canadian Scholars Press. 2008.
“Girl” and “I-Land” in Revival: An Anthology of the Best Black Canadian Writing [Editor by Donna Bailey Nurse], McClelland & Stewart, 2006.
included in T-Dot Griots: An Anthology of Toronto’s Black Storytellers [Edited by Karen Richardson and Green], Trafford Publishing, 2006.
Motion in Poetry. Women’s Press. Canada. 2002.
About the Books:
The Black Notes. This collection contains stories and poems written by 12 Black women; it is serendipitous that their voices blend seamlessly, and beautifully, even though the writers are intergenerational. The storytelling crosses local, national, and international cultural sensibilities, giving the reader a glimpse of the way the storytellers ‘receive’ and share ‘Story’. The poets cut through emotional lines to caress the reader, just before they unleash a shaft of insight that rattles your consciousness. Contributors to Black Notes include Trey Anthony, Itah Sadu, D’bi Young, Sister Souljah, Brenda Lee Browne, Jully Black, and Jemeni.
The Great Black North is a contemporary remix of the story of Black Canada. Told through the intertwining tapestry of poetic forms found on the page and stage, The Great Black North presents some missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that help fit together a poetic picture of the Black Canadian experience.
In the Black is a mix of short fiction, poetry, dub poetry and hip hop, some of Black Canada’s foremost writers from across generations explore history, community, love, and healing. The collection consists of writing from Catherine Bain, George Elliott Clarke, Gayle Gonsalves, Joanne C. Hillhouse, Clifton Joseph, Dwayne Morgan, Motion, Jelani Nias (J-Wyze), Djanet Sears, Mansa Trotman, and the editor, Althea Prince.
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
40 Dayz is Motion’s second book of poetry; an entrancing journey through challenge, discovery, and transformation. It is topical, sensual, sometimes provocative, often beautiful, and always engagingly rhythmic. The poems all allude to or explore the theme of “40 dayz,” reflecting the literary side of Motion”s artistry, while retaining the amazing power of her spoken-word style. Among them is the acclaimed “connect the t.dots,” winner of the first annual CBC Poetry Face-Off.
Drawing on fiction, poetry, and memoir, Revival brings together an impressively varied selection of outstanding work by both well-known writers and new voices. Donna Bailey Nurse’s lively and invaluable introduction deftly explores the various themes and motifs that define and illuminate the meaning of being black, while tracing the evolution of this influential literature through colonialism, post-colonialism, and decolonization.
Birthed at the popular open-mic series, La Parole, T Dot Griots is an intimate journey through previously undocumented Canadian experiences, reporting from Toronto’s black communities in fiction, poetry, articles, plays and songs. The book features contributions by over forty writers of African descent, either raised in or residing in Toronto.
Motion in Poetry is a print edition and Audio Xperience. Motion tells her powerful stories of identity, strength, and place; charting a journey in language that is rich in contemporary African-Canadian rhythms.
About the Author:
Motion is the daughter of an Antiguan mother. She is an award winning artist whose accolades began when she became the first female Hip Hop artist to be nominated for MuchMusic’s Best Rap Video. Her pioneering presence continued when her commentary on urban life and love in Toronto made her the winner of the CBC National Poetry Face-Off with her nationally acclaimed poem ‘Connect the T.Dots’. Motion is the first Hip Hop artist in Canada to publish a collection of writings, Motion in Poetry, with the companion album, the Audio Xperience. She’s performed at Russell Simmonds Def Poetry Jam on HBO and is a member of the Obsidian Theatre’s Playwrights Unit. She’s written for stage and screen
***
Name: Satara Murray
Book: “Belief” in Black Notes (co-edited by Althea Prince, Gayle Gonsalves, and Aisha Wilks). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
About the Author: Daughter of Glenda Prince.
*****
Name: Kamau Ode Lasana
Books:
Roadside Prophet & Other Poems. Blackground Productions. Canada. 2000.
***
Name: Elaine Olaoye
Books:
Passions of the Soul. Northwind Publishers, New Jersey. (second edition) 2002.
About the Book: The book is a combination of poetry and poetry therapy.
About the Author:
Elaine Henry Olaoye received her Ph.D in 1981 and is a Professor of Psychology at Brookdale Community College, and an Adjunct Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is also a poet who believes in the therapeutic value of poetry. As CEO of NorthWest Enterprises, she conducts workshops, presents papers, and consults in the areas of stress management, education psychology and positive psychology. She sponsors an International Poetry and Psychology Performance at Brookdale and, in Antigua, sponsors the annual Elaine Henry Olaoye and Tori Antigua Girls High School Scholarship.
*****
Name: Germaine Owen.
Books:
I Could Fly Like a Bird. Trafford Publishing, Canada, 2003.
About the Author:
Germaine Owen was born in St. Croix to Antiguan parents. She first published as an undergraduate from John Hopkins University. She is a practicing physician who also writes creatively. She is at work on her first novel.
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Name: J. Nerissa Percival
Book:
Butterfly in the Sunlight. iuniverse.com, 2006.
Butterfly in the Moonlight.
iuniverse.com, 2006.
About the Books:
Butterfly In The Sunlight is a happier sequel to Butterfly in the Moonlight. It begins on an uncertain and somewhat troubled note within the mind and heart of the main character, but ends triumphantly as true love is finally obtained. Additionally, Butterfly In The Sunlight contains a compelling and heartbreaking factual short story, which delivers an earth shattering message to young women across the world.
Butterfly in the Moonlight is a collection of poetry conceived in the innermost recesses of a young but experienced mind; with love – its beauty and ugliness – as its central theme.
About the Author:
R.I.P., Nerissa. Gone too soon. Nerissa, the daughter of former government minister Bernard Percival, died suddenly in 2010 at age 28. In addition to her writing, readers may also remember her from her performance in the first staging of the Antigua and Barbuda adaptation of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, brought to Antigua by the activist group Women of Antigua.
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Name: Sislyn Peters
Book:
Shades of a Colonial Coloured. AuthorHouse. 2009.
A Little Souvenir in Poetry. AuthorHouse. 2008.
Undocumented Citizen. AuthorHouse. 2007.
A Souvenir of Antigua in Poetry. AuthorHouse. 2006.
About the Books:
Shades of a Colonial Coloured: An Autobiography chronicles the author’s memory milestones, such as asking her mother to pick her up, at age one-and-a-half; Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation celebration, at three years old; and the colony’s conversion from British pounds, shillings and pence to the new Eastern Caribbean Currency of dollars and cents, at age ten, among others. The author documents taboo subject questions such as “Where do babies come from?” She touches on the very subtle racism that lurks amongst a few people; the days of migration to England; her first encounter with Rock & Roll and the juke box; and her first peek into American racism. The book gives insight into the author’s makeup and foundation, literally. It shows her enthusiasm for learning, and her curiosity about humanity. It also reveals how much corporal punishment was used in home and school. This autobiography is testament to a determination to persevere and rise above all odds, in spite of obstacles. Youth’s honest naïveté, innocence, and beauty shine through this thoughtfully written, informative, and valuable work.
In A Little Souvenir in Poetry, Sislyn Peters selects classic and contemporary favorites from her compilation of poems. This is an intelligently written work, which exposes Peters as a visionary who brings issues to the fore, such as in “The Stoning,” “When You Ain’t Got Time,” and “To A Mother.” She makes full use of figures of speech; the reader is not at a loss for sharp imagery. It is obvious that Peters is a literary artist. Her poems have a musical beat, and are sculpted. They are also engrossing, and cause the reader to become engrossed, pause, soul-search, and smile.
In Undocumented Citizen, nineteen-year-old Naomi Abram is lost at sea with her heart-throb, a Bible, and a notebook, and crash-lands on a beach, in the dark, in Puerto Rico. She boards the wrong plane for home, and unwittingly enters the U.S.A. where she lives an undocumented, stagnant lifestyle. Naomi is forced to lie about where she’s from, in order to maintain employment; but her conscience keeps her moral values tame. She experiences horror, when her landlady dies; grief and guilt, when her brother dies; fright and fear, when confronted by law enforcement; and joy, when she sneaks out of the Country and visits her family. While in Antigua, she learns that a new culture, Rastafarianism, is sweeping the island. After waiting and hoping for more than a decade, Naomi’s presence in the U.S.A. is finally documented.
A Souvenir of Antigua in Poetry reflects the author’s fond memories of life on the island. On its own, the book persuades the reader to pause, with profound questions to self, and encourages empathy, as the reader experiences a deliciously emotional journey. For those who long to engage in literary works, with substance, A Souvenir of Antigua in Poetry is filled with sparkling gems. They range from poems with musical cadence, as in “Potpourri Music;” or innocent childhood imaginings, as in “The Clouds;” to serious musings, as in “Time and Place Intersection;” or humour, as in “Ode to a Pervert.”
About the Author:
Sislyn Peters was born in St. John’s, Antigua, then British West Indies, and attended the Ebenezer Methodist Church, and Sunday school. She is a graduate of Princess Margaret High School. As a child, she wrote verses, and short stories. As a teenager, she sang with local bands, including Pat Edwards’ Playboys, and Vere Anthony’s Teen Stars, and is also a playwright. One of her plays, Trust, was adapted by the City College of New York’s English Department, Division of Humanities & Arts, and performed at the Aaron Davis Hall, in 2001. Her public literary voice lay dormant for all these years, waiting to burst forth.
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Name: Rowan Ricardo Philips
Books:
Living Weapon. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. USA. 2020.
Heaven: Poems. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. USA. 2015.
Ariadne in the Grotesque Labyrinth – as translator (book written by Salvador Espriu). Dalkey Archive Press. USA. 2012
The Ground: Poems. Farrar Straus & Giroux. USA. 2012.
When Blackness Rhymes with Blackness. Dalkey Archive Press. 2010.
About the Books:
Rowan Ricardo Phillips’s Living Weapon is a love song to the imagination, a new blade of light honed in on our political moment. Here, in his third collection of poems, Phillips offers ruminations on violins and violence, on hatred, on turning forty-three, even on the end of existence itself.
Heaven is one of The Washington Post’s Best Poetry Collections of 2015, one of NPR’s Best Books of 2015, and one of Flavorwire’s Best Poetry Books of 2015; and has been long-listed for the National Book Award in poetry and the 2016 PEN Open Book Award. Swerving elegantly from humor to heartbreak, from Colorado to Florida, from Dante’s Paradise to Homer’s Iliad, from knowledge to ignorance to awe, Phillips turns his gaze upward and outward, probing and upending notions of the beyond. Meditating on feverish boyhood, on two paintings by Chuck Close, on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, on a dead rooster by the side of the road in Ohio, on an elk grazing outside his window, his language remains eternally intoxicating, full of play, pathos, and surprise.
The Ground: Poems is a poignant and terse vision of New York City. The Ground is an entire world, drawn and revealed through contemplation of the post-9/11 landscape. These are poems of fiery intelligence, inescapable music, and metaphysical splendor that concern themselves with lived life and the life of the imagination––both equally vivid and true––as they lay the framework for Phillips’s meditations on our connection to and estrangement from the natural world.
In When Blackness Rhymes with Blackness, Rowan Ricardo Phillips pushes African American poetry to its limits by unraveling “our desire to think of African American poetry as African American poetry.” Phillips reads African American poetry as inherently allegorical and thus “a successful shorthand for the survival of a poetry but unsuccessful shorthand for the sustenance of its poems.” Arguing in favor of the “counterintuitive imagination,” Phillips demonstrates how these poems tend to refuse their logical insertion into a larger vision and instead dwell indefinitely at the crux between poetry and race, “where, when blackness rhymes with blackness, it is left for us to determine whether this juxtaposition contains a vital difference or is just mere repetition.”
About the Author:
Multi-award winning poet, author, screenwriter, academic, translator, and journalist Rowan Ricardo Phillips was born in NYC (to Antiguan and Barbudan parents) and has taught at several Ivy League universities. His writing appears in various international publications. His awards include the Nicolás Guillén Outstanding Book Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sportswriting, the PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry, a Whiting Award, and the GLCA New Writers Award. He has also been a finalist for the Griffin International Poetry Prize, the National Book Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Also an acclaimed sportswriter, Rowan’s writing on basketball has been collected by The Library of America, his soccer writing has been acclaimed by BBC commentary and English soccer legend Gary Linekar, and his award-winning writing on tennis has achieved widespread international recognition. Rowan has written the screenplay for Legendary’s biopic on baseball icon Roberto Clemente adapted from Pulitzer Prize winner David Maraniss’ biography CLEMENTE: THE PASSION AND PRIDE OF BASEBALL’S LAST HERO. His poetry has been adapted for music and subsequently appeared on Spike Lee’s Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It. Rowan Ricardo Phillips is a graduate of Swarthmore College and has a doctorate in English Literature from Brown University. He is a Professor of English at Stony Brook University, a member of the faculty of Creative Writing at Princeton University, and currrently is the Margret Bundy Scott Professor of English at Williams College. He divides his time between Williamstown, New York City, and Barcelona with his wife and two daughters.
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Name: John Prince
Books:
“Stifled Youth” and “Dig the Hole” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
Pruckup’s Freedom. Bass Press, London, UK, 2011.
Reflections. Baas Press, London, UK, 2010.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
John Prince was born during a hurricane in Nevis to his mother, an Antiguan, and his father, a Dominican policeman stationed in St. Kitts and Nevis. Shortly after his birth, his father was transferred back to Antigua. John graduated from the Government Teachers’ College in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and taught in Antigua before immigrating to the UK, where he worked as a teacher in north and east London. He later became the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) Head Teacher for Homerton House Boys Comprehensive School, Hackney, East London. John also received a Masters of Art (Econ. of Ed.) from the London University. John is an executive member of the London Compact –a Committee established by Prince Charles to improve the employment opportunities for Black and other socially disadvantaged young people. In March 2007, on the occasion of the Bicentenary Celebrations of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the Hackney Museum, London, acquired two of his poems for their archives.
***
Name: Ralph Prince
Books:
“Deep in Paradise” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
Ralph Prince, born 1938, is an Antiguan writer who lived for many years in the UK, where he worked as a journalist for the BBC. In Guyana, the birthplace of his wife, he worked as editor of the Demba Digest. He eventually returned to Antigua where he published his short story collection Jewels of the Sun in 1979. A literary journal, the Prince Literary Magazine was created in his honour after his death. He is the brother of artist Arnold Prince, musician Roland Prince, politician Sydney Prince, and writers Althea and John Prince.
***
Name: Carolyn Providence
CD: The Spiritual Evolution of Black Beauty. Ecnedivorp. USA. 2005, 2007.
About the CD:
The Spiritual Evolution of Black Beauty, which was nominated for the Best Spoken Word Album at the National Underground Spoken Word and Poetry Awards, blends spoken words with jazz, hip-hop, blues, rock and soul, and utilizes the sounds of nature, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas.
About the Author:
Carolyn Providence was born and grew up in Antigua, and now resides in the US. Poetry became her calling at age five, and poetry gave her the name “Black Beauty”. Providence became a professional poet in the year 2000. She lives on stage and comes alive with her inspirational and motivational poems. She is not a novice to the art of creativity and to the stage, having performed throughout the United States and the Caribbean. She was a regular poet on the Washington, DC poetry scene and now she is a poet of the world. Black Beauty writes and performs all of her original work.
***
Name: Mary Geo Quinn
Photo by Laura Hall (@ 2006 Wad Pen fundraiser, Word Up!)
Selected Works:
Hol de Line and Other Stories. Caribbean Education Publishers. Trinidad and Tobago. 2017.
Reflections. Macmillan Caribbean, 2003.
Sugar Mill Gems: A Book of Verse for Children. 1993.
Lest We Forget – Patriotic Poems. 1993.
Heart to Heart
A Stormy Tale
Winthorpean Echoes: A Collection of Poems
All of the Women of the Bible. 1976.
About the Books:
Hol de Line and Other Stories details the non-fictitious accounts of events from as far back as the 1940s.
About the Author:
Mary Quinn was born in New Winthorpes on December 5, 1931. In 1946, she was picked out of her class to be trained to become a teacher. Her first story “By Hook or By Crook” won a 1961 competition organized by the Venezuelan Embassy in Barbados. She was recognized by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Assocation in 2002 for her short story “Joe”. The retired head teacher (with a background in literature, geography, and ancient history), is the author of seven+ books and has had several of her poems set to music by American artists.
Wadadli Pen connection: Mrs. Quinn participated in the Wadadli Pen fundraiser/literary showcase – Word Up! 2006.
***
Name: James H. Richmond
Books:
Reflections of Today. 1993.
***
Name: Althea Romeo-Mark
Selected Works:
“Back in Your arms Again” in Kenya through a Foreign Lens; a Collection of Poems (edited by Christopher Okemwa). 2022.
“Hunted” and “Another One bites the Dust” in I can’t Breathe, a Poetic Anthology of Social Justice (edited by Christopher Okemwa). 2021.
“Killing Covid-19”, “Home is not always a Haven”, and “Staying Alive 2020” in Musings During the time of the Pandemic: A World Anthology of Poems on Covid (edited by Christopher Okemwa). 2020.
The Nakedness of New. CreateSpace Independent Publish Platform North/South Carolina, USA. 2018.
“Lost Love” in Women in War: Saying NO to Gender Violence. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. USA. 2015.
If Only the Dust would Settle. 
2009. AuthorHouse.
English-German, Beyond Dreams: The Ritual Dancer. Sabanoh Press, Liberia, 1989.
Two Faces, Two Phases. Speed-O-Graphics, Liberia. 1984.
Palaver: West Indian Poems. Downtown Poets Co-op, USA, 1978.
Shu-Shu Moko Jumbi: The Silent Dancing Spirit. Department of Pan-African Studies Monography Series, Vol. 1, No. 3, Spring, Kent State University, USA, 1974.
About the Books:
Kenya through a Foreign Lens features poems written by poets who attended the Kistrech event from 2013 to 2019: Althea Romeo-Mark (Switzerland), Professor Arif Khudairi (Egypt), Dr. Diti Ronen (Israel), Daniel H. Dugas (Canada), Godspower Oboido (Nigeria), Hilde Susan Jaegtnes (Norway), Joanna Lundberg (Finland), Katharina Koppe (Germany), Lauri García Dueñas (Mexico), Valerie Leblanc (Canada), Libor Martinek (Czech Republic), and Dr. Molly Joseph (India).
The Nakedness of New is divided into six sections: I Caribbean Rooted, II: The Stories of Immigrants, III: Ugly Stories, IV: Lost Love/Liberia (West Africa), V: Sifting Through Life’s Grains, and VI: Going Past Rivers. Althea Romeo-Mark’s verse gives the reader a close-up view of life as an immigrant in the Caribbean and details her experiences in England after fleeing the violence of the Liberian civil war. She takes the reader inside the uneasy tapestry of immigrant cultures that form the Caribbean islands. She goes on to explore the problems encountered by women in a society that is male-dominated, unstable, and unjust; by immigrants displaced from their homes and their ways of life; and by families committed to each other no matter what comes. The Nakedness of New also includes three revealing personal essays and a section focused on her maternal grandmother, a controversial personality who held the family together. Through it all run the themes of resiliency, heart, and dedication to living.
Women in War is a book written to join the campaign against women exploitation and oppression.
In If Only the Dust would Settle, from Antigua to the USVI to the US to Liberia to the UK to Switzerland, the author takes the reader on the trip of a lifetime capturing the character of the places she’s inhabited and the ways they’ve helped shaped her character. It illuminates the “immigrant” experience and redefines notions of “home”.
About the Author:
Born in English Harbour, Antigua, West Indies, Althea Romeo-Mark is an educator and writer who grew up in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. She has lived and taught in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, USA, Liberia (1976-1990), London, England (1990-1991), and in Switzerland since 1991. A multi-award winning artiste, she was one of thirty-five poets invited to attend the International Festival-Poetry Nights in Curtea de Arges, Romania (2017). She participated in the 10th Anniversary Conference of the Antigua and Barbuda Review of Books, Antigua (2015); was one of several guests poets at Kistrech International Poetry Festival in Kissi, Kenya (2014); participated in Tag der Poesie, Basel, 2013, and was one of a hundred guest poets invited to read at the XX International Poetry Festival of Medellin, Colombia (2010). She writes poetry and short stories and has been published in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, USA, England, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Colombia, India, UK, Kenya, Liberia, Portugal, Romania, and Switzerland.
Wadadli Pen connection – The Nakedness of New was in the running for the Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year 2019.
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Name: Marilyn Sargeant
Book: Carbon is Yellow. Baico Publishing. Canada. 2016.
About the Book:
Debut collection of narrative and lyrical poetry covering a variety of topics touching on every day life.
About the Author:
Marilyn Sargeant grew up in the Caribbean and has lived and worked in Ottawa for a number of years. She has been jotting down verses on ideas for most of her life. Marilyn has honed her skill at writing simply and clearly to be understood by all while retaining her natural lyrical rhythm in verses that readers have commented, “make you think”.
***
Name: Denise Smith-Lewis
Book: Emancipation Come. Worthy Productions. Antigua. 2014.
About the Book:
This book is a compilation of the original works of the author Rev. Denise Smith-Lewis containing poems touching all aspects of liberation. It shares perspectives of the Caribbean family life: male/female relationships, social responsibility and the like.
About the Author:
Rev. Denise Smith-Lewis is a repeat winner of the former Antigua and Barbudan Independence Literary Awards. This is her first poetry collection.
***
Names: Spilling Ink (a collective including Mikhail Simmons, Gloreen Lake, and Olsfred James)
Book:
Ashes: the Continuum. 2016.
Ashes: A Broken Inception. 2015.
About the Book:
Ashes: The Continuum is the exciting continuation of the love story which started in our first installation: Ashes: A broken Inception.
Ashes: A Broken Inception. Time and time again, we hear stories, tales, words of Wisdom about the love of woman leading to the death of man, the pathway to a life of doom, and the absolute perish of our way of life should we choose to pursue, woman. Since the beginning of time, these stories have circulated and evidently fallen on deaf ears. This, however, is not that story. This is the unedited tale, the pure and uninfected truth, the deniable and unwanted facts of love. This, is both sides of the coin… It is the journey and pain both man and woman battle for each other and the omnipotent obstacles that brew in the midst of it all. This is…The Ashes of it all. Binded within each shred of oak, soaked deep in its roots, is an unorthodox complement to each tale. A depiction of the short story, reflected by poems of essence bringing forth the aroma, the emotion, the deep and confidential thoughts of two men and a woman in Ashes. May your heart burn and endure, reach and bloom, rise to inner understanding, as each unnamed yet characterful persona take you, through their roots.
About the Authors:
Spilling Ink describes itself as “the creative combination of active minds putting fun, obstacles, triumphs, life and its untold similarities shared into Written Art.” As an organization, SpillingInk has declared its interest in being “an avenue for young and inspired artists”, aiding “in the development of their skills, through … Art, Poetry, and Music. 1. To raise more awareness within the Literary and Art Community 2. To build strong partnerships with other organization(s) within the Art industry both regionally and internationally 3. To provide a nurturing environment for both personal and professional growth.” The collective includes Mikhail Simmons, Gloreen Lake, and Olsfred James – poets and spoken word artists. James also has the chapbooks Silhouettes of Rose, Affliction of Rose, and Reflections of Rose. SpillingInk received the literary arts award presented during the Department of Youth Affairs’ National Youth Awards in 2017. Spilling Ink has been featured in CREATIVE SPACE.
Wadadli Pen connection: James, was a Best of Books pick (a finalist) in the 2015 Wadadli Pen flash fiction Challenge.
***
Name: Glen Toussaint
Books:
“Ode to Love” in Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings (by Joanne C. Hillhouse).Insomniac. Canada. 2014.
“C’est L’avi Mwen” and “Sky” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Books:
“Ode to Love“ is inspired by Dancing Nude in the Moonlight (by Joanne C. Hillhouse) was originally published as a novella and published as fan fiction in Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings.
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 (edited by Althea Prince) is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
Born in Dominica, Glen lives in Antigua and works at the Best of Books where he runs projects like the Wadadli Pen Open Mic and weekly story time activities with the children.
Wadadli Pen connection: Glen has been a regular master of ceremonies of Wadadli Pen awards ceremonies (not necessarily year by year but) over the years that the Best of Books has hosted the Challenge awards in-store, 2012 – 2018. He also hosted a Wadadli Pen Open Mic (which while not a Wadadli Pen project uses its name) at the Best of Book bookstore, starting in 2010. Glen has also served as a Wadadli Pen judge, 2016 – 2017. Since starting his own company Ten Pages Bookstore, in 2020, he has also become a Wadadli Pen patron.
***
Name: Michelle Toussaint
Book: Now taking a Lover. CreateSpace. 2015.
About the Book:
Now Taking A Lover chronicles a woman’s journey from spurned lover to finding love. Who would think that the path to Her intended, would be through an erotic encounter with a lover or two?
About the Author:
Michelle is a teacher, wife (of Glen Toussaint), and mother.
***
Name: Mansa Trotman
Books:
“When I lie to You”, “Twelve”, “Tuesdays on the Rock” in The Black Notes: Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls (co-edited by Althea Prince, Gayle Gonsalves, and Aisha Wilks). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
“Raw Writing” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
“Listen”, “Marrow”, “Sundays” in In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (edited by Althea Prince). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2012.
The Space that Connects us. TSAR Publications. Canada. 2012.
About the Books:
The Black Notes. This collection contains stories and poems written by 12 Black women; it is serendipitous that their voices blend seamlessly, and beautifully, even though the writers are intergenerational. The storytelling crosses local, national, and international cultural sensibilities, giving the reader a glimpse of the way the storytellers ‘receive’ and share ‘Story’. The poets cut through emotional lines to caress the reader, just before they unleash a shaft of insight that rattles your consciousness. Contributors to Black Notes include Motion, Trey Anthony, Itah Sadu, D’bi Young, Sister Souljah, Brenda Lee Browne, Jully Black, and Jemeni.
In The Space that Connects Us, Mansa Trotman treats her readers to an exquisite slice of heart renderings carefully crafted to create immediate empathy and spark a glow of feelings. The emotions run deep, the humour surfaces loud and clear, and soon one is over the hump of the rough road on which she drags your senses. At first, it may only be one hand clapping, but eventually, the joy at the capacity to speak life in the raw is contagious.
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
Mansa Trotman is a poet whose mother is from Antigua. Her first poems were published when she was teenager in high school.
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Name: Sharlene Warner Samuel
Books: Let me be what I am. 2015.
About the books:
Let me be what I am is a compilation original poetry that delves into local folklore. It contains some of her most requested poems and is, the author said, ideal for children and adults.
About the author:
Sharlene Warner Samuel is a teacher, preacher, politician, and writer. For many years, she has travelled around the country entertaining people with her hilarious, thought-provoking poems and skits. She has also appeared on stage (The Vagina Monologues) and on screen (La Diablesse).
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Name: Beverly Watkins
Books:
Inna Me Twang. 1998.
In our Path. 1997.
About the Book:
Inna Me Twang brings back old time days and old time sayings in a collection that invites you to read, laugh, and reflect. Nebba nebba foogat de Anteegans dat tark dialek. Dat a arwe culture, arwe heritage an arwe tarking. So na luk dong pan arwe becarse arwe tark bad.
About the Author:
The late Beverly Watkins, a graduate of Princess Margaret Secondary School, was a mother of six and a dress designer specializing in bridal wear, a preacher, and manager and producer of El Shaddai Promotions.
**
Name: LCH Wescott
Selected Works:
The Garden of Life. 1999.
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Name: Amber Williams-King
Books:
“Hennessy” and “Can we meet” in So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 [Edited by Dr. Althea Prince]. A Different Publisher, Canada, 2013.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend, So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 is a collection of new writing by men and women from Antigua and Barbuda, wherever they reside.
About the Author:
In 2010, Amber Williams-King participated in the AMY (or Artists Mentoring Youth) project, helping to create ‘Step Right Up’ which received 3/4 starts from Toronto’s NOW magazine. In 2011, she wrote a play: Love and its Dialects which ran in the Paprika Festival at Tarragon Theatre in Canada where she resides. In 2010, she received first-honourable mention in the Scarborough Arts Council’s inaugural Writer’s Month literary competition. Her poetry has been published in the anthology Holla! A Collection of Womenz Wordz.
***
FICTION
Name: Rilzy Adams
Book:
Just for Tonight. 2021.
Before We Fall (Unexpected Lovers Book 2). 2021.
Treble. 2021.
Surrender: An Erotic Short. 2021.
Love Scammed. 2021.
Deeper. 2021.
Ho! Ho! Ho!: A Christmas Short. 2020.
ATE! An Erotic Novelette. 2020
Birthday Shot. 2020.
Go Deep (Unexpected Lovers Book 1). 2020.
Yours Always (Falling Like a Johnson Book 6). 2020.
Love in the Time of Corona. 2020.
Brand New: A Love on the Rock Novelette. 2019.
You, Me + Baby (Love on the Rock Book 2). 2019.
Twelve Dates of Christmas (Love on the Rock Book 1). 2019.
The Sweetest Escape (Falling like a Johnson Book 5). 2019.
When love Ignites (Falling like a Johnson Book 4). 2019.
Just One More Time (Falling Like a Johnson Book 3). 2018.
Off Key. 2017.
Will you be Mine? (Falling like a Johnson Book 2). 2017. 2020.
The Gift (Falling Like A Johnson Book 1). 2017.
Love Bites. 2015.
Sail with Me: Unexpected Lovers, Book 1.2015.
About the Book:
Just for Tonight – Giselle Lorde hasn’t had a man catch her eye in years. That goes out the window in the lead up to her best friend, Danie’s, island elopement when she meets Roman Brathwaite. Roman is Danie’s fiance’s best friend, but he and Giselle have orbited around each other during their best friends’ entire relationship. Until Now. The lust is instant and sparks fly. It mightn’t be forever but Giselle is willing to let Roman rock her life… even if just for tonight!
Before We Fall – the second book in the Unexpected Lovers series following up Xander and Navaya’s journey in Go Deep. The events of Go Deep and Before We Fall partially overlap but Before We Fall is a contained story and there is no need to read Go Deep before delving into it.
Treble – A spilled chai tea latte and a swipe to the right thrust Sadie headfirst into Hendrix’s and Novah’s life. Although the couple has been polyam for almost their whole relationship, they have never been interested in the same person… until now. Hendrix and Novah are not prepared for the heady, wondrous heat of the ride the three of them take, but they know one thing for sure: their lives will never be the same.
Surrender: An Erotic Short – The pact was so ridiculous, Yara forgot about it soon after it was made. What were the odds she and Lennox would still be single in twelve years? What were the odds they’d still have the hots for each other? Practically zero, right? Until they weren’t. Yara is tempted to decline when Lennox emails her plane tickets and a reminder she promised him two nights for the full exploration of her body, but her curiosity gets the best of her. What follows is more than either of them could ever bargain for and Yara learns that sometimes the key to indescribable pleasure is to surrender.
Love Scammed – It’s the blind date to end all blind dates. When Monae Alexander turns up to Miami International Airport to meet her best friend, Tempest, for their anti-Valentine’s Day girls’ trip to Turks and Caicos, she realizes she’s been scammed. Tempest is nowhere in sight and soon Monae finds out that the trip was an elaborate scheme to get her to meet Hudson Bradley, a man Tempest had been trying to set Monae up with for months. Hudson has been played too, thinking he was heading overseas for a business trip and not a five-day Valentine’s Day getaway with a woman he’s never met before. It is the Valentine’s Day trip neither Hudson nor Monae asked for, but could it turn out to be just what they need?
Deeper – Navaya and Xander made the transition from best friends to lovers seamlessly, as if they had been destined to be the love of each other’s life all along. Now they are ready to take the step of becoming one knowing that there is no magic deeper, purer or more fated than their love.
Ho! Ho! Ho! – Myla is forced to take a long, hard look at her marriage and she hates what she sees. She visits a lawyer to get the divorce proceedings started on her way to the pharmacy to pick up antibiotics, determined to rid herself of both the infections in her life. A few months later, as Christmas looms, Myla’s divorce is complete and she has a clean bill of health but she can’t help but think of all the experiences she missed out on trying to be a good woman to a bad man.
ATE! – Tempest Clarke has something to celebrate. She has signed the biggest contract of her career and books a private chef for a celebratory dinner with her best friend. She goes through with the dinner after her best friend unexpectedly cancels. The private chef, Russ Bradley, is nothing like Tempest expected and she definitely isn’t prepared for the chemistry that smolders between them like the hottest flame. It doesn’t take long before Tempest decides that the dinner Russ cooks up won’t be the only thing to get ATE.
Birthday Shot – Shae Abbott has always had a soft spot for her older brother’s best friend, Kofi. But that is old, old news. It was just a childhood crush. When Kofi returns to Antigua for her brother’s engagement party, Shae realizes maybe her crush isn’t such old news after all. But could Kofi be interested in the woman who used to follow him around with hearts in her eyes? Shae’s thirtieth birthday is approaching and she wonders if maybe it is finally the time to shoot her shot. After all, everyone knows birthday sex doesn’t count. Or does it? Birthday Shot was a nominee for the Rebel Women Lit’s Caribbean Readers’ Awards and the Romance book industry’s Swoonies for best novel and best romance novella, respectively.
Go Deep – It was all supposed to be so simple. Navaya Howard is an erotic writer in a rut. Her readers are fed up of her stale plots and Navaya can’t blame them. She’s been celibate for over a year and a half since finding her now ex-boyfriend’s side chick’s positive pregnancy test on her bathroom counter. How can she write steamy romances if she can barely remember which body parts go into the other? Navaya enlists the help of her best friend, Xander, to revive the inspiration that used to have her sitting comfortably at the top of her game. What happens when the sex hits deeper than either of them expected and the tender emotions can no longer be denied? Navaya and Xander’s arrangement has gone far deeper than intended. Will their friendship and their hearts survive the fall? Go Deep was a semi-finalist for the Romance book industry’s Swoonies for Best Erotic novel.
Yours Always is the continuation of Orlando and Katrina’s story. They first appear in Book 3 of the Falling Like a Johnson series: ‘Just One More Time’.
Love in the Time of Corona – Could you survive being trapped with your ex for fourteen days? Alyssa Chase-Osborne and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Kingsley, have been at each other’s throats since she filed for divorce. The tension is sky high between them and things only get worse when they find out they’ve been exposed to the Coronavirus and are required to quarantine together in the apartment they’ve been “spite sharing” for the past three months. Alyssa is convinced she will murder Kingsley before the quarantine period is up and Kingsley is desperate for them to give their love another chance. What will happen now that there is nowhere to run or hide from the sparks that fly?
Brand New: A Love on the Rock Novelette – Quentin Brown is the kind of man Regina Jonas is desperate to avoid. She believes antagonizing him will keep her safe from the underlying attraction she can’t deny. But what happens when a faulty lock lands them trapped together as the brand new year approaches? Can she fight her lust as the tensions begin to rise? Or, will Regina have to accept she’d never been safe at all?
You, Me + Baby (Love on the Rock Book 2) – Fran Piper lives by the rules but after being attracted to Andre Jonas for months, she throws caution to the wind. One night of passion turns into an eighteen year commitment when Fran discovers she’s pregnant on Christmas day. She doesn’t expect Andre to step up to the plate, but he steps up in a major way. Fran finds herself falling for Andre as the months go by. Their baby was conceived in lust but will it be born into love?
Twelve Dates of Christmas (Love on the Rock Book 1) – Rashad Cole and Zia Ralph weren’t just friends. They were friends plus. Friends, plus fondness. Friends, plus undeniable chemistry. Friends, plus passion. Zia cuts off their friendship unexpectedly and six years fly by. After an unexpected meeting, Rashad wants a chance to convince Zia that although they had been good as friends, they would make better lovers. Can these twelve dates throughout Christmas convince Zia to give their love a chance? Or will Rashad spend another Christmas without her by his side?
The Sweetest Escape – Jasper Johnson played with fire and is still trying to sift through the charred ruins of his life. When his sister-in-law suggests he disappears for a while to put himself back together, Jasper jumps at the opportunity. The sweet, beautiful, tropical island of Antigua provides the perfect backdrop for the healing he needs but he is not prepared for Reign. Reign Thomas is battling demons of her own but she holds them at bay by keeping herself painfully busy. When Jasper walks into her bar on a rainy evening, Reign could hardly imagine he would make her want to slow down. Jasper and Reign soon find that there can be no future unless you conquer the pain of your past. And, sometimes, the sweetest escape can be found in the person wrapped in your arms.
When love Ignites – Jasmine Johnson and Alec Alvarez hate each other. Alec believes Jasmine got her job in their prestigious law firm because her father owns the firm and won’t stop reminding her about it. Jasmine needs to stay as far away from Alec as possible because she can’t practice law with a criminal conviction. And, Alec is an assault conviction waiting to happen. When they are paired to work together on the murder case of the year, Jasmine and Alec realize they have to find a way to work together. Yet, they get more than they bargained for when passions burn and flames ignite. Jasmine and Alec are about to find out that the line between love and hate is paper thin.
Just One More Time – When Orlando Johnson walked out on Katrina Bolton nearly a decade ago, he swore to anyone who would listen that he would never regret it. Now fate has tossed them back together in the form of a little boy who needs their love and protection and Orlando realizes leaving Kat was the worst mistake of his life. Orlando is determined to get her back, but can he convince her to let them try their hand at love just one more time?
Off Key – When Zoë Caldwell’s record label threatens to drop her unless she pretends to date the embattled, disgraced Liam Trafford, she almost gives up on her dreams. But she had come too far to just fail, so she makes a deal with the Devil. When Liam Trafford’s manager suggests he pretended to date a beautiful girl with an angelic voice to save his career he reluctantly agrees. He doesn’t want to rehabilitate his reputation. He wishes he could go back in time to fix the mistake that ruined both his life and that of an innocent girl. Soon they both realize that the past cannot be fixed but the future is wide open and maybe, just maybe, they can save each other.
Will You be Mine? – JT Johnson has been in love with his best friend for as long as he can remember. Hallie, however, seems clueless or deliberately obtuse. When she asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend for her ex-best friend’s wedding, JT hesitantly agrees. Will their escape to the Caribbean be Heaven or Hell in Paradise?
The Gift – When Maya’s best friend, Charlotte, asks her to be her surrogate, she reluctantly agrees. Although pregnancy and motherhood were things Maya didn’t plan to deal with for years, she was willing to sacrifice nine months of her time for her best friend’s happiness. Her world is turned inside out when Charlotte is murdered just as Maya gets confirmation of the IVF’s success. Now, Maya must raise the child she never intended to keep and preserve peace with Charlotte’s widower, Jaxon. Soon Maya finds that pregnancy and impending motherhood are the least of her worries. She must fight against the tenderness she’s begun to feel for her best friend’s husband and she must atone for the sin she desperately tries to keep hidden. Maya Jenkins killed her best friend.
Love Bites is a collection of romantic short stories geared at those needing a quick shot of love! From the sweet to the saucy to the bittersweet – Love Bites is sure to have a story which fits your taste in love.
In Sail with Me, Emerson Crane wins a 12-night all expenses paid Caribbean cruise with her made up boyfriend; finding a stand-in with the same name seems to be an error proof solution. Enter Jonathan Swift who believed that the use of his birth certificate and smiling for a couple of photos in return for a luxury cruise was the bargain of a lifetime. What happens though when the line between reality and pretend washes away with the ocean waves?
About the author:
Rilzy Adams (pen name of Rilys Adams) is a crown counsel in Antigua and Barbuda. The past Wadadli Pen finalist entered the world of publishing with a spoken word CD.
***
Name: Sonalli Andrews
Book:
August #1 (graphic novel) illustrator with Tameka Jarvis-George as Fallen Angel T. J. G. Psykhead Productions. 2017.
About the Book:
August #1 – August Gabriel is a barefoot in the dirt kind of girl. She is aware that there is something innately different about her, but has no idea what the source is. Her ridiculous physical strength, strange intuitions / visions, she writes off as her normal. She forcefully dumbs down her own senses, just to stay sane. Things begin to unravel in her life, when one of her unsavory customers, attacks her. Secret things done since before her birth are unearthed in that moment, putting her on a path of dark spiritual awakenings and a power she could never even dream of. The complete narrative is an ongoing series that takes us through August trying to come to terms with and control powers that are unknowingly bestowed upon her, prior to her birth, because of her family’s link to ‘Obeah’ and trying to understand her vague past, through the eyes of her equally mysterious caretaker / surrogate father, and the only family she’s ever known.
About the artist:
Sonalli owns Redninko, a graphic design company in Antigua and Barbuda. Memorable creations include one of a handful of commissioned graphics for Antigua and Barbuda’s first TEDx event and a super hero graphic featuring Team Antigua Island Girls – the first all black female team to complete the Talisker Whiskey row challenge. Sonalli also launched something called the Quickfire Design competition in 2014 and runs a graphic arts summer camp. See also his credits as illustrator of children’s books in Antigua and Barbuda Children’s Literature and his interview in CREATIVE SPACE.
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Name: Barbara Arrindell.
Books:
“A Life…A Spirit…A Name” in The Black Notes: Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls (co-edited by Althea Prince, Gayle Gonsalves, and Aisha Wilks). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
“Chasing Horses” from The Legend of Bat’s Cave and other Antiguan Stories in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1. (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
The Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Antiguan Stories [w/illustrations by Edison Liburd]. 2012.
Antigua my Antigua [w/illustrations by Edison Liburd]. 2011.
About the Books:
Black Notes. This collection contains stories and poems written by 12 Black women; it is serendipitous that their voices blend seamlessly, and beautifully, even though the writers are intergenerational. The storytelling crosses local, national, and international cultural sensibilities, giving the reader a glimpse of the way the storytellers ‘receive’ and share ‘Story’. The poets cut through emotional lines to caress the reader, just before they unleash a shaft of insight that rattles your consciousness. Contributors to Black Notes include Motion, Trey Anthony, Itah Sadu, D’bi Young, Sister Souljah, Brenda Lee Browne, Jully Black, and Jemeni.
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA.
The stories in Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Antiguan Stories are fictionalized retellings of actual events; and Antigua My Antigua is a colouring book featuring sites of interest in Antigua and Barbuda.
About the Author: Barbara Arrindell is the manager of the Best of Books bookstore in Antigua, former coordinator of the Independence Literary Arts Committee a playwright, amateur historian, professional Human Resources trainer with her own company, Barbara Arrindell & Associates, former head of Optimist Caribbean, volunteer with numerous organizations like Trees Inc. 2020, the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, the Listen to Me Anglican youth group, and more, and as a result a Women of Wadadli 2020 change agent awardee.
Wadadli Pen connection: As manager of the Best of Books bookstore, Barbara Arrindell has been involved with Wadadli Pen since 2004 given the bookstore’s patronage of the annual Challenge from year one, but that relationship deepened in 2011 when the Best of Books included the Wadadli Pen Challenge Awards in its anniversary celebrations, and partnered to host the awards ceremony from 2012 while continuing its patronage in the way of gifts of books. Barbara Arrindell has also donated copies of her books Antigua My Antigua and The Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Stories plus (in one year) a training on oral storytelling, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020. In 2013, she also pushed for an Anansi art/illustration competition (set up the submission guidelines, and selected and awarded the winner). She is a part of the Wadadli Pen core team set up in 2016, becoming one of its original directors after it became a legal non-profit in 2021.
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Name: Romenita Barrett
Book:
The Cleansing of the Souls. Discovering Diversity Publishing. United Kingdom. 2017.
About the Book: A young boy who is very creative and continually asking questions in the hope that one day he would fulfil his dreaming of flying. Abe knew his Nan always answered his questions but what he did not know that day as they stood waiting at the streets lights was that the answer to his latest question would change the course of his life and impact every soul in the universe. A journey of discovery begins for Abe when he learns that his is no ordinary family and as the magic and mysteries are revealed to him he encounters a blackness he has never known.
About the Author: Born in Antigua in 1957, Romenita Barrett has lived in the UK most of her life – with stints in Germany and the US.
Wadadli Pen connection: Barrett’s Cleansing of the Souls was in the running for the Wadadli Pen 2017-2018 Readers Choice Book of the Year. 2019.
****
Name: Clinton U. Benjamin
Book: Belinda. Pentland Press. USA. 2000.
About the Book: Abandoned by her father, rejected by her mother and molested by her uncle, surviving young adulthood is a task in and of itself. Belinda must find faith deep inside herself that there Is a life beyond the pain of present.
About the Author: Clinton U. Benjamin was born on the Caribbean island of Antigua. He works in telecommunications and speaks French, Spanish, German and Italian. Benjamin also writes poetry.
****
Name: Shermain Bique
Book: Jasmine: Shedding My Skin. 2021.
About the Book: Jasmine was not your typical teenager. She was on outcast. But when a plan to take advantage of her vulnerability fell flat, she changed the lives of those around her. Including the one who thought she was a nobody.
About the Author: Shermain Bique-Charles is originally from Dominica but moved to Antigua and Barbuda where she shares a home with her husband and family. She is the mother of three boys. The 40-year-old has been a journalist all her life and has travelled the world during her career. She has participated in several international journalist fellowship programmes and internships.
***
Name: Brenda Lee Browne
Books:
“Gully”, “Miss Jean’s Cane Journey”, and “White Hall” in The Black Notes: Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls(co-edited by Althea Prince, Gayle Gonsalves, and Aisha Wilks). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
London Rocks. Hansib. UK. 2017.
“Broken House Rules” in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
Diary from the Wet Side of the Moon [excerpt] in New Writing: Poetry and Prose. Shoe String Press. England. 2001.
Diary from the Wet Side of the Moon [excerpt] in The Hoot and Holler of the Owls: An Anthology of Writers from Hurston-Wright Writers Week. USA. 2003.
About the Book:
Black Notes. This collection contains stories and poems written by 12 Black women; it is serendipitous that their voices blend seamlessly, and beautifully, even though the writers are intergenerational. The storytelling crosses local, national, and international cultural sensibilities, giving the reader a glimpse of the way the storytellers ‘receive’ and share ‘Story’. The poets cut through emotional lines to caress the reader, just before they unleash a shaft of insight that rattles your consciousness. Contributors to Black Notes include Motion, Trey Anthony, Itah Sadu, D’bi Young, Sister Souljah, Brenda Lee Browne, Jully Black, and Jemeni.
(re London Rocks) This is the story of Dante Brookes, a young man growing up in London in the late seventies and early eighties when sound systems ruled the party scene for young, Black British youth of Caribbean heritage. He navigates the loss of friends, police harassment and being a teenage father while forging a career as an MC. Dante stumbles into the acting profession and also becomes a writer. It is through these disparate experiences that he learns that the pen and mic at mightier than the sword.
(from my review in Blogger on Books II) “Brenda Lee Browne does a great job of capturing the rhythm of the island in her Diary from the Wet Side of the Moon and I was starting to get invested in the characters when the snippet ended.”
About the Author: Brenda Lee Browne was born in London to Antiguan parents. She studied journalism and started her career in in the Black media before moving to Antigua in the mid-1980s where she began writing and publishing short stories and poetry. In the mid 1990s, she returned to the UK and gained an MA in writing from Sheffield Hallam University. She returned to Antigua in 2003 and established Just Write creative writing workshops and has worked with government agencies, adults, and inmates at HMP in Antigua. Her work has appeared in a number of anthologies in the USA, UK, and Canada, as well as online. Brenda is the mother of one and a lover of cricket, chocolate, and handbags.
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Name: Tammi Browne-Bannister
Books:
“Perilous Journey” in So Many Islands: Stories from the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian and Pacific Oceans (edited by Nicholas Laughlin with Nailah Folami Imoja). Peekash. 2017.
“Once upon a Blood Moon” in New Worlds, Old Ways: Speculative Tales from the Caribbean (edited by Karen Lord). Peepal Tree Press. UK. 2016.
“The Visitor” (as TamBrann) in Senseisha: Memoirs of the Caribbean Woman (edited by Shakirah Bourne and Juliette Maughan). 2014.
“Batten Down” in Jewels of the Caribbean. Potbake. Trinidad & Tobago. 2014.
“The Night You Left” in Arts Etc/NIFCA Winning Words Anthology. National Cultural Foundation & Arts Etc. Barbados. 2011/2012.
About the Books:
So Many Islands brings together stories from the distant shores of the island communities in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Pacific. Giving voice to their challenges and triumphs, these writers paint a vibrant portrait of what it is like to live, love, and lose the things most precious to them on the small islands they call home. This enchanting collection will transport you to Marakei, ‘the women’s island’, where a female statue stands guard at each compass point, and introduce you to colourful characters like Leno Humphrey, a small-time cricketer from St. Vincent & the Grenadines who buys his own trophies to take back to his wife. Voicing global issues such as nuclear testing in the Pacific and climate change- a fight close to the heart of these precariously poised islands – to petty politics, the gaps between generations, and the suffocation of small communities who form their own islands within islands, readers everywhere will find universal connections with these words and worlds.
New Worlds, Old Ways: Here you will find the recent past and ongoing present of government and society with curfews, crime and corruption; the universal themes of family with parents and children, growth and death, love and hate; the struggle to thrive when power is capricious and revenge too bittersweet. Here too is the passage of everything – old ways, places, peoples, and ourselves – leaving nothing behind but memories, histories, stories. This anthology speaks to the fragility of our Caribbean home, but reminds the reader that although home may be vulnerable, it is also beautifully resilient. With contributions by Tammi-Browne Bannister, Summer Edward, Portia Subran, Brandon O’Brien, Kevin Jared Hosein, Richard B. Lynch, Elizabeth J. Jones, Damion Wilson, Brian Franklin, Ararimeh Aiyejina and H.K. Williams.
Senseisha is a collection of truly intimate, non-fiction stories written by Caribbean women. From a girl’s first period to the elation of a first orgasm, Senseisha takes us on a journey of love, lust, pain and pleasure, and the ongoing internal conflict between love for God, and love for sex. Experience intimacy only shared between close friends, where female writers aren’t afraid to describe who they are and how they feel. These memoirs will make you giggle, laugh, cry, curse, coo and yes, climax!
Jewels of the Caribbean was the 10th publication by Potbake; it features 15 emerging Caribbean writers.
Winning Words features 25 award-winning pieces. It is the fifth such anthology in the Winning Words catalogue which spotlights selections from the annual NIFCA Literary Arts competition.
About the Author: Tammi Browne-Bannister was born in Antigua and lives in Barbados. She learned everything about writing from The Barbados Community College under the capable hands of Canadian-Barbadian writer, editor and writing competition judge, Robert Edison Sandiford. She attended the Cropper Foundation’s 8th Residential Creative Writers’ Workshop in Trinidad. In 2016 Tammi Browne-Bannister was awarded The Marguerite Cobb-McKay Prize for an emerging Caribbean fiction writer, and in 2015 she was nominated for the Canute A. Brodhurst Prize for best short fiction. She’s been published in the NIFCA ArtsETC Winning Words Anthology (2011/2012), POTBAKE’s Jewels of the Caribbean: An Anthology of West Indian Short Stories (2014), The Caribbean Writer: Vol. 29 (2015), POUI: Cavehill Journal of Creative Writing No: XV (2014), Akashic Books Mondays are Murder Noir Series (2014), and Susumba’s Book Bag Issue 5. (2015).
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Name: J. Carie Ann Burton
Book: Frigid Summer. Impress Publishing. USA. 2014.
About the Book: A single thoughtless act proves costly; the tragic event ruins the lives of many. A young girl’s innocence is stripped away during a brutal attack; in spite of this, she refuses to hide in the shadows. She is determined to carry on with her life. Her mother carries a burden of guilt as she cares for her daughter; this is her redemption. The girl’s father is out for justice and is determined to get it by any means necessary. He vows to keep his promise to protect her; no matter the cost. As one family reunites another is torn apart.
About the author: J. (Judith) Carie-Ann Burton was born in Antigua. After completing her secondary education, she migrated to the United States; she now resides in New Jersey. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Administration with a concentration in Health Management and an Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education. She is currently a Financial Analyst in the healthcare industry.
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Name: Frieda Cassin
Book: 
With Silent Tread (Caribbean Classics). G A Uphill. St. John’s. 1890./Macmillan (Caribbean Writers Series). UK. 2002.
About the Book: First published in Antigua in the 1890s, With Silent Tread is a superbly understated evocation of a claustrophobic island community struggling with the bitter legacies of slavery.
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Names: Joy Clarke
Book:
“A Visit to an Arrowroot Factory in St. Vincent” in Nelson’s West Indian Readers 4 (ed. by Undine Guiseppi). Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd. UK. 1984.
“De Trip“ in Backfire. Macmillan. UK. 1973.
About both Book and Author: Antiguan Joy Clarke’s “De Trip” was one of several Caribbean stories published in Macmillan’s 1973 anthology Backfire. This was a collection of seventeen Caribbean short stories compiled for use in secondary schools. It embraced old and new West Indian writing from the 1930’s up to the time of its publication.
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Name: Christal Clashing
Book: 
Yemoja’s Anansi: A Short Story. 2022.
About the Book: A photo-illustrated story exploring black aquatic culture and heritage. A re-imagining of the Anansi folklore stories brought to the Caribbean on slave ships from Africa.
About the Author: Christal Clashing is a pioneer in aquatic spaces in her home country of Antigua and Barbuda. In 2004, at the age of 14, she became the first female swimmer to represent her country at the Olympic Games in Athens. She later joined Team Antigua Island Girls who would become the first all-black team and first all-female Caribbean team to row any ocean when they crossed the Atlantic in 2018/2019. She began writing travel and adventure lifestyle pieces in 2016 and in 2020 transitioned to writing tech and culture articles for Caribbean diaspora audiences.
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Name: Alvin Glen Edwards
Book: Once in an Island. Authorhouse. USA. 2011.
About the Book: The story is built around a Jamaican family who chose to leave Jamaica in search of a different life in another island; ‘a small island’ as it’s referred to by many Jamaicans in condescension. They face challenges generated by their new environment and issues having its genesis in their own island. It is a story about relationships in the pursuit of our greatest ambitions in life and plays on the national sentiments that exist between island nations in the Caribbean. It is adapted from his 2009 film of the same name.
About the Author: Dr. Alvin G. Edwards is a medical doctor by profession, who has specialized in ophthalmology. He has always had a wide interest in the arts and has had formal training as an actor. He wrote a number of plays (unpublished) and acted on stage and in films. He played ‘Mr Benjamin’ in the television series ‘Paradise View.’ A native of the Caribbean, he has lived in St. Kitts, Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, Nassau, Nashville and New York while in pursuit of his profession. He first wrote the screen play for ‘Once in an Island’, then decided to write the book. He wanted to capture more of the lessons to be learnt from the story and to give the reader a chance to see themselves and Caribbean people in a realistic, revealing and self-reflecting light.
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Name: Shakeema Edwards
Book:“Chapter Forty-Five” in Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings (by Joanne C. Hillhouse). Insomniac. Canada. 2014.
About the Book:
Chapter Forty-Five was the winner of a next chapter contest organized in 2008 by the Best of Books bookstore for the novella Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, chronicling the romance between Michael and Selena. This was the second book by Joanne C. Hillhouse and the Chapter was included when the book was re-issued in 2014 as Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings.
About the Author:
Shakeema is a former Wadadli Pen finalist. She’s also won the Women of Antigua V-Day Literary Competition, the Best of Books/Joanne C. Hillhouse Dancing Nude in the Moonlight Next Chapter contest, the Floree Williams Childhood stories competition, and the Independence Literary Arts Competition. She has gone on to work in publishing in the US.
Wadadli Pen connection: Shakeema is a former Wadadli Pen Challenge finalist. 2010, 2011 .
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Name: Tawhida Tanya Evanson
Book: Book of Wings. Esplanade Books. 2021.
About the Book: The book traces a global journey from Vancouver to the United States, Caribbean, Paris, and Morocco as a relationship between lovers and travel partners disintegrates.
About the Author: Tawhida Tanya Evanson is an Antiguan-Québecoise poet, performer and producer. Author of two books of poetry, Nouveau Griot (Frontenac 2018) and Bothism (Ekstasis 2017), Book of Wings is her first work of fiction. With a 20-year practice in spoken word, she performs internationally and has released several studio albums and videopoems. Evanson is program director of Banff Centre Spoken Word. She has been named Poet of Honour at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, and has received the Golden Beret Award for her contribution to the spoken-word genre. Born and based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, she moonlights as a whirling dervish.
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Name: Oliver Flax
Books:
“Cruising in the Caribbean 1 and 2”, and “Some of the Fishes in our Waters” in Nelson’s West Indian Readers 4 (ed. by Undine Guiseppi). Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd. UK. 1984.
The Adventures of Kikiboom (Yellow Bird Readers Series). Macmillan. UK. 1976.
Jenkins Jumbies and Other Stories (Pikney Books for Caribbean Children). Key Caribbean Publications. USA. 1975.
“Tantie Gertrude” in Backfire. Macmillan. UK. 1973.
About the Author: Oliver Wendell Flax was born in 1944. He passed from this life in 2013 in his adopted country of Trinidad and Tobago. Previously, he’d been a teacher, actor (with the Little Theatre Group), mas man (as an original member of Paragon mas troupe, later Dynamics), TV personality (as host of one of Antigua and Barbuda’s country’s first televised instructional programmes “Les Français Chez Vous”), human resources and public relations executive, and writer in Antigua and Barbuda. He made an impact in his adopted country as well, being characterized in local reports following his death as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most important PR professionals.
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Name: Al Flemming
Books:
Trouble in Paradise. 2014.
About the Book: A detective wishing to escape a tragic event in his life, travels to the peaceful island of Nevis. His quiet getaway quickly transforms into a race against time as an international criminal finds his way upon Nevis’ shores. Will Detective Stronghold give up on retirement to track down this madman or will the criminal succeed uncontested?
About the Author: This author is not from Antigua but has lived here for extended periods.
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Name: Claudia Elizabeth Ruth Francis 
Books:
Six Steps: An African-Barbudan-Caribbean Story. Europe Books. England. 2022.
Missing (Lion Family Series). Leeward Publishing. Antigua. 2013.
The Road to Wadi Halfa. SPS Publications. Florida. 2008.
Tides that Bind.
A Bigger Island.
Island Issues. 2003.
About the Books:
Six Steps is an African-Barbudan-Caribbean story. Charity is born in the city of Leicester in England in 1950. She is an orphan. She lives in a number of foster homes. At the age of ten, she receives a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school and hopes that her loneliness will lessen in her new environment. It is during this period that she discovers her ability to commune with her African ancestors. Charity learns that her grandmother five times removed was kidnapped from Africa in 1813. She is able to relive her ordeal and is introduced to the lives of her subsequent grandmothers born on the island of Barbuda in the Caribbean. Eventually Charity meets her mother and, together with her female forebears, she learns the history of Barbuda, the sister island to Antigua, part of the Leeward Islands. But in 2022, is the island at risk from climate change, home grown gold diggers, foreign designs, and re-colonization?
Missing. Formerly from London in the UK, thirty-five year old Lennox Lion has spent ten years in the Sudan working in refugee camps. In 2011 as the north and the south split, the world awaits independence of the newest nation in the world, the Republic of South Sudan. As the south celebrates, the girl Lennox loves is abducted together with other aid workers. His journey to find her take him to the borders of the two Sudans and south to the Imatong massif bordering Uganda. This mountainous region with its tropical rainforests is home to notorious rebels whose vicious tactics rival the corruption rife in the UN and the military. Lennox and his quest to find Malika take the reader on a journey of thrills and suspense and for Lennox falling in love changes his views on his past and his future. This is the fourth book in the Lion family series.
The Road to Wadi Halfa is the sequel to Tides That Bind and continues the lives of the Lion brothers and their families. In 1998 London born Roosevelt Mohammed Lion is chairman of a property empire in the UK. While overseeing a hotel project in his father’s native island in the Caribbean he is kidnapped by Islamic extremists. Roosevelt struggles to survive life in a training camp and to understand the philosophy of his colleagues in the Sudan. He meets the Sudanese beauty, Allaya, on the road to Wadi Halfa. Will he learn to trust her or is she plotting her own agenda? Will Al Qaada succeed in their mission to avenge western missile attacks by bombing foreigners in Khartoum? Will Roosevelt be in a position to prevent such an atrocity? Lennox Lion sets out to find his father, but will he rot in jail?
Tides That Bind is an edited version of the first two novels in this popular three-part series. Will the Lion family survive to build a successful dynasty or will The Lion Property Empire fall apart when Chancellor dies and Roosevelt disappears?
About the Author:
Claudia Elizabeth Ruth Francis was born in the UK of Barbudan and Canadian parentage. She is a graduate of Cardiff and Westminster universities, and a Fellow of Trinity College in the Theory and Practice of Speech. She worked in the business sector of London for twenty years. Her interests are many and include global history and the politics shaping African History on the continent and in the diaspora. She was also an activist and is widely travelled – Africa, The Caribbean, Europe, Canada, and North America. Her passions include the welfare and education of children wherever they might be. Francis has lived for several years in the Caribbean, contributing as feature writer and editor to The Food & Drink Series in Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica and St. Kitts & Nevis; and also the series Caribbean Homes & Lifestyle distributed throughout the Leeward Islands. She is also a contributor to TABLEMANNERS which went on to be awarded the prestigious GOURMAND award in Paris for the best designed cookbook in the world 2012. In 2016 Ms. Francis wrote the introduction (What we are famous for…) in Simply Antigua Barbuda-The Book, the most recent complete tourism book and the second book in the coffee table book series. As of 2017/8, she was still writing for Simply Antigua Barbuda, the annual publication which incorporates Food and Drink and The Art House Magazine.
Wadadli Pen connection: Claudia Elizabeth Ruth Francis donated copies of her books Tides that Bind and Road to Wadi Halfa to the Wadadli Pen Challenge, 2013, 2017.
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Name: Jill Fuller
Books:
Lay with Dogs. YouWriteOn. 2009.
The Family Life of Brenda Greene. YouWriteOn. 2008.
About the Books:
Lay with Dogs – Tilly has spent most of her adult life in the Caribbean, working and bringing up three children. Divorced from their lawyer dad, she remains part of his large family, until, in her mid-forties, to the surprise and consternation of all, she becomes involved with an old friend of her former husband, and a known drug dealer. A series of events lands her in prison, from which he emerges with a new belief in herself and a new understanding of justice.
About the Author:
Jill Fuller’s website lists her as a UK-trained counselor and visual artist who has lived in Antigua since the 1970s.
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Name: Gayle Gonsalves
Book:
My Stories have No Endings. Yellow Bell Publications. 2021.
“Dear Daddy” in The Black Notes: Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls edited by Althea Prince (co-edited by Gayle Gonsalves and Aisha Wilks ). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
Painting Pictures and Other Stories. Insomniac Press. Canada. 2013.
“Jumbies don’t sleep” in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1. (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
“A Good Woman” in In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (edited by Althea Prince). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2012.
“Tamarind Stew“ in The Bluelight Corner Black Women Writing on Passion, Sex, and Romantic Love. (edited by Rosemarie Robotham). Broadway. USA. 1998.
About the Books:
My Stories have No Endings. Kai is a spiritual child who dips her ears into the wind where she hears the voices that tell stories from the forgotten past. Though she grows up in poverty in the Caribbean, her quick mind wins her a scholarship to the island’s most prestigious all-girls’ school where she’s catapulted into a very different world. Her newfound friendships lead her to the joy of an unlikely love with Hayden, the handsome green-eyed son of one of the richest families on the island. The taboo surrounding their love forces her to confront the conflicts seeking to tear her from Hayden. Through heartache and upheaval, Kai claims her storytelling voice, using the folklore of the Ancestors that is whispered in the wind to make the lost stories from the past come to life.
Black Notes. This collection contains stories and poems written by 12 Black women; it is serendipitous that their voices blend seamlessly, and beautifully, even though the writers are intergenerational. The storytelling crosses local, national, and international cultural sensibilities, giving the reader a glimpse of the way the storytellers ‘receive’ and share ‘Story’. The poets cut through emotional lines to caress the reader, just before they unleash a shaft of insight that rattles your consciousness. Contributors to Black Notes include Motion, Trey Anthony, Itah Sadu, D’bi Young, Sister Souljah, Brenda Lee Browne, Jully Black, and Jemeni.
Painting Pictures and Other Stories features eight stories of discovery, betrayal, and passion. The stories depict the emotional turmoil that results from decisions: a little girl who migrates to Canada on a hot August day is flabbergasted to discover there’s no snow; a graphic designer leaves her husband each morning to meet her lover; an inconsolable heartbreak leads a woman to the brink of sanity as she desperately wanders city streets seeking answers in dark places; a young woman gives a touching eulogy to the woman who raised her; a wife is torn between her love for her husband and his brother; a college graduate moves across the country to keep a secret and recover from the lover who abandoned her, only to meet him again; a young woman experiences the joy of first love, its passionate awakening, and the moment when it’s questioned; and three women bond while shopping for dresses for their fictional weddings. In these stories, set in Canada and the Caribbean, the day-to-day incidents set the stage for events that impact and change lives.
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA.
In the Black: New African Canadian Literature is a mix of short fiction, poetry, dub poetry, and hip hop by some of Black Canada’s foremost writers.
A collection of the very best writing by African-American women, The Bluelight Corner: Black Women Writing on Passion, Sex, and Romantic Love explores and reveals all the rich and varied dimensions of Black women’s romantic lives. A dramatic, touching, lively, erotic, tender, tragic, fierce, bawdy, heartfelt, and utterly surprising collection of voices, this is a one-of-a-kind gem of fiction and memoir.
About the Author: Gayle Gonsalves spent her childhood in both Canada and Antigua. She holds a BA from York University, and lives and writes in Toronto.
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Name: Kevroy Graham
Book: Kamesha Grey Sex Tales from 1735. Dog Ear Publishing (self-published). 2018.
About the Book: Wrongly accused and locked in a cell on death row, found guilty of a triple murder, Kameshia Grey is the youngest female ever to be convicted and sentenced to die by lethal injection in Georgia. Although she claims her innocence in the three murders discussed in court, she knows she is guilty of other crimes, thanks to her choices in life. It will take a miracle to save her now. This book is classified as erotica.
About the Author: Kevroy is or was director at Hype TV in Antigua where he moved after 10 years in the US (he seems to be originally from Jamaica). He is also a part of Wadadli Plus, an independent film company producing fictional shorts. His acting career includes the films Baby Mama Drama, Redemption of Paradise, Cry Cry, and Secret 21.
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Name: Joanne C. Hillhouse
Books:
“The Other Daughter” in Windrush (anthology curated by Justina Cruickshank). Heady Mix book box subscription service. UK. 2021.
cover art by Antiguan and Barbudan artist Glenroy Aaron.
Musical Youth (2nd placed for the inaugural Burt award for Young Adult Caribbean Fiction). Caribbean Reads Publishing. St. Kitts/USA. 2014, 2019.
“Evening Ritual” in New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent. Edited by Margaret Busby. UK. 2019.
“Amelia at Devil’s Bridge” (excerpted) in The Concise Revision Course for CSEC® English A. Harper Collins. UK. 2017.
Dancing Nude in the Moonlight: 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings (first printing as Dancing Nude in the Moonlight. 2004. Macmillan. Oxford). Insomniac. Canada. 2014. 
“Breaking with Tradition” in Round My Christmas Tree. Caribbean Reads Publishing. St. Kitts/USA. 2014.
“Amelia at Devil’s Bridge” in Pepperpot: Best New Stories from the Caribbean. Peekash. USA/UK. 2014.
“After Glow“ in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
“Sexy Sadie” in For Women: In Tribute to Nina Simone (edited by Debra Powell-Wright). Black Classic Press & MZWrightNow Productions. USA. 2012.
“Man of her Dreams” in In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (edited by Althea Prince). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2012.
Oh Gad! – Strebor/Atria/Simon & Schuster. USA. 2012.
cover art by Heather Doram
The Boy from Willow Bend (first printing 2003. Macmillan. Oxford). Hansib. UK. 2009.
About the Books:
Windrush – (from the official synopsis) “In 2012, the Windrush generation, British citizens who had arrived in the UK to help rebuild the country after WWII, found they were considered illegal. They were denied access to healthcare, unable to work and systematically removed from the “system”, some were threatened with deportation, others sent ‘home’ to countries they had not been to since they were very young. The hostile environment created by the UK government, not only demonstrates the fragility of belonging, it shattered a generation’s sense of it too. And the policy highlighted the pervading belief that people from the Caribbean are “other”, easily disregarded and removed. This is at the heart of our (Spring 2021) theme Windrush as we celebrate writers and stories from the Caribbean and of Caribbean descent.” Heady Mix is a UK-based collective which curates diverse reading options for subscribers – showcasing books by and about underrepresented groups but also stories, essays, and flash fiction which it collects in to anthologies under different themes. Heady Mix’s first theme of 2021 is Windrush. The anthology includes ‘The Other Daughter’ – previously published on Adda (2017), the Commonwealth Writers platform, and included in the Denmark Ministry of Education’s national assessment (2019).
Musical Youth. Music, Discovery, Love. Can one summer make the difference of a lifetime? Zahara is a loner. She’s brilliant on the guitar but in everyday life she doesn’t really fit in. Then she meets Shaka, himself a musical genius and the first boy who really gets her. They discover that they share a special bond, their passion for music, and Zahara finds herself a part, not just of Shaka’s life, but also that of his boys, the Lion Crew. When they all get roles in a summer musical, Zahara, Shaka, and the rest of the Lion Crew use the opportunity to work on a secret project. But the Crew gets much more than they bargained for when they uncover a dark secret linking Shaka and Zahara’s families and they’re forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about class, colour, and relationships on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Musical Youth placed second in the 2014 Burt Award for Caribbean Literature. Cover design by Antiguan and Barbudan artist Glenroy Aaron. A second edition and hard cover edition of Musical Youth were issued in 2019.
New Daughters of Africa – Following up Margaret Busby’s landmark 1992 anthology Daughters of Africa, this companion volume brings together the words of writers from across the globe—Antigua to Zimbabwe, Angola to the USA—to honour a unifying heritage while showing the remarkable range of creativity from the African diaspora particularly in the past 25 years. Arranged chronologically, New Daughters of Africa illustrates an uplifting sense of sisterhood and the links that endure from generation to generation, as well as common obstacles writers still negotiate around issues of race, gender and class.
The Concise Revision Course for CSEC® English A provides comprehensive and authoritative guidance to preparing for the Paper 1 and Paper 2 examinations.
Dancing Nude in the Moonlight: 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings. Young Dominican single mother Selena Cruz is trying to make a new life for herself in Antigua, dealing with prejudice, poverty, and her interfering sister. When she meets handsome cricket coach Michael Lindo, her world is turned upside down. The course of true love is never smooth, and Michael and Selena’s story is no exception as they try to bridge the gap between their two cultures and their personal expectations of love. Romantic and delightful, this novella by Joanne C. Hillhouse looks at immigration and cross-cultural relationships in a warm and very human way. Dancing Nude in the Moonlight was first published in 2004, and it is reissued here along with selected poems and stories from Joanne C. Hillhouse’s wide collection of work. She has been published in Caribbean, North American, and African literary journals.
In ‘Round My Christmas Tree you’ll find a little bit of everything that makes Christmas Christmas in the Caribbean. Stories, poems, recipes, and art that range from the sacred to irreverent and from heart-warming to just down-right funny. This collection of work features artists from many regions of the Caribbean, from seasoned authors such as Joanne C. Hillhouse of Antigua and Barbuda and newcomers such as Jamie Gangoo from Trinidad and Tobago.
Pepperpot: Best New Stories from the Caribbean. Akashic Books and Peepal Tree Press, two of the foremost publishers of Caribbean literature, launch a joint Caribbean-focused imprint, Peekash Press, with this anthology. Consisting entirely of brand-new stories by authors living in the region (not simply authors from the region), this collection gathers the very best entries to the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, including a mix of established and up-and-coming writers from islands throughout the Caribbean. The story ‘Amelia at Devil’s Bridge’ was shortlisted for the Small Axe Prize in 2014 and has since been taught at the college/university level. In 2017, it was excerpted in Collins Revision Course – English A – a Concise Revision Course for CSEC.
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA. The story ‘After Glow’ was first published on Tongues of the Ocean. It can also now be found in the anniversary edition of Dancing Nude in the Moonlight.
For Women: in Tribute to Nina Simone was created by African American Debra Powell Wright in tribute to the great songstress and the spirit of one of her most iconic songs Four Women. It features women writing from around the world and was funded by the Leeway Foundation.
In the Black: New African Canadian Literature is a mix of short fiction, poetry, dub poetry, and hip hop by some of Black Canada’s foremost writers.
Oh Gad! A stirring novel about a woman facing cross-cultural odds and redefining everything she understands about her family, herself, and the country she’s never really been able to call home.
Dancing Nude in the Moonlight. Selena’s ex has left her in a strange land with a baby and two younger sisters to care for. It’s hard for Spanish-speaking immigrants to get work, and Selena earns little from the crochet dolls and doilies she makes to sell. Then Selena meets Michael.
The Boy from Willow Bend tells the story of Vere, an Antiguan youth, with an irrepressible spirit which is tested as he comes of age amid poverty, loss, and hard knocks.
About the Author: Joanne C. Hillhouse, born in Ottos Antigua. Her writing also appears in several anthologies and various international publications. She freelances as a writer, editor, writing coach, and course/workshop coordinator. For other books, see the Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Children’s Fiction lists.
Wadadli Pen connection: Joanne is the founder of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize and has served as its coordinator and – at various times – Challenge judge, Wadadli Pen workshop facilitator, fundraiser, media liaison, administrator, blogger,and more. 2004 – ongoing. She has also contributed copies of her books Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary and Other Writings, The Boy from Willow Bend, Oh Gad!, Musical Youth, With Grace, Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure, ¡perdida! Una Aventura En El Mar Caribe (Spanish Edition) (the latter two in the running for the Wadadli Pen 2019 Book of the Year), and other prizes (e.g. CDs, books by other authors, literary journals and magazines, scholarships to her Jhohadli Summer Youth Writing Project workshops, one on one coaching sessions, and other gifts) to the annual Wadadli Pen challenge: 2004, 2011 – 2014, 2016 – 2018. Ongoing. She is a part of the Wadadli Pen core team set up in 2016, becoming one of its original directors after it became a legal non-profit in 2021.
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Name: D. Gisele Isaac
Photo by Sonji Davis
Book:
“The Rainmaker” in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
Considering Venus. Seaburn Publishing. NY. 1998.
“Curses come home to Roost” in Young Antiguans Write: Prize-winning Selections in Poetry and Prose from School Creative Writing Annual Competition, 1968-1978. Ministry of Education and Culture. Antigua. 1979.
About the Book:
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA.
Considering Venus explores the almost-unacknowledged issue of lesbianism among Caribbean women and adds to it the complication of a heterosexual perspective. It asks, “What happens when girlfriends becomes more than friends?”
Young Antiguans Write is the result of a 10 year schools’ creative writing competition designed to improve the qualitiy fo writing in schools in Antigua and Barbuda.
About the Author: D. Gisele Isaac, a founding partner of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize and donor for many years, was for two terms, beginning 2004, the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Antigua and Barbuda and before and after that executive secretary of the Board of Education. Subsequently, with a change of government back to the Antigua Labour Party in 2014, the by then Dame D. Gisele Isaac was suspended and subsequently fired from her job at the BoE and criminal charges brought against her by the government. As of this 2018 update, a Standing with Gisele campaign has been ignited to press for hearing of all pending cases. During this embattled period, Isaac became chairperson of the main opposition political. Before all of this D. Gisele Isaac was a newspaper (Antigua Sun), online (sourceab.com, The Crier) and magazine (Business Focus, Essential, Independence, Carnival, and other special publications) editor, college instructor, media commentator and award winning journalist, and, of course, writer. Notably, she’s also written Antigua and Barbuda’s first and second feature films The Sweetest Mango and No Seed. She is a former president of the Professional Organization of Women in Antigua and Barbuda. She wrote Considering Venus while still living in New York where she was resident for many years.
Wadadli Pen connection: Gisele is a founding partner of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize (working behind the scenes in the Prize’s early years assisting with crafting the media message and securing prizes, among other things) and was the Challenge judge, 2004 to 2006, and was a judge again in 2010. She has contributed cash to the prize package 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, and to the Wadadli Pen Book of the Year, awarded in 2019.
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Name: Naomi Jackson.
Book: The Star Side of Bird Hill.
(cover art by Bajan artist Sheena Rose)
Penguin Press. USA. 2015.
About the Book: The Star Side of Bird Hill is a lyrical novel of community, betrayal, and love centered on an unforgettable matriarchal family in Barbados. Two sisters, age 10 and 16, are exiled from Brooklyn to Bird Hill in Barbados after their mother can no longer care for them. The young Phaedra and her older sister Dionne live for the summer of 1989 with their grandmother, Hyacinth. Dionne spends the summer in search of love, testing her grandmother’s limits, and wanting to go home. Phaedra explores Bird Hill, where her family has lived for generations, accompanies her grandmother in her role as a midwife, and investigates their mother’s mysterious life. This tautly-paced coming of age story builds to a crisis when the father they barely know comes to Bird Hill to reclaim his daughters, and both Phaedra and Dionne must choose between the Brooklyn they once knew and loved or the Barbados of their family.
About the Author: Brooklyn born of Barbadian and Antiguan parentage, Naomi Jackson studied fiction at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She has traveled to South Africa on a Fulbright scholarship, where she received an M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Cape Town and is a graduate of Williams College. Her work has appeared in literary journals and magazines in the United States and abroad. She is the recipient of residencies from the University of Pennsylvania’s Kelly Writers House, Hedgebrook, Vermont Studio Center, and the Camargo and Wurlitzer Foundations. Her story “Ladies“ was a 2011 Bloom Chapbook Selection.
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Name: Yvonne H. Pamela James
Book:
“Glory Alley, Potter’s Village, Antigua & Barbuda” in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
About the Book:
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA.
About the Author:
Yvonne H. Pamela James, a retired teacher, was born in Potter’s Village, Antigua and Barbuda. She studied at the University of Waterloo, Canada, and the University of the West Indies Mona, Jamaica to become a teacher. Before immigrating to Canada, she was placed in administrative positions at Jennings and Antigua Girls’ High School.
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Name: Akilah A. Jardine
Books:
Marisha’s Drama. 
DMS Publications. Antigua. 2007.
Living Life the Way I Love It. DMS Publications. Antigua. 2006.
About the Books:
Marisha’s Drama is the story of Marisha, a regular fun-loving teenage girl who is trying to balance the sometimes-opposing virtues of fun, friends, family and school. Then Devon comes along, and instantly they experience a mutual attraction for each other. He is a really nice guy, and she likes being around him. She would have never thought in a million years that meeting him would lend her to discover the startling secret that her own mother was hiding.
Living Life the Way I Love It is the story of Andrea, a typical modern day Caribbean teenager: she just wants to enjoy the life she’s living. This summer, she plans to do just that although she finds obstacles, such as an annoying younger brother and a clash of two romances, in her way. With the help of supportive friends, a fashion flavoured sister and her natural teenage spunk, Andrea manages to live through the ups and downs of school life and the adventures that the summer brings.
About the Author: Akilah Jardine wrote her pair of books while still in her teens. She has since gone on to pursue studies in law.
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Name: Tameka Jarvis-George
Books:
August #1 (graphic novel) as Fallen Angel T. J. G w/art by Sonalli Andrews. Psykhead Productions. 2017.
Unexpected. Enaz Publications. 2010.
About the Book:
August #1 – August Gabriel is a barefoot in the dirt kind of girl. She is aware that there is something innately different about her, but has no idea what the source is. Her ridiculous physical strength, strange intuitions / visions, she writes off as her normal. She forcefully dumbs down her own senses, just to stay sane. Things begin to unravel in her life, when one of her unsavory customers, attacks her. Secret things done since before her birth are unearthed in that moment, putting her on a path of dark spiritual awakenings and a power she could never even dream of. The complete narrative is an ongoing series that takes us through August trying to come to terms with and control powers that are unknowingly bestowed upon her, prior to her birth, because of her family’s link to ‘Obeah’ and trying to understand her vague past, through the eyes of her equally mysterious caretaker / surrogate father, and the only family she’s ever known.
Unexpected – Free from the clutches of a six year relationship with a violent and serially unfaithful partner, Xion Taylor was finally in control of her life. Or was she? Xion, a 26-year-old Antiguan national, decided to take charge of her situation. Not wanting to waste any time being sad and pathetic, by putting up with what seemed like the typical Caribbean man mentality when it came to love, she began find her focus.
About the Author: Tameka is a married with two children. She lives in Antigua and works in the field of architecture. She is , also, working on her second novel. In the interim, she has produced a short film, her own fashion line, and other writings.
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Name: Marie Elena John
Book:
Unburnable. Amistad. USA. 2006.
About the Book: Haunted by scandal and secrets, Lillian Baptiste fled Dominica when she was fourteen after discovering she was the daughter of Iris, the half-crazy woman whose life was told of in chanté mas songs sung during Carnival—songs about a village on a mountaintop littered with secrets, masquerades that supposedly fly and wreak havoc, and a man who suddenly and mysteriously dropped dead. After twenty years away, Lillian returns to her native island to face the demons of her past.
About the Author: Marie Elena John was born and raised in Antigua. She has worked as a development specialist of the African Development Foundation and with the United Nations. She was the first black woman valedictorian of New York’s City College. She is married with two children. Her debut novel, Unburnable, was short listed for the Hurston Wright Legacy Awards, named Best Debut by Black Issues Book Review, among other accolades.
Wadadli Pen connection – Marie Elena John participated in the fundraiser/literary showcase Word Up! 2006. She, also, donated copies of her novel Unburnable to the Wadadli Pen challenge, 2012 – 2013.
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Name: Franklyn Jones
Book: At the Rainbow’s Very End. Gg LLC Publishing. 2014.
About the Book:
At the Rainbow’s Very End – In the community of Celadon (on a Caribbean island) the residents – family, friends and neighbors – helped each other, shared food, and responsibilities. On weekends they drank a little, quarreled some, cooked big meals, and attended church. The community was unique on the island, which was experiencing the heavy hand of developers as it made the transition from agriculture to industry – tourism industry.
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Name: C. K. Joseph
Books: Fortunes and Cookies 
(w/M. H. Atwell). 2021.
About the Book: Jasmine is a young teen who lives a simple life, avoiding any situation that would give her unnecessary attention. She is convinced by her best friend to tackle her self doubts and start having a high school experience instead of hiding away in the background. She decides to finally confess her feelings to her crush which leads to a clever plan involving a fortune cookie. However, Jasmine did not plan for the chaos that followed.
About the Author: C. K Joseph’s love for writing started during her teens, and has been a hobby of hers since then. She lived and worked in China for 4 years+, and has a love for Asian culture. Her co-author, M. H. Atwell is South African and also lives and works in China.
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Name: Jamaica Kincaid
Books: *Kincaid’s books have enjoyed many printings; listed, in each case, is the first printing.
See Now Then. Farrar Straus and Giroux. USA. 2013.
Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalayas (National Geographic Directions). National Geographic Society. 2005.
“Columbus in Chains” from Annie John. Stories from Blue Latitudes (edited by Elizabeth Nunez). Seal Press. USA. 2005.
“Blackness”.The Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories (edited by Stewart Brown and John Wickham). Oxford University Press. 2002.
Talk Stories. Farrar Straus Giroux. NY. 2002.
Mr. Potter. Farrar Straus Giroux. NY. 2002.
My Garden (Book). Farrar Straus Giroux. NY. 2001.
My Brother. Farrar Straus Giroux. NY. 1997.
The Autobiography of My Mother. Farrar Straus Giroux. NY. 1996.
Lucy. Plume. NY. 1991.
“Mariah“ in Stories from the American Mosaic (edited by Scott Walker). Greywolf Press, Minnesota, USA, 1990.
“Girl” in Wayward Girls, Wicked Women: an Anthology of Subversive Women(edited by Angela Carter). Penguin Books. 1989.
A Small Place. Farrar Straus Giroux. NY. 1988.
Annie, Gwen, Lilly, Pam and Tulip. Whitney Museum Limited Edition. NY. 1986. Alfred A Knopf. 1989.
Annie John.
Penguin Books. NY. 1985.
At the Bottom of the River. USA. 1983.
About the Books:
Seen Now Then is the first new novel from Jamaica Kincaid in ten years. In it, a marriage is revealed in all its joys and agonies.
Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalayas is part memoir and part travel journal of a trip into the mountains of Nepal with a trio of botanist friends in search of native Himalayan plants that will grow in her Vermont garden.
Talk Storiesis a collection of Jamaica Kincaid’s original writing for the New Yorker‘s “Talk of the Town,” composed during the time when she first came to the United States from Antigua, from 1978 to 1983.
Ignoring the legacy of his father, a poor fisherman, and his mother, who committed suicide, Mr. Potter struggles to live at ease amid his surroundings: to purchase a car, to have girlfriends, and to shake off the encumbrance of his daughters—one of whom will return to Antigua after he dies and tell his story with equal measures of distance and sympathy.
In My Garden (Book), Kincaid she gathers all she loves about gardening and plants, and examines it generously, passionately, and with sharp, idiosyncratic discrimination.
My Brother is Jamaica Kincaid’s incantatory, poetic, and often shockingly frank recounting of her brother Devon Drew’s life is also the story of her family on the island of Antigua, a constellation centered on the powerful, sometimes threatening figure of the writer’s mother. In it, she speaks volumes about the difficult truths at the heart of all families. My Brother is a 1997 National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction.
In The Autobiography of My Mother, Xuela Claudette Richardson, the daughter of a Carib mother and a half-Scottish, half-African father, loses her mother to death the moment she is born and must find her way on her own. It is a story of love, fear, loss, and the forging of character, an account of one woman’s inexorable evolution, evoked in startling and magical poetry.
Lucy, a teenage girl from the West Indies, comes to North America to work as an au pair for Lewis and Mariah and their four children. She begins to notice cracks in their beautiful facade. With mingled anger and compassion, Lucy scrutinizes the assumptions and verities of her employers’ world and compares them with the vivid realities of her native place. Lucy has no illusions about her own past, but neither is she prepared to be deceived about where she presently is. Lucy is also unravelling the mysteries of her own sexuality. Gradually a new person unfolds: passionate, forthright, and disarmingly honest.
Wayward Girls, Wicked Women includes stories by various women writers including Kincaid. In her story, Girl faces a litany of her mother’s strictures and admonishments.
A Small Place is lyrical, sardonic, and forthright in its examination of colonialism and its effects on Antigua.
Annie, Gwen, Lilly, Pam and Tulip was ‘originally intended as a part of the 1983 collection At the Bottom of the River, Annie, Gwen, Lilly, Pam and Tulip (and) was published in 1986 as the fourth in a Whitney Museum limited edition “artist and writers” series. Only one hundred and forty-five copies were printed, though it was re-released in trade edition by Alfred A. Knopf in 1989. Annie, Gwen, Lilly, Pam and Tulip consists of Jamaica Kincaid’s text with Eric Fischl lithographs on facing pages. … (the) story narrates a moment of first contact between Caribbean natives and conquistadors, from the point of view of the Caribbean natives who are also constituted by the history that will result from that meeting. …Annie, Gwen, Lily, Pam and Tulip takes the form of a conversation between five girls who tell each other, in an unspecified post-colonial moment, stories of their meetings with the arriving men. … Annie Gwen Lilly Pam and Tulip emblematizes not only the thematics of Caribbean girlhood, erotic play, nostalgia, and colonialism that run throughout Kincaid’s work, it also exemplifies the range of her experimentation and interest—perhaps most manifest in her gardening and plant collecting work but also, in and beyond those, her willingness to try collaborative projects, to accept invitations into the world of fine art like that represented by the Whitney, to, in her words, “take, just take” what colonial and neo-colonial traditions lay out and make them, inimitably, her own.’ (Source: A is for Jamaica Kincaid’s Annie, Gwen, Lilly, Pam, and Tulip (1983) by Keja Valens @kvalens in the Caribbean Literary Heritage online project on forgotten or little known Caribbean books).
Annie John is a haunting and provocative story of a young girl growing up on the island of Antigua.
At the Bottom of the River is a short story collection that leads her readers to consider, as if for the first time, the powerful ties between mother and child; the beauty and destructiveness of nature; the gulf between the masculine and the feminine; the significance of familiar things–a house, a cup, a pen; telling us something we didn’t know, in a way we hadn’t expected.
About the Author:
Jamaica Kincaid was born Elaine Potter Richardson in Antigua. She’s lived, written, and lectured in America for many years. She is easily the best known and most acclaimed writer from Antigua.
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Name: Edgar O. Lake
Book:
The Devil’s Bridge. 
Athena Pr Pub Co. 2004.
About the Book: Masquerading, migration and the ghosts of history haunt this richly-veined fable steeped in the myths and legends of West Indian and African tradition.
About the Author: Edgar Lake is a playwright, poet, filmmaker, journalist, and more.
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Name: Vivian Luke
Book: F.A.K.E.! 2018.
About the Book: F.A.K.E.! traces the lives of four professional African American women who have it all until life altering circumstances crash into their lives and they realize their lives are not perfect — they are FAKE! The quartet of “forty something” super moms are connected by their decades long friendship and their lives in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. To the outside, these women are well connected, busy and beautiful, but secretly each of them knows their lives are inauthentic and shallow – simply put, FAKE! Each of these women discovers her marriage and/or health (and, possibly all they’ve worked so hard for) is on the brink of destruction and must make life-changing decisions. It is their deep rooted, life long friendships that get them through some of the toughest periods in each of their lives.
About the Author: Vivian E. Luke is a professional woman and the mother of two daughters. F.A.K.E.! is her debut novel, loosely based on her own experiences with divorce and that of many friends. Vivian has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Howard University. She is a published author with several articles on relationships and self-motivation for online magazines MariaShriver.com and DivorcedMoms.com – under the pseudonym Laine Ward. Vivian is of Antiguan parentage and spent many summers in Antigua while growing up. She is the daughter of Elaine Edwards (Luke) of Ottos who moved to Curacao at the age of nine and Vincent Luke – son of Richard “Tuckie” Luke and brother of Conrad and Winston Luke of Campsite (and owners of R.K. Luke & Sons Hardware store in St. John’s).
Wadadli Pen connection: Vivian’s book won the 2017-2018 Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year prize, 2019.
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Name: Marcel Marshall
Books:
Butterfly. 2021.
Tales from My Mother’s Bosom. 2015.
All that Glitters is Not Gold. Dorrance Publishing. 2008.
About the Books:
Butterfly is a romance in which the titular heroine copes with betrayal.
Tales from My Mother’s Bosom finds the author sharing tales told by her mother Gwendolyn Merchant.
All That Glitters Is Not Gold explores the significance of romance and sexuality in modern life through the journey of Te’Kare Hulford, a beautiful, successful, and very unhappy young journalist.
About the Author: Marcel Marshall was born, grew up and still resides in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. From an early age Marcel Marshall’s passions were reading and writing and vowed to become a published writer one day.
Wadadli Pen connection: Marcel Marshall donated copies of her book All that Glitters is Not Gold to the Wadadli Pen challenge, 2011.
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Name: Ian McDonald 
Books (select):
Inheritance, the Story of a West Indian Family. Paria Publishing. 2020.
Poems for Mary. Middle Road Publishers. 2020.
An Abounding Joy, essays on sport by Ian McDonald (compiled, edited, and annotated by Clem Seecharan). Hansib. UK. 2019.
The Hummingbird Tree. Heineman and Macmillan. UK. 1969 and 2004.
Between Silence and Silence. Peepal Tree Press. UK. 2003.
Jaffo the Calypsonian. Peepal Tree Press. UK. 1994.
Heinemann Book of Caribbean Poetry (co-edited with Stewart Brown). Heinemann. UK. 1992.
Mercy Ward. Peterloo Poets and Caribbean Press. UK and Guyana. 1992 and 2010.
Essequibo. Peterloo Poets/Story Line Press. UK/US. 1988.
“The Tramping Man” (one-act play) in A Time and a Season (a collection of eight Caribbean plays). UWI’s School of Continuing Studies. 1976.
About the Books:
Inheritance – McDonald journeys down the generations of his family, describing with a loving and fascinated eye his ancestors, including warriors, poets, actors, doctors, merchants, sportsmen and civil servants, and concluding with his grand-parents and beloved parents.
Poems for Mary – Poems inspired by Ian’s wife Mary.
An Abounding Joy – This book comprises 100 of his essays on sport, covering ennis, squash, and boxing, but it is McDonald’s revered sport, cricket, that predominates in this collection. The latter encompasses the history of the game, including its place in the soul of the West Indian people, in addition to its contemporary problems and challenges.
The Hummingbird Tree was filmed by the BBC in 1992. It has been in almost continuous print since its original release, and deals with the involvement of a young white child on a sugar estate with two Indian children from the village. The book is considered a classic of Caribbean literature.
Silence is a collection of poems and was winner of the Guyana Prize for Literature 2004.
Jaffo the Calypsonian embraces Caribbean possibility with romantic fervour but still acknowledges what is harsh and painful in the region.
Heinemann Book of Caribbean Poetry is described as the most comprehensive and up-to-date selection of contemporary Caribbean poetry, including major names like Derek Walcott, John Agard, and Merle Collins, alongside new poets of the region.
Mercy Ward is made up of poems derived from McDonald’s experiences visiting the terminally sick in hospital ward where the poor are left to die.
Essequibo was the 1992 winner of the Guyana Prize for Literature.
“Tramping Man” was performed in Guyana in 1969, broadcast by GBS in 1972, and published in A Time and A Season ed. Errol Hill, 1976. It is about a Dionysian carnivalesque figure, a spirit of unquenchable freedom who is seen by the state to challenge its power. The play has been frequently staged.
About the Author:
Describing himself as “Antiguan by ancestry, Trinidadian by birth, Guyanese by adoption, and West Indian by conviction,” Ian McDonald’s Antigua connection is through his father (who is of Antiguan and Kittitian extraction, while his mother is Trinidadian). He himself was born in Trinidad in 1933 and went to Guyana in 1955. He has lived there ever since. From a white West Indian family, he worked in the sugar industry, pre-and-post retirement. He wrote a weekly newspaper column and worked to revive the seminal literary journal Kyk-over-Al. His writing began in the 1950s with publications in BIM and New World. He has considerably more publications than mentioned here, including appearances in The Caribbean Writer, Poui, and the Caribbean Review of Books. He has received an honourary PhD from the University of the West Indies. Adept at sports – specifically tennis – he was Guyana’s 1957 Sportsman of the Year. His backstory includes a five times great-grandfather Edward Dacres Baynes, 1790 to 1863, who served as a soldier in Jamaica just after emancipation and after that a colonial civil servant in the Leeward Islands including the post of President of the Council of Montserrat, who eventually settled in Antigua with his wife and fifteen children. Bayne published a poetry collection entitled Child Harold in the Shades. His family line also includes a great-uncle Donald McDonald, an Antiguan trader, businessman and Assembly member who also wrote verse and published a volume in London in 1917. His grandmother, Hilda McDonald was the first female member of the Antiguan House of Assembly and author of a small booklet of verse, Sunflakes and Stardust. His Antigua-based sister Gillie McDonald’s book Gillie’s World is also listed in this data base.
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Name: Kimolisa Mings
Books:
The Bacchanal Tu’n Up: African American Erotic Short Stories (Eros Book 2). 2021.
The Bacchanal Sweet: African American Erotic Short Stories (Eros Book 1). 2020.
The Pleasure is Mine: A Caribbean BWWM Romance (A Sapodilla Resort & Spa Novel). 2020.
A Very Merry Ex-Mas. 2019.
Into the Black Widow’s Web (as K. N. Mings). 2018.
A Friend Indeed. 2017.
If the Shoe Fits. 2017.
I Do…NOT. 2017.
Oration. 2016.
Loving The Wrong Man. 2016.
Integration (BWWM SciFi Erotic Romance). 2016.
The Millionaire and the Gentleman. Smashwords edition. USA. 2016.
Tomorrow’s End (Lovers & Friends Book 4). 2015
Yesterday’s Gone (BWWM Interracial Romance Novella) (Lovers & Friends Book 3). 2015.
Just Friends (BWWM Interracial Romance Novella) (Lovers & Friends Book 2). 2015.
More Than Friends (BWWM Interracial Romance Novella) (Lovers & Friends Book 1). 2015.
Red. Smashwords edition. USA. 2015.
Saving Babylon. 2014.
The Cottage. 2014.
Martine. 2012.
About the Book:
The Bacchanal Tu’n Up: African American Erotic Short Stories (Eros Book 2) – At the ultra exclusive, ultra secret Eros Bacchanales, pleasure is what party-goers seek, but it doesn’t always turn out the way they planned.
The Bacchanal Sweet: African American Erotic Short Stories (Eros Book 1) – At the ultra exclusive, ultra secret Eros Bacchanales, pleasure is what party-goers seek, but it doesn’t always turn out the way they planned.
The Pleasure is Mine – Working as a waitress at the all-inclusive Sapodilla Resort & Spa, single mother, Kailah Browne has done well for herself. Nice home. Happy daughter. Dancing in the streets of St. Paul’s with the legendary Eros Mas Troupe… and a relationship with a man her daughter adores. That is until a gut wrenching betrayal results in Kailah doing the unthinkable to a guest of the resort. When heir to the Carlson Group of Hotels, Theo Carlson, has a front seat to the action, he’s more intrigued by the employee than enraged. But with the hotel closing for three months, he may never discover what about the waitress has caught his interest. Or so he thinks…While attending an Eros bacchanale, Kailah comes face to face with the man that knows what she did…But she’s not the only one with a secret.
A Very Merry Ex-Mas – Weeks before Christmas, Aijah Washington is dumped by her perfect on paper boyfriend. Instead of facing her extended family after another failed relationship, the marketing executive rents a cabin in the countryside to lick her wounds and get over the man she believed was the one. But she’s not the only one escaping Christmas with the family…
Into the Black Widow’s Web – Audra Kellman is found dead in a place that is said to be where demons cross over to the human world. Now Three People Want To Find The Killer. The head of an underground narcotic distribution ring. The CEO of an influential group of companies. And a reluctant private investigator who is more interested in finding out the true identity of the person who hired him than finding out who killed the innocent woman execution style. As D’Angelo Marshall, a private investigator who walks on the razor edge of the law, investigates the case he finds himself caught up in a web of secrets. And the case takes him in a new direction that would change his life forever.
A Friend Indeed – A ocean away from the only life she knows, Jade Johansen can’t seem to find her place in her husband’s home city of Aarhus, Denmark that is until she befriends a man from her husband’s past. As the friendship blossoms so does her guilt for not telling her husband about the other man in her life. A man whose intentions are far from noble and may lead to the end of Jade’s marriage. Will Jade’s husband forgive her for not telling him about the other man? And when he finds out that she’s pregnant, will he take Jade’s word that the baby is his?
If the Shoe Fits – It’s The Perfect Frame Job, The Only Problem Is She Is The one Being Framed. Waking up in the midst of a gruesome crime scene, Cindy Ellington can’t remember the night before. She narrowly escapes it and is now on the run. Stumbling onto the city’s biggest murder case, Detective Sam Masterson discovers two bodies. But one is very much alive and now is the chief suspect in the death of a city official. But is she the killer? The more Sam investigates, the more he doubts that Cindy commited the heinous crime, even though all the evidence points to her, chiefly the murder weapon, a red stiletto. With the law on her trail, Cindy seeks the truth only to discover that it is closer to home than she thinks.
I Do…NOT – Attorney at Law, Alexa Marsh, has everything going for her. A successful career. A great social life. And the perfect man. But all that glitters is not gold, or in her case, platinum. After returning the ring, bringing the short lived engagement to an end, Alexa embarks on the single life. But this, too, is short lived. Instead of meeting one Mr. Right-Now, she meets two. Alexa tells herself that she’s just dating, but the more she spends time with the men, the more they seem to be Mr. Rights. But which Mr. Right should she choose? The self-made millionaire with the heart of gold? Tall, dark and handsome who caters to Alexa’s needs? If she doesn’t choose, the choice may be taken away and the results may change her life forever.
Oration – Dr. Selassie Ousab travels to the Planet Ondu to speak to the heads of the galaxy and to the contingency of alien life forms who are requesting the unthinkable. In front of the most powerful men and women of the galaxy, she makes a plea for a place in the galaxy for her unborn child. In the audience sits the father of the child, Ambassador Helix Thorne. His position requires that he opposes integration but his heart wants the family that could never have a home in the segregated galaxy. Can Selassie convince the powers that be that they must integrate for the survival of man? Will Helix give up his position for the family he can never have in the galaxy divided by race?
Loving the Wrong Man – Amanda is the good wife. She takes a job in the Whitfield household to secure a job for her husband, but with the job comes temptation….Maxwell Whitfield is a playboy who doesn’t respect the institution of marriage and out of all the women at his finger tips he wants the one who strives to be faithful to her husband – that is until Maxwell puts her in a position that forces her to cheat on her husband. But Amanda isn’t the only one in her marriage who has been unfaithful. The more she tries to keep her marriage together, the more secrets come to the fore, some that are unforgivable. Can the good wife forgive and forget? The playboy. The unfaithful husband. Who is the wrong man to love? A Steamy, Western, BWWM with a HEA.
Integration (BWWM SciFi Erotic Romance) – Is it lust or is it prophecy…..In a galaxy divided by race, can a black doctor looking for a cure allow herself to give in to her attraction to a white ambassador whose missions takes him beyond their stars? Upon his return from from a mission to a neighboring galaxy, Ambassador Helix Thorne finds himself drawn to the daughter of the Zaiu Ambassador. Wanting to spend more time with Dr. Selassie Ousab, he invites her to his home in the rural lands. In their short time together, he falls in love with her, but in a segregated galaxy, there is no place for their love. Visiting her father in the Sira solar system, Dr. Selassie Ousab is looking for a cure for her people, the last thing she expected to find was love. During her stay at his home, Selassie gives in to her attraction to the ambassador, but is conflicted. Is her attraction genuine or is it part of an ancient prophecy? Is it lust, love or a prophecy that would lead to the integration of a galaxy? Does the doctor even have a choice in the matter? When all seems impossible for the forbidden lovers, help comes from the most unexpected corners of the universe.
The Millionaire and the Gentleman – re His Secrets More Than She Can Handle? Nia Armstrong, the founder of a growing beauty empire, is a self made millionaire, but her success in business does not translate over to her love life. Returning home to attend her beloved grandmother’s funeral, she is reunited with a childhood friend who has grown into everything Nia is looking for in a man.The Gentleman has a secret, more like a few. After much hesitation, Andy Smith agrees to join Nia as she travels through Europe acquiring new customers for her beauty lines. As they get to know each other, Andy refuses to share what he has been doing since graduating from college. What could he possibly be hiding? Will uncovering his secrets turn the elusive Andy Smith into Mr. Wrong? When Nia discovers Andy’s secrets, can she look past what he is for who he really is, the man who loves her and who she loves?
Tomorrow’s End – All Things Must Come To An End. After starting her business, Imani James Consulting, Imani is threatened by a lawsuit that may bankrupt her. But help comes from the last person she waned involved in her life. In trying to move on from a relationship that could never be, Imani may lose more than her business. Ian Hunte is happy and in love, but when the woman he once loved (and still loves) needs his help he comes close to compromising his current relationship, a relationship with promise. But when Imani is really in trouble will he come to the rescue or turn his back on the past to save his future. The final book in the series, Friends & Lovers, finds the once friends, once lovers, moving on with their lives, but when faced with life and death, they are forced to come to terms with their true feelings for each other.
Yesterday’s Gone – Is this the beginning or the end? From the ashes of an old relationship emerges a new one, but with it comes unresolved hopes and fears. Although Imani had moved across the country to start anew, her ties to the past have only grown stronger. But her inability to follow her heart promises to break the ties that bind her to the man she loves, once and for all. Ian still loves Imani and wants her back, but how long will he be strung along? When the only thing Imani can offer him is her friendship, will he accept it?In losing Ian, Imani cannot deny her feelings for him, but is it too late?
Just Friends – Can their love withstand this? After taking the leap from being friends to being lovers, Imani James is more than content with her relationship with Ian Hunte, but a mistake in Ian’s recent past threatens their new relationship. Ian is about to be a father and Imani is not the one pregnant with his child. With the birth of Ian’s son, Imani uncovers a secret. One that may lead to the end of their perfect relationship. But it isn’t the secret that brings everything crashing down. With every revelation, the couple remains strong and committed, but when faced with losing his son, Ian makes a decision that breaks Imani’s heart.
More Than Friends (BWWM Interracial Romance Novella) (Lovers & Friends Book 1): Would they risk a great friendship for love? Imani James, a beautiful, black grad student, wasn’t looking for love but she discovers that Mr. Right is right at her finger tips. But when faced with having a friend become a lover, Imani hesitates, a decision she now regrets. Over the short time he’s known Imani, Ian Hunte, an attractive, white law student, has fallen for his close friend and now he wants to be more than friends. Faced with rejection, he goes in search of love in all the wrong places only to discover that Imani is the only woman for him. In trying to preserve their friendship, Imani brings it close to destruction, but when given a second chance will she accept Ian as a lover?
Red. Death by Stiletto. Waking up into a nightmare, Cindy Ellington narrowly escapes a murder scene to become a wanted woman. Driven by the desire to clear her name, Cindy tries to find the real killer only to discover that the person behind it all will do everything in their power to destroy her. Sam Masterson, a seasoned detective, falls for an elusive stranger who is the person of interest in a high profile murder investigation. The more he and his partner learns about Cindy Ellington, the more he believes she is innocent. If only he could find her before the real killer does. A fast paced whodunit that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Saving Babylon. Babylon is the premiere house of pleasure in New Gotham, it is also a house of secrets. Those who reside within its walls are the keepers of the secrets of New Gotham’s rich and powerful, but someone is trying to change that. Someone is doing everything in their power to destroy Babylon.
The Cottage. Angela was happy with the life she built, but her meddling mother has other plans. Plans that include a man from Angela’s past. Matthew is newly divorced and has his own plans for Angela. Plans that are revealed one evening in the little cottage Angela calls home. A dinner between friends takes a kinky turn. One that leaves Angela wanting.
Martine Carter has the perfect life. She is a Junior Professor in the Foreign Language Dept. of a community college. She has a loving husband and two daughters who are a handful but the loves of her life, but Martine has a secret. A secret from her past has come looking for her and she now has to figure out how to make him a part of her life.
About the Author:
Kimolisa Mings started writing poetry after she was encouraged to do so by her English teacher, Ms. Joseph. Although her body of work grew with the passing years, it was only in 2005 that Kimolisa started to share her work at local open mic events. In 2008, she started a blog called Kim or Lisa, where one can find her older poems and her latest poems. In 2011, Kimolisa won the Independence Literary Award for Poetry in the adult division. In 2012, one of her poems was featured in ‘When a Woman Moans’, a local twist on the Vagina Monologues. Kimolisa’s first book was the short story ebook Martine, self-published in 2012.
Wadadli Pen connection: Kimolia Ming’s A Friend Indeed, I Do…Not, If the Shoe Fits, and Into the Black Widow’s Web were in the running for the Wadadli Pen 2017 – 2018 Readers Choice Book of the Year. 2019.
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Name: Sharon D. Moore
Books:
Hidden in Plain Sight (Under the Shadow of the Almighty Volume 1). New Season Books. USA. 2016.
About the Book: When Philly-born playboy, Jason White, discovers a devastating family secret about the identity of his biological father, he launches an angry quest to find and confront the man. A lengthy investigation into his father, a prominent pastor of a large church in North Carolina, spurs a quick, covert, out-of-town visit to the pastor’s church on Easter Sunday. Will Jason follow through on his desire to destroy the man he believes left him alone and in poverty? In Raleigh, North Carolina, the greedy and lecherous Bishop Quincy Stewart’s less than discreet history of deceit and all around messiness is threatened with exposure when he loses control over his manufactured persona. A chance encounter and life-changing lunch unlocks the chains holding Stewart s wife, Lucy, hostage and sets the stage for a much needed shift in her life. In a desperate act to break his wife s spirit and force her into compliance, Bishop Stewart does the unthinkable. Will he go down for his horrific actions? Will Lucy ever be set free from the pain he has caused her? The Camelot-like existence of popular and honorable Bishop James Collins becomes shrouded in an indefinable dark cloud when his wife, Victoria, invites an unstable element into their lives. Will Bishop Collins overcome being blindsided by the ugly truths he s forced to face or will his life and ministry be forever changed?
About the Author: Sharon D. Moore is a writer, people watcher, and avid reader. A former world-traveling, military brat, Sharon lives in North Carolina with two cats and a host of other wildlife that stop by regularly for meals, protection, and affection. Moore has Antiguan roots – Looby on her mother’s side, Salmon on her father’s side.
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Name: Motion
Books:
“Locks and Love” in In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (edited by Althea Prince). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2012.
*For more of her writing, see Poetry.
About the Books:
In the Black: New African Canadian Literature is a mix of short fiction, poetry, dub poetry, and hip hop by some of Black Canada’s foremost writers.
About the Author:
Motion is a prolific urban artist. Possessing charismatic agility in rap, songwriting, and poetry, this award-winning artist is a keen composer, and intense performer. Motion’s was the first female Hip Hop artist to be nominated for MuchMusic’s Best Rap Video. Her pioneering presence continued into the millennium when her commentary on urban life and love in Toronto made her the winner of the CBC National Poetry Face-Off with her nationally acclaimed poem, “Connect the T.Dots.” Motion is the first Hip Hop artist in Canada to publish a collection of writings.
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Name: Jelani Nias
Books:
Where Eagles Crawl and Men Fly. Jeshiann Publishing/Store House Media. Canada. 2014.
“The Return” in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
“Bottles’ Hustle” & “Graduation” in In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (edited by Althea Prince). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2012.
About the Books:
Where Eagles Crawl and Men Fly – Welcome to Warri, Wadad, where some of “God’s children” got real wings and the devil’s earthy brood brandish shotguns. But it’s hard to tell the good from the bad in this marvelous mash-up of action and fantasy. (George Elliot Clarke, from the book jacket).
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA.
In the Black: New African Canadian Literature is a mix of short fiction, poetry, dub poetry, and hip hop by some of Black Canada’s foremost writers.
About the Author: Jelani “J Wyze” Nias was born on the island of Antigua in 1977, has lived in Bermuda and now resides in Toronto, Canada. He has been writing professionally for 16 years. In 2013, his short stories were featured in two anthologies “In The Black: New African Canadian Literature” and “So The Nailhead Bend, So The Story End” an Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing”. An accomplished spoken word artist, his poetry can be found in “Word Up: Spoken Words In Print” and on EMI Canada’s companion audio compilation also entitled “Word Up”. His articles have been published by the Toronto Star and included in Canadian civics high school texts. He has also had various poems incorporated into syllabi for the University of Alberta’s English courses. Where Eagles Crawl and Men Fly is his first novel.
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Name: Vellie Nicholas-Benta
Book: Poisoned Arrows. 2022.
About the Book: After the stunning Igneri-Arawak beauty, Barbe, and Xamba–the innocent, pubescent daughter of an Arawak chief–are kidnapped from their village on Saba by Kalinago warriors and taken to St Kitts, their seventeenth century lives become a series of island hoppings. Poisoned Arrows, carved from the shafts of historical facts and embellished with unbridled imagination, is the result of exhaustive research into the lives of island people who beachcombed, island-hopped and spearfished. The stories of the Arawaks and Caribs–the West Indian indigenous people–in ways never told before.
About the Author: Vellie Nicholas-Benta is also known as Miss B, Auntie Vellie, and Teacher Vellie. As a Caribbean writer, she enjoys excavating the past and unmuting once silenced voices and views the reconstruction of official historical narratives as a means of interrogating the past. She is originally from Dominica but lives in Antigua and Barbuda.
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Name: Claytine Nisbett
Book: Life as Josephine. 2017.
About the Book: Life As Josephine takes place in the 1990s, chronicling the formative years of a strong-willed Bronx, New York teenager, Josephine Peters.
About the Author: Antiguan-born, New York raised author, Claytine Nisbett hit the scene with her first book, Life As Josephine. Claytine received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College in New York City. She has a passion for the non-profit field and is a social activist for women’s empowerment, specifically Violence Against Women Awareness. She returned to the Caribbean after living in the USA for over 20 years. She is an entrepreneur who enjoys traveling, writing, trying different foods, and most of all encouraging other women to live to their full potential.
Wadadli Pen connection: Claytine’s Life as Josephine was in the running for Wadadli Pen 2017-2018 Readers Choice Book of the Year. 2019. Nisbett was also a Wadadli Pen patron and partner in 2012.
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Name: Dobrene E. O’Marde
Book:
Send Out You Hand. Hansib. UK. 2012.
About the Book:
Send Out You Hand follows the intersecting lives of business men and women, socio-political activists and academics across the Caribbean as they attempt to chart a course to regional unity. The characters are examined around issues of love, sex, health, race and relocation as it relates to this tumultuous social and political climate. It takes place across six Caribbean countries, providing a galloping travelogue through the region.
About the Author:
Dorbrene O’Marde (b. 1950) is an Antiguan playwright and calypso song writer; also former publisher of Calypso Talk magazine. He is also an analyst-commentator in the media. O’Marde is at the forefront of the reparations lobby as president of Antigua and Barbuda’s government-appointed Reparations Support Commission.
Wadadli Pen connection: O’Marde contributed copies of Send Out You Hand to the Wadadli Pen Challenge, 2013.
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Name: Timothy Payne
Books:
Dawn Disturbed: Bloody Benna. 2019.
Dead Beat. 2019.
About the Books:
Dawn Disturbed follows the path of a young, Jamaican immigrant, from his homeland to his adopted country (Antigua) and his flirtations with serious crime. The climax is a failed kidnap and ransom attempt and the shooting death of the perpetrators and their hostage at the hands of security forces. Mysteriously, once the main character is introduced to Benna music, he quickly grows fond of a song, by King Short Shirt, that appears to follows his movements at critical points throughout this story. This includes moments before the Palm Sunday incident. (Though a fictional presentation, this book is based on real events and some place and character names might be recognizable.).
Dead Beat is set in the second half of the 20th century. It is about a village musician who has trouble maintaining his daughter and runs afoul of her vindictive mother and an opportunistic police officer and the law. He battles a nervous breakdown brought down by a near-drowning incident along with his fatherhood issues. He, however, rebounds well in the end through the assistance of George, Mackie and Palicks, his fishing buddies. He owes most to the lovely and musically talented, Diana, who had recently moved to the fishing village.
About the Author:
Timothy Payne was born in Barnes Hill Village, St. George’s, Antigua and Barbuda. He attended the New Winthorpes School, Convent School, St, Joseph’s Academy, and The Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario, Canada. Timothy has been a teacher at various institutions of learning for over four decades. The list includes The St. Joseph’s Academy, Irene B. Williams, The Youth Skills Training Programme, and Government’s Assisted Technology Endeavour (GATE) Programme. He worked at Sun Printing and Publishing Ltd. for more than a decade with his last post there being that of managing editor. He was the proprietor of News Pages Antigua, a weekly paper he produced for four years. He has one previous book, Village Life, a collection of humorous anecdotes related to the community he lives in. His most recent accomplishment is receiving a Faithful and Meritorious Service silver medal from the governor general of Antigua and Barbuda for service to the country of Antigua and Barbuda in the area of preservation of heritage and culture.
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Name: Althea Prince
Books:
The Black Notes: Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls(co-edited with Gayle Gonsalves and Aisha Wilks). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
Re-imagining the Sky: an Anthology by Newcomer Women. (edited). Tsar Publications. Canada. 2013.
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 (edited, contributor). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
In the Black: New African Canadian Literature (Editor, author – “Push”, “They Buried her Mother Twice”). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2012.
The Politics of Black Women’s Hair. Insomniac Press. Canada. 2009.
Feminisms and Womanisms: A Women’s Studies Reader [edited by Althea Prince with Susan Silva-Wayne with assistance from Christian Vernon]. Women’s Press. Canada. 2004.
Being Black. Insomniac Press. Canada. 2001.
Loving this Man. 
Insomniac Press. Canada. 2001.
Ladies of the Night and other stories. Sister Vision. Canada. [Reissued in 2005 by Insomniac Press]. 1998.
How the Starfish got to the Sea. Sister Vision. Canada. 1992.
How the East Pond got its Flowers. Sister Vision. Canada. 1991.
About the Books:
The Black Notes. This collection contains stories and poems written by 12 Black women; it is serendipitous that their voices blend seamlessly, and beautifully, even though the writers are intergenerational. The storytelling crosses local, national, and international cultural sensibilities, giving the reader a glimpse of the way the storytellers ‘receive’ and share ‘Story’. The poets cut through emotional lines to caress the reader, just before they unleash a shaft of insight that rattles your consciousness. Contributors to Black Notes include Motion, Trey Anthony, Itah Sadu, D’bi Young, Sister Souljah, Brenda Lee Browne, Jully Black, and Jemeni.
Re-imagining the Sky: an Anthology by Newcomer Women. These stories, poems, and one essay are the outpourings of women who spent time writing together at the Newcomer Women’s Services (NEW), Toronto. In their creations they move their words from their hearts, from their bellies, from their souls. Losing all shyness, self-doubt, worry, and concern about being judged, they have written about themselves, their families, and issues of power over life. They have found their voice within; and dashed their words onto paper with abandon, hurrying to bring them to light, lest they run
back to their secret hiding places.
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA.
In the Black: New African Canadian Literature is a mix of short fiction, poetry, dub poetry, and hip hop by some of Black Canada’s foremost writers.
The Politics of Black Women’s Hair. More than just a fashion statement, a Black woman’s choice of hairstyle can reflect her self-image, childhood experiences, and personal beliefs as well. Using interviews, memoirs, and personal essays, this book sensitively charts Black women’s journeys with their hair: how it is perceived, judged, and graded on the yardstick of mainstream society’s standards of beauty.
Feminisms and Womanisms: A Women’s Studies Reader brings together theory and practical application, so that feminist discourse interacts as a partner with the lived experience of women’s social action. The selections combine classics in feminist thought with work from modern theorists and offer a solid foundation in international feminism.
Being Black. Prince tackles the complacency she sees in some manifestations of Black Canadian culture — such as Toronto’s popular Caribana festival — as well as in white society’s attitudes towards Black culture, as revealed by Prince’s involvement with the notorious Writers’ Union of Canada-sponsored Writing Thru Race conference.
Loving this Man beautifully traces a woman’s struggle to negotiate the transition from life in the Caribbean to life in the concrete utopia of urban North America. It is about politics and class, but more than anything, about the mother-daughter bond that exists in these women’s lives.
Ladies of the Night and Other Stories. With women’s loves and lives as their focus, the stories contain dramatic twists and turns: some humorous, others shocking and disturbing, all leaving a haunting melody behind.
How the Starfish got to the Sea is a Caribbean story set in 1800s Antigua. It features characters like the elder Papa Biggis and the healer Mother Sillah. The story is about a star lost its ability to shine after falling to earth.
How the East Pond got its Flowers is also set in Antigua; it is the story of Mother Sillah and Tullah, a young girl destined to do great things despite being enslaved in colonial era Antigua
About the Author:
Award-winning author, Dr. Althea Prince was born in Antigua and has resided in Canada since the 1960s. She has taught Sociology, first at York University, and the University of Toronto; she now teaches at The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University. From 2002 to 2005, Dr. Prince was Managing Editor of the publishing company, Canadian Scholars’ Press & Women’s Press. Her awards include, The Children’s Book Centre ‘Choice’ Award for her children’s book, How the Star Fish Got to the Sea. In 2007, she received the Antigua and Barbuda International Writers’ Festival First Annual Award for Literary Excellence.
Wadadli Pen connection: Althea and her publishers donated Being Black, Ladies of the Night, and So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End to the Wadadli Pen Challenge, 2005, 2010, 2013.
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Name: Glenda Prince
Book: “Giving Thanks” in Black Notes (co-edited by Althea Prince, Gayle Gonsalves, and Aisha Wilks). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
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Name: Ralph Prince
Books:
“Experience During the Eruption” (Excerpted from novel, Fire Mountain) in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1. (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
“Sharlo’s New Bargain” in The Sun’s Eye: West Indian Writing for New Readers (compiled by Anne Walmsley). Longman Group/Pearson Education/Lexicon/Carlong Publishers. Trinidad, Jamaica. UK. 1968, 1969, 1989, 2011 (29 editions in all).
Jewels of the Sun. Nelson Caribbean. England. 1979.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA.
This new edition of The Sun’s Eye brings one of the most widely-used and long-lasting anthologies to a new generation of young readers.The Sun’s Eye retains all its proven favorites, but almost half the stories and poems are new, selected from the past 20 years’ wealth of Caribbean writing. The Sun’s Eye again includes its unique feature ‘Notes about the Writers’, prepared by each author specially for this book. In addition, at the request of many teachers, there are now questions at the end of each piece of writing, to further the students’ understanding and appreciation and to encourage their creativity. The centre illustration on the cover and many inside, are by Caribbean artists.
Jewels of the Sun was a short story collection. Ralph’s nine stories, one of which is set in Antigua and the rest in Guyana, relate Caribbean folk tales without presenting them as myths. Along with Michael Anthony’s King of the Masquerade, Time Out by Monica Skeete, and C. Everard Palmer’s Hummingbird People, it was part of Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd’s Authors of the Caribbean educational series. Unlike many literary works designed for the schools’ market, the volumes in this series have no para-textual framing with suggested topics for discussion or further reading.
About the Author:
Born in 1923, Ralph Prince lived in the U.K. for many years, working as a journalist for the BBC. Later, while resident in Guyana, he edited ‘The Demba Digest’, a publication of the Demba Bauxite Company. He later returned home to Antigua, where his pursuits included archeological research, before his death, of natural causes, in 1985. Throughout his writing life, Prince, eldest brother of famed scribe Althea Prince, contributed to several anthologies, a dictionary of Caribbean language, and his short story collection, Jewels of the Sun. After his death, a literary journal, entitled ‘Prince Literary Journal’, was created in his honour.
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Name: James Ryan
Book: A Certain Paradise. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2013.
About the Book: This novel paints a picture of British West Indian island life and renders a behind the scenes view of a luxury resort. The novel is based on a two week visit to a Caribbean island resort by Morton, its English managing director. The resort is open but the final stages of construction are still in progress. Morton is seen to be at odds with his fellow workers, his Maker and himself and the story details the sometimes painful, sometimes laughable misunderstandings he has with those around him – and they with each other. Interweaved with his life are the lives of the expatriates and islanders – the educated West Indians and the peasant farmers – each involved with the resort in some way but each living their own very different lives and holding quite dissimilar views of their place in the scheme of things. Morton struggles to establish order but this proves to be no easy thing. As the story unfolds the odds stacked him seem to increase and increase. But surely paradise is close at hand.
About the Author: James Ryan is dual national British and British West Indian and has lived equal amounts of his adult life in both places. A published writer with degrees from English universities he has worked in the Caribbean tourist industry for many years on
both the hotel and marine sides. As a yacht captain he is familiar with Caribbean, Atlantic and European waters. Off-duty he lives the island village life, trying to understand the old time wisdom and find what is true and kind and useful in all the changing times and with all the differing people. Folks in Antigua may remember him as the Monk who facilitated meditation sessions at the Museum.
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Name: Bridget Samuel Charles
Book: No Regrets: The Story of Elline Merle Derene. 2021.
About the Book: No Regrets chronicles the life of Elline Merle Derene George from the time she was a little girl. Set in the Caribbean island of Antigua, Elline faces many hardships. Her response to adversity reveals her priorities in life. As her story unfolds, the reader is drawn into the Antiguan culture, starting in the early twentieth century. Will Elline grow up to be the strong, fearless woman she aspires to be? Will she be a beacon of hope to her mother, siblings, and community members?
About the Author: Bridget Samuel Charles was born and raised in Antigua. She emigrated to the United States and has devoted most of her life to being an educator, mostly in the middle school grades, as well as a lay minister. She has taught all grades from First Grade to High School, and was an adjunct professor. Mrs. Charles has written a children’s book entitled Grandma’s Kisses and several plays, including The Urgency of Now and Complications. This is her first full-length novel. Mrs. Charles lives in New Jersey with her husband.
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Name: Heidi Skerrit
Books:
“Suffering in Silence” in So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1. (edited by Althea Prince). A Different Publisher. Canada. 2013.
About the Books:
So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End: An Anthology of Antiguan and Barbudan Writing, Volume 1 contains the voices of writers either from Antigua and Barbuda or the offspring of Antiguans and Barbudans. The authors span three generations and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, the UK and the USA.
About the Author:
Heidi Skerritt was born in Kent, England. The older child of Antiguan parents, she immigrated to Canada in the early 1970s with her family. Heidi lived and grew up in Ontario, where she acquired a love for the arts. In 1998, she emigrated to Antigua where she currently resides. She is a voracious reader, and founder of the Sistas with Books (Antigua) Book Club. She writes mostly in her spare time.
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Name: Elaine Spires
Books:
Sweet Lady. Amazon Digital Services/lulu.com. 2013.
Singles’ Holiday. Amazon Digital Services/lulu.com. 2012.
About the Books:
In Sweet Lady, nothing is as it seems. When celebrity artist Eleanor and her daughter Victoria go to Antigua for some winter sun it is to charge their batteries before Eleanor’s upcoming exhibition. But when beach-boy Tyrone walks into their lives things change for ever.
Singles’ Holiday. Antigua. . . the Caribbean at its most luscious, its most beautiful. . . silver sand, cobalt sky, warm turquoise sea. . . and a bunch of complete strangers, who only have one thing in common: they’re single. Some are looking for romance, some for something else. But they’ve all chosen to spend their holiday with people they have never met before. And pretty soon, some will become good friends, some enemies and some lovers. And many of them will experience things they never expected. There are several books in the Singles series (with episodes set in different parts of the world) including the penultimate book 2019’s Singles, Set and Match set partly in Ibiza and partly in Antigua, where it reunites Travel Together’s Eve with her one true love Melv; and the sixth and final book 2020’s The Single Best Thing which sees these two main characters from Singles’ Holiday in England, figuring it out.
About the Author:
Elaine Spires is a Brit who made Antigua her second, or maybe third, home. As a result some of her books and some of her writing for stage and film has been set in Antigua – enough of it that she rates a place on this list though not being a born Antiguan. Her books featuring Antigua are listed here. But they are only the top of the pile. As a novelist (not to mention an award-winning playwright and actress), her other books include What’s Eating Me which was originally a play that she then expanded on, Singles and Spice part of the singles trilogy set in India, Holiday Reads and Holiday Reads 2, The Christmas Queen, Weak at the Knees, and The Banjo. Extensive travelling and a background in education and tourism perfected Elaine’s keen eye for the quirky characteristics of people, captivating the humorous observations she now affectionately shares with the readers of her novels.
Wadadli Pen connection: Elaine Spires has contributed prizes (including a coaching session and copies of her books Singles Holiday, Sweet Lady, and What’s Eating Me) to the Wadadli Pen Challenge – 2012, 2013, 2014.
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Name: Leon Chaku Symister
Chaku reading at the Wadadli Pen Word Up! fundraiser in 2006. (Photo by Laura Hall)
Books:
Under the Calabash Tree: Caribbean Short Stories. Caribbean Diaspora Press, Inc., NY. 2000.
From the Depths of My Naked Soul: Chaku Writes. Caribbean Diaspora Press Inc., NY. 1999.
About the Books:
Under the Calabash Tree was intended to give Caribbean children living outside the region an idea of what life was like in the islands not so long ago. It is a short story collection.
About the Author:
Leon Chaku Symister (b. 1955) is the chairperson of the United Progressive Party and a practicing attorney. Symister was co-founder and artistic director of the local Third World Theatre Group during the 70s.He – see the playwriting and screenwriting page.
Wadadli Pen connection – Symester participated in the Wadadli Pen fundraiser/literary Word Up! 2006. He contributed his book Under the Calabash Tree to the Wadadli Pen challenge, 2004.
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Name: Ashfield Thomas
Books:
Klassland. Antigua and Barbuda. 2016.
Not a Lie. Antigua and Barbuda. 2016.
Brickdam. Antigua and Barbuda. 2009.
The Place of Music. Antigua and Barbuda. 2009.
About the Book:
Not A Lie is a collection of work that includes a woman seeing through men’s head, a monster called Brush, innocent Adamah Anon, a contented pipe smoking old man, a bloodless coup, breasts milk, reggae music, a betrayed stranger…. a demon with a political agenda…
In Klassland, a hermaphrodite malevolent force lamenting, a black girl dancing to reggae music in a Hindu camp preparing for war, a slave prosecuted for plotting a revolution, a rainbow dragon, voluntary exile, love-making on the beach, a crystal dildo, a strange beautiful woman, Toblerone collide and create the colors within this compilation of previous works and fresh pickings from the gardens of Ashfield Thomas.
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Name: Weldon Turner
Books:
Mr Fitch and Me and Other Stories. CreateSpace. 2014.
About the Book:
With Mr. Fitch and Me and Other Stories, Weldon Turner gives us six stories of extraordinary depth and remarkable insight into the human spirit. In the title story a successful young lawyer, faced with the probability of a career-ending indictment and a mounting personal crisis, finds comfort in a church congregation, but also finds himself subtly challenged by one of its older members. In other stories two women struggle with the isolation brought on by the perfect appearances they feel compelled to present to society; a university student is forced to come to grips with his ideas of what feminine beauty really means; and a young man keeps a vigil at his sister’s bedside and desperately tries to articulate his true feelings for her.
About the author:
Weldon Turner is a writer and songwriter who lives near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has Antiguan familial connections.
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Name: Barbara Anne Waite
Book: The Colour Box. Palomar Mountain Bookworks. USA. 2021.
About the Book: I’m not sure I’m categorizing this right as it seems to be historical with a number of fictionalized people and situations. But it features the Hart sisters, Anne and Elizabeth, of Antigua who were born in the 1700s on the then British colony. Their free mulatto father inherits a working sugar cane plantation and enslaved people, while his daughters become ameliorationists and/or abolitionists, and educators who face conflict and legal battles over their endeavors. The island does not know what to make of them. The sisters’ determination to educate the enslaved people eventually leads them to follow a pattern of teaching school on Sunday. Set in St. John’s and then the Dockyard in English Harbour, this story interweaves imagined vignettes with research about Anne and Elizabeth and actual events leading up to the 1834 Emancipation.
About the Author: Barbara Anne Waite is (not Antiguan-Barbudan) an American author who lived in Antigua-Barbuda nearly 40 years. She has authored two previous books.
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Name: Shana Jahsinta Walters
Books:
Claimed By The Alphas Volume #1 (BBW Paranormal Urban Fantasy Werewolf Ménage Romance). Ultimate Fast Access Press/Amazon Digital Services (self-published). 2015.
Take Me; Stuck Me 4 (BBW New Adult Billionaire Romance.). Amazon Digital Services. 2014.
Claim Me; Stuck Me 3 (BBW New Adult Billionaire Romance.). Amazon Digital Services. 2014.
Play Me; Stuck Me 2 (BBW New Adult Billionaire Romance.). Amazon Digital Services. 2014.
Remember Me; Stuck Me 1 (BBW New Adult Billionaire Romance.). Amazon Digital Services. 2014.
About the Books:
Claimed By The Alphas Volume #1 – This first Werewolf/BBW Romance installment chronicles the life of Blush Dupree after her mother’s tragic passing. It comes to her attention that she is to be claimed by two alphas from the silver werewolf clan. But that is the least of her troubles. The story contains strong sexual themes and ménage romance, and is not intended for readers under the age of 18. It is a sequel and not a standalone episode.
Take Me; Stuck Me 4 – Elisha Landon is madly in love with Harbin Lung. She refuses to stand aside and watch him marry another woman. Her mind is made up to be with him no matter what the cost. Should she deliberately get pregnant with his baby and force him to end his engagement?
Claim Me; Stuck Me 3 – Lily Hudson feels completely lost in a daze after watching her fiancé get it on with another woman. Nicholas Chen shows up one day and shows her how much of a desirable woman she really is. Now he is determined to make her call off her wedding. Should she do the right thing or follow her heart?
Play Me; Stuck Me 2 – Alexia Phoenix gets a challenge from Leonard Liu to go out on a date with him. No one wants her to date him. His reputation in Paradise as ‘Leo The Bad Boy’ is known far and wide. Can she really turn a bad boy into her boyfriend?
Remember Me; Stuck Me 1 – Nicole Chan has a deep, dark secret that she has been keeping from her husband, Trent Chan. But she doesn’t even know what it is because of her current state of amnesia. Can she recover her memories in time before anyone gets hurt by her past life?
About the Author: Shana Jahsinta Walters was born in Antigua. Starting from her very early years in secondary school, she believed she would write books to entertain people all around the world. Besides writing and reading books, Shana also enjoys watching Kung Fu movies.
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Name: Andy E. Williams
Books:
In the Rum Shop and Other Flash Fiction. Browne’s Avenue Press. 2009.
Anthology of Words [Ed]. Browne’s Avenue Press. 2009.
About the Books:
In the Rum Shop and Other Flash Fiction is a collection of lively stories from the rare perspective of a boy who has not only emigrated back to the islands in the reverse direction of so many other countrymen and women, but who also sees the world with eyes much more ancient than his own. The stories are adapted excerpts from the author’s upcoming novel Ghosts of Our Ancestors, which preserves the cadence and language of these shorter pieces, while drawing them out into a more sustained work of powerfully vivid and enduring imagery.
Anthology of Words is a book of poetry written by a working group of poets with roots in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Each author s poetry is preceded by a revealing and insightful commentary on their approach to it.
About the Author:
Andy E. Williams is a Toronto based writer and photographer of Antiguan heritage. Andy was born in the Bronx, NY and raised in New York, Antigua, and the Greater Toronto Area. Andy attended the University of Toronto where he graduated with a degree in Physics before pursuing a career in the software industry, all the while with a latent interest in the arts. This latent interest eventually expressed itself in the books Anthology of Words, and In the Rum Shop and Other Flash Fiction.
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Name: Floree Williams
Books:
Through the Window. Create Space. USA. 2010
About the Books:
Through the Window is the story of 23yr old Anya, a complex and often complicated woman who has to navigate through a maze of friendships, love, a dysfunctional family and finding love for herself. Anya’s journey is one filled with drama, betrayal, tears, laughter and the strength/weaknesses of relationships.
About the author:
Floree Williams born and raised on the island of Antigua is a young and upcoming author. She cherishes the little things in life that often go unnoticed like laughter and the beauty of the night sky. She firmly believes in the quote “Never let fear stop you from dancing on the moon.”
Wadadli Pen connection: Floree has served as a Wadadli Pen judge, 2012-2018, and is now a partner, 2016 – present. She has contributed copies of her book (Pink Teacups and Blue Dresses – 2011, 2013, 2014) to the Wadadli Pen Challenge and her book The Wonderful World of Yohan was in contention for the Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year, 2019. She is a part of the Wadadli Pen core team set up in 2016, becoming one of its original directors after it became a legal non-profit in 2021.
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Name: Roxy Wilson
Books:
Friends to Forever (w/Keyah Naomi). 2018.
Meant to Be. 2018.
Greer’s Alphas: A Paranormal Menage. 2017.
My Guardian Vampire: a BBW Paranormal Romance. 2017.
Be With You: a Valentine’s Romance. 2017.
Until the Bell Rings (an MMA fighter romance). 2016.
Playboy Prince (A Royal BWWM Romance). 2016.
Smitten: a BWWM Romance. 2016.
Blindsided: a BWWM Baby Romance. 2016.
Take This Ring: a BWWM Romance. 2016.
I love me some him (Roxy Wilson writing as Shari Michaels). 2016.
Wynter Wonderland: a BWWM Holiday Romance. 2016.
The Gift of Maggie: African American Holiday Romance (Merry Matrimony Book 2). 2015.
A Holly Jolly Christmas (Merry Matrimony Book 1). 2015.
I Only Have Eyes for You (Westbury Ranch Book 3). 2015.
This Time Baby (A Bundle of Joy Book 5). 2015.
Nya’s Wolf. 2015.
Fur-ever Yours. 2015.
Mr. Perfectly Imperfect: the BBW BWWM Interracial Romance. 2015.
Stay with Me: Westbury Branch Book 2.
Just Getting Started: Westbury Branch Book 1. 2015.
Secret Baby Seduction: BWWM Interracial Romance (A Bundle of Joy Book 4). 2015.
Loving St. Nick: BWWM Interracial Romance. 2015.
Love in Black and White (anthology with Jamallah Bergman, Sam Crescent, Stacy Deane, Lena Hart, Alela Marsh, and Mahalia Levey). Secret Cravings Publishing. 2014.
The Christmas Cupid. 2014.
A Christmas Kiss. 2014.
Second Chance Christmas. 2014.
Misteltoe Miracles: BWWM Interracial Romance. 2014.
Baby You’re Mine (A Bundle of Joy series Book 3). 2014.
The Baby Proposal (A Bundle of Joy series Book 2). 2014.
Baby Wanted: (BWWM Interracial Romance) (A Bundle of Joy Book 1). 2014.
Work It Out. 2014.
He’s So Into You: Healing Hearts Series. Secret Cravings Publishing. 2013.
The Right Kind of Love. Secret Cravings Publishing. 2013.
About the Books:
Friends to Forever (w/Keyah Naomi). Sadie Lawrence is a professional wedding planner who excels at making a couple’s big day perfect. Now, her best friend Hunter is getting married, and Sadie’s feelings are more than a little conflicted. She wants him to be happy … but the truth is, she wants him. Period. No matter how hard she tries not to. Hunter Galloway is battling constant temptation. The more time he spends with Sadie, the more he hungers for her touch. And the fact that his fiancée can’t be bothered to help plan her own wedding makes him wonder why they’re getting married at all. After the two succumb to their feelings and spend a passionate night together, everything starts to go wrong. Hunter feels trapped into going through with the wedding … and Sadie learns that Hunter has given her more than memories.
Meant to Be: A BWWM Friends to Lovers Romance (Loving A Morrison Book 1). Sloane Stevenson has always had a skewed concept of what love is. Her first memories of it are of her parent’s marriage, which crumbled during her childhood. To add to her dismal notion of love, she watched firsthand as her grandparents drifted away, which Sloane attributed to their disapproval of her parent’s interracial marriage. But now, Sloane, an intelligent attorney with a heart brimming with compassion, finds herself repeating history when she falls in love with Blake Morrison, a Caucasian man, with his smoldering gaze, who makes her dreams take flight. Although Sloane’s heart yearns for him, their relationship is bombarded with verbal attacks, and her past experiences only serve to reinforce her idea that interracial marriages never work. She even contemplates online dating. But then Blake gets into a serious accident and, suddenly, she’s forced to confront her true feelings and realizes their love is worth any obstacle. Unfortunately, it seems Blake has also had a change of heart. Five years pass and the pair has not set eyes on one another since Blake left town. However, some things are not meant to live in the past. His brother’s bachelor party is the wake-up call he needs to return to town to chase down his lost love. Unbeknownst to Sloane, her best friend works alongside Blake to finally get the pair back together. But the obstacles and societal demands haven’t changed in the past five years. Sloane must overcome her distorted beliefs about love and need to play love safe if she’s to find true love and happiness with Blake. Otherwise, they’re both destined for a life of emptiness. Note for readers: MEANT TO BE was previously published as The Right Kind of Love. This new edition has been revised.
Greer’s Alphas: The unthinkable takes place when she’s leaving a long, grueling shift at the hospital—just after she has lost a young patient…Dr. Greer McAdams is attacked by a beast, a wolf. And now an evil force is hot on her trail, seeking to destroy her. Falling for Dr. Bryce ‘McDirty’ Trevino seems inevitable, but the enigmatic billionaire, Conan Stormwater, has set his sights on her. Two men, two different personalities, what can this newly formed werewolf do?
My Guardian Vampire: On a night that should have been an ordinary one, curvy BBW Lacey Parker is accosted by a knife-wielding mugger, but is soon rescued by a charismatic stranger. Not even 24 hours later, Lacey’s life is once again at risk and her rescuer of the previous night snatches her from the jaws of death. Vampire Aric Thornton knew Lacey from the moment of her birth. His existence revolves around watching her every footstep and protecting her from the enemies she knows nothing about. He loves her with every fiber of his otherworldly being, but the crazy thing is she didn’t even know he existed… until one night in the darkened alley. Lacey can’t stand it; one minute Aric is all over her, can’t get his hands off of her, and the next he is giving her the cold shoulder. It doesn’t help that Damian is also vying for her affections. Can she and Aric defeat the forces that are conspiring against them and still have the love of a lifetime before it’s too late?
Be With You: Tameko ‘Meko’ Sampson has worked her butt off to make her detective agency a success. It means, however, that there are times her life is at risk, but she pushes on to ensure her clients are satisfied. Then in walks Seth Hollander, a man she barely noticed when they were in high school a decade ago.Seth has always been enamored by Meko, but she barely noticed him when they were teenagers and when tragedy struck, he had to move away. Now he’s back and this time, he wants Meko to be his…for keeps. As Meko and Seth get to know each other, they have to wrestle with Meko’s ex, as well as the soon-to-be ex-husband of one of her clients. And if that isn’t all, it seems as if Seth is secretly involved with another woman.Can Meko lay aside her distrust, or is Seth really a man who’s not worthy of her love? Will her Valentine’s Day be another lonely one like the ones before?
Until the Bell Rings: Zahra – Riley Dern is exactly the kind of man I need to avoid.
I’m a youth social worker — helping my clients stay on the right path is what’s important.
Not some bad-boy, hot-as-sin MMA fighter. I am not falling for him. I’m not. Riley – I fight so I can pay off my brother’s loan sharks. And yeah, some of those matches are the underground type. It never mattered before, but Zahra makes me want to clean up my act. She makes me want a lot of things. I’ve got one last fight to face. Am I the kind of man who’ll take a fall for his brother’s sake? And if I am, will Zahra forgive me?
Playboy Prince: Prince Ethen Phillips loves the freedom of being second in line to the throne. His elder brother is stuck with all the official duties, while Ethen gets to spend his time partying and seducing as many women as possible. When a neglected leg injury starts giving him trouble, he grudgingly agrees to treatment at a private hospital — but his mood improves when he sees the beautiful woman who’ll be helping him. Dr. Aryn Jackson has worked hard to become one of the best physiologists in her field. She’s glad that her sacrifices have improved people’s lives, but her single-minded dedication to her career hasn’t left any room for relationships. Getting involved with a patient would be completely inappropriate…but Ethen makes her feel things no man ever has. Before long, flirtation has become much more–but their problems are just beginning. Can Aryn and Ethen cope with an unethical doctor, nosy reporters, and their own misgivings? Or will their happy ending be forever out of reach?
Blindsided: Eden Winters has risen from humble beginnings to become an attorney at one of the nation’s top firms. Eager to prove herself and succeed in her chosen career, she’s intent on making partner; so when one of the firm’s big clients is getting divorced she offers to assist on the case. If only billionaire Declan Stone weren’t so arrogant…and attractive. Declan can’t overlook Eden’s beauty. He’s used to women pursuing him, but her feisty resistance is fuel to the fire. Still, his wife’s infidelity has made him wary and cynical about relationships. As Eden and Declan work together on the case, the chemistry between them gets harder to deny. A moment’s indiscretion leaves Eden filled with regret–but also with a lasting memento of their time together. Can she trust Declan with her secret? And if she does, can he overcome his bitterness and make a new start?
Take This Ring: Peyton Cross’s IT job barely pays enough to cover her student loans, the rent on her tiny NYC apartment, and the money she puts toward her father’s medical bills. She hopes her hard work will get her a promotion — but the last kind of attention she expects is a dinner date with her sinfully sexy boss.She’s even more shocked when he offers her a temporary marriage contract. The money involved would take care of her problems and then some…but if she agrees, she can’t let on how attracted she is to him. She’ll get her heart broken if she doesn’t treat this like a business transaction.Thane Wainwright started with nothing and earned his money. He works hard and gets what he wants…and he’s wanted Peyton since the moment he laid eyes on her. But his aspirations — for himself and for her — go far beyond the business world.The contract is the perfect way to make sure Peyton is right for him…but he worries that when their time is up, she’ll take his money and walk away with her heart unchanged. How can he show her he deserves her trust — especially when his no-good ex gets involved?
I love me some him: Faye Bostic knows that not everyone approves of her position as editor-in-chief of Missy Magazine. She has to stay strong, even if it makes people think she’s hard-hearted…but when she hires Dalton Cartwright, her sexy young intern makes her feel anything but cold. Dalton admires his take-charge, independent boss. Like her, he wants to earn his own success. But her beauty makes him want impossible, forbidden things that fire his fantasies. Temptation is a constant battle, until the night they finally give in to their desires. Their forbidden relationship quickly becomes a target for everyone who’d like to pull Faye down. She and Dalton are up against jealous rivals, a press hungry for scandal—and their own secrets. Can Faye and Dalton accept each other for who they really are? Or will the truth be too much for them to handle?
Wynter Wonderland: After losing a bet among friends, Wynter Ayers is convinced she’ll never find love, but things take a turn for her after meeting the handsome and suave Korbin Pederson. The only problem is, that’s not the only thing in her life that’s going to change. When an accident leaves her with amnesia, Korbin comes to her aid, but only having just met her, he’s not sure how to reunite her with those she loves. Not even a Facebook appeal helps solve the mystery of who she is and where she comes from. Turbulent times are ahead for them as she deals with her emotions and fights with her growing attraction to Korbin. He does everything in his power to make her feel comfortable and keep her happy. Although their budding relationship isn’t conventional, it does become the most important thing in their lives until someone almost knocks her off her feet and propels her back to the life she once knew. Struggles lie ahead for Korbin and Wynter. Will they ever get to really be together? Can they have their happily-ever-after?
The Gift of Maggie:When Magdalena ‘Maggie’ Reyes meets her new patient, famous R&B singer, Wesley Benton, his bold demands are more than the long-time nurse is willing to tolerate. Soon to-be-released from the hospital, Wesley demands that Maggie be the one to nurse his wounds and take care of him at home. Maggie is less than thrilled about that offer, considering the singer just suffered a gunshot wound at the hands of someone who very much wants him dead. After Maggie reluctantly moves into Wesley’s house to care for him, she discovers that his intentions are more than just professional and soon finds herself melting from a kiss she’ll never forget. As if that isn’t life-changing enough, another attempt on Wesley’s life is made and, this time, Maggie’s caught in the cross-hairs. Mixing business and pleasure may cost Maggie a lot more than she thought. Will she ever be able to trust that what she and Wes have can last?
A Holly Jolly Christmas: A drunken bet between friends seems innocent enough until up and coming interior designer Holly Middleton finds herself in the middle of a snowstorm while vacationing at a cabin in the woods. Her plans for a much-deserved break are foiled when a man knocks on her door in the middle of the night and collapses. Hot on the trail of an escaped fugitive, handsome FBI Agent Jason Spark is sure that the woman in the woods must be one of the fugitive’s groupies, but with phone line downs, a snowstorm wreaking havoc, and an inkling that he can garner information about the fugitive from Holly, he takes his chances and settles in for the time being. In the meantime, Holly is convinced that the handsome stranger must be the escaped fugitive and with no other options she’s forced to pretend she trusts him. What neither of them anticipate is the heat that sizzles between them with each passing moment. As their mutual attraction grows, they struggle with their preconceived notions and fight to keep things above board. How long will they be able to hold back the inevitable? Will they be able to justify their actions?
I only have Eyes for You: All Paige has ever wanted was to return to Westbury Ranch and make her dream of opening an equestrian school a reality. Unlike her sisters, Paige isn’t ready for something as distracting as a long-term relationship. Instead, she’s focused and determined to make her dreams a reality; but just when she thinks she has everything figured out, a handsome Spaniard captures her attention. Lando Saldana is the epitome of rugged good looks and brawn. A year after a nasty breakup with his model girlfriend, Lando isn’t looking for a relationship; but Paige is unlike any girl he’s ever met and soon he can’t help but be drawn to her. But, his ex isn’t quite ready to let go of him and does everything she can to ensure that Paige and he won’t be together. As Lando struggles over the chaos his ex has created in his life, Paige is met with danger and it will be up to Lando to save her and to say goodbye to his past in order to move forward. He’ll stop at nothing to rescue Paige and prove that what he feels for her is real. Can he find Paige and proclaim his love before it’s too late?
This Time, Baby: Tasha Millien never gets drunk. Heck, she doesn’t do one night stands, either. But that’s exactly what she did when she attended her friend’s Christmas party. After barely getting over a divorce that took him totally by surprise, Heath Dawson knows that falling into sex with a perfect, yet beautiful, stranger is a definite no-no, but that’s exactly what he did. When Tasha drops the bomb on Heath that she’s pregnant with his baby, will they part ways, or will they try to make things work out this time around?
Nya’s Wolf: Nya Haywood, a curvy forest ranger, is not afraid of hard work. When she stumbles over a body seconds after an eerie encounter with an Alpha wolf and a bear, she finds herself in the middle of a battle, caught between a wolf clan and those who believe the gorgeous man she’s just met is the murderer.Reese Madison is hard to resist. With rugged good looks, sex appeal oozes from his veins, but could he be dangerous? All clues lead to him being the murderer. Nya is warned to steer clear of him, but that would mean she’d have to ignore her attraction to him and believe he’s capable of such a heinous crime. Is Reese worth the risk? Has Nya unknowingly gotten herself caught up in something darker than she’s ready to face?
Fur-ever Yours: Devyn Serrant is hired as a nanny and teacher for a millionaire’s only son, Justin. She’s terribly attracted to her new boss, Keran Underwood, but he doesn’t notice, which is good—great, actually—because as one of the most qualified nannies, with fluency in three languages, Devyn has a professional reputation to uphold. When Justin is kidnapped, she finds out Keran is more than what he seems; but what’s worse, he blames her for his son’s disappearance. The last thing the Alpha, Keran Underwood, expects is that he and his inner wolf would be captivated by his newest employee. But with threats from a rival pack and managing his business interests, he has enough on his plate. Then the unthinkable happens—his son is kidnapped and all fingers point to the person he least expects to be the culprit. Devyn Serrant. Follow the romance between Keran Underwood and the curvy, BBW, Devyn Serrant and their quest to find the missing boy they both love.
Ms. Perfectly Imperfect: Twenty-four-year-old, plus-size model, Layla Turner has sacrificed much and worked hard to be at the top of her game, concrete evidence that she was able to rise from the ashes of her past. Then her life suddenly changes when she starts losing her signature creamy, caramel brown hair that helped to set her apart from the rest of the pack. This mysterious illness could mark the end of her career—and the demise of her two-year relationship with her fiancé, Gage Shelton. Pediatric oncologist, Dr. Clint Collins is a highly respected physician in his field. He has an excellent track record, as well as the love and confidence of the kids in his care. But something sinister is causing some of his young patients, who seem to be making a full recovery, to lose their battle with cancer. Not only does Dr. Collins feel somewhat responsible, but he also risks losing his job as he tries to uncover the truth behind his patients’ deaths. Layla and Clint’s worlds collide when they meet each other for the first time at the General Hospital. Their attraction to each other is tangible, but while Clint is ready to give his heart, his love to Layla, she holds back, thinking that since she isn’t good enough for Gage, she certainly isn’t good enough for him. Can the balding, plus-size model learn to appreciate her perfectly imperfect self and to give love a chance?
Stay with Me: Saying goodbye is never an easy thing… When Shayne Westbury turned 18, she couldn’t wait to see the back of the family’s ranch and to go make a fortune in the big city. But when she loses her philandering, physician husband to his nurse and quits her high-paying job because she was tired of running herself ragged, she returns to Westbury Ranch, where she plans to lead a much simpler, forever-single life. Then she meets Juston Hughes, the sexy ranch hand her sister, Cullen, recently hired. Will Shayne hold fast to her resolve, or will she ride off into the sunset with a sexy cowboy? This BWWM WESTERN ROMANCE series features strong, passionate women and the sexy, alpha men who can’t help but fall in love with them…
Just Getting’ Started: Starting over is never an easy thing… The death of her father was the catalyst for Cullen Westbury to take over the running of her family’s ranch. Because of her desire to expand the family’s business and make it more efficient, she hires the handsome and capable, yet enigmatic, Graeme Burton. But with her ex coming back into her life to stir up trouble on the ranch and her newest employee stirring up trouble in her heart, how can Cullen keep business strictly professional between them, when she’s so attracted to him? This BWWM WESTERN ROMANCE series features strong, passionate women and the sexy, alpha men who can’t help but fall in love with them…
Secret Baby Seduction: Dayna Sheppard faced some hard decisions in the past, but she moved on and made an exciting life for herself. Now ten years later, she returns to her hometown in San Diego, California. Her plan is to kill three birds with one stone: attend her tenth high school reunion, take a much-needed sabbatical from her years of travel as a photojournalist and recover from the recent break-up with her live-in boyfriend. Ten years after leaving San Diego, Aron Mateo Rodriquez, attends his high school reunion. What he doesn’t expect is to be just as smitten with Dayna as he was when they were sophomores in high school. He’d always regretted that his father’s job at the UN prevented Dayna and him from having a long-lasting relationship, but he’s prepared to change that from the moment he sets his eyes on her at the reunion. Aron and Dayna do lots of reflecting and reminiscing together as they work on rebuilding their relationship. Their fiery attraction is still very much alive too. But Dayna is plagued by guilt because of a secret she holds. Can she face her fears and tell Aron what happened ten years ago, at the risk of losing him? Is she destined to be alone?
Loving St. Nick: Detective Nicholas Duncan had it all. A beautiful marriage. A successful career. Then one day—his wife, Lee—leaves him. Nicholas suspects she’s having an affair and he can’t imagine why she would be so cavalier about what they had together for all those years. Believing she’d thrown their marriage away for the sake of a fling with another guy, Nicholas desperately pursues her. Months pass while he tries to contact her. If he can’t restore what they once had, he thought perhaps he could at least discover why she left him. If she would just tell him what she apparently didn’t want to say months back, he would at least be able to accept it. It isn’t until that Christmas when he finally got his answer and—it’s not even close to what he expected.
The Christmas Cupid: Janay Riley can always spot a match made in relationship heaven, but, when it comes to her own love life, she hasn’t quite found her perfect match. Although her love life isn’t thriving, her business is growing and, for now, that’s enough for her. When longtime friend and admirer, Randy ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald finally wants to make his feelings for her known, the consummate matchmaker springs into action. Thinking that he’s asking for assistance, Janay sets out to find him the perfect match. As part of Fitz’s ploy, he adds fuel to the fire by seeking advice about his dating woes. That seemingly innocent conversation between friends results in a night neither he nor Janay will soon forget. Will Fitz’s game ruin any chance he has of having a relationship with Janay, or will love conquer all and bring the two longtime friends together?
A Christmas Kiss: Cole Davenport doesn’t expect to be jilted by his fiancée, but that’s exactly what happens on his wedding day, the day that is also Christmas Day. He should be grateful when the attractive CEO of Grand Events comes to console him, but instead he does the unthinkable—he kisses her. Alexandria “Lexi” Riley has kissed a few frogs in her life, hoping that one day she’ll finally find her prince. But, what she doesn’t bargain for is a prince who used to be her client—a client whose wedding she was paid to organize and whose pride she had to protect when his bride-to-be left him. Months later, Cole and Lexi meet again. Friendship and then a romantic relationship develop between them. But, unexpectedly, two things happen: a crime against Lexi and a reentry of Cole’s ex-fiancée into his life. Will this Christmas turn out to be a fiasco like the one the year before?
Second Chance Christmas: Caterer Brielle Riley-Foster can’t believe her luck when she runs into her ex-husband, Toby, at a pre-Christmas party. Four years after he suddenly filed for divorce, her heart still pines for him and the pain of losing him still sears. For Toby, the sight of his ex-wife brings back the sting he felt when she cheated on him. Unwilling to let her back into his life, Toby does his best to avoid contact, but Brielle has cooked up a scheme that is sure to make her indiscretion pale in comparison. Her desperate attempt to make her ex-husband answer her long-held questions isn’t winning her any sanity points, and things get worse when heavy snow begins to fall and old hurts resurface. With no way out, the exes are forced to communicate with each other and soon discover some surprising things, things they never expected. Has too much time passed for Brielle and Toby to find their way back to one another, or is this love lost for good?
Mistletoe Miracles: Still reeling from the tragic loss of her husband, Kerrie Bramble struggles to move forward. With a young son to support along with the ever-present memories and regrets still plaguing her, this fateful anniversary—Christmas Eve—proves to be just as difficult as those before it. Having so many emotions already stirring, Kerrie’s resolve is once again tested, when she’s denied a loan for the new bakery business that she’s counted on to support her and her willful son, Jayden. A surprise visit from long-time friend and her deceased husband’s best friend, Dwight Thornton, complicates matters further. With more than their shared loss working against them, Dwight and Kerri must work past new difficulties in order to have the lives they’ve both wanted for far too long. Old friendships are tested. A marriage must come to an end. While a young boy and his mother must begin to breathe again, move past their pain to welcome love back into their lives. Will this Christmas be the one that heals wounded souls and unite those left behind?
Baby, You’re Mine: Jamie Alexis’s fast-paced life comes to a screeching halt when she’s summoned by her terminally ill friend, Brandi, who asks her to care for her two-year-old daughter after she’s gone. Brett Carrington knows it’s too late to make amends to Brandi, the woman he left at the altar, but it’s not too late to be a dad to his little girl. The only thing standing in his way is the curvy woman who sets his heart and libido ablaze. Jamie isn’t about to allow that blue-eyed, heartbreaker to stop her from keeping her promise to Brandi. But, can she avoid the temptation of this seemingly unstoppable multicultural romance? She knows what type of man Brett is: after all, she was supposed to be maid-of-honor at his wedding. And if it means using a little creativity to get her own way, she’ll do what she has to in this sizzling interracial romance.
The Baby Proposal: Selene Alexis is a recent casualty of her company’s cost-cutting measures. With a sister to support and no close relatives to lend a helping hand, she grabs the opportunity to become a surrogate mother. By getting pregnant, she’ll be able to meet her monthly expenses and make a small dent in her debts, at least for the next nine months. Former soldier, Triston Walker, struggles to adjust to civilian life after tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. A glimpse of Selene, the girl he left behind to serve his country, is a breath of fresh air, until he realizes she’s pregnant. He’s never fallen out of love with her, and now he wants to take their multicultural romance one step further. So he proposes a long-term solution to Selene’s current woes. Marriage. With Selene’s hormones raging, her due date fast approaching, and doubts about Triston’s feelings for her, can she trust herself to make the right decision? Will she take the plunge, or dash Triston’s dreams of an eternal interracial romance between a black woman and a white man?
Baby Wanted: Heather Lovey’s almost thirty-five, and she wants a baby. Badly. With no prospects in sight, she turns to Sean Johnson, her BFF. Sean has been in love with Heather since forever, but she’s always kept him at arm’s length. When she proposes he father her child, he jumps at the chance, hoping a baby will lead to lasting romance. He demands one favor in return: that they have a baby as a married couple. She’s free to divorce him after a year. Marriage is the last thing on Heather’s mind. She only wants the unconditional love a child can give, something she lacked during her years in foster homes. She agrees to give Sean a year in this sham-marriage, never thinking this could turn into a friends to lovers romance. Is one year enough time for Sean to change Heather’s way of thinking and make their marriage the kind that will last? Will Sean and Heather end up with more than they planned in this captivating interracial romance?
Work it out: Forty-two-year-old Marcelle “MJ” Jeffreys knew it was time to get rid of the excess baggage weighing her down. She had a list: Divorce her cheating husband. Check. Quit her dead-end job. Check. Return to the Big Apple. Check. Only one item remains: Get rid of the junk-in-her-trunk. The last thing she expects is to be attracted to her personal fitness trainer. Not only is Dylan McCoy a man from her past, he’s younger, which gives the prospect of pursuing this interracial romance a bit daunting for “MJ”. Dylan owns his own business, has a body made in the gym, and the pick of any woman he wants. Yet none of those women have the qualities he wants in a life partner. When “MJ” walks into his fitness center, her warm smile and sexy curves knock him down like a hundred-pound weight, and he wants nothing more than to start a steamy multicultural romance with this stunning African American. Now all he has to do is prove to her that age is just a number and he’s counting down the moments until she’s his. Forever.
He’s so into you: Being badly injured in a plane crash and feeling responsible for losing his fiancé keep Jordan Cooper from getting involved with another woman, but his best friend Caleb talks him into going on a blind date. He’s surprised that in a short time his feelings for Raina Abbott runs deep. Jordan wants more than just one night with her, but he has to convince her first. Leaving an abusive ex and ending an unhealthy relationship with food still aren’t enough to help Raina Abbott overcome her feelings of insecurity, but her best friend Jayce convinces her that going on a blind date is the first step to boosting her self-confidence and feeling good about herself again. Jordan Cooper shows her that she’s beautiful, both inside and out, but can a date and one night of passion assure her that he’s really into her?
The Right Kind of Love: New Yorker Sloane Saunders has just about given up on love. She’s thirty-something and very single. A magazine article jolts her from her malaise and motivates her to do something she’s never tried before, online dating, and firstmeet.com is the website of choice. Attending his brother’s bachelor party was the wake-up call Blake Morrison needed. Memories of a passionate relationship from his past drive him to return to claim his woman, Sloane. Despite the sizzling chemistry between them, it’s not as easy as he thought. With a family crisis and Sloane’s preconceived notions about love and relationships getting in the way, can Blake convince Sloane they have the right kind of love and that a love like theirs can last?
About the Author: Roxy Wilson, a self-professed book junkie, was born and bred in a beautiful island in the Caribbean. As a graduate with a degree in Education, she writes blogs which help readers to think critically about and appreciate poetry. Recently, however, she decided to delve into the world of writing interracial and multicultural romance stories. Roxy is also the Reviews Coordinator of Romance Novels in Color (RNIC). Check the non-fiction category for her listing as Sharon R. Wilson-Strann.
Wadadli Pen connection: Roxy’s books Be With You, Friends to Forever, Greer’s Alphas: A Paranormal Menage, Meant to Be, and My Guardian Vampire were in the running for the Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year, 2019.
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CHILDREN’S FICTION
Name: Sonalli Z. Andrews (illustrator)
Books:
Children of the Soil by Karian Christian. Bold Books 268. Antigua and Barbuda. 2021.
Journey to Discovery: Carl’s Summer Adventure by Samantha Dian Samuel. Antigua. 2019.
About the Books:
Children of the Soil – This colouring book includes 100 pages of colouring and fun activities, for boys and girls. Children will be able to spend hours, with fun puzzles, nature pictures and other enjoyable tasks, all while discovering sights and scenes from the beautiful twin island of Antigua and Barbuda.
Journey to Discover – School’s out and Carl can’t wait to get to camp. As a regular kid in 2nd grade, Carl likes to spend time with his family and friends, but this summer is different. Join him as he goes on an adventure that will change his life!
About the Illustrator: Sonalli Andrews is a graphic designer whose other projects include the graphic novel August by Tameka Jarvis-George. See his CREATIVE SPACE feature.
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Name: Kishma Anthony
Book:
I am Good with Me: A Compilation of Inspirational Messages and Positive Affirmations for Children. self-published. US Virgin Islands 2021.
Dylan and The Big Toothbrush (with illustrator Aneeza Ashraf). self-published. US Virgin Islands. 2019.
Dylan’s Big Surprise at the Doctor (with illustrator Sherri Molitor). self-published. US Virgin Islands. 2013.
About the Books:
I Am Good With Me was written to inspire, uplift, and motivate children to be happy and proud of who they are as individuals. This book encourages children to celebrate the unique and wonderful attributes they have within . . . as confidence and self-awareness in a child creates a well-balanced adult.
Dylan and the Big Toothbrush follows a smart and witty little boy named Dylan as he visits the dentist to have his teeth cleaned. After having a not-so-pleasant experience at his last dentist appointment, he is anxious about the visit. But things take an exciting and fun-filled turn at the new dentist! The new office provides a much more kid-friendly atmosphere, where the entire staff helps to make the experience pleasant and inviting for little ones.
Dylan’s Big Surprise at the Doctor chronicles the thought process of a precocious little boy named Dylan, who was terribly afraid of going to the doctor to get shots. There was a special nurse named Nurse Jennie, who always helped to calm Dylan’s fear about having to get a shot from the doctor. Nurse Jennie genuinely loved children, she played with puppets and made funny animated animal sounds, to help to distract children from the fear of having to get a shot from the doctor. The book also helps to emphasize the importance of nurses in healthcare and the pivotal role that they play in the lives of those they provide care for.
About the Author: Kishma Anthony was born in St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands to Antiguan parents. As a child, Kishma’s love for the arts developed as she participated in several plays as a part of her school’s Communication Arts Showcase program. She enjoys using the creativity of voice in bringing to life the characters in the children’s books that she reads. Her earlier work as a child care provider in the Atlanta area helped to foster the unequivocal love and admiration that she has for children. Kishma is currently working towards a Master of Healthcare Administration degree. Her past experience working with children and her current educational pursuit naturally led to writing a series of books for children that addresses medical concerns. In her spare time, she enjoys having fun, spending quality time with family and close friends, and writing more about Dylan and his experiences.
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Name: Zavian Archibald (illustrator)
Book:
Jumbled 
(with Jasmine Richards). Collins. UK. 2022.
Turtle Beach (with author Barbara A. Arrindell). Collins. UK. 2021.
Fish Outta Water (with author Joanne C. Hillhouse). Pearson. UK. 2013.
About the Book:
In Jumbled, Omari takes his great-grandmother’s journal of Caribbean folktales into school, he doesn’t expect to come face to face with one of the creatures from it! Can Omari and his class get rid of the Baccoo – and get their real teacher back? Jumbled is part of the Big Cat series of children’s books.
In Turtle Beach, a young girl is excited to be going to a restaurant to celebrate her birthday with her parents. While she’s there, she sees baby turtles trying to find their way to the ocean. It’s a magical event to witness, but she also learns how humans can interfere with the journey of the hatchlings and why they need to take actions to help them reach the water. This beautifully illustrated book is a story that raises awareness of how simple acts can impact vulnerable creatures like turtles. While this is a story set in the Caribbean, it’s one that goes beyond the Caribbean and highlights environmental issues of interest to everyone.
Fish Outta Water – Meet Dolphin, the Arctic seal. Dolphin loves hearing tales of the Caribbean, but how will he fare when he finds himself on his very own Caribbean adventure? Will he finally get to meet a real dolphin? An updated version of this book (re-published as Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure), with all new illustrations by Trinidad and Tobago artist Danielle Boodoo Fortune and activities is available as of 2017 on the Caribbean Reads imprint.
About the Illustrator: Zavian Archibald is an Antiguan and Barbudan visual arts teacher, and freelance illustrator and concept artist. She studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
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Name: Barbara Arrindell.
Books:
Turtle Beach (with illustrations by Zavian Archibald). Collins. UK. 2021.
The Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Antiguan Stories (with illustrations by Edison Liburd). 2012.
Antigua my Antigua (with illustrations by Edison Liburd). 2011.
About the Books:
In Turtle Beach, a young girl is excited to be going to a restaurant to celebrate her birthday with her parents. While she’s there, she sees baby turtles trying to find their way to the ocean. It’s a magical event to witness, but she also learns how humans can interfere with the journey of the hatchlings and why they need to take actions to help them reach the water. This beautifully illustrated book is a story that raises awareness of how simple acts can impact vulnerable creatures like turtles. While this is a story set in the Caribbean, it’s one that goes beyond the Caribbean and highlights environmental issues of interest to everyone.
The stories in Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Antiguan Stories are fictionalized retellings of Antigua’s legends and stories as told through the eyes of well know historical figures; and Antigua My Antigua is a colouring and activity book featuring sites of interest in Antigua and Barbuda. Barbara Arrindell is responsible for the concept, wording, and original design while the final illustrations and sketches are the work of Artist Edison Liburd.
About the Author: Barbara Arrindell is the manager of the Best of Books bookstore in Antigua, former coordinator of the Independence Literary Arts Committee a playwright, amateur historian, professional Human Resources trainer with her own company, Barbara Arrindell & Associates, former head of Optimist Caribbean, volunteer with numerous organizations like Trees Inc. 2020, the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, the Listen to Me Anglican youth group, and more, and as a result a Women of Wadadli 2020 change agent awardee. Arrindell is also a Wadadli Pen patron and partner.
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Name: Darlene Beazer-Parker
Book: Summertime Fun. ArchwayPublishing. USA. 2020.
About the Book: Summers on the island of Barbuda can seem like paradise: children play all day long until the sun sets. Darlene Beazer-Parker celebrates the island home where she grew up in this children’s book filled with beautiful photographs. The story starts with a bright blazing sun and children running down to swim in the Codrington lagoon to cool off. There, they are free to play all day. Some children learn how to swim while others watch quietly in the shade. Jumping from a wharf or the side of a boat, the children become fast friends. Swimming styles may differ, but they all celebrate being together in such a beautiful place. At the end of the day, the children plant mangrove seedlings to preserve their lagoon for future children. They go home wishing summer will never end. Join the author as she looks back on an idyllic summer in Barbuda where anything seems possible.
About the Author:
Darlene Beazer-Parker was born and raised on the island of Barbuda. She pursued her dream of becoming a teacher after graduating high school. Over the years, she realized that one of the most rewarding parts of the job is reading stories to her students and helping them develop their creativity. She shares her love for her island home of Barbuda through poetry and prose. She lives in Virginia, with her husband and two sons.
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Name: Victoria Benjamin
Book: Island Girl. XLIBRIS. 2013.
About the Book: Growing up on the island of Antigua in the village of Swetes, with her brothers and sisters and relatives has left lots of memories in Victoria’s mind. Some of the memories are great and there are some that Victoria is uncomfortable with. She shares all in Island Girl.
About the Author: Dr. Victoria Benjamin is a Reading/Literacy Coach. She holds a bachelors degree in Sociology form Lehman College in the Bronx, New York. She also holds a masters degree in Elementary from the City College of New York and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Sarasota.
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Name: Lisset Bird-Pickens
Book: Sweet Island Side of Me (w/illustrator Josh Vierela). Ignite Inc. 2021.
About the Book: Sweet Island Side of Me tracks the experience of visiting the island of Antigua through a little girl’s eyes as she learns about her Antiguan history. This little girl is guided through this discovery by her mother, who was raised by her parents in Antigua. The story is based loosely on the life of the author through her daughter’s need to complete a school project, the novel builds toward revelations about the country as well as her family, and about the unique relationships of family that persist through time. The story primarily follows Addysen, nicknamed “Sugar”, as she tries to gather information for a school project that at first did not capture her interest. However, as she maneuvers through her time spent in Antigua she comes to realize several truths about her family, the culture and most important of all, herself.
About the Author: Lisset Bird-Pickens is an American/Antiguan writer.
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Name: S. Khalilah Brann
Book: The ABCs of the Black Panther Party (w/Chemay Morales-James). Decolonizing Education Publishing. USA. 2017.
About the Book: Decolonizing Education Publishing™ aims to produce literary work that is deliberate in centering black and brown experiences, narratives, history, and cultural contributions. Decolonizing Education Publishing is a collaboration between the founders of Culturally Responsive Education of the African Diaspora (CREAD) – which supports teachers in ensuring positive racial identity development through education – and My Reflections Matters (MRM) – which provides the tools necessary to help combat institutional and internalized racism. The ABCs of the Black Panther Party, the first book from Decolonizing Education Publishing, introduces children 7 to 12 to the Black Panther Party. It supports the expansion of children’s oral and written language while awakening their social consciousness.
About the Author: A daughter of the Caribbean (specifically Antigua and Barbuda), S. Khalilah Brann is an educator, curriculum developer, consultant, coach, a self proclaimed Cultural Ambassador, Researcher and Producer. She received her Masters of Education in Secondary English and her Masters of Educational Leadership from Long Island University. She is the co-founder of Decolonizing Education Publishing and Founder of CREADnyc.com, and spent a decade as an English and History teacher in the NYC Dept of Ed. Project partner Chemay Morales-James is a Nuyorican, by birth, raised in Connecticut by her Puerto Rican born parents. She, too, is a lifelong educator. The pair became friends in 2013 at NYU’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools.
Wadadli Pen connection: S. Khalilah Brann, RIP, was a strong contender for the Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year, 2019.
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Name: Byron Braithwaite
Book: Byron B’s Book of Children’s Poetry. 2012.
About the Book: Poetry in the language of young people; organized under the sub-heads of nature, social commentary, and spirituality to help young people navigate life.
About the Author: Guyanese born, Brathwaite has lived in Antigua since 1988.
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Name: Deshawn J Browne
Book:
Little Rude Boys. Kindle edition (as D. J. Browne with L. Markham). I & I Books. 2016.
The Little Rude Boys/Girls. Dr. Noel Howell (publisher). Antigua.. 2010.
About the Book: When a sick grandmother was forced to take in ten abandoned grandchildren, resentment develop amongst the children. From sibling rivalry to sexism – conflicts arose. As the girls competed against the boys in the various games and challenges, follow them to see who emerged at the top.
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Name: Ashley Bryan
Ashley Bryan, third from left, with, left to right, Edward Albee, Nora Ephron, and Salman Rushdie – co-honourees at a New York Public Library event
Books:
I am loved (illustrator with Nikki Giovanni). 2018.
Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books). Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books. USA. 2016.
Sail Away, Poems by Langston Hughes (as illustrator). 2015.
By Trolley Past Thimbleton Bridge (author with illustrator Marvin Bileck). Alazar Press. 2015.
Ashley Bryan’s Puppets: Making Something from Everything. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. USA. 2014.
The Sun is So Quiet. Henry Holt & Co. (BYR) (as illustrator with Nikki Giovanni). USA. 1996 & Square Fish. 2014.
Can’t Scare Me! Atheneum. USA. 2013.
Who Built the Stable? – A Nativity Poem. Atheneum. USA. 2012.
I’m Going to Sing: Black American Spirituals, Volume 2. Atheneum, 1982; Alazar Press, 2012.
A Nativity Poem. All Things Bright and Beautiful (illustrator with Cecil F. Alexander). Atheneum. USA. 2010.
Ashley Bryan: Poems and Folktales. Audio Bookshelf. USA. 1994, 2007. Findaway World. USA. 2010.
Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song. Atheneum. USA. 2009.
My America (as illustrator w/Jan Spivey Gilchrist). HarperCollins. USA. 2007.
Let it Shine. Atheneum. USA. 2007.
Painter and Poet: The Wonderful World of Ashley Bryan (as illustrator with Nikki Giovanni and Darwin Henderson). Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. USA. 2005.
A Nest Full of Stars: Poems (as illustrator with James Berry). Greenwillow Books. USA. 2004.
Beautiful Blackbird(Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner). Atheneum. USA. 2003.
All Night, All Day: A Children’s First Book of African American Spirituals. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing. USA. 2003.
Ashley Bryan’s ABC of African Poetry. Atheneum. USA. 2001.
Salting the Ocean: One Hundred Poems by Young Poets (illustrator with Naomi Shihab Nye). Greenwillow Books. USA. 2000.
I, too, Sing America: 3 Centuries of African American Poetry (as editor and narrator with Catherine Clinton and Renee Joshua-Porter). Audio Bookshelf. USA. 2000.
How God Fix Jonah (as illustrator with Lorenz Graham). Boyds Mills Press. USA. 2000.
Why Leopard has Spots: Dan Stories from Liberia (World Stories) (with Margaret H. Lippert and Won-Ldy Paye). Fulcrum Publishing. USA. 1999.
Aneesa Lee and the Weaver’s Gift (as illustrator with Nikki Grimes). HarperCollins. USA. 1999.
Jump Back, Honey: The Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar (editor and co-author of introduction; co-illustrator with Brian Pickney and 4 other illustrators). Disney-Hyperion. 1999.
The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs. Atheneum. USA. 1999.
The Story of Lightening and Thunder. Atheneum. USA. 1993. Aladdin. USA. 1999.
Carol of the Brown King (as illustrator with Langston Hughes). Atheneum. USA. 1998.
The House with No Door: African Riddle Poems (as illustrator with Brian Swann). HMH Books for Young Readers. USA. 1998.
Ashley Bryan’s African Tales, Uh-Huh. Atheneum. USA. 1998.
What A Morning: The Christmas Story in Black Spirituals (illustrator with John Langstaff). USA. Margaret K. McEldery Books. 1987. & Aladdin. 1996.
Lion and the Ostrich Chicks: and Other African Poems. Aladdin Paperbacks, Simon & Schuster. USA. 1986., (Lion and the Ostrich Chicks audio cassette) Harcourt Brace and Company. USA. 1994., Aladdin. USA. 1996.
What a Wonderful World (as illustrator with George David Weiss and Bob Thiele). Atheneum. USA. 1995.
The Story of the Three Kingdoms (as illustrator w/Walter Dean Myers). HarperCollins. USA. 1995.
Christmas Gif’ (as illustrator w/Joseph Rollins and Charlemae Rollins). HarperCollins. USA. 1993.
The Ox of the Wonderful Horns and other African Folktales. Atheneum. 1993.
Turtle Knows Your Name. Atheneum. USA. 1989. Aladdin. USA. 1993.
The Cat’s Purr. Atheneum. USA. 1985. Macmillan/McGraw-Hill School Publication Co. USA. 1993.
Sing to the Sun. HarperCollins. USA. 1992.
Climbing Jacob’s Ladder: Heroes of the Bible in African-American Spirituals (as illustrator with John Langstaff). Margaret K. McElderry Books. USA. 1991.
The Dancing Granny. Rep ed. 1st Aladdin ed., 1980; Atheneum, 1977. Aladdin, 1987. The Dancing Granny. Caedmon Audio Cassette. USA. 1989.
Pourquoi Tales: The Cat’s Purr, Why Frog and Snake Never Play Together, Fire Bringer. Houghton Mifflin School. USA. 1989.
Sh-Ko and his Eight Wicked Brothers (with illustrator Fumio Yoshimura). 1988.
Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum. Atheneum. USA. 1980, 1987.
Jethro and the Jumbie (with co-author Susan Cooper). Atheneum. USA. 1979.
Jim Flying High (as illustrator with Mari Evans). Doubleday. USA. 1979.
I Greet the Dawn: Poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar (as illustrator and editor). Atheneum. USA. 1978.
The Adventures of Aku. Atheneum. USA. 1976.
Fabliaux: Ribald Tales from the Old French (illustrator), (Apollo, Thomas Y. Crowell Co.), 1965, 1966. For the First Time Done into English With Afterword and Notes, by Robert Hellman and Richard O’Gorman (Greenwood Press), 1976.
Black American Spirituals Vol. 1: Walk Together Children. Marcel Dekker, 1974; Atheneum, 1981; Alazar Press, 2012.
Moon, for what do you wait? (Poems by Tagore) (as illustrator w/Rabindranath Tagore). Atheneum. USA. 1967.
Black Boy (illustrator), by Richard Wright (World Publishing Company). 1950.
About the Books:
I am loved – There is nothing more important to a child than to feel loved, and this gorgeous gathering of poems written by Nikki Giovanni celebrates exactly that. Hand-selected by Newbery honoree Ashley Bryan, he has, with his masterful flourish of color, shape, and movement, added a visual layering that drums the most important message of all to young, old, parent, child, grandparent, and friend alike: You are loved. You are loved. You are loved. As a bonus, one page is mirrored, so children reading the book can see exactly who is loved—themselves!
Freedom Over Me – Newbery Honor Book; Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book; Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book: Using original slave auction and plantation estate documents, Ashley Bryan offers a moving and powerful picture book that contrasts the monetary value of a slave with the priceless value of life experiences and dreams that a slave owner could never take away. In his gentle yet deeply powerful way, Ashley Bryan goes to the heart of how a slave is given a monetary value by the slave owner, tempering this with the one thing that CAN’T be bought or sold—dreams. Inspired by the actual will of a plantation owner that lists the worth of each and every one of his “workers”, Bryan has created collages around that document, and others like it. Through fierce paintings and expansive poetry he imagines and interprets each person’s life on the plantation, as well as the life their owner knew nothing about—their dreams and pride in knowing that they were worth far more than an Overseer or Madam ever would guess.
Sail Away, Poems by Langston Hughes – a collection of Langston Hughes’ poems of water and the sea. Ashley’s collage illustrations for this book have been compared to works by Matisse and Jacob Lawrence in issue 12 of the quarterly Canadian art journal, Kolaj (2015), by art historian, Dan Kany.
By Trolley Past Thimbleton Bridge – This extraordinary labor of love, thirty years in the making, was illustrated by Ashley’s dear friend, Marvin (Buddy) Bileck—originally intended for a manuscript by Virginia Wolf. When Bileck’s intensely intricate drawings took longer than the publisher’s deadline allowed, the project was withdrawn, and Ashley convinced his friend to keep going, himself writing a new, whimsical poem for Buddy to incorporate into the brilliant, playful drawings. It took another thirty years for this book to reach its audience—finally—thanks to the talent and vision of Ashley’s friends at Alazar Press. Note: Bileck’s drawings are so detailed and playful, they are best enjoyed with a magnifying glass!
Ashley Bryan’s Puppets – Beloved storyteller and creator Ashley Bryan reveals the vibrant spirit of found objects in this magnificent treasury of poetry and puppets. Little Cranberry Island. It’s a small island, with fewer than a hundred inhabitants, but it’s got more than its share of treasures—including the magnificent Ashley Bryan himself, a world-renowned storyteller and author of such classics as All Night, All Day and Beautiful Blackbird. Daily, for decades, Ashley has walked up and down the beach, stopping to pick up sea glass, weathered bones, a tangle of fishing net, an empty bottle, a doorknob. Treasure. And then, with glue and thread and paint and a sprinkling of African folklore, Ashley breathes new life into these materials. Others might consider it beach junk, but Ashley sees worlds of possibilities. Ashley Bryan’s two-foot-tall hand puppets swell with personality and beauty, and in this majestic collection they make their literary debut, each with a poem that tells of their creation and further enlivens their spirit.
The Sun is So Quiet – The quiet and noisy, wintery and sometimes sunny poems in The Sun Is So Quiet will always make you smile. Nikki Giovanni describes riding rainbows, tiptoeing through strawberry patches, licking chocolaty fingers, snuggling under covers, and many other wonderful childhood moments. Ashley Bryan’s warmest, most colorful illustrations make each page look like a bright, beaming smile.Together, they have created a collection that you can linger over like a peppermint candy cane or enjoy as quickly as a snowflake melts on your nose.
Can’t Scare Me! – A cautionary tale of fearlessness and many-headed monsters.
Who Built the Stable? – A Nativity Poem – Riding in an open Jeep across the plains of Africa, Bryan found himself comparing the terrain to Jerusalem, and the bumpy journey to that of Mary’s travel on a donkey. And he came up with a question: Who built the manger where Mary and Joseph found shelter? The answer is conveyed in this beautifully crafted picture book that envisions a young boy, a shepherd and carpenter both, who, out of love and kindness, cleared the way for another shepherd and carpenter to be born on Christmas day.
I’m Going to Sing: Black American Spirituals, Volume Two – Readers will recognize such popular favorites as “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, and “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Each song is accompanied by linocut illustrations.
All Things Bright and Beautiful 
– Bryan interprets Cecil F. Alexander’s 19th-century hymn with cut-paper art defined by swirling geometrical shapes in neon hues, contributing to a pervasively jubilant atmosphere.
Ashley Bryan: Poems and Folktales – audio book, audio CD which presents a joyful collection of African poems and folktales selected from several of Bryan’s books.
Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song – Ashley’s autobiography is full of art, photographs, and the poignant never-say-never tale of his rich life, a life that has always included drawing and painting. Even as a boy growing up during the Depression, he painted — finding cast off objects to turn into books and kites and toy and art. Even as a solder in the segregated Army on the beaches of Normandy, he sketched — keeping charcoal crayons and paper in his gasmask to draw with during lulls. Even as a talented, visionary art student who was accepted and then turned away from college upon arrival, the school telling Ashley that to give a scholarship to an African American student would be a waste, he painted — continuing to create art when he could have been discouraged, continuing to polish his talents when his spirit should have been beaten. Ashley went on to become a Hans Christian Anderson Award nominee, a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, and a multiple Coretta Scott King award winner. As you might imagine, his story is powerful, bursting with his creative energy, and a testament to believing in oneself. It’s a book every child in America should have access to and it does what the very best autobiographies do; it inspires!
My America – Ashley Bryan and Jan Spivey Gilchrist remind that America’s strength and beauty come from the diversity of its people, wildlife, and landscape.
Let it Shine – With a kaleidoscope of color and cut paper, Hans Christian Anderson Award nominee and two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Ashley Bryan celebrates three favorite spirituals: “This Little Light of Mine,” “Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”
Painter and Poet: The Wonderful World of Ashley Bryan – From “Acknowledgments,” by H. Nichols B. Clark: “Anyone who has met Ashley Bryan will attest that their day has been immeasurably brightened by this encounter. He has touched young and old in so many ways, and his ability to get audiences to chant, stomp, and sing poetry is truly legendary. Ashley’s art is the embodiment of a gesamkunstwerk — where the image, the word, and the music of the word all come to the fore.”
A Nest Full of Stars: Poems – In A Nest Full of Stars, James Berry will take you on a memorable trip through all the startling, humorous, sad, happy, painful, and joyful experiences of growing up.
Beautiful Blackbird – Long ago, Blackbird was voted the most beautiful bird in the forest. The other birds, who were colored red, yellow, blue, and green, were so envious that they begged Blackbird to paint their feathers with a touch of black so they could be beautiful too. Although Black-bird warns them that true beauty comes from within, the other birds persist and soon each is given a ring of black around their neck or a dot of black on their wings — markings that detail birds to this very day. Coretta Scott King Award-winner Ashley Bryan’s adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia reso-nates both with rhythm and the tale’s universal meanings — appreciating one’s heritage and discovering the beauty within. His cut-paper artwork is a joy.
All Night, All Day: A Children’s First Book of African American Spirituals – Bryan has selected twenty best-known and best-loved African-American spirituals, including the title song, “All Night, All Day,” and such others as “This Little Light of Mine,” “O When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Glorious full-color pictures, piano accompaniment, and guitar chords help capture the spirit and essence of these timeless songs that can be enjoyed by people of every age and every level of musical skill.
Ashley Bryan’s ABC of African Poetry – Beautifully illustrated with his own tempera and gouache paintings, Ashley Bryan’s unique alphabet book will delight readers of any age.
Salting the Ocean: One Hundred Poems by Young Poets – There are 100 poems in this book by 100 poets who wrote their poems when they were in grades one through twelve. These poets are not famous. You have not read their poems before. These poets live anywhere. They are now dentists and dancers and teachers and students and construction workers. They write with fire. They could be you.
I, too, Sing America: 3 Centuries of African American Poetry – From the first known African American poet, Lucy Terry, to recent poet laureate Rita Dove, I, TOO, SING AMERICA captures the enormous talent and passion of black writers. This powerful and diverse, this unique collection spans three centuries of poetry in America as poets bare their souls, speak their minds, trace their roots, and proclaim their dreams in the thirty-six poems compiled here. The voices of Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, W. E. B. Dubois, and Gwendolyn Brooks, among others, create an energetic blend of tone and tempo, ardor and awe. From lamentations to celebrations, these poems reveal the ironies of black America, juxtaposing themes of resistance and reconciliation, hope and despair. Each poem is further illuminated with notes, a brief biography of the poet, and stunning visual interpretations.
How God Fix Jonah – ”Utterly delightful” is how writer Zora Neal Hurston described this classic book when it was first published in 1946. Long out of print, Lorenz Graham’s beautiful collection of Bible stories, told in the idiom of West Africa, is available again in an expanded edition newly illustrated by Ashley Bryan.
Why Leopard has Spots: Dan Stories from Liberia (World Stories) – Discover why Leopard has spots, and what happens when Mrs. Chicken meets a hungry crocodile. These and other Dan tales are engagingly retold with dramatic black-and-white linoleum prints.
Aneesa Lee and the Weaver’s Gift – Thirteen interrelated poems and as many radiant illustrations create not only a celebration of the ancient art of weaving but a joyful exploration of how love and hard work can mesh separate threads–or separate people–into a harmonious whole.
Jump Back, Honey: The Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar – This celebration of early twentieth century poet Paul Laurence Dunbar is brought to life by Ashley and five of his distinguished colleagues: Carole Byard, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Brian Pinkney, Jerry Pinkney and Faith Ringgold. In the afterward, each illustrator writes a poignant tribute to the ongoing influence and contribution of Dunbar’s poetry to African-American culture.
The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs – Ashley Bryan says, “My mother had a proverb for any situation, attitude, or event.” Having grown up with proverbs, it was no surprise to Mr. Bryan when he began reading African literature to find African proverbs along with African stories. Each proverb here is credited to a specific tribe, yet, as Ashley Bryan explains, most were known in other tribes as well, and are true for people everywhere. This is a book to treasure for its rich universal wisdom and its gloriously evocative illustrations.
The Story of Lightening and Thunder – In this retelling of a West African tale, Ma Sheep Thunder and her impetuous son Ram Lightning are forced to leave their home on Earth because of the trouble Ram causes.
Carol of the Brown King – The ways of telling about the very first Christmas are as many and as varied as the stars in the sky. And so it was for Harlem Renaissance literary star Langston Hughes, who recounted those long-ago events in six different ways — in live poems he wrote and in one he translated from the Spanish. In this memorable book, these six poems are simply and movingly illustrated by Ashley Bryan.
The House with No Door: African Riddle Poems – The succinct poetic images in this delightful and often moving collection have been gathered from various African sources by Brian Swann, a preeminent scholar, poet, and collector of riddles from around the globe. Warm and colorful paintings by renowned author-illustrator Ashley Bryan make this book a treasure. There are twenty-two poetic visions to ponder in this noteworthy collection.
Ashley Bryan’s African Tales, Uh-Huh – The fourteen stories in this collection are some of his favorites, previously published in The Ox of the Wonderful Horns; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum (Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration); and Lion and the Ostrich Chicks (Coretta Scott King Honor Book). Retold with rich, musical narration, and illustrated with Mr. Bryan’s distinctive paintings, these tales are full of fun and magic and a few lessons to be learned. They are tales of tricksters, chieftains, and both wise and foolish creatures. You will learn why Frog and Snake never play together, or why Bush Cow and Elephant are bad friends, or of the problems that a husband has because he likes to count spoonfuls. Although the stories come from many parts of Africa, they are full of the universal human spirit, to be shared and treasured for every generation, uh-huh.
What A Morning: The Christmas Story in Black Spirituals – Five exuberant spirituals, pictured in strong, brilliantly colored paintings, tell the Christmas story chronologically. The music includes simple arrangements for singing and piano and guitar chords. Full-color illustrations.
Lion and the Ostrich Chicks: And Other African Poems – Four folktales from different parts of Africa include the title story, in which a clever mongoose outwits a foolish lion while rescuing six ostrich chicks. Coretta Scott King Honor Book.
What a Wonderful World – What simpler way could there be to express to children the beauty and the harmony in the world around them than through the lyrics of this song by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele, made famous by the great Louis Armstrong? And what better visual accompaniment than the bright colorful artwork by award-winning Ashley Bryan depicting children of many backgrounds (and Louis Armstrong himself) performing a puppet show that brings the lyrics to life. Here is a book of brightness, wonder, and hope to be shared by all.
The Story of the Three Kingdoms – An original fable about the People, who—through the power of their storytelling—came to live at peace with Elephant, Shark, and Hawk, rulers of the Earth, the Sea, and the Air. Bryan’s swirling pictures in bright colors add liveliness.
Christmas Gif’– The importance of Christmas in African-American life is affirmed in an anthology of poetry and prose by such writers as Harlem Renaissance stars Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston; rereleased with forty-five linoleum block illustrations.
The Ox of the Wonderful Horns and other African Folktales – “Five lively stories which make delightful reading-aloud. Style and plot provide all kinds of histrionic opportunities for the reader, making it as much fun for him as the listener”.–Publishers Weekly.
Turtle knows Your Name – A young village boy living in the Caribbean has one problem–his name is so long that not one person can remember it. He thinks it is the longest name in the world, until his grandmother asks him to find out her name.
The Cat’s Purr – Cat and Rat are friends, but when Rat tricks Cat and plays the cat drum, which only cats may play, Cat ends up swallowing the drum, and that is how he got his purr.
Sing to the Sun – Ashley Bryan’s his first book of original poetry; 23 poems and dazzling pictures that speak to the heart and the soul.
Climbing Jacob’s Ladder– An illustrated collection of black spirituals about Old Testament heroes.
The Dancing Granny – Spider Ananse gets Granny started dancing so he can raid her garden, but his own trick does him in.
Pourquoi Tales– 
Sh-Ko and his Eight Wicked Brothers – Ashley met Japanese sculptor Fumio Yoshimura while the two artists were teaching together at Dartmouth College. After hearing Fumio tell this traditional Japanese folktale, Ashley wrote a retelling of the tale and encouraged his friend to illustrate the story in traditional Japanese ink-wash. In this classic story, Sh-ko is not valued by his eight older wicked brothers, who all think him to be stupid and ugly. But Sh-ko is rewarded for having a kind heart and a desire to help others. Ashley’s beautiful rendition of the universal tale teaches that a good character will always prevail.
Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum – Five traditional Nigerian tales include Hen And Frog, Why Bush Cow And Elephant Are Bad Friends, The Husband Who Counted The Spoonfuls, Why Frog And Snake Never Play Together, and How Animals Got Their Tails.
Jethro and the Jumbie – Angry at his brother for not taking him deep-sea fishing, Jethro stomps off, meets a jumbie, and enlists its help in changing his brother’s mind.
Jim Flying High – A proud flying fish named Jim is rescued from a tree by Olukun, the Chief of the Water.
I Greet the Dawn: Poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar – A brief biography of the poet (born in 1872 and one of the first African-American poets to gain national recognition) precedes a collection of his works, most in standard English rather than dialect, with such themes as love, hate, death, nature, and religion.
The Adventures of Aku – When sent to retrieve their master’s magic ring from Spider Ananse, Okra the cat and Okraman the dog prove their true worth.
Fabliaux: Ribald Tales from the Old French – Fabliaux is a collection of little fables written in thirteenth and fourteenth century France by minstrels, translated by Ashley’s longtime friend, Robert Hellman. This book was the first published work Ashley illustrated in linoleum block illustrations.
Black American Spirituals Vol. 1: Walk Together Children – Ashley Bryan hand-cut the linoleum block prints for the original 1974 publication of this collection of negro spirituals, as well as the staff and notes to aid any child on a C-recorder who might attempt to play them. This collection, with a new color cover and forward, was brought back by Ashley’s friends at Alazar Press, along with its companion volume: I’m Going to Sing—a gorgeous and important testament to the spirit of freedom that resided in the African-American slaves who artfully created and preserved these classic songs.
Moon, for what do you wait?– Short poems reprinted from “Stray Birds” by Rabindranath Tagore, copyright 1916. Tagore is one of India’s greatest poets, and writes about nature. A delightful picture book for children; every page is decorated with colorful block prints. Hardback book, with dust jacket, measures 7.75 x 6.25 inches. “Moon, for what do you wait?” “To salute the sun for whom I must make way.”
Black Boy– Ashley did the drawings for Black Boy during his last semester at Cooper Union, after he returned from WWII. This first illustrated edition of Richard Wright’s famous autobiography was published four years later. It is a very obscure edition, and it can only be purchased through rare book stores and sites.
About the Author: Ashley Bryan, who is both an author and illustrator, was born (1923) in NY to Antiguan parents, grew up during the Depression, served in World War II, and has won numerous awards, including two American Library Association career literary awards, the Coretta Scott King award for illustration, several Coretta Scott King Honours, the Arbuthnot Prize, the Wilder Medal, the King-Hamilton Award, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award from the Pennsylvania State University, the Lupine Award from the Maine Library Association, the Golden Kite Award for nonfiction. and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award from the Association for Library Service to Children for his contribution to American children’s literature. He was the 2006 US nominee for the Hans Christian Anderson Award. The former Fulbright scholar has also lectured, and lives in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine. In 2002, the Ashley Bryan Art series was established at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center of the Broward County Library. Bryan submitted 8 original art pieces to the library to serve as the core of the art collection, and the series has attracted award winning authors and illustrators whose work reflects African culture to the library, creating a long lasting effect on the community. In 2012, the series celebrated 10 years of exhibits and programs. A non-profit, the Ashley Bryan Center, has been established to preserve, protect, and care for his art and collections, and to promote his legacy. A film about him ‘I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan’ was released by director Richard Kane in 2016. Adaptations of his work include composer Alvin Singleton’s musical of Sing to the Sun, 1995-1996; the Alliance Theatre in Georgia’s production (composed by Jireh Breon Holder and choreographed by Ameenah Kaplan) Dancing Granny in 2017; and, 2018’s collaboration between Bryan and composer Aaron Robinson on an African-American Requiem titled “A Tender Bridge” celebrating Bryan’s life and career and based on his writings. The production by the teens in Joanne C. Hillhouse’s 2014 Burt Award winning young adult novel Musical Youth was inspired by Bryan’s Dancing Granny.
My article on Meeting Ashley Bryan.
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Name: Jolyon Byerly
Books: Shadows on the Moon: A Lizard and Bungle Adventure [w/illustrator Katie Shears]. Macmillan. UK.1998.
About the Book: On an island in the Caribbean Sea lives a lizard with an amazing tail. One day while he’s out adventuring with his good friend, the Bungle Bird, a strange object flashes through the sky. What can it be?
About the Author: Jolyon Byerley arrived in Antigua from Norfolk, England in 1957 to work in the yachting industry.
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Name: Agnola Charles-Snowball
Book: What Happens to Number 1 to 10? Let’s Have Fun Counting Numbers. Xlibris. 2016.
About the Book: This book is about numbers. The same numbers repeat over and over from one to ten to teach children numbers. It’s also about friends who are on their way to the zoo. The book is written with the concept of comprehension and retention followed by ten questions.
About the Author: Agnola Charles-Snowball loves writing. She has written many inspirational songs and poems. She is a mother of two and a grandmother of three. She has taught typing, kindergarten, and Sunday school, and wants to make learning fun for children. Antiguan, she lives in the US.
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Name: (children of Barbuda)
Book: Voices from the Lagoon. Holy Trinity School. Barbuda. 2010.
About the Book: There are 27 pieces in all built around themes like camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, crab catching, snorkeling, and life in Barbuda. “We know it is young writing,” indicated reading specialist attached to HTS, Fransene Massiah-Headley, in a Daily Observer article ahead of the book’s November 2010 release, “but the great sycamore tree begins with a seed.” School principal, Charlene Harris, meanwhile, said, “My thing is, as you write, you will get better at it; just as, as you read, you will develop the skills that are necessary.” The book project grew out of journaling exercises initiated at the school, a process very much enjoyed by the students, who the teacher indicated were also quite responsive to having an audience for their work. The school did a limited run of the books with hopes to print more. We are not sure if they did.
About the Author: See images of the child-authors from the launch.
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Name: Karian Christian
Book: Children of the Soil (with illustrator Sonalli Z. Andrews). Bold Books 268. Antigua and Barbuda. 2021.
About the Book: This colouring book includes 100 pages of colouring and fun activities, for boys and girls. Children will be able to spend hours, with fun puzzles, nature pictures and other enjoyable tasks, all while discovering sights and scenes from the beautiful twin island of Antigua and Barbuda.
About the Author: Karian Christian is a former teacher and guidance counselor. She is an independent publisher.
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Name: Desryn Collins
Book: 
How to become a Calypsonian (with illustrator Ricky Sanchez Ayata). Harper Collins. UK. 2021.
About the Book: Told through the words of Mighty Glen Glen, a calypso singer, we’re introduced to the world of calypsos and learn what it takes to become a calypsonian. The books takes us through six steps to become a calypsonian, the final one being to perform the calypso in a stunning outfit. Winning the calypso crown would be the ultimate dream!
About the Author: Desryn T. A. Collins is passionate about the power of books to transform lives and help children discover their own voices. She holds an MA in English from UCL, University of London. This gifted writer was born in Guyana but lives in St John’s, Antigua where she has served as the Education Officer for Language Arts since 2017. Before that, 2005-2017, she worked as senior lecturer at the Antigua State College. She has hosted Homeschool 101, a programme on ABS TV in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Antigua and Barbuda.
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Name: Rachel Collis
Book: 
Emerald Isle of Adventure. Surge. USA. 2008.
About the Book: Part travelogue, part action-adventure, this debut novel is about Michael and his sister Tammy who travel reluctantly with their mother to Montserrat, where she plans to remarry. When their soon-to-be new family member enchants one sibling, the other sibling is filled with bitterness. It’s a long road to becoming a family and an even longer road to embracing his new home and culture.
About the Author: Poet and short fiction writer Rachel Collis lives in Antigua in the West Indies where she works as an analyst for the Ministry of Tourism. As a former teacher and a tourism planner, Collis first began telling the story of Michael and Tammy in weekly installments in the local newspaper to entertain young persons whose activities were curtailed by the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat in 1995. Collis is also a recording artist who released her first CD album of calypsos and ballads entitled “My Montserrat” in 2000.
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Name: Ortiz de Silvia
Books: Rhyme Time Stories. 2021.
About the Book: Rhyme Time Stories is a compilation of three Caribbean stories: Our Great Cat Ashe, Frangipani Caterpillars, and Hike to Hercules and Back. These stories in rhyme are “true happenings from the islands of Antigua and Barbuda.” With photography by de Silvia, Onessia Samuel, and Maxime James.
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Name: Melinda Fletcher
Books: The Dancing Pyjamas. AuthorHouse. USA. 2012.
About the Book: The book The Dancing Pyjamas, was created by Melinda Fletcher to put a friend’s son Dillon to bed. His inability to settle down made her think of a possibility that it may not have been him at all but the pyjamas. Eventually, having formulated the story, she would tell it to him at bed time. She has since told modified versions of The Dancing Pyjamas to countless children, all of whom ask for it over and over again.
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Name: Faye France
Books:
Sunny Dreams of Rainbows (w/Jacquelin Webson, co-author and tullipstudio, illustrator). FigTreeDrive Press. 2018.
When Grandma Comes to Stay (When Family Comes to Stay Book 1) (w/Jacquelin Webson , co-author and Jayamini Attanayake, illustrator). FigTreeDrive Press. 2018.Jacquelin Webson
Will You Be My Friend? (Making Friends Book 1) (w/Jacquelin Webson, co-author and tullipstudio, illustrator). FigTreeDrive Press. 2018.
About the Books:
Sunny Dreams of Rainbows–Left alone by his young owners who are too busy to properly take care of him a young puppy sets out on a search to find a friend. Along the way, he encounters surprises and heartbreak as he tries to make friends with a lot of different animals, but they all turn against him. However, the little dog is tough and never gives up; until finally, he finds friendship in the most unexpected place.
When Grandma Comes to Stay (When Family Comes to Stay Book 1) -A family with young children is filled with joy and excitement when they find out that their grandmother is coming to stay with them for a while. As they wait anxiously for her arrival, they reminisce about all the wondrous things they get to do with her when she visits.
Will You Be My Friend? (Making Friends Book 1)–Left alone by his young owners who are too busy to properly take care of him a young puppy sets out on a search to find a friend. Along the way, he encounters surprises and heartbreak as he tries to make friends with a lot of different animals, but they all turn against him. However, the little dog is tough and never gives up; until finally, he finds friendship in the most unexpected place.
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Name: Dr. A. Francis
Books:
Dr. Francis Teaches Health, Hygiene and Anatomy (with Tim Pask and illustrator Sameer Kassar).Captain Tim Publishing. Antigua. 2022.
Dr. Mommy Our Superhero (with co-writer Tim Pask and illustrator Sameer Kassar). Captain Tim Publishing. Antigua. 2022.
About the Books:
Dr. Francis Teaches Health, Hygiene and Anatomy – activity and educational resource to learn about the body.
Dr. Mommy Our Superhero – a tribute to one mother and others like her.
About the Author: Adama Francis is an emergency doctor and has her own private practice. SHE enjoys sharing her passion by teaching kids to better understand their bodies, healthy living, and family values. She has also published an “Eating Healthy with Dr. Francis” cookbook series.
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Name: Cray Mahalia Francis
Books:
Honey Dew’s Carnival Fever. GoldnLia Publishing. USA. 2014. 2020.
About the Books:
Honey Dew’s Carnival Fever – Ever wonder about the revelry and joy carnival brings to children? Read all about ten-year-old Honey Dew as she explores the rich culture of Antigua and carnival during her summer vacation. When Honey Dew travels back to her native country, Antigua, facing her fears is least on her mind. As carnival draws near, Honey Dew worries that she will not be able to participate in the annual Children’s Carnival due to an unexpected illness. However, through her experiences with sandy shores, mango picking, coal pot baking, and masquerading, inquisitive Honey Dew enjoys a summer vacation that is filled with memorable moments. Above all, she learns to appreciate the people and the land which gives her Carnival Fever. HONEY DEW’S CARNIVAL FEVER is a realistic fiction chapter book written for young readers (ages 7-10) who want to explore themes of culture and diversity, personal narratives, and character traits.
About the Author:
Cray Mahalia Francis, Ed.M. is a native of Antigua and Barbuda, but has lived much of her life in the U.S.A. She’s called The Bronx, in New York, her home for over twenty-five years. There, she has pursued her passions of The Arts through acting and singing, and now, as a writer. She hopes Honey Dew’s Carnival Fever will bring carefree joy to all readers- children and adult alike. Additionally, she wrote this book to serve the purposes of diversity and multi-cultural education- offering a Personal Narrative written from the perspective of an emigrant child. Francis is a graduate of Middlebury College, VT (’05) where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Additionally, Francis has earned a Master Degree in Childhood Education from Mercy College, NY (’08), and a Master of Education in School Building Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, NY (’10). A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, she has been featured as an education expert in the online periodical, Hot Chalk Education Network. Francis lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.
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Name: Carol Faye George
Books: Mari Warner and book 2 Mari Warner and Recycling [w/illustrator Jason Hendrickson]. Antigua and Barbuda. 2009.
About the Book:
A series of environmentally themed comic books e.g. in book 2 Mari Warner (whose names sound like a certain weed) and her friend Dave debate the proper way to dispose of a soda can. The bickering is humorous and ultimately good-natured, entertaining while reinforcing how the reader can better benefit the environment. Mari is the conscience of all Antiguans and Dave is the devil’s advocate. Fictional waste recycling plant manager Ms. B makes an appearance reinforcing Mari’s message; the book ends with Dave’s decision to “step up to de plate” and Mari had served the environment for another day and proved to herself that “girls are smarter” as she mused to herself in the last panel. The book series was funded by an anonymous donor.
About the Author:
Carol Faye George is known in Antigua and Barbuda for her work as an Environmental Educator. She was at one point the recycling plant manager, and educator with the Environment Division. The books were incorporated in to the Division’s cadet programme and distributed to the 39 schools involved in the programme. In addition to the cadet programme, and its awards ceremony, she was involved in the Division’s environmental camp and Eco Zone TV programme.
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Name: Shannon Gilligan
Book: Ghost Island (Choose Your Own Adventure Series)* (with illustrator Keith Newton). 2008. Chooseco.
About the Book: You are on a sailing trip with your family. One night you stop on the island of Antigua. Some children who live there tell you that the island is haunted by a ghost. Are you brave enough for Ghost Island?
About the Author: Shannon Gilligan is a writer and interactive game designer. In 2003, Shannon formed Chooseco with R. A. Montgomery to re-launch Choose Your Own Adventure to new generations of readers. She lives in Vermont.
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Name: Gemma Handy
Book: Explore Antigua and Barbuda (w/ Irene Danic and illustrator Manuel Morgado). Island Books Ltd. China. 2017.
About the Book:
This 50-page colouring book is a companion book to the vividly illustrated book for adults of the same name. It invites readers to engage with Antigua and Barbuda’s rich history and culture – from Amerindians to Carnival – and children especially to learn about the country through activity. The books are the product of two years of research.
About the Author:
Gemma Handy has worked as a journalist in the UK and the Caribbean, including since the early aught-teens, Antigua and Barbuda where she was for a short time editor of the Daily Observer newspaper. She freelances from Antigua (her mother’s home) where she is a programme host on English Harbour Radio and editor of Luxury Locations. Her co-author Irene Danics is a teacher from Canada who love to travel; she created the initial book in the Explore series, Explore Turks and Caicos. After that book’s success with locals and tourists, she realized it could be created for different islands.
Wadadli Pen connection: Gemma Handy’s Explore Antigua and Barbuda was in the running for the Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year, 2019.
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Name: Anne Harewood George
Book:
Delilah the Donkey and the Missing Tooth (w/illustrator Izzy Bean). Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. 2017.
About the Book:
Delilah the Donkey is excited for picture day at Animal Academy but disaster strikes when her tooth falls out. What will she do? Can anybody help her?
About the Author:
Anne Harewood George is a communications specialist, a criminologist and an educator who has been passionate about writing since she was a child. She was born and raised in Canada but her second home is Antigua and Barbuda which has 365 beautiful beaches and the best carnival in the world.
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Name: Fashanu Henry-Giddings
Books:
Reading is Fun & Andre and the Bully (with illustrator Anderson Andrews). 2022.
About the Book: “Reading is Fun” teaches children the importance of reading and “Dante and the Bully” highlights bullying and ways it can be solved.
About the Author: Fashanu is a freelance writer in Antigua and Barbuda.
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Name: Joanne C. Hillhouse
Books:
The Jungle Outside. (with illustrator Danielle Boodoo-Fortune). Collins. UK. 2021.
Perdida! Una Aventura en el Mar Caribe. (with illustrator Danielle Boodoo-Fortune & translators Loudymar Lightfoot and Nneka Edwards). Caribbean Reads Publishing. St. Kitts-Nevis/USA. 2018.
Lost! A Carib.bean Sea Adventure (with illustrator Danielle Boodoo-Fortune). Caribbean Reads Publishing. St. Kitts-Nevis/USA. 2017.
With Grace (with illustrator Cherise Harris). Little Bell Caribbean. New York. 2016.
Breaking with Tradition in Round My Christmas Tree. Caribbean Reads Publishing. St. Kitts-Nevis/USA. 2014.
About the Book:
Set in the Caribbean, The Jungle Outside tells the story of Dante and his grandmother, Tanti, as they explore Tanti’s garden. At first reluctant, Dante soon comes to realise the adventures that await him outside and we follow them as he climbs trees, tastes fruit, and finally notices the nature around him.
Beautifully illustrated by Danielle Boodoo Fortuné, this book is a visual feast which will feed the imagination of young readers. It encourages children get outside and explore, to look at things differently, and to face their fears.
¡perdida! Una Aventura En El Mar Caribe (Spanish Edition of Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure) – Cuando Delfín, la foca ártica se encuentre lejos de su hogar y en las cálidas aguas del Mar Caribe, tiene que depender de nuevos amigos de distintas especies. ¿Volverá a su hogar en el Ártico?
LOST! A Caribbean Sea Adventure – When an Arctic seal named Dolphin finds himself far from home in the warm Caribbean sea, he has to rely on new friends for help. Will he make his way back to his Arctic home? This book, an update of 2013’s Fish Outta Water (illustrated by Zavian Archibald), includes a short story, all new illustrations by Danielle Boodoo Fortune, and a puzzle.
With Grace. Grace leads a carefree life in Grace’s Peak, and looks down upon the rest of the villagers who are not as fortunate as she, but when a young girl comes in search of assistance, both lives are forever changed as truths about love, family and community are unearthed.
Round My Christmas Tree. What’s your favourite thing about Christmas in the Caribbean? Do you know what’s Anansi’s favourite Christmas treat? Have you ever tried stilt-walking? Eaten green carrot cake? Picked sorrel ’til your fingers turned red? In ‘Round My Christmas Tree you’ll find a little bit of everything that makes Christmas Christmas in the Caribbean. Stories, poems, recipes, and art that range from the sacred to irreverent and from heart-warming to just down-right funny. Joanne’s story is about two sisters growing up and growing apart, and how the younger sister’s melancholy over this taints their usual Christmas traditions; while an unexpected gift delivers a happy ending.
Fish Outta Water. Meet Dolphin, the Arctic seal. Dolphin loves hearing tales of the Caribbean, but how will he fare when he finds himself on his very own Caribbean adventure? Will he finally get to meet a real dolphin?
About the Author: Joanne C. Hillhouse, born in Ottos Antigua, is also the author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Oh Gad!, and Musical Youth. Her writing also appears in several anthologies and various international publications. She freelances as a writer, editor, writing coach, and course/workshop coordinator.
For more visit the fiction pages and/or http://jhohadli.wordpress.com Joanne C. Hillhouse is the founder-coordinator of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize and the resident blogger at Wadadli Pen.
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Name: Carel Hodge
Books:
“Christmas Carnival” in Round My Christmas Tree. Caribbean Reads Publishing. St. Kitts-Nevis/USA. 2014.
About the Book:
Round My Christmas Tree. What’s your favourite thing about Christmas in the Caribbean? Do you know what’s Anansi’s favourite Christmas treat? Have you ever tried stilt-walking? Eaten green carrot cake? Picked sorrel ’til your fingers turned red? In ‘Round My Christmas Tree you’ll find a little bit of everything that makes Christmas Christmas in the Caribbean. Stories, poems, recipes, and art that range from the sacred to irreverent and from heart-warming to just down-right funny. Carel’s contribution is a short story called Christmas Carnival about an Antiguan young lady who goes to St. Kitts for Christmas and learns to stilt walk. She wants to take part in the New Year’s parade but her dad won’t allow it.
About the Author:
Carel Hodge is a communications professional with an interest in social change – specifically finding innovative ways of engaging society and the media in addressing developmental, health and social concerns among younger populations within the Caribbean.
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Name: The Humane Society
Book: All Creatures Greatand Small Colouring Book. 2021.
About the Book: A Colouring Book designed as a fun learning tool for parents and educators to teach children about the importance of empathy and being kind to animals.
About the Author: Antigua & Barbuda Humane Society Inc is a registered non-profit animal welfare organization that promotes prevention of cruelty and protection of animals.
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Name: Margaret Irish
Book:
A is for Arawak. 2021.
About the Book: “The inspiration behind it started with a question, …why do we begin to learn by using objects from cultures outside of the Caribbean? Why can’t we learn by utilizing objects, the history and parts of our lives that we are quite used to? So I decided that I wanted to create a book that would help young people in the Caribbean, in particular Antigua nd Barbuda to be proud of their identity… I wanted to start with the alphabet.” (Irish in ABS TV interview)
About the Author:
Margaret Irish is Jamaica-born and resident in Antigua where she works as a 3rd to 5th form English teacher at St. Anthony’s Secondary School. She holds an Msc in material cultures and history of the book from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She is the winner of two Wadadli Pen prizes – the 2014 Lead by Example Teachers Prize for “The Skipping Rope” and the 2015 flash fiction prize for Justice. She has since become a volunteer with and is a part of the Wadadli Pen core team set up in 2016, becoming one of its original directors after it became a legal non-profit in 2021.
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Name: Farida Isaac-Carr
Books:
Calypso Princess: Learns to Swim at The Beach (w/illustrator Nilanjan Ghosh). 2022.
Calypso Princess: Colouring and Activity Book (w/illustrator Aminata Joseph). 2019.
Calypso Princess: The Grand Celebration (w/illustrator Aminata Joseph). 2018.
About the Book:
Calypso Princess: Learns to Swim at the Beach – Jel loves the beach, but she cannot swim. Excited for the first swimming lesson she splashes in the warm shallow waters and learn new skills. Blowing bubbles, flutter kicks, floating and swimming with the fishes added joy and excitment to the lesson. The story provides vibrant images of beach life while promoting water safety.
Calypso Princess: Colouring and Activity Book – inspired by Calypso Princess: the Grand Celebration and the music and scenery of Caribbean carnivals, the book features over 20 pages of mazes, word puzzles, and pictures of costumes and steel pan.
Calypso Princess: The Grand Celebration – September is Jel’s favorite time of the year for three reasons; It is Carnival time in the Island of Redonda, her favorite flowers are in bloom, and most importantly, it’s her birthday. Find out how Jel becomes the first Calypso Princess. This children’s book is filled with Caribbean culture but would be a joy for all princesses in the making.
About the Author:
Antigua-born Farida Isaac-Carr graduated from Skidmore College in the United States with a bachelor’s degree in human services. She is, at this writing (2019), employed as a senior welfare officer with the Antigua and Barbuda government. She was the 2018-2019 VP of Membership at the Antigua Toastmasters Club, which she credits in her book for building her confidence to become a children’s author. You can also find her reading, dancing Zumba, and coaching or playing volleyball. Her debut children’s book Calypso Princess, The Grand Celebration and accompanying Calypso Princess Coloring and Activity Book seek to share the beauty of the Caribbean culture and promote positive self-identity.
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Name: Laura James (illustrator)
Book:
Boonoonoonous Hair (with author Olive Senior). Tradewinds. 2019.
Anna Carries Water (with author Olive Senior). Tradewinds. 2014.
About the Book:
Boonoonoonous Hair – in this vibrant and exquisitely illustrated picture book, written by Commonwealth Prize-winning Jamaican-Canadian Olive Senior, and with pictures by the acclaimed artist Laura James (the team that created Anna Carries Water), a young girl learns to love her difficult-to-manage, voluminous and boonoonoonous hair.
Anna Carries Water, set in Jamaica, is about a girl learning to balance water from the spring on her head.
About the illustrator:
Laura James has been working as a professional artist and illustrator for over twenty years. In addition to painting sacred images from various religions, she portrays women, families, and scenes of everyday life; blending intricate patterns, text, vibrant colors and sometimes surreal imagery into what she calls “art for the people.” Laura is best known for her illustrations (34 painting rendered in the Ethiopian Christian Art style) in the award winning Book of the Gospels lectionary published in 2000 by Liturgy Training Publications, Chicago, Illinois. Her other projects include Nannies and Other Mothers where she attempts to shed light on a subject long neglected by popular culture. The Nanny Series – A Post-colonial Reading incorporates a paper and slide presentation around this project, and was first presented at the 2nd ISA Forum of Sociology in Buenos Aires, Argentina in August 2012. James’ work is widely collected and exhibited, and she has also organized many exhibitions and special events. She lives and works in the Bronx, NY.
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Name: S. E. James
Books
Forest Fever. Carlong Publishers. Jamaica. 2014.
(with illustrator Lyndell Benjamin])
Kidnapped at the Beach. Sharon Publications. Antigua. 2003.
A Narrow Escape. Sharon Publications. Antigua. 2003.
Tragedy on Emerald Island. Sharon Publications. Antigua. 2002.
About the Books:
Forest Fever – Jerry from the Caribbean island of Dominica was on his first class trip into the forest at Boiling Lake. Disaster struck when they got caught in a storm and Jerry lost his way in the darkness and fell into a hole. He
woke up weak and sick in a secluded village far up in the mountains. He wondered if he was a victim of Forest Fever. He realized that some of the men who had rescued him from death, thought that he had been sent to spy on them. He would not be allowed to leave. In desperation he decided to fi nd a way to escape, even if he had to travel through the treacherous mountains. Would he make it?
Tragedy on Emerald Island, A Narrow Escape, Kidnapped at the Beach – The saga begins in Tragedy on Emerald Island when the Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat, long dormant, wakes up after hundreds of years. Jamie’s life was torn apart. His parents decided to stay in Montserrat but to send the children and their grandmother, to live with an aunt on the neighbouring island of Antigua. In Antigua, though, there was more trouble brewing, as a hurricane blew in. In A Narrow Escape, the boys get trapped in the unsafe zone of the volcano plagued island. Kidnapped at the Beach picks up with Jamie recovering from burns received in book two, and witness to a series of odd incidents which lands him in the cross hairs of a band of criminals. Captured and thrown into a cell where his only cell mate is a rat, does he have any hope of escape?
About the Author: Sharon James, born in Dominica of Antiguan parents, is a Human Resources Development Manager. She writes fiction primarily for children between the ages of 8 and 12 and all of her books are based in the Caribbean.
Wadadli Pen connection: S. E. James participated in the Wadadli Pen fundraiser and literary showcase Word Up! 2006. She also donated copies of her books – Tragedy on Emerald Island, A Narrow Escape, and Kidnapped at the Beach – to the first Wadadli Pen Challenge, 2004.
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Name: Tameka Jarvis-George
Books:
A Day in the Life of Genesis: Wash the Dog. 2014.
About the Books:
The Adventures of Genesis, is a series of short rhyming stories written through the eyes of the author’s daughter Genesis, when she was five years old. “Being pregnant for a second time, made me so much more aware of how fast she was growing up, that I started to jot down details about every little thing she did… Eventually, I turned my observations/journal entries into animated snippets of her precocious five year old self.”
About the author:
Tameka Jarvis-George has been writing creatively for over 20 years, publishing books of poetry, a novel, Unexpected in 2010. Since becoming a parent, she has dabbled in drafting stories for her own children, never thinking beyond doing something that was entertaining for them. Then, a friend who’d read one of her children’s pieces, encouraged her to add children’s fiction to her resume’.
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Name: Omari Jeremiah
Books (with illustrator Bernie Rollins):
Paperboy 4. 2007.
Paperboy 3: The School of Doom. 2006.
Paperboy II: Overwhelming Odds. 2005. Morton Books. New Jersey.
Paperboy. 2004. Morton Books. New Jersey.
About the Books and Author: The Paperboy series is a children’s book actually written by a child. Omari, New York born but of Antiguan descent, wrote the first book when he was only 12. Paperboy is the story of an ordinary 11-year-old boy (Michael Wood) who becomes a superhero (Paperboy), by defending other students and standing up to bullies.
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Name: Aminata Joseph (illustrator)
Books:
Calypso Princess: Colouring and Activity Book (w/author Farida Isaac-Carr). 2019.
Calypso Princess: The Grand Celebration (w/author Farida Isaac-Carr). 2018.
About the Book:
Calypso Princess: Colouring and Activity Book – inspired by Calypso Princess: the Grand Celebration and the music and scenery of Caribbean carnivals, the book features over 20 pages of mazes, word puzzles, and pictures of costumes and steel pan.
Calypso Princess: The Grand Celebration – September is Jel’s favorite time of the year for three reasons; It is Carnival time in the Island of Redonda, her favorite flowers are in bloom, and most importantly, it’s her birthday. Find out how Jel becomes the first Calypso Princess. This children’s book is filled with Caribbean culture but would be a joy for all princesses in the making.
About the Illustrator:
Aminata Joseph is a visual arts educator.
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Name: Iris Josiah
Books:
Tiny Pig’s Alphabet Book (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2015.
Tiny Goat’s Alphabet Book (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2015.
Tiny Hen’s Alphabet Book (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2015.
Tiny Bird’s Alphabet Book (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2015.
Tiny Bird (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2012.
Tiny Goat (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2012.
Tiny Hen (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2012.
Tiny Pig (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2012.
Tiny Rabbit (Tiny Island Stories). Tiny Island Press. UK. 2012.
About the Books: On Tiny Island, far, far away lived Tiny Rabbit, Tiny Pig, Tiny Goat, Tiny Bird, Tiny Hen and many other tiny animals.
About the Author: Iris was born in Antigua and Barbuda where she grew up in a tiny village on the south side of the island. As a child, she tended to the village’s animals and would often be seen helping her grandmother hoe and plough the land. At the age of twelve, Iris immigrated to the United Kingdom where she attended secondary school. A graduate in Philosophy of the London University with a Post- Graduate Certificate in Education from Greenwich University, her first job was a play leader in which she worked with primary school and younger children. It was then that she wrote Tiny Rabbit and Tiny Pig; others would follow in the years to come. Iris has taught English for many years and has given her time generously to public service.
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Name: Jamaica Kincaid
Book: Party: a Mystery (w/illustrator Ricardo Cortes). Black Sheep. USA. 2019.
About the Book:
Three girls–Pam, Beth, and Sue–attend a party to celebrate the publication of the first of the Nancy Drew mystery books. There are many distractions at the fancy affair: flower arrangements, partygoers, refreshments, and lots and lots of marble. Suddenly, the oldest girl, Pam, sees what can only be described as something truly…bilious…not good! Beth sees it too. The youngest, Sue, does not, and as usual she has a hard time getting anyone to tell her anything. Party: A Mystery is a beautifully drawn adventure story that promises questions that will grab children, but does not guarantee an answer.
About the Author:
Jamaica Kincaid is an Antiguan-American novelist, essayist, gardener, and gardening writer. She was born in St John’s, Antigua. She lives in North Bennington, Vermont, during the summers, and is Professor of African and African American Studies in Residence at Harvard University during the academic year.
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Name: Sara Louise Kras
Book:
Antigua and Barbuda (Cultures of the World). Benchmark Books/Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books. Singapore. 2008.
About the Book: The highly regarded Cultures of the World series celebrates the diversity of other cultures. An abundance of vibrant photographs stimulate the imaginations of young readers as they travel the globe.
About the Author: Sara Louise Kras was born in Washington, where she spent a childhood exploring and reading books. She turned her love of reading and adventure to writing after years travelling abroad as an adult. Her first published book was Giant Lizards and she has published 28 books since, continuing to travel for for research and fun.
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Name: Alscess Lewis-Brown.
Books:
Footprints into the Sunrise: Alexander Hamilton’s Life Through the Eyes of a Young Boy. Little Bell Caribbean. 2014.
Moko Jumbi Majorette (with illustrators Wayne Bully Peterson and Cynthia Hattfield). Little Bell Caribbean. USVI. 2013.
Promise of the Pomegranate (Book Two of the Moko Jumbie Majorette Series) (with illustrators Wayne Bully Peterson and Cynthia Hattfield). Little Bell Caribbean. USVI. 2012.
Moko Jumbi Dreams (with illustrators Wayne Bully Peterson and Cynthia Hattfield). Little Bell Caribbean. USVI. 2012.
Efa and the Mosquito. 
(with illustrator Cynthia Hattfield). Little Bell Caribbean. USVI. 2010.
Tamarind Bear’s Dream. USVI. 1985.
About the Books: Moko Jumbi Majorette is the tale of Lexi who continues to work towards her goal of becoming the first ever moko jumbi majorette in the Carnival parade. In this third and final installment of the Moko Jumbi Majorette series, Lexi must face the challenge of believing in herself, even when not everyone else does. Promise of the Pomegranate (book two of the Moko Jumbi Majorette series) finds 10-year-old Lexi finds herself closer to her dream when her brother agrees to teach her the hard moves needed to become a Moko Jumbi Majorette; however, life becomes a roller coaster for our young heroine as she learns that getting what you want comes with a price. Moko Jumbi Dreams is the story of Lexi who dreams of being a majorette in the Carnival parade; and not just a usual majorette but a majorette on stilts, a moko jumbi. Efa and the Mosquito is the story of Efa who one day rescues a smart, fast talking mosquito trapped in a net. For her kindness she is granted a wish…and so her adventure begins. It is the story of a curious girl, her music loving family, a very special mosquito, and their unforgettable adventure together.
About the Author: Alscess Lewis-Brown was born in Antigua and educated in the USVI. A life long educator, she has taught in Japan, Antigua and the USVI where she has also served as a board member of the esteemed Caribbean Writer literary journal. She is a part time instructor at the University of the Virgin Islands in addition to being a human resources professional, mother, and grandmother.
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Name: Edison Liburd
Books:
Light of Inspiration for Children (as writer and illustrator). 2019.
Antigua My Antigua (as illustrator w/author Barbara Arrindell). Antigua. 2011.
Balloons [as illustrator w/author Dr. John Calvin Alberty]. Alberty. USA. 1999.
About the Books:
Light of Inspiration for Children is Volume 2 of the Light of Inspiration series.
Antigua My Antigua is a colouring book featuring sites of interest in Antigua and Barbuda.
About the Illustrator: Edison Liburd is an Antiguan artist well known for the vibrancy and fluidity of his pieces.
Wadadli Pen connection: Edison gave two scholarships to his arts camp to Wadadli Pen, 2011.
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Name: Diana J. A. Molyneaux
Book:
The Rollercoaster Rainbow: Rainbow Fun Ride. AuthorHouse. 2014.
About the Book: Journey on a roller coaster ride with Mother Nature’s friendly rainbow. Watch as Elijah’s rainbow pal comes alive and allows him to enjoy nature and friends from far above. Elijah lives far away from everyone but on one rainy day he goes on an exciting journey with his new found pal. Depending on the weather, from that day onwards, the Roller Coaster Rainbow takes him to play as often as he can. Elijah never has another lonely day at his house on the steep hill again.
About the Author: Diana J. A. Molyneaux likes to write about nature, the Earth’s natural resources, and natural disasters in creative ways for the enjoyment of young readers. Born in Antigua and Barbuda, she enjoys sailing, hiking, and nature walks. She hopes to pass on her love for beautiful, tropical scenes in her writing.
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Name: Amos Morrill
Book: 
Augusta and Elliott. Island Nation Press LLC/Turtles Too Limited. 2007.
About both Book and Author: A charming, richly illustrated book about Augusta and Elliott’s efforts to keep the ocean clean. Written and illustrated by Amos Morrill, a native New Yorker, who has lived for most of his life in the Leeward Islands. An interior designer who has also created fabrics and furnishings, Amos brings his unique sense of whimsy to this simply written message for children of all ages: to cherish and protect our natural resources.
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Name: Dr.Althea Prince (as Althea Trotman)
Books:
How the Starfish got to the Sea [with illustrations by Sasso]. Sister Vision. Canada. 1992.
How the East Pond got its Flowers. Sister Vision. Canada.1991.
About the Books: How the Starfish got to the Sea is a Caribbean story set in 1800s Antigua. It features characters like the elder Papa Biggis and the healer Mother Sillah. The story is about a star lost its ability to shine after falling to earth. How the East Pond got its Flowers is also set in Antigua; it is the story of Mother Sillah and Tullah, a young girl destined to do great things despite being enslaved in colonial era Antigua.
For her non-children titles, visit the Antiguan and Barbudan writers, fiction writers, and non fiction writers lists.
About the Author: Antiguan born, Canada-based, Althea Prince is the award winning author of several books, making her one of the most prolific and profound authors coming out of Antigua and Barbuda. She’s also been an educator, publisher, editor and mentor to several Antiguan writers. In 2007, she received the first Antigua and Barbuda International Writers’ Festival Award for Literary Excellence.
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Name: Samantha Dian Samuel
Books:
Journey to Discovery: Carl’s Summer Adventure (w/illustrator Sonalli Andrew). Antigua. 2019.
About the Book:
School’s out and Carl can’t wait to get to camp. As a regular kid in 2nd grade, Carl likes to spend time with his family and friends, but this summer is different. Join him as he goes on an adventure that will change his life!
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Name: Bridget Samuel Charles
Book: Grandma’s Kisses. VMichelle Publishing. 2013.
About the Book: Christina is a little girl who loves her grandma. They share lots of hugs and kisses. But what will happen when Christina decides she is too big for her grandma. A story about the love between a little girl and her grandma.
About the Author: Bridget Samuel Charles was born and raised in Antigua. She emigrated to the United States and has devoted most of her life to being an educator, mostly in the middle school grades, as well as a lay minister. She has taught all grades from First Grade to High School, and was an adjunct professor. Mrs. Charles has written a novel entitled No Regrets: The Story of Elline Merle Derene and several plays, including The Urgency of Now and Complications. Mrs. Charles lives in New Jersey with her husband.
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Name: Naomi Smith
Book: 
Aunt Mazie’s Secret (w/illustrator Dylan Smith). Edan’s Publishers. Canada. 2009.
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Name: Jenny Stow
Book: 
The House that Jack Built. Frances Lincoln. 2009.
About both Book and Author: Author and illustrator Jenny Stow, who has lived in Antigua, brings a fresh take to the timeless tale of “the dog that worried the cat” and “the rat that ate the malt” in Jack’s house with paint, ink, and crayon collage technique using sponges and rollers that renders the lush vegetation, bright colors, and blazing skies of the Caribbean as the perfect setting for this irresistible rhyme. The book was shortlisted for the shortlisted for The State of Maryland’s Black-Eyed Susan Picture Book Award. According to Publishers Weekly “a Caribbean setting adds zest to a well-known verse in this effervescent picture book. All the familiar characters – the rat, cat and dog and the cow with the crumpled horn – are here, refreshingly depicted against cerulean blue skies, golden sands and an abundance of lush vegetation…Each of the rhyme’s characters, however incongruous, appears perfectly at home in its surroundings.” The School Library Journal wrote, “Stow depicts the list of characters and creatures enumerated in recognizable fashion; however, by relocating the entourage, she establishes a certain ethnic orientation in the interpretation that acknowledges the chant’s universality… Stow evokes the warmth, vitality, and texture of island culture. Despite the several other worthwhile versions of this rhyme currently in print, this fresh look deserves a place on most picture book shelves.”
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Name: Tirsite Straker
Book: I love me. 2021.
About the Book: Courageous characters who are confident, strong and rhyme their way into our homes and our lives.
About the Author: One of the original 12 students at Antigua Dance Academy in 1991. Became a teacher. At this writing, resident in the US.
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Name: Calesia Thibou
Book: 
Cadriel and Jadiel: A Day at the Beach (with illustrator Gail M. Nelson). Steuben Press, Second Edition 2010.
About the Book: The warmth of the Caribbean sea awaits you as you read the pages of this picturesque story. Come along with Cadriel and Jadiel – two lovable children – as they explore the beautiful Fort James Beach and enjoy the sights around them. Go on a Caribbean vacation as you read the pages of this book.
About the Author: Calesia Thibou was born on the beautiful Island of Antigua were she stills lives with her husband and daughter. Calesia enjoys writing poems and short stories. She also enjoys going to the beach with her family. She wrote this book in order that she may share her love for the beach and reading with others.
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Name: Lolette Thomas
Books:
Mermaid Janine (with illustrator Jennifer Northway). Scholastic. 1993.
Janine and the New Baby (with illustrator Jennifer Northway). Mammoth (re-issue edition). 1993.
Janine and the Carnival (with illustrator Jennifer Northway). Egmont Children’s Books. 1989.
About the Books:
Mermaid Janine – Janine wants to be able to swim like her relatives in Antigua, so she takes swimming lessons and tries very hard to swim the length of the pool and pass the course.
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Name: Jacquelin Webson
Books:
Sunny Dreams of Rainbows (w/Faye France, co-author and tullipstudio, illustrator). FigTreeDrive Press. 2018.
When Grandma Comes to Stay (When Family Comes to Stay Book 1) (w/Faye France, co-author and Jayamini Attanayake, illustrator). FigTreeDrive Press. 2018.
Will You Be My Friend? (Making Friends Book 1) (w/Faye France, co-author and tullipstudio, illustrator). FigTreeDrive Press. 2018.
About the Books:
Sunny Dreams of Rainbows–Left alone by his young owners who are too busy to properly take care of him a young puppy sets out on a search to find a friend. Along the way, he encounters surprises and heartbreak as he tries to make friends with a lot of different animals, but they all turn against him. However, the little dog is tough and never gives up; until finally, he finds friendship in the most unexpected place.
When Grandma Comes to Stay (When Family Comes to Stay Book 1)–A family with young children is filled with joy and excitement when they find out that their grandmother is coming to stay with them for a while. As they wait anxiously for her arrival, they reminisce about all the wondrous things they get to do with her when she visits.
Will You Be My Friend? (Making Friends Book 1)–Left alone by his young owners who are too busy to properly take care of him a young puppy sets out on a search to find a friend. Along the way, he encounters surprises and heartbreak as he tries to make friends with a lot of different animals, but they all turn against him. However, the little dog is tough and never gives up; until finally, he finds friendship in the most unexpected place.
Wadadli Pen connection – her books Sunny Dreams of Rainbows, When Grandma comes to stay, and Will you be my Friend were in the running for the Wadadli Pen 2019 Readers Choice Book of the Year.
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Name: Juneth Webson
Book: 
Milo’s First Winter (Milo’s Adventures)(w/illustrator Ros Webb). Fig Tree Drive Press/Amazon Digital Services. 2018.
About the Book: Milo’s First Winter is a picture book for children between the ages of three and eight years of age. It tells the enchanted tale of Milo, a black and white kitten, that got out of the house while it was snowing. It was Milo’s first time seeing the snow and he was in such awe of the snowflakes that he kept trying to catch them. This chasing after snowflakes took Milo on an unforgettable adventure.
About the Author: A former student of the TOR Memorial, Webson is an Antiguan and Barbudan resident in New York, from where she finds ways to give back to Antigua and Barbuda – from books to Villa Junior Secondary School to prizes for the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize Challenge. She is a tax professional, and a cultural activist who has been involved in artist and event development and promotion.
Wadadli Pen connection –Juneth’s book, Milo’s First Winter, was in the running for the Wadadli Pen Readers’ Choice Book of the Year, 2019. She also contributed prizes to the Wadadli Pen Challenge since 2014.
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Name: Floree Williams Whyte
Books:
Dance on the Moon. Moondancer Books. Antigua. 2021.
The Wonderful World of Yohan (with illustrator Stoogeco). Moondancer Books. Antigua. 2017.
About the Book:
Dance On The Moon, Whyte’s first fully illustrated book, is set in Antigua and targeted at children ages 3 – 7. The story book features main character Lula, a 7 year old, who has big, overwhelming emotions which often make her want to stay at home. Lula learns to overcome her strong feelings of anxiety, nervousness and shyness by taking some special advice from her Antiguan grandmother. Floree was inspired to write this book based on her mantra ‘Never let fear stop you from dancing on the moon’, to help encourage children who already experience anxiety and fear at a young age.
Welcome to The Wonderful World of Yohan! Yohan’s world is a creation of his vivid imagination. This series of short stories follow Yohan’s imagination-inspired adventures. From day to day his adventures transform his reality and often lead him into accidental mischief.
About the Author: Floree Williams Whyte is a Wadadli Pen partner. She has two previous books Pink Teacups and Blue Dresses and Through a Window. In 2017, she founded the independent press Moondancer Books. Read and view her in discussion about her books in CREATIVE SPACE.
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Name: Ladesa Williams
Book: 
Zane visits Costa Rica (with illustrator Rahana Dariah). Bumpkin Books. St. Lucia. 2020.
About the Book: Zane Visits Costa Rica takes the reader on a fun and colorful journey with Zane and his family as they visit Costa Rica. They learn Spanish, see the sights, taste the food, and immerse themselves in the beautiful culture of Costa Rica! The author has perfectly captured the wonder and excitement from the young protagonist’s point of view. Illustrated beautifully by Rahana Dariah, the scenes seem to jump from the book with every turn of the page. Children who read this book will certainly feel the scenes as they immerse themselves in the Costa Rica experience through Zane’s eyes.
About the Author: Ladesa is a banking executive in Antigua and Barbuda. In fact, she was named in 2020 as CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Director, Retail Sales OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) and Country Head, Antigua and Barbuda, the first Antiguan-born woman to attain this position.. This is her first book. It is a 2020 pandemic project written with her son Zane who went with his dad’s on a boy’s trip to Costa Rica in 2018. We refer to it as a pandemic project because it is a book (per her facebook live with her publisher – Bumpkins, an indie press in Jamaica) that she wrote after asking herself, during the early days of lockdown, what she would be disappointed not to have done if the world ended: her answers, write a children’s book and learn to swim. Needless to say, she’s since done both and is thinking of writing more books.
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NON FICTION
Name:
Name: Elizabeth Abbott 
Books (abridged – limited to titles with specific Caribbean reference):
Sugar: A Bittersweet History. Penguin. 2008. & Canada & Duckworth Overlook. UK, USA. 2011.
Haiti: The Duvaliers and their Legacy. 1988. McGraw-Hill. USA & (and revised and updated as Haiti: A Shattered Nation). Duckworth Overlook. UK, USA. 2011.
Tropical Obsession: A Universal Tragedy in Four Acts Set in Haiti. Edition Deschamps. Haiti. 1986.
About the Books:
Sugar: A Bittersweet History tells the extraordinary, dramatic and thought-provoking story of this most commonplace of products from its very origins to the present day. Elizabeth Abbott examines how and in what quantities we still consume sugar; its role in the crisis of obesity and diabetes; how its cultivation continues to affect the environment; and how coerced labour continues in so many sugar-producing nations. Richly detailed, impeccably researched and thoroughly compelling, Sugar is a comprehensive social history of a substance that has revolutionized the way we eat, and poignant testimony to the suffering endured in the name of satisfying the world’s sweet tooth. Sugar: A Bittersweet History was short-listed for the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction.
Haiti: the Duvaliers and their Legacy recounts the depredations and corruption of the Duvalier regime in Haiti, detailing the excesses of both Papa and Baby Doc Duvalier and the grim state in which they left the country when the regime was finally overthrown.
About the Author:
Elizabeth Abbott, Canadian with Antiguan roots, is a writer and historian with a special interest in women’s issues, social justice for all and sugarcane-cutters in particular, the treatment and lives of animals, and the environment. She has a doctorate from McGill University in 19th century history. She has written for the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, The Gazette (Montreal), Quill & Quire, London Free Press, La Presse and La Gazette du Golfe (Benin), and for Equinox and Harrowsmith magazines. She is a Senior Research Associate at Trinity College, University of Toronto and, from 1991 to 2004, was Dean of Women. She is a member of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Toronto and of PEN Canada.
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Name: Winston Abrams
Books:
The Master’s Voice: Hearing and Heeding God’s Will for Your Life. 2014.
Christian Soldiers: The Discipline of Holy Living. 2009, 2014.
About the Books:
The Master’s Voice is primarily about God’s voice, God’s direction, God’s guidance, God’s protection, and deciphering God’s will for your life in these last days where there are many voices competing for our attention.
Christian Soldiers answers questions by showing, from scriptures, what is required to live as our Lord and Savior commands.
About the Author: Winston Abrams is the owner of Computer Reset.
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Name: Chrys-Ann Ambrose
Books:
Unique Pieces of the Masterpiece: Perfectly Designed for Your Purpose – A Love Letter to Women. HFW Publishing. 2020.
Operation Game Plan: How to Overcome Habits That Hinder Us from Succeeding In Life. Purposely Created Publishing Group. 2016.
About the Books:
Unique Pieces of the Masterpiece: Perfectly Designed for Your Purpose – A Love Letter to Women teaches all women to embrace their uniqueness and that when they unite, they are exceptional and invaluable pieces that fit perfectly together to create a great masterpiece.
Operation Game Plan lists the key habits and lifestyles that keep us from becoming the successful person we were born to be. We can be our worst enemy, and in this book you will discover some of the different ways that we sabotage our progress on a daily basis.
About the Author:
Chrys Ann Ambrose is a Life Coach, Motivational Speaker and Media Personality. She is well regarded for her elevating work with women and is respected for her corporate trainings as well as her work with faith and community organisations. Her transformational approach is changing lives internationally. Chrys-Ann lives in the beautiful island of Antigua with her husband Colin and daughters Tiara and Jewel.
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Name: Curtly Ambrose
Books:
Time to Talk (with Richard Sydenham). Aurum Press. London, UK. 2015.
About the Book:
One of the leading – and most lethal – fast bowlers of all time, Sir Curtly Ambrose is notorioius for his silence. Now, for the first time, Sir Curtly tells his story.
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Name: June Ambrose
Books:
P. 133 “So Fresh and So Clean” in Black Girls Rock!: Owning Our Magic and Rocking Our Truth (edited by Beverly Bond). First 37 INK/Atria books. USA. 2018.
Effortless Style (w/illustrator Aimee Levy and contributor Richard Buskin). Simon Spotlight Entertainment. USA. 2006.
About the Books:
Black Girls Rocks! pays tribute to the achievements and contributions of black women around the world. Fueled by the insights of women of diverse backgrounds, including Michelle Obama, Angela Davis, Shonda Rhimes, Misty Copeland Yara Shahidi, and Mary J. Blige, this book is a celebration of black women’s voices and experiences.
In Effortless Style, June Ambrose, the celebrity fashion stylist and designer who’s shaped the looks of some of the biggest names in entertainment — including Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Kelly Ripa, Mary J. Blige, and Mariah Carey — reveals the industry secrets that can help anyone exude genuine star power, regardless of body type or budget.
About the Author:
June Ambrose is a celebrity fashion stylist/designer. She has appeared on national shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Live with Regis and Kelly, and Extreme Makeover, and on VH1 and MTV. June also owns the full-service styling firm Modé Squad, Inc. She lives in New York City.
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Name: Alexis Andrews
Books:
Vanishing Ways (Volume I: Sailing on the last Carriacou Sloops).
Indian Creek Books. 2008.
Genesis. (Volume II: Building a Traditional Carriacou Sloop). Indian Creek Books. 2008.
Images. Indian Creek Books. 2007.
About the Books:
Vanishing Ways & Genesis are 10″ X 10″ 130 pages each. Photography from a ten year project by veteran marine photographer Alexis Andrews who sailed, fished, raced and eventually built a boat on the beach with the men of Windward, Carriacou. Vanishing Ways has since been made into a film.
Images is a 12″X 12″ coffee table photography book- 180 pages of blazing colour and black & white images taken over a 20 year period showcasing nature, culture, beaches, places & yachting.
About the Author:
Andrews is originally from Greece. He trained in advertising and photography in Europe and America; and sailed in to Antigua in 1986. His photography appears regularly in international publications. IMAGES Antigua & Barbuda was his first large format photography book put out by his own indiancreekbooks.com He, also, produced the award winning documentary film Vanishing Sail.
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Name: Sue Appleby
Books:
The Cornish in the Caribbean: from the 17th to the 19th Centuries. Troubadour. UK. 2019.
Hacienda Pinsaqui: A Part of History (w/illustrator Deborah Eckert). Virtualbookworm.com Publishing. 2014.
The Hammers of Towan: A Nineteenth Century Cornish Family 
(w/illustrator Deborah Eckert). Books Express Publishing. 2013.
About the Books:
The Cornish in the Caribbean is the first study to tell the stories of some of the many Cornish men and women who went to the Caribbean. Some became wealthy plantation owners, while others came as indentured servants and labourers. Cornish men were active in the armed services, taking part in the numerous sea and land battles fought by the competing European powers throughout the region. Cornish officers and crew sailed on the ships of the Falmouth Packet Service which took the mail to and from the Caribbean. Methodism was strong in Cornwall and Methodist missionaries and their wives came to the Caribbean to evangelise both the enslaved and the newly free. The most striking transfer of Cornish skills to the Caribbean was to be found in mining. As Cornish mining declined, and the Great Emigration of miners and their families got underway, Cornish mining engineers, captains and miners went out to mines throughout the Caribbean.
Hacienda Pinsaqui: A Part of History – Following a memorable stay at Hacienda Pinsaqui in Ecuador’s northern sierras, Sue Appleby wanted to find out more about the Hacienda and its history. The land where the Hacienda stands once belonged to the Caranqui confederacy, was briefly part of the Inca Empire, and later came under Spanish rule before becoming part of Simon Bolivar’s “Gran Colombia.” The Hacienda offered hospitality to Bolivar, and played a part in bringing to an end the border conflict between Ecuador and Columbia in the 1860s. The Larrea family bought the Hacienda in the late 19th century and continued to offer a warm welcome to travelers while managing one of the largest spinning and weaving workshops in the Otavalo area. Today the Freile-Larrea family continues to offer the modern traveler a warm welcome and a sense of the Hacienda’s fascinating history.
The Hammers of Town: A Nineteenth Century Cornish Family – Story of the Hammer family in nineteenth-century Cornwall. Sue Appleby explores the life of a Cornish tenant farmer, his wives, and offspring, drawing upon the rich material of her own family history. In so doing, she brings alive the social history of nineteenth-century Cornwall – including the extraordinary Cornish diaspora which scattered Philip’s sons and daughters as far afield as Australia and South Africa.
About the Author:
Cornish ancestors on her mother’s side of the family and childhood vacations spent in Cornwall gave Sue Appleby an early interest in Cornish history. With a Master’s Degree in Information and Library Management, she has spent most of her adult working life in the Caribbean working for various international, regional and national organisations. Married to Bernie Evan-Wong, she has two daughters, Meiling and Sarah and lives in Antigua.
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Name: Crystal Archibald
Books:
Total Surrender: Submitting to God’s Will for Your Life. Xulon Press. 2015.
About the Book:
Total Surrender: Crystal pinpoints several avenues of sin where people can fall into temptation and agree to the devil’s promptings to give into their fleshy desires and wishes. She compares these examples of present-day temptations people struggle with to what people from the Bible endured, people who handled similar enticements but sought God for redemption.
About the author:
Crystal Archibald and her husband Pastor David Archibald have been serving as ministers for the past twenty-two years at Gospel Light Baptist Church which owns and runs Gospel Light Elementary School and Gospel Light Development Center in Antigua.
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Name: David Archibald
Books:
The Prayer of Faith: Unlocking the Secret to Power with God in Prayer. Xulon Press. 2015.
Effective Evangelistic Strategies. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2015.
Next Steps in the Christian Life. 2015.
About the Book:
The Prayer of Faith: The Lord brought the idea for this book to author David Archibald’s mind years ago while he was the pastor of a small church in Antigua. He had prepared a sermon titled, “The Prayer of Faith” and though he preached it, he didn’t quite understand what it all entailed. Over the years, through many challenges within his own life, the Lord revealed to him through His word what it all meant. He prays that this book will help readers gain a better understanding of what it really means to pray the prayer of faith and what kind of results this kind of prayer can bring.
Effective Evangelistic Strategies is a handbook/guide to greater effectiveness in reaching people for Jesus. It is not designed to be exhaustive but can be used by individuals and groups alike to open the discussion around the subject.
Next Steps in the Christian Life is a new convert instruction and encouragement book to aid in strengthening faith of new believers in their walk with the Lord.
About the author:
Pastor David and Mrs. Crystal Archibald have been serving as ministers for the past twenty-two years at Gospel Light Baptist Church which owns and runs Gospel Light Elementary School and Gospel Light Development Center in Antigua.
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Name: Theodore Archibald
Books:
Marriage: God’s Wonderful Gift of Love.CSS Publishing Company. USA. 2000.
The Winding Path to America. CSS Publishing Company. USA. 1996.
About the Books:
Marriage: God’s Wonderful Gift of Love explores the spiritual roots of marriage, documented with biblical history and relating the joys of a marriage lasting for 49 years.
The Winding Path to America is an autobiographical tale profiling the author’s life journey, from his birth into a deeply spiritual family on the Caribbean island of Antigua, to London, and finally to his ascent to success in the U.S.
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Name: Barbara Arrindell
Book:
“The Life of Dame Georgiana Ellen Robinson” in Unit 3: History in Collins Caribbean Social Studies 1. Harper Collins Publisher Limited. UK. 2017.
About the Book:
A Social Studies textbook adopted for use in schools in a number of Caribbean Islands. The two-page spread on Nellie Robinson introduces the region’s youth to the lone female Antiguan and Barbudan national hero and speaks of her motivation, accomplishments, and awards. It also encourages students through recommended activities to find out more about celebrated Antiguans & Barbudans section features other Caribbean heroes.
About the Author:
Barbara Arrindell is the author of The Legend of Bat’s Cave and Other Stories and Antigua My Antigua. She has also been published in Womanspeak, a Caribbean literary journal, and the anthologies The Black Notes: New Writings from Black Women and Girls and So the Nailhead Bend So the Story End, among other publications. She is the manager of the Best of Books bookstore in Antigua and founder of Barbara Arrindell & Associates which does HR training. She is a former Governor of Optimist International Caribbean District.
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Name: Algernon E. Aspinall
Books:
Vlll. English Harbour, Antigua in West Indian Tales of Old. Duckworth & Co., 1912. Leopold Classic Library, 2016.
About the Books:
A collection of historical sketches that includes the design and construction of English Harbour from 1726 to 1743, including Horatio Nelson’s Association with the Dockyard and a vintage (1800) photo of English Harbour, and ends with the destructive hurricane of 1848.
About the Author:
Aspinall is author of what’s been described as one of the most famous travel guides, The Pocket Guide to the West Indies.
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Name: Tiffany Azille-Henry
Book:
A Volar! Workbook 2 – ¡A Volar! Primary Spanish for the Caribbean (ed. Tracey Traynor). Collins. UK. 2015.
About the Book:
This 5-Level primary Spanish course is specifically designed for the Caribbean. Suitable for primary pupils whose first language is English, this engaging course makes learning Spanish fun while meeting the demands of Caribbean teaching and curriculums.
It introduces the Spanish language to children in a highly accessible format for beginners and young learners, with careful progression through the levels. Lively, colourful illustrations, fact boxes, games, and toe-tapping songs all help to communicate the learning objectives in a fun and active way. All pupil books include an audio CD, featuring specially-commissioned songs and audio for listening and speaking exercises and pronunciation of vocabulary.
About the author:
Tiffany Azille-Henry is a teacher in Antigua and Barbuda.
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Name: Sandra Baptist
Books:
Unlock The Code: Activate the 10 Keys Successful Entrepreneurs Use to Earn Higher Revenues, Create Greater Profits and Achieve Faster Business Growth! Adriel Publishing, 2015.
“Profits are Forever” in Ready, Aim, Influence! Join Forces, Expand Resources, Transform Your World. Expert Insights Publishing, 2013.
About the Books:
If building a successful business has been a struggle for you then Unlocking the Code is the key to unlocking success mysteries. Sandra Baptist covers the key tenets of Marketing, Business, Sales, Numbers and Mindset and offers her FABULOUS3 Plan for achieving results with specific steps and strategies for generating more revenue, creating more profits and growing your business faster.
Ready, Aim, Influence! is an essential guide that reveals crucial leadership techniques, motivational secrets and proven formulas as well as the life-changing moments of top visionaries and experts.
About the Author:
Sandra Baptist, FCCA, is the founder, CEO and Managing Director of PACCS Inc. She is a Chartered Director and Chartered Accountant, who has a degree in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Essex in the UK. Sandra is a Certified Business Coach, a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Adviser, and a Certified LivePlan Expert Advisor. Sandra has also been a mentor for the Richard Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. She has been featured on a number of local and international media, including NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates, the Antigua Sun newspaper, the Antigua/Barbuda Business Focus and ABS TV and ABI TV’s “Young Entrepreneurs” Show.
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Name: FWN Bayley
Books: Chapter on Antigua and Barbuda in Four Years’ Residence in the West Indies, during the years 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829. William Kidd, London, 1830.
About the Books:
The Antigua chapter is constructed from letters he received from a friend who lived on the island. It included descriptions of the scenery and patterns of life, including work, dress, and major occupations of those Africans/African-Antiguans enslaved on Barbuda.
About the Author:
Frederick William Naylor Bayley (1808 – 1853) came to the Caribbean (Barbados) with his father who was in the army. On his return to England in 1829, he became a writer and editor before dying of bronchitis in Birmingham.
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Name: Robert A. Belle
Book: Blow the Lid Off: Reclaim Your Stolen Creativity, Increase Your Income, and Let Your Light Shine! Simply You Publishing. 2020.
About the Book: Blow the Lid Off is a motivational self-help guide.
About the Author: Robert A. Belle is a transformational speaker, mentor and ACCA Qualified Accountant. Robert is a winner of the 2019 Advocate of the Year Award (Affiliate) by the ACCA for his work assisting other accountants embrace their creativity and reach new growth potentials both personally and professionally. He lives in Nairobi, Kenya with his wife and two children.
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Name: Milton Benjamin
Book:
Antigua and Barbuda (World Bibliographical Series) (w/Susan Lowes and Riva Berleant-Schiller). ABC-Clio. USA. 1995.
About the Book:
A comprehensive reference for locating information about Antigua and Barbuda.
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Name: Hazel Bird
Book: Standing in the Gap. The Prayer Group Inc., Antigua.
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Name: Lester Bird
Books:
The Comeback Kid: An Autobiography of Sir Lester Bryant Bird K.N.H. Lester Bird in conversation with Lionel Max Hurst. Antigua. 2019.
Antigua Vision – Caribbean Reality: Perspectives of Prime Minister Lester Bryant Bird. Hansib. London. 2002.
About the Book:
The Comeback Kid reportedly chronicles Sir Lester’s early life – including being the first Antiguan and Barbudan to medal in international athletics and the triumphs and defeats, and presumably achievements and controversies, of a 47-year-career in politics which began with his appointment to the senate in 1971.
Covering a range of topics crucial to the Caribbean’s economic, social and political development, Antigua Vision looks at the struggle to build a single Caribbean nation and maintain a place in international politics; the Caribbean’s cautious relationship with the US; and the importance of cricket to the West Indian psyche, among other issues. A comprehensive study for anyone interested in Caribbean affairs.
About the Author:
Lester Bird is a former Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and son of national hero V. C. Bird Sr. He has since been named a national hero as well.
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Name: Nicola Bird
Books:
The Boomerang Effect: How You Can Take Charge of Your Life. iuniverse. 2011.
About the Book:
In this guidebook, you’ll discover how to deal with the unavoidable and unpredictable obstacles; battle insecurities that impede personal growth; and manage the fighter, hider, and runner within.
About the Author:
Bird is a psychotherapist living in Toronto, Canada.
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Name: Kenneth Blackburne
Book:
The Romance of English Harbour. Society of the Friends of English Harbour. 1959.
Nelson’s Dockyard: English Harbour: A Guide. Society of the Friends of English Harbour. Antigua. 1951
About the Book:
A guidebook for prospective Friends that gives a history of the area.
About the Author:
Blackburne was Governor of the Leewards from 1950-1956. He was 42 at the time of his appointment, the youngest colonial governor ever. Blackburne also wrote Lasting Legacy: a History of British Colonialism (1976).
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Name: Karen Blucher
Book: Finding Your Way Back: A Story of Healing and Hope. Dream that Big Publishing. USA. 2022.
About the Author: Karen went to school at Christ the King High School. She lives in the US. She has over 20 years of experience in the Customer Service and Sales industry. She is a certified Transformational Coach and an Inspirational, Motivational, and Women Empowerment Speaker.
About the Book: Finding Your Way Back is a transparent guide to restoration for Christian women who have silently lost their way.
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Name: Brenda Lee Browne
Book:
Just Write Antigua Journal. 2017. 2018.
CAPE Revision Guide: Communication Studies (w/Natalee Cole). Harper Collins. UK. 2016.
About the Books:
Just Write Antigua is a journal consisting of images taken by Browne around Antigua and Barbuda, and writing prompts and tips; plus room to write.
Collins CAPE Revision Guides focus on the content and skills students need to master for success in CAPE examinations. They cover all aspects of the syllabus and provide excellent help with exam preparation. With clear and accessible information, practice questions, and exam tips throughout, this is resource helps students prepare for the exam. The revision guide gives advice and guidance on techniques for the Paper 1 multiple choice questions, Paper 2, and the school-based-assessment. It also gives clear and comprehensive coverage of each module of the syllabus. Accompanying audio files are available online for listening and comprehension practice.
About the Author:
Born in the UK of Antiguan parents, trained as a journalist and yet, Brenda Lee Browne wanted to be a writer since about 9/10. She started writing after moving to Antigua and has been published in newspapers in Antigua, the UK, and the USVI, as well as anthologies in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, and the UK. Browne created ‘Just Write’, a face book page and creative writing retreat, and voluntarily conducted creative writing workshops in the prison in Antigua-Barbuda. Browne has a Masters in Writing from Sheffield-Hallam University in the UK, is a Hurston Wright Writers Week Scholarship recipient, a Department of Youth Affairs National Youth Awards lifetime achievement awardee, and was long listed for the 2013 Hollick Arvon Prize.
Wadadli Pen connection: Brenda Lee Browne was a Wadadli Pen Challenge chief judge. 2010 – 2014. She has served as a patron, contributing scholarships to her Just Write Writers Retreat, cash, and copies of her books the Just Write journal and the novella London Rocks. Both books were in the running for the Wadadli Pen Readers Choice Book of the Year. 2019.
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Name: Mitzie Buckley
- Buckley signing books
Books:
Who we Were – Fibrey: The Rope Walk (w/Emeric Simonkovic). Siboney Publications. 2005.
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Name: Paul Buhle
Books:
Tim Hector: A Caribbean Radical’s Story. University Press of Mississippi. 2006.
About the Book:
Tim Hector (1942-2002) played many roles—political philosopher, educator, literary and music critic, cricket administrator, political leader, and newspaper editor. Best known for his editorship of the newspaper Outlet and his cofounding of the Afro-Caribbean Liberation Movement, Hector struggled for the independence of his native island Antigua. As a disciple of C. L. R. James, he was one of the Pan-African movement’s most vital figures, and his regular column “Fan the Flame” in Outlet was followed avidly throughout the Caribbean. His insights into regional history, politics, cricket, and literature were eagerly awaited. Biographer Paul Buhle traces Hector’s intellectual development and explores how the editor-activist’s political philosophy evolved from an early island nationalism and militant Marxism into an embrace of democratic self-determination and of political union in a future Caribbean nation.
About the Author:
Paul Buhle, the authorized biographer of C. L. R. James, is a senior lecturer in history and American civilization at Brown University. A prize-winning author-editor and frequent contributor to the Nation, the Village Voice, TIKKUN, and the San Francisco Chronicle, he has published twenty-eight previous volumes including The Life and Work of C. L. R. James, Encyclopedia of the American Left, C. L. R. James’s Caribbean, four other biographies, and five volumes on the victims of the Hollywood Blacklist.
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Name: Nuffield J. Burnette
Book:
Corruption and Lunacy. 2022.
Legend of Integrity and Courage. 2017.
About the Book:
Corruption and Lunacy: Described by the author as a book “concerned with highlighting the proliferation of corruption, skullduggery, and downright lunacy among some persons and countries within the Caribbean region.”
Legend of Integrity and Courage: Covered Burnette’s life, including his arrival in Antigua, after hurricane David hit Dominica and his time with the police force amidst crime, scandal, and more.
About the Author:
Nuffield Burnette is a former assistant commissioner of police in Antigua and Barbuda.
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Name: Ann Charters
Book: Nobody: the Story of Bert Williams. Macmillan. 1970.
About the Book:
Probably the most gifted entertainer of his time. Williams (1874-1922) was a singer, dancer, entertainer, and comedian who reigned as king of blackface. According to Charters, he was born in Antigua (Kittitian-UK writer Caryl Philips disputes this in his imagining of Williams’ life in Dancing in the Dark) but left the island with his parents and went to California.
About the Author:
Charters is also the author of Major Writers of Short Fiction: Stories and Commentaries, Literature and its Writers: an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (with Sam Charters), The Story and its Writers: an Introduction to Short Fiction, Blues Faces: a Portrait of the Blues (with Samuel Barclay Charters) among other books.
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Name: Marilyn Chiddick-Hodge
Books:
Positive Living Volume 1.
About the Book:
In this, her first publication, designed for all ages, Marilyn Chiddick-Hodge addresses the decline in values, morals and family relationships through some 30 thought-provoking articles. Positive Living Volume 1 presents positive answers to the many perplexing problems of life.
About the Author:
Marilyn Chiddick Hodge is the daughter of Mr. Alfred Chiddick (deceased) and Mrs. Edna Chiddick of Greenbay. She holds a Masters Degree in Education, specializing in guidance and counselling, from Bristol University in the United Kingdom and a Masters of Science Degree specializing in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) from BSY in the United Kingdom. She has taught in the education sector both in Antigua and Anguilla for some 28 years. She is currently the correctional services counsellor at the Department of Probation in Anguilla. She owns and operates a private counselling service known as the Wellness Centre. She is the producer of the radio programme Positive Living, which airs daily on Radio Anguilla, and writes a weekly column in the local newspaper known as The Anguillian.
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Name: Clarice C. Clarke
Book: Hidden Secrets of St. Croix. 2017.
About the Book:
Hidden Secrets of St. Croix juxtaposes images of St. Croix’s history and natural life with the author’s commentary.
About the Author:
Antigua born author, photographer, and now publisher resident in St Croix in the USVI – retired after working 30 years at the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service. She is also a veteran who served in the United States Coast Guard. Clarke is an avid photographer who enjoys taking pictures that focus on the Virgin Islands’ cultural heritage, culture bearers, historical ruins, flora, fauna, and landscape. She was mentored by Carol Fleming and Dr. Robin Stearns, editors for the University of the Virgin Islands’ Cooperative Extension Service publications. With the Cooperative Extension Service, she has been involved (in the photography, editing, layout, and design) of publications like Native Recipes, Mango Bits and Pieces, Breads, Virgin Islands Holiday Cooking, The Heart of the Pumpkin, Traditional Medicinal Plants of the US Virgin Islands, Tropical Fruits of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Their Nutritional Values, among other publications. She is a founding member of the committee that started the Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival in 1996. She served as the festival’s public relations officer for 17 years and also served for 27 years on the Board of Directors of the Agriculture and Food Fair of the US Virgin Islands.
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Name: Melvin Claxton
Books:
The Masters: Champions of Business (co-author with Rob Kosberg, Marc Feinberg, Andrea Szebeni, Damien Charley, Adrienne Williams, Anne Barbieri, Annmarie Ware, JimHansen, Peter Luther, Tom Evans, Yolanda Cintron, Elizabeth Smith, and Karen Simpson-Hankins). 2013.
Love Poems: A Collection (w/Ira Claxton). Future Classics. USA. 2013.
Uncommon Valor: A Story of Race, Patriotism, and Glory in the Final Battles of the Civil War (w/Mark Puls). John Wiley and Sons. USA. 2006.
About the Books:
The Masters: Champions of Business – a gathering of experts with the education and skills to match: stories of challenge and conflict, and expert advice that could cost thousands.
The Book of Love is a collection of intimate, illustrated poems of love and passion.
Uncommon Valor vividly shows the contributions made by escaped slaves, ex-slaves, and freemen to the Union cause. It tells the powerful story of how Sergeant Christian Fleetwood and his fellow ‘colored’ troops overcame oppression, suspicion, derision, and a ceaseless torrent of Confederate gunfire to overrun a heavily fortified rebel position against impossible odds. For outstanding bravery and devotion beyond the call of duty, Fleetwood and thirteen of his comrades were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Based on personal diaries, letters, and other firsthand accounts, this riveting tale goes deep into the heat of battle and beyond, as these heroic soldiers are forced to fight two wars at once – one against the enemy, the other against their own white commanders and fellow troops.
About the Author:
Melvin Claxton is an author, screenwriter, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. Born in Antigua, Claxton began his journalism career at The Virgin Islands Daily News where he reported in a series titled “Virgin Island Crime: Who’s to Blame?” on criminals, corruption and incompetence in law enforcement, and the flawed system. The series significantly impacted the judicial system on the islands, including some high level shake-ups. In 1995, the series won Claxton the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, making him the first Black recipient of this particular citation. Claxton went on to hold senior investigative reporting positions at The Chicago Tribune, The Detroit News, and The Tennessean. His work has been honored by the Associated Press Managing Editors an unprecedented 10 times. Claxton, a noted historian and trivia enthusiast, is, also, the creator of the Great Bible Race, the world’s largest English language trivia video game.
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Name: Chante U. Codrington
Books:
Why we are…Where we are…Who we are!: Empowering Ourselves through hardwork and education. iUniverse.com. USA. 2009.
About the Book:
Why We Are… Where We Are… Who We Are…! is a book written by Chante’ Codrington who was only twenty years of age and still a sophomore in college when he did so.
About the Author:
Chanté Codrington was born in Houston, Texas, but, had the wonderful privilege of being raised in the Caribbean on the island of Antigua. After he graduated from high school, he moved back to Houston to finish his studies and embark on a journey full of uncertain and endless possibilities.
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Name: Henry Nelson Coleridge
Books:
Six Months in the West Indies in 1825. John Murray, London, 1826; Negro Universities Press, New York, 1970.
About the Books:
The author’s journal written during his travels through the islands, including Antigua, provides a generally favourable view of plantation life – includes discourse on the treatment of enslaved people, free people of colour, and a fishing expedition to Barbuda. Seems to have been fairly popular as it had several printings though it wasn’t until the third printing (1832) that the author stepped out of his anonymity.
About the Author:
Born 1798, educated at Eton and Cambridge (in England). Accompanied his uncle, William Hart Coleridge, Bishop of Barbados, to the then British West Indies resulting in the book named here. Called to the bar in 1826 but continued writing and is also credited with being the editor of works by another uncle, the famed writer (Rime of the Ancient Mariner etc.) Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He became said uncle’s literary executor on his death in 1834, publishing the departed’s work posthumously. He was also a lecturer with the Incorporated Law Society. He died in 1843.
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Name: Valerie Combie
Books:
Memories – Recuerdos (w/Christopher C. Combie). Aspect Books. 2015.
The Hovensa Chronicles. Aspect Books. 2013.
Lots of Laughter: Praise for the Good Old Days. Aspect Books. 2013.
Voices from Behind the Scenes: Teachers’ Experiences in the Classroom Expressed through Poetry and Prose. Aspect Books. 2013.
About the Books:
Memories – Recuerdos: Valerie Knowles Combie paints poetic word pictures of the beautiful Caribbean islands of Antigua and St. Croix. The poems are sectioned into two parts. The first captures the relaxed pace of Antigua’s island life, enjoying the simple passing of time in the appreciation of the island’s beautiful sky, changing weather, plants and animals, and human inhabitants. She also describes what one may encounter in traveling to the island by air. The second part is a collection of thought-poems on life in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barrack Obama’s presidency, and the island’s changing economy, learning from African-American and Greek history, and sayings to live by. The poems are a window on the writer’s experience.
HOVENSA, formerly known as the Hess Oil Refinery, the Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corporation (HOVIC), or the St. Croix Refinery is a petroleum refinery located on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. After the owner, Leon Hess died, the refinery became a joint venture between Hess Corporation and Petroleos de Venezuela, hence the name HOVENSA. For most of its operating life as HOVENSA, it supplied heating oil and gasoline to the U.S. Gulf Coast and the eastern seaboard with the crude mainly sourced from Venezuela. Previously it had sourced its crude feedstock from a number of other countries including Libya. At a capacity of about 500,000 barrels per day as of 2010 it was in the top 10 largest refineries in the world. Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corporation started refinery construction in January 1966 having purchased the property from Annie de Chabert, and in October of the same year, the refinery started operating. In 1974, the capacity of refinery was expanded up to its peak at 650,000 barrels per day. HOVENSA LLC, which took over the refinery operatorship, was established in 1998. In January 2011, HOVENSA paid a $5.3 million penalty for Clean Air Act violations. On January 18, 2012 the company announced that it would close the refinery by mid-February 2012. The refinery will then serve as a storage terminal. The HOVENSA Chronicles attempts to document the impact of the closing of the oil refinery on the United States Virgin Islands, primarily St. Croix.
Lots of Laughter: Praise for the Good Old Days is a reflection of the Antigua culture and customs that enveloped Valerie Knowles Combie as she grew up in the small village of Cedar Grove. From a young age Valerie and her friends learned to treat all adults with the same respect they showed their own parents, because it wasn’t just your parents who raised you, it was the village. The culture of loving your neighbor as if they were your own family, working hard, and being involved in your church is what life was all about for the people Valerie knew growing up as a child, and it is what defines her as an individual today. Encompassing everything from the process of building houses to old family recipes, Valerie delves into her memory bank to give the reader a vivid picture of the day-to-day life and culture of the Antigua she once knew. Lots of Laughter proves to be insightful and heartwarming for anyone who has ever had a longing for the good old days.
In Voices From Behind the Scenes, teachers describe some of their experiences in the classroom while modeling their creativity through poetry and prose.
About the Author:
Valerie Combie is a career educator, who has been teaching for over 40 years. As the director of the Writing Center on the Albert A. Sheen Campus of UVI, she believes that all students can learn if they are taught in the learning style that’s most appropriate for them.
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Name: Cush David
Kush DaVid Photo by Laura Hall (@ the 2006 Wadadli Pen fundraiser, Word Up!)
Books:
The Dynamics of an Artistic Patriot: A Biography of Reginald Samuel
. 3rd-Eye-Publications. Antigua. 2006.
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Name: Gregson Davis
Books:
Parthenope, The Interplay of Ideas in Vergilian Bucolic. Brill. 2012.
A Companion to Horace (editor). John Wiley and Sons. 2010.
Aimé Césaire. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 1997.
Polyhymnia: The Rhetoric of Horatian Lyric Discourse. University of California Press. Berkeley/Los Angeles/ Oxford. 1991.
Non-Vicious Circle: Twenty Poems of Aimé Césaire (translation, introduction, commentary). Stanford University Press. Stanford, Ca. 1984.
The Death of Procris: “Amor” and the Hunt in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Edizioni dell’ Ateneo. Rome, Italy. 1983.
Antigua Black: Portrait of an Island People (w/ photographer Margo Davis). Scrimshaw Press. San Francisco. 1973.
About the Books:
Parthenope is the study of the ‘Eclogues’ focussing on Vergil’s exploration of issues relating to the subject of human happiness (‘eudaimonia’) – ideas that were the subject of robust debate in contemporary philosophical schools.
A Companion to Horace features a collection of commissioned interpretive essays by leading scholars in the field of Latin literature covering the entire generic range of works produced by Horace.
Aimé Césaire is the best known poet in the French Caribbean. In this study Gregson Davis examines Césaire’s extraordinary dual career as writer and elected politician. Gregson Davis’s account of Césaire’s intellectual growth is grounded in a careful reading of the poetry, prose and drama that illustrates the full range and depth of his literary achievement.
Horace’s Odes have a surface translucency that belies their rhetorical sophistication. Gregson Davis brings together recent trends in the study of Augustan poetry and critical theory and deftly applies them to individual poems. Exploring four rhetorical strategies—what he calls modes of assimilation, authentication, consolation, and praise and dispraise—Davis produces enlightening, new interpretations of this classic work.
About the Author:
Gregson Davis is Professor of Classics and Comparative Literature at Cornell University.
**********
Name: Kortright Davis
Books:
We belong to Big Church: Caribbean Soundings and Stories in Anglicania. Tellwell Talent. 2021.
Compassionate Love and Ebony Grace: Christian Altruism and People of Colour. University Press of America. 2012.
Cross and Crown in Barbados: Caribbean Political Religion in the Late 19th Century.Wipf and Stock Publishers. USA. 2011.
Emancipation Still Comin’: Explorations in Caribbean Emancipatory Theology. Wipf and Stock Publishers. USA. 2008. (first published 1990).
Serving with Power. Paulist Press. USA. 1999.
In Praise of Congregations: Leadership in the Local Church Today (w/Charles E. Bennison, Adair T. Lumis, and Paula D. Nesbitt). Cowley Publications. 1999.
Can God Save the Church?: Living Faith – While Keeping Doubt. Holdale Press. USA. 1994.
African Creative Expressions of the Divine. Howard University Press. 1991.
Mission for Change: Caribbean Development as Theological Enterprise. Peter Lang Publishing Incorporated. 1982.
Moving into Freedom. Cedar P., Barbados. 1980.
A Theological Interpretation of the Development Programme of the Caribbean Conference of Churches between 1971 and 1977. British Library, Document Supply Centre. 1979.
Church and Society in Barbados, 1870 – 1890. University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. 1976.
About the Book:
We belong to Big Church seeks to answer questions like what does it mean to be Black, Anglican and West Indian all at the same time? Does it require any cultural or emotional adjustments to become a full-fledged member of the worldwide Anglican communion? This book seeks to answer these questions in a number of ways from experiences and presentations throughout the Caribbean and North America. Caribbean Anglicanism is presented as a vibrant tapestry of enriching engagement.
In Compassionate Love, Davis explores the patterns and contours of “other-love,” which he defines as a selfless regard for the well-being of others. He also examines the basis for distinctive modes of compassionate behavior enriched by “ebony grace” — a theological attribution for people of African descent. This text focuses especially on the historical, cultural, and religious heritage that inspires and empowers such attitudes, in spite of constant encounters with systemic negation, social alienation, and unrelenting racism.
Cross and Crown in Barbados explores Caribbean society during the late 19th century, a time when it was controlled by the local plantocracy and the colonial administration of the Europeans. The life-blood of the society, the Black labouring classes, reaped very little of the social and economic benefits from the Sugar industry. The Church was also controlled by the planter-class, and it functioned effectively to sustain a pattern of rigid social containment, and to work consistently for the maintenance of the status quo. Political religion in Barbados was therefore an engine of social control of the poor Blacks by the rich Whites.
Emancipation Still Comin’ explores the role of theology, particularly theories of liberation theology, in Caribbean socioeconomic development.
In Serving with Power, prominent theologian Kortright Davis shouts a wake-up call to all Christian ministers, both ordained and lay, of every denomination. With apostolic intensity, he challenges traditional concepts of leadership and service and proposes radical new approaches to restore the vigor to ministry in this post-modern age.
Re In Praise of Congregations: The insights of congregational studies to clergy, church leaders, and churchgoers of all denominations endeavoring to understand, inspire, and lead the local church.
About the Author:
Anglican priest Kortright Davis, is professor of Theology at Howard University School of Divinity. He is also the Rector Emeritus of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in the District of Columbia, where he served from 1986 to 2013. Davis was born in Antigua and was trained for the Anglican priesthood at Codrington College in Barbados. He was ordained deacon in 1965, and priest in 1966 in the Diocese of Antigua, West Indies. He was one of the founding executive members of the Caribbean Conference of Churches, and holds degrees from the universities of London, the West Indies, and Sussex, in addition to some honorary degrees.
*****
Name: Margo Davis
Books:
Antigua: Photographs 1967-73. Nazraeli Press. USA. 2016.
Antigua Black: Portrait of an Island People (w/ photographer Gregson Davis). Scrimshaw Press. San Francisco. 1973.
About the Books:
When Margo Davis visited Antigua for the first time in July of 1967, she was struck by the faces of the villagers, and it is here that her passion for portraiture began. When the Antiguan photographs were made, very little had changed from earlier colonial times. These stunning images have now become iconic. It is for this reason that Nazraeli Press did an exquisite new monograph focusing on the people and culture of African heritage in the New World. The original book was seminal; the re-issue Antigua: Photographs 1967–1973 is an ambitious work, beautifully printed in duotone on matt art paper in an edition of 1000 copies.
About the Author:
Margo Davis’s work is in many private collections and the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, New York, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the Cantor Center for the Visual Arts at Stanford University, and the Sack Photographic Trust destined for San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
***
Name: Sally Davis
Book: Coffee and Violets Journal. 2021.
About the Book:
The Coffee and Violets Journal was created to provide its owner with a beautiful space to write their thoughts and reflect on things most important to them. The blank pages are interspersed with images and inspirational quotes by the author to encourage this process. It includes “breathing spaces” that provide a special interlude for its owner to take a moment just to inhale and exhale, then write some more.
About the Author:
Sally Davis was born in England to an English mother and Antiguan father, and grew up in Antigua – where she lives. She is mother to three young adults. Sally is the creative behind the whimsically entitled brand “Butterfly Kisses for the Soul”. Her main art form is designing illustrated inspirational quotes. She takes her own photographs of nature and turns them into tranquil backdrops to her steady flow of motivational quotes meant to ‘aspire and inspire’. She publishes an inspirational calendar and, beginning with Coffee and Violets Journal, has embarked on creating a journal to encourage persons to write using her beautiful images and quotes as inspiration. Sally also enjoys writing life interest stories about people and crafting creations (Christmas decorations, car accessories, curtain tie chords, table center pieces, upcycled décor bottles, and sun catchers) from objects (shells, driftwood, coral, dried sea ferns, mahogany pods, palm fronds, casuarinas pods) she finds. Sally also draws on nature to create her intricate and whimsical black ink drawings.
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Name: Elloy de Freitas
Book: Learning Bible Verses: the Bow, the Wow, the Now. 2018.
About the Book:
Learning Bible-verses: the Vow, the Wow, the Now is the sharing of Elloy’s testimony from a transaction (vow), to a revelation, to a new comprehension of reality, and for traction and action. Learning Bible-verses is one of several paths to GOD. Learning Bible-verses encourages making the Bible a delight with its associated benefits of holistic happiness, prosperity, success, and shalom.
About the Author:
Elloy de Freitas worked for 28 years as a civil servant. His is a name familiar to most Antiguans and Barbudans for a case that went all the way to the Privy Council after he was fired for marching against the ruling government. The case was precedent setting as it asserted his rights to free assembly and speech. Born in Antigua, he now resides in Trinidad. He has taught human resource management at the university level and at this writing works as a consultant.
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Name: Melchior DiGiacomo
Books: Tumperbee – Photographs of Antigua. Old Road Publishing. USA. 2009.
About the Book:
Tumperbee is a collection of photographs of the of Old Road Village in Antigua, documenting DiGiacomo’s 35 year attachment to the community and capturing in black and white the moods and daily lives of the people. As Clifford Peterson put it in the foreword: “emanating from these photographs are the loving bond between Mel and the people of Old Road, and a permanent record of the humanity, dignity, spirit, perseverance, faith, and daily life in this special place.” Tumperbee is dedicated to Curtain Bluff founders, the Hulfords, and proceeds from the book reportedly go to the Old Road Fund started by the pioneering hoteliers to help with the education, medical, and other developmental and cultural needs of the Old Road community.
About the Author:
Melchior DiGiacomo is not Antiguan but is included here given that Antigua is the focus of his book. He first picked up a camera in 1968 and eventually left his job at CBS to freelance as a photographer. He relocated from the USA to London, England where he played and photographed the game of rugby. On his return to the US, four of his rugby images were acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City for its permanent collection. His commercial work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, People, Paris Match, Tennis Week, and other leading publications.
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Name: R. G. Dingwall
Books:
The Military Complexes of Antigua, Vol. II – 1900-2015. Dingwall Resources Ltd. Canada. 2017.
The Military Complexes of Antigua, Vol. I – 1632-1900. Dingwall Resources Ltd. Canada. 2016.
Falmouth and Great George Fort. Dingwall Resources Ltd. Canada. First edition, 2012; revised second edition, 2016.
Sacking of Antigua. Dingwall Resources Ltd. Canada. First edition, 2011; revised second edition, 2016.
The Geology of Antigua. Dingwall Resources Ltd. Canada. 2015.
Mamora Bay. Dingwall Resources Ltd. Canada. 2013.
About the Books:
The Military Complexes of Antigua, Vol. II – 1900-2015. Volume II continues on from Vol I of The Military Complexes of Antigua which covered the period 1632-1900. This newest volume describes the impact that both World Wars and the Cold War have had on Antigua. World War I did not materially affect this island in the sense that no major military or naval bases were located there and the manpower contribution to the war effort was limited. World War II however was very different. Two major U.S. bases , Coolidge AFB and Crabbs NAS were constructed on the western and eastern sides of Parham harbour on lands that were leased to the United States by Britain for 99 years (1941-2040). These both played an important part in combatting the U boat problem and controlling the threat posed by the Vichy French fleet in Martinique. This important military association with the United States continued after the end of the war. An underwater listening station (SOSUS) , a missile tracking facility (ER), a manned space tracking station (Dow Hill) and a starlab project have all been located on Antigua at various times between the 1950s and 2015. Back pocket of book contains a folded 18″ x 20″ plan of the basic layout of Coolidge , A.F.B., B.W.I.
The Military Complexes of Antigua, Vol. I – 1632-1900. Volume I describes the initial colonization of the island, the development of the Royal Navy, its impact on English Harbour in conjunction with the fortifications and protection of the island by the Militia and companies of various regiments of the British Army. These developments are set in the context of the various wars in which Britain was involved in from the 17th to the 19th centuries, both in Europe and North America, and which saw the development of the British Empire. Illustrated with maps, charts, timelines and photographs.
Falmouth and Great George Fort – Portrays the history of Great George Fort and Falmouth, Antigua; includes historical maps with names of the associated cartographers and geographers.
Sacking of Antigua – In 1632, the British officially arrived and colonized Antigua. Since then Antigua and Barbuda has had a long, and, for the most part, uninterrupted relationship with Britain prior to the country gaining independence in 1981. The one exception to this was a brief time in 1666-1667 when the French invaded and devastated Antigua, which was eventually returned to British rule in 1667 under the terms of the Treaty of Breda. This book outlines the geology, geography and history of Antigua with special emphasis on the French invasion of 1666. Illustrated with maps and photographs.
The Geology of Antigua – Geology includes Barbuda and Redonda with maps, tables, photographs.
Mamora Bay – A microcosm of the history and development of Antigua. Evidence of a pre-European settlement has been found and many specimens of Ceramic Age pottery documented. Includes maps, photographs, and tables.
About the Author:
Following an initial holiday in Antigua in 2007, Richard G. Dingwall and his family fell in love with the island and have returned every year since. Richard was born and educated in the United Kingdom. Together with his family, he emigrated to Canada in 1980 where he worked as a geologist for several oil companies. For much of his career he has been involved with Canadian Frontier exploration and development projects located offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, the Beaufort Sea, the Mackenzie Delta and the Arctic Islands. His non-fiction books concentrate on researching and recording different topics of historical and geographical interest that he has cultivated during his holidays in Antigua. All books are published by Dingwall Resources Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Name: Brian Dyde
Books:
A Short Guide to Antigua. Marine & General Services, 1985. Best of Books. 2012.
This Glorious Profession: Vanished Times in Naval Hydrography. Noddfani Publishing. 2012.
A West Indian Romance: A True Story of Love and Seafaring in the Caribbean. Paradise Press. 2012.
A to Z of Caribbean Heritage. Macmillan. UK. 2011.
History for CSEC Examinations: Decolonisation and Development Book 3 (w/Robert Greenwood and Shirley Hamber). Macmillan. UK. 2009.
History for CSEC Examinations: Emancipation to Emigration Book 2 (w/Robert Greenwood and Shirley Hamber). Macmillan. UK. 2008.
History for CSEC Examinations: Amerindians to Africans Book 1(w/Robert Greenwood and Shirley Hamber). Macmillan. UK. 2008.
St. Kitts: Cradle of the Caribbean. Hunter Pub Inc, Macmillan. UK. 1993, 2002, 2007, 2009.
Where the Sea had an Ending: A Caribbean Travel Miscellany. Macmillan. UK. 2002, 2007.
Out of the Crowded Vagueness: A History of the Islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla. Macmillan. UK. 2005. Interlink, 2006.
Caribbean Certificate History: Decolonization and Development (w/Robert Greenwood and Shirley Hamber). Macmillan. UK. 2003, 2009
A History of Antigua, The Unsuspected Isle. Macmillan. UK. 2000; Interlink Pub., 2003.
The Empty Sleeve: the Story of the West India Regiments of the British Army. Hansib. UK. 1998.
Caribbean Companion: the A to Z Reference. Macmillan. UK. 1992.
Islands to the Windward: Five Gems of the Caribbean. Macmillan, Hunter. UK. 1987, 1990.
Antigua and Barbuda: The Heart of the Caribbean. Macmillan, Hunter Pub. UK. 1986.1990. 1993. 1995. 1999.
About the Books:
A West Indian Romance is the autobiography of an English naval officer and the young Antiguan woman he met while captain of a ship sent to carry out survey work in the Caribbean in the 1970′s.
The A-Z of the Caribbean is part of the country books of the Macmillan-Caribbean A-Zs series. It is designed as a comprehensive and engaging reference guide to the cultural, social, political, economic, geographic, natural and historic heritage of the entire region, and amongst the entries are many which describe and attempt to evaluate important institutions, personalities and historical events. In addition to all the English-, French-, Spanish- and Dutch-speaking West Indies, the book also covers the countries with which these islands have close cultural, economic and historic ties: Guyane, Suriname, Guyana, Belize, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda.
History for CSEC(R) Examinations – The series, comprising three books, tells in a straightforward and stimulating way the story of the people of many races and of many nations who have inhabited the region from the earliest times up to the present day.
Brian Dyde’s association with St Kitts began in 1973 while in the Royal Navy carrying out work for the production of new charts of the Leeward Islands. This is his third book in the Island Guide series, and is illustrated by some of his own photographs. Between 1987 and 1995 he and his wife, who is an Antiguan, lived in Montserrat but were forced to leave because of the volcanic activity.
Re Out of the Crowded Vagueness: The Islands of St Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla all have a common history. Anguilla was made a ward of St Kitts in 1825, and Nevis was united with St Kitts and Anguilla under a single administration in 1882. Brian Dyde has been familiar with all three islands for many years.
Where the Sea had an Ending is an original and very entertaining view of the Caribbean written by a man who has known and loved the West Indies for nearly fifty years. The beguiling nature of the West Indies is seen through his eyes as well as those of dozens of other writers, including travellers, historians, soldiers, explorers and naturalists.
A History of Antigua, The Unsuspected Isle has been described as the first comprehensive history of Antigua to be written since the middle of the 19th century.
Encyclopaedic in its coverage of all things Caribbean, The Caribbean Companion: the A to Z Reference acts as a reference work. It deals mainly with people – the politicians, activists, writers, poets, artists, sportsmen and musicians – who have helped to shape the character of the Caribbean countries and it deals with places – not only describing the land masses and towns, but also the reefs, depths, channels and currents of the Caribbean sea. Native plants and animals are also included as are the legends and heroes of West Indian folklore.
Antigua and Barbuda: the Heart of the Caribbean covers the qualities that makes Antigua and Barbuda a top tourist destination, including top-class hotels, beaches and a range of sights and activities to suit all tastes. The reader is also introduced to the Antiguan people themselves, their history and culture.
About the Author:
Following a career in the Royal Navy, during which while serving in the Caribbean he met his Antiguan wife, Brian Dyde became a full-time writer in 1985. Since then he has written many books about the West Indies, including island guides and histories, a travel anthology and school textbooks.
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Name: Deborah Eckert
Books:
The Hammers of Town: A Nineteenth Century Cornish Family (w/author Sue Appleby). Books Express Publishing. 2013.
About the Books:
The Hammers of Town: A Nineteenth Century Cornish Family – Story of the Hammer family in nineteenth-century Cornwall. Sue Appleby explores the life of a Cornish tenant farmer, his wives, and offspring, drawing upon the rich material of her own family history. In so doing, she brings alive the social history of nineteenth-century Cornwall – including the extraordinary Cornish diaspora which scattered Philip’s sons and daughters as far afield as Australia and South Africa.
About the Illustrator:
Deborah Eckert grew up in a military family that came to feel at home anywhere they were posted, relishing whatever they could learn and experience from other people and lands. This love of diversity and nature has stayed with her throughout her life. She taught school in places as far-flung as Tanzania, Nepal, Cyprus, and Antigua. Now settled in Antigua, she works to promote tolerance through art, education, and music.
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Name: Linda Eckert Sawka
Books:
Starry Jones Kicks Cancer’s Butt. CreateSpace. 2015.
About the Book:
In Starry Jones Kicks Cancer’s Butt, the author shares her personal journey of discovery to reclaim control of her health and in the process finds the long lost, Starry Jones, her childhood imaginary twin, who knew how to live life to the fullest. Through research, trial and error, Linda recognizes the body’s innate ability to heal itself; changing her diet, and unpeeling the layers of hidden negativity; she chooses to be the victor.
About the Author:
Linda Eckert Sawka, after a long and fulfilling career as a nurse specializing in critical care, is now a graduate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition as a Health Coach. As such, she mentors clients to identify and achieve their wellness goals by addressing all the facets of health: dietary choices, exercise, relationships, career and spirituality. As the daughter of an Air Force career officer, Linda had her early childhood enriched by travels. She lived in Italy for three years and as a young child was exposed to the wonders of Italy and much of Europe. Later, after a stint in Ohio and California, she completed her last year of high school in Lebanon, a country which she developed a strong love for (and not just their food or the handsome fellows!) Linda lives with her husband, dogs, cat, parrot and tortoises, on the island of Antigua – where she and her husband decided they wanted to live and serve, as members of the Baha’i Faith, over 30 years ago. She loves traveling, (especially to see kids, three; and grandkids, six) and singing in an a cappella choir.
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Name: Charles H. Eden.
Books:
Chapter 8 of The West Indies. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington. London.1880.
About the Books:
The West Indies in the late Victorian period including statistical tables and tables of money conversion.
About the Author:
Charles Henry Eden (1839-1900) was a public servant (in Australia) and writer (in England). He published sixteen novels and many works of exploration and travel.
*****
Author: Gus Edwards
Book: Advice to a Young Black Actor: Conversations with Douglas Turner Ward (w/Douglas Turner Ward). 2004.
About the Book:
The first book to address the creative and professional challenges of acting from a specifically African American perspective.
About the Author:
Gus Edwards was born 1939 in Antigua and raised in St. Thomas. He moved to New York in 1959. His plays have been showcased by the Negro Ensemble of NY among other companies across the US. Initially, a protégé of Stella Adler, he worked as an actor in films and on stage. But limited by his accent, he began writing his own material. These included The Offering (1977), Black Body Blues (1978), Old Phantoms (1979), These Fallen Angels (1980), Weep Not for Me (1981), Tenement (1983), Manhattan Made Me (1983), Ramona (1986), and Louie and Ophelia (1986). Most of his plays are reportedly set in “the slums and ghettoes of New York…his characters often exist outside of the boundaries of what is thought to be appropriate behavior in society.” (Notable Caribbeans and Caribbean Americans: a Biographical Dictionary, p. 157). His works for television include Aftermath (1979) and a TV adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel Go Tell It on the Mountain. He also wrote narration on the Negro Ensemble Company for PBS. Though self-taught, the critically acclaimed playwright has taught theatrical writing at several US colleges and became associate professor of theatre at Arizona State University, directing where the multi-ethnic theatre and teaching in the film studies programme. In 2000, he was appointed artistic director to the Scottsdale Ensemble Theatre in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Gus Edwards is one of the first Caribbean writers to contribute to American theatre.” (Notable Caribbean and Caribbean Americans: a Biographical Dictionary, p. 158)
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Name: Charles Ephraim
Books:
How to become your own Person: An ABC of Effective Reasoning.
The Pathology of Eurocentrism: The Burdens and Responsibilities of Being Black. Africa World Press. USA. 2003.
About the Books:
The Pathology of Eurocentrism argues that racism is a symptom of a devastating pathology, ressentiment. The phenomenon of ressentiment, diagnosed as a self-poisoning of the mind arising from the European’s sense of weakness and self-inferiority, was brought to philosophical consciousness by Friedrich Nietzche and given sociological currency by the German phenomenologist, Max Scheler. Ephraim argues that it is also revealed as pathology in Freud’s cultural analyses and in the rationalist interpretation of philosophy of history, particularly Hegel’s version. Tracing the philosophical roots of this pathology to the metaphysics of Plato, which was the first explicit attempt to mark a clear distinction between “superior” and “inferior” forms of reality, the author illustrates how ressentiment manifested its pathological roots in hardened ideology and practice of racism over time. Finally, Ephraim argues that the burden and responsibility of being black in this Eurocentrically conceived world consist, in part, in unlearning the lessons of black inferiority, in attaining self-knowledge by way of coming to terms with the true history of Africa and Africans and in teaching this history to the non-black world, which has to a large extent been infected by the illusion of a universal European value paradigm.
About the Author:
Charles Wm. Ephraim (deceased) earned his Ph.D in philosophy from Yale University in 1979, as a distinguished Ford Fellow specializing in the sub-field of existential phenomenology. He has taught at Yale, State University of New York at Purchase, and most recently, at Mercy College as an associate professor of philosophy and religion. He’s taught as well at the Antigua State College and was host of a talk show on radio ZDK.
Name: Melanie Etherington
Books:
The Antigua and Barbuda Companion. Macmillan. UK. 2002.
About the Book:
With its captivating text and vibrant pictures, The Antigua and Barbuda Companion illuminates the sights, sounds, and smells that make this twin-island state such an appealing vacation destination. This detailed and comprehensive book offers pre-departure travel tips, historical background, information and tips about popular activities, lodging, dining, as well as a listing of events and holidays. It includes the author’s expert advice on must-see sites and how to get the most out of a short trip. Helpful maps and stunning color photography punctuate the indepth text.
About the Author:
Melanie Etherington, originally from England, has lived in Antigua and Barbuda for over 20 years. She is part-owner/director of the Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tour.
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Name: Charles Washington Eves
Books:
Chapter on Antigua in The West Indies. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, London, 1889. Forgotten Books, 2016.
About the Books:
Excerpt from The West Indies – “The great Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886, which was presided over by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales with so much energy and success, among its many happy consequences, stimulated inquiry into the history, resources, present condition, and general attractions for visitors and settlers of the West Indian and South American possessions of the British Crown. During the last two years many people from the United Kingdom have travelled to this part of the world, and have returned gratified and benefited by their experience. To exchange the hard English winter for genial warmth, and all the richness of tropical nature, is not only pleasant in itself, but must be conducive to the maintenance or restoration of mental and bodily health. A fortnight’s voyage, a run through the principal islands to that portion of the coast of the South American continent where British Guiana is situated, then a return, either direct by Royal Mail steamer or by way of Jamaica and New York, would make up an enjoyable three months’ trip.”
****
Name: Caroline Fabre
Books: The Magnificent Mango: A Caribbean Culinary Offering. Greenheart. 2016.
About the Author:
Brought up in Kenya, Fabre has lived in different parts of the world. She lives in Antigua and is the author of four novels. This is her second cook book.
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Name: David U. Farquhar
Books:
Missions and Society in the Leeward Islands, 1810 – 1850: An Ecclesiastical and Social Analysis. Mt. Prospect Press. 1999.
Caribbean Adventures: Extracts from Missionary Journals (editor). Mt. Prospect Press. 1993.
The Church and the Social Order in the British West Indies, 1700 to 1850. 1961.
***
Name: Moira Fergusen
Books:
The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave, Related by Herself: Revised Edition (editor w/Mary Prince). University of Michigan Press. 1998.
Jamaica Kincaid: Where the Land Meets the Body. University of Virginia Press. 1994.
The Hart Sisters – Early African Caribbean Writers, Evangelicals, and Radicals (editor w/Anne Hart Gilbert and Elizabeth Hart Thwaites). University of Nebraska Press. USA. 1993.
Colonialism and Gender Relations from Mary Wollstonecraft and Jamaica Kincaid: East Caribbean Connections. Columbia University Press. 1993.
About the Books:
Mary Prince was the first black British woman to escape from slavery and publish a record of her experiences. In this unique document, Mary Prince vividly recalls her life as a slave in Bermuda, Turks Island, and Antigua, her rebellion against physical and psychological degradation, and her eventual escape to London in 1828. First published in London and Edinburgh in 1831, and well into its third edition that year, The History of Mary Prince inflamed public opinion and created political havoc. Never before had the sufferings and indignities of enslavement been seen through the eyes of a woman–a woman struggling for freedom in the face of great odds. In this revised and expanded edition , Ferguson has added new material, based on her extensive research in Bermuda and London. The book includes new details of Mary Prince’s experiences as a freewoman in England, the transcripts of several libel cases brought against her, and the reactions of British society, as seen in prominent periodicals of the day, against the original publication of The History of Mary Prince. This new material brings greater depth and detail and serves to more fully illustrate and contextualize the life of this remarkable woman.
About the Hart Sisters: Daughter of a black slaveholder father, Anne Hart Gilbert and Elizabeth Hart Thwaites were among the first educators of enslaved and free African Caribbeans in late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Antigua. These members of the “free colored” community who married white men and played an active role as educators, antislavery activists, and Methodist evangelicals were also among the first African Caribbean female writers. This exceptional volume offers for the first time a collection of their writings. Because the records of the Hart sisters are rare and original testimony from black women of the time, they will be of great interest to the modern scholar. Autobiographical and biographical narrative, along with antislavery tracts, hymns, devotional poetry, and religious documents vividly reveal the lives of these courageous women. Their writings illuminate the complex of racial, spiritual, and class- and gender-based divisions, as well as attitudes, of Anglophone Caribbean society. Moira Ferguson’s introduction situates the Hart sisters in historical context and explains how their writings helped establish a specific black Antiguan cultural identity.
As a writer who has been quoted as saying she writes to save her life- that is she couldn’t write, she would be a revolutionary- Antiguan novelist Jamaica Kincaid translates this passion into searing, exhilarating prose. Her weaving of history, autobiography, fiction, and polemic has won her a large readership. In this first book-length study of her work, Moira Ferguson examines all of Kincaid’s writing up to 1992, focusing especially on their entwinement of personal and political identity. In doing so, she draws a parallel between the dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship in Kincaid’s fiction and the more political relationship of the colonizer and the colonized. Ferguson calls this effect the “doubled mother”- a conception of motherhood as both colonial and biological.
About Colonialism and Gender Relations from Mary Wollstonecraft and Jamaica Kincaid: East Caribbean Connections: Against the historical background of slavery and colonialism, this study investigates how white and Afro-Caribbean women writers have responded to feminist, abolitionist and post-emancipationist issues. It aims to reveal a relationship between colonial exploitation and female sexual oppression.
About the Author:
Moira Ferguson is a British born writer and the James E. Ryan Chair in English and Women’s Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This is only a selected bibliography of her books, specific to ones relevant to Antigua.
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Name: Dr. A. Francis
Books:
Eating Healthy with Dr. Francis: Vegan Snacks and Smoothies Made Simple. Captain Tim Publishing. Antigua. 2022.
Eating Healthy with Dr. Francis:28 Day Vegetarian Weight Loss Plan. Captain Tim Publishing. Antigua. 2022.
Eating Healthy with Dr. Francis: 101 Quick and Easy Recipes for Diabetics. Captain Tim Publishing. Antigua. 2022.
About the Books:
Eating Healthy with Dr. Francis: Vegan Snacks and Smoothies Made Simple. – snacks or drinks that don’t require a lot of fuss.
Eating Healthy with Dr. Francis: 28 Day Vegetarian Weight Loss Plan. – healthy recipes that are delicious, quick, easy, and budget-friendly.
Eating Healthy with Dr. Francis: 101 Quick and Easy Recipes for Diabetics. – for diabetics who want healthy meals in a flash.
About the Author: Adama Francis is an emergency doctor and has her own private practice. SHE enjoys sharing her passion by teaching kids to better understand their bodies, healthy living, and family values. She has also published a series of children’s books.
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Name: N. Erna Mae Francis Cotton
Books/CDs:
Love is Forever. LitFire Publishing. 2019.
How to Thrive in Trying Times. Author House. 2009.
It’s Time for a Change. E. Francis Global Enterprise. 1996.
About the Books:
Love is Forever – In a world in which 49-51% of all marriages end in divorce; less people choose to be married; and others live a life of drudgery in their marriage, it is refreshing to learn from someone who is 100 years, how she and her deceased husband fell in love in the midst of very challenging circumstances; stayed in love; raised a family in two geographic locations and maintained their love. It is even more exemplary that this love did not die after 54 years of marriage and her husband’s untimely death. Even at the age of 100, Mrs. Carmen Carrington is still in love with her husband Ralph Carrington. May her story inspire you to find lasting love; and may your love last forever.
How to Thrive in Trying Times presents a profound message of hope pointing to the key elements necessary to regain focus and joy. Dr. Francis draws from the ‘real life’ examples of ‘faith giants’ and clearly illustrates the proven principles that sustained them through adversity to inspire her readers.
About the Author:
N. Erna Mae Francis was born in Swetes, Antigua, and relocated to St. Maarten at age eight. She holds a Bachelors in psychology, a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. She is a certified success coach and the visionary behind Victorious Living.
***
Name: Myra Francis
Book: 40 Lessons in 40 Years: Putting Life into Perspective through Trials and Triumphs. CreateSpace. 2014.
About the Book:
People tend not to share their life stories because they are too personal, too painful or too humiliating. Blogger Myra Francis did not let fear stop her from being judged, from having her life being trivialized or from being ridiculed. In 40 Lessons in 40 Years, Putting Life into Perspective through Trials and Triumphs, she provided 40 of the most memorable lessons of the first 40 years of her life, coupled with vivid, relatable stories that will make you laugh, make you cry and make you think. Because there is always someone, near or far, experiencing the exact same things that we are, her hope is that many out there will be inspired by this book. This easy-to-read, personal memoir comically relays Myra’s perspectives on a plethora of topics like parenting, love, adversity, courage and death. In addition, it is engaging, poignant and thought-provoking.
About the Author:
A native of Antigua, Myra Francis currently lives in the Poconos with her husband and three children. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Investments, which explains why online investing is one of her favorite pastimes. She also enjoys politics, reading, travelling, watching television, and any and all outdoor activities. She is the author of the blog, Perspectively Speaking.
***
Name: Sandra Francis
Book: You are Destined. Covenant Books. 2020.
About the Book:
You Are Destined was written to uplift and motivate teenagers to pursue their dreams with passion and purpose. The sixteen lessons, questions, and action steps outlined in You Are Destined will enable teenagers to develop and maintain habits and will equip them to take control of their lives and accomplish their goals and dreams.
About the Author: The author is from Bolan’s Village, Antigua.
***
Name: Asha Frank
Book: Dreamland Barbuda A Study of the History and Development of Communal Land Ownership on the Island. 2018.
About the Book:
In 2017, Barbuda was destroyed by hurricane Irma. This is a historical account of Barbuda’s struggle to maintain a historical and sustainable common land system which has existed from pre-Emancipation to present day.
About the Author:
Asha Frank won the Ms. Antigua-Barbuda pageant in 2015 and went on to win a seat on the Barbuda council.
***
Name: Nicholas Fuller
Book:
The Salvage History of Antigua nd Barbuda & Antigua’s Atlantic Rowers. Third Revised Edition. 2019.
The History of Salvage in Antigua. Antigua. 2010.
About the Books: Fuller has seen everything, from boats that got stranded in perfectly calm water to terrifying hurricane storms. And for years, the beautiful photographs and detailed reports of these salvages were nothing more than record keeping; until he decided to put them all together. The book contains images plus funny, frightening, and exhilerating stories.
About the Author: Fuller is a family physician and edical examiner. He has salvaged stranded vessels for 25 years. Fuller was also part of the Guinness record setting Antigua Atlantic Rowers team that was the first Antiguan and Barbudan team and oldest team overall to row across the Atlantic.
****
Name: Annisha Gabriel
Book:
Girl, Give Yourself A Break: A 52-week Guided Self-Care Journal for the Boss Woman, Busy Mom and Caregiver. 2020.
My Million Dollar Ideas: A Journal for Visionaries, Side Hustlers, and Entrepreneurs. 2020.
About the Book:
Girl, Give Yourself A Break: A 52-week Guided Self-Care Journal for the Boss Woman, Busy Mom and Caregiver – This guided self-care journal with prompts and activities helps you find ways to incorporate simple self-care activities into your busy schedule. For the first 26 weeks, self-care activities prompts are provided while the last 26 weeks allows for you to choose the activities you really liked from the previous weeks and repeat them as much as you want or create your own self-care activities. These activities are geared towards you doing something for yourself that you enjoy, that is not work related. By completing these activities, this should allow you to constantly feel more complete and able to show up as your best self in building your business(es) and supporting those around you.
My Million Dollar Ideas: A Journal for Visionaries, Side Hustlers, and Entrepreneurs – Become better organized, more efficient and manage your time better with the use of an Ideas Journal. An ideas journal is a much needed safe place for entrepreneurs to log and assess all their money making ideas. As entrepreneurs, we are constantly coming up with great ideas, either to expand our existing businesses or to embark on new business ventures. We also tend to note these ideas in whatever notebook that is available at hand, which can prove a challenge in remembering which book has which ideas, when we want to review the ideas at a later time.This journal provides not only one place to log your brilliant ideas, but also helps you quickly assess whether you should devote a lot of time developing an idea or place it on the back burner for the time being. The quick assessment is done with the aid of a few guided questions which will provoke deeper thought on the idea in a short space of time. With the ability to quickly assess your ideas, it saves valuable time to devote to other ideas and business development.
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Name: David Barry Gaspar
Book:
Bondmen and Rebels: A Study of Master Slave Relations in Antigua. John Hopkins Studies in Atlantic History and Culture, 1985; Duke University Press. 1993.
About the Book:
Originally published in 1985, and available for the first time in paperback, Bondmen & Rebels provides a pioneering study of slave resistance in the Americas. Using the large-scale Antigua slave conspiracy of 1736 as a window into that society, David Barry Gaspar explores the deeper interactive character of the relation between slave resistance and white control.
About the Author:
David Barry Gaspar is Professor of History at Duke University.
******************
Name: Errol Emanuel George
Book: V.C. B.I.A.: V. C. Bird International Airport 1965-2008. 2021.
About the Book: “Beginning with the first airplane of the historic Lindberg of Pan Am fame, which landed pretty close to what would become our present airport, this avid aviator carries us on a journey …Starting with the Americans who sought to establish air and sea bases throughout the region for World War II activities which were then converted to civil airport use controlled by local government….Throughout the book the theme of building and growing is emphasized.” (from a review by Makeda Mikael in the November 26th 2021 edition of the Daily Observer)
About the Author: Former aerodome superintendant (general manager).
******************
Name: Mary Gleadall
Book:
An Antiguan Trading Company – Geo W. Bennett, Bryson & Co. Ltd. 2012.
About the book:
This book is an historical trip through time, from 1830 to present day, when Bennett and Bryson arrived in Antigua and formed the profitable partnership that benefited many Antiguans and endures even until today with Bryson’s Shipping and Insurance on Friar’s Hill Rd. Almost twenty years of research has gone into the telling of the story of Geo. W. Bennett, Bryson & Co. Ltd. coupled with historical events as they occurred time wise and highlighted with many old photographs from 1830 to present day. (Synopsis from HAS newsletter 120)
****
Name: Gilly Gobinet
Books:
Caribbean Christmas. Macmillan Heinemann ELT. 2008.
The Cool Caribbean Book of the Top 20 Places in Antigua. Antigua. 2008.
The Cool Caribbean Book of Hot Spices, Luscious Fruit and Heady Herbs. (w/Dr. Anthony Richards and Gilly Gobinet). Antigua. 2007.
The Cool Caribbean Cocktail Book. Antigua. 2007.
The Cool Caribbean Cookery Book. Antigua. 2007.
Village Life: Short Stories (illustrator w/Timothy Payne). Sun Printing and Publishing. Antigua. 2003.
About the Author:
Gobinet originally from the UK is both an artist/illustrator and writer.
*****
Name: Milton W. Gordon
Book: A Desperate Cry: Seeking an Eternal Change. Word of Wisdom Publication Int’l. Antigua. 2011.
*****
Name: Veronica Gordon
Book: The Footprints of Parham: the History of a Small Antiguan Town and its Influence (w/Joy Lawrence). Sugar Mill Tales. Antigua. 2013.
About the Book:
The authors seamlessly tell the extended history of Parham, Antigua in a pleasing and informative way. It is the most comprehensive account of this post-1632 settlement. In addition to their expansive account of life on the Tudway Estates in the pre-emancipation period, the duo has brought to life the stories of several post-slavery workers. This entailed meticulously leafing through Parham Plantation documents dated between 1836 and 1875, mostly untouched by historians. These, along with correspondence from Britain, give a clear picture of the free people’s labouring conditions on the estates even comparing wages paid in 1938. This particular approach makes the writing unique, and the story of Parham revealing.
*****
Name: H. Akia Gore
Books:
Garrote: The Illusion of Social Equality and Political Justice in the United States Virgin Islands. Wadadli Press. 2009.
About the Book:
An historical accounting of the struggles by Eastern Caribbean nationals to achieve social, economic, and political equality in the United States Virgin Islands.
*****
Name: Douglas Hall
Books: Five of the Leewards, 1834-1870. Ginn and Company. 1971.
About the Books:
On the social, economic, and political problems faced by the Leewards (including Antigua and Barbuda) after Emancipation – includes an appendix of estates and owners in Antigua from 1829 – 1921.
About the Author:
Hall was resident tutor in the UWI’s Department of Extra Mural Studies in Antigua and St. Kitts at the time that he wrote this book. He’s written several other books including In Miserable Slavery: Thomas Thistlewood in Jamaica, 1750-86.
**********
Name: Gemma Handy
Book: Explore Antigua and Barbuda: the Beach is Just the Beginning [w/ Irene Danic and illustrator Manuel Morgado].Island Books Ltd. China. 2017.
About the Book:
An illustrated guidebook which has a companion colouring book.
About the Author:
Gemma Handy has worked as a professional journalist in the UK and the Caribbean. She freelances from Antigua where she is a programme host on English Harbour Radio.
***************
Name: David R. Harris
Books: The Vegetation of Antigua and Barbuda, Leeward Islands, the West Indies. Department of Geography, University of California, USA. 1960.
About the Books:
Field report from his visit to Antigua and Barbuda; later included in Plants, Animals, and Man in the Outer Leeward Islands, West Indies (published in 1965).
About the Author:
Born 1930, deceased as of 2013, Harris was a British geographer, anthropologist, archaeologist and academic, well known for his detailed work on the origins of agriculture and the domestication of plants and animals. He was a director of the Institute of Archaeology at University College London, and retained a position as Professor Emeritus of the Human Environment at the Institute. Harris has conducted research investigations in many parts of the world, including New Guinea, the Torres Strait, Africa, Central America and Eurasia. His research has generally been concerned with the ecology and development of agriculture and other modes of subsistence among human cultures.
*****
Name: Thea Harris
Books:
Pour the Oil Vol. 2. 40 Day Devotional. Thea Harris Publishing. USA. 2015.
Pour the Oil Vol. l. Access the Oil, Activate the Power. Thea Harris Publishing. USA. 2015.
About the Books:
Pour the Oil Vol. 2 – Thea Harris shares personal accounts of challenges and triumphs she encountered on the path to developing a lifestyle of worship. She surrendered to God completely and learned to live in a place of intense sacrifice and renewal. Also included are revelations which will help you overcome trials, and words of encouragement to soothe and guide on the sometimes tumultuous journey. You will be strengthened by the daily confessions at the end of each section.
Pour the Oil Vol. 1 will help you identify elements which block the flow of your anointing, and teach you how to draw its power back into your life. It will answer your questions and provide tools to help you safeguard against contamination and dilution of the anointing. As you read, get ready to be transformed so the Oil will flow to you unhindered. Access the oil; activate the power.
About the Author:
Thea Harris is an author and singer/songwriter from the island of Antigua. Her music releases include Secret Place, and the singles Live Right and Intimacy (Into-Me-See). She has served as a worshiper for more than 20 years, and is currently working on her sophomore CD. Thea is a Choir Director and Worship Leader at Resurrection Life Family Worship Center in Fort Pierce, Florida.
****
Name: Anne Hart Gilbert and Elizabeth Hart Thwaites
Books:
The Hart Sisters – Early African Caribbean Writers, Evangelicals, and Radicals (edited by Moira Fergusen). University of Nebraska Press. USA. 1993.
The Memoir of John Gilbert, Esq., Late Naval Storekeeper at Antigua, to Which Are Appended a Brief Sketch of His Relic, Gilbert, by the Rev. William Box, Wesleyan Missionary, and A Few Additional Remarks by a Christian Friend. D. Marples. Liverpool. 1835.
The History of Methodism in Antigua. 1804.
About the Books:
The Hart Sisters – Early African Caribbean Writers, Evangelicals, and Radicals (edited by Moira Fergusen) – This exceptional volume offers for the first time a collection of their writings. Because the records of the Hart sisters are rare and original testimony from black women of the time, they will be of great interest to the modern scholar. Autobiographical and biographical narrative, along with antislavery tracts, hymns, devotional poetry, and religious documents vividly reveal the lives of these courageous women. Their writings illuminate the complex of racial, spiritual, and class- and gender-based divisions, as well as attitudes, of Anglophone Caribbean society. Moira Ferguson’s introduction situates the Hart sisters in historical context and explains how their writings helped establish a specific black Antiguan cultural identity.
The Memoir of John Gilbert – contains the Memoir itself, finished by Anne Gilbert – a copy is in the British Library.
About the Authors:
Daughters of Anne Clearkley Hart, born a “free coloured”, and Barry Conyers, a black enslaver, owner of Popeshead Estate, Anne Hart Gilbert (1773–1833) and Elizabeth Hart Thwaites (1772–1833) were among the first educators of enslaved and free African Caribbeans in late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Antigua. These members of the “free colored” community who married white men and played an active role as educators, antislavery activists (though some scholarship considers them more ameliorationists than abolitionists), and Methodist evangelicals were also among the first African Caribbean female writers. In addition to The History of Methodism in Antigua, Anne also wrote the biography of her husband John Gilbert, and poetry, hymns, and letters, including one that was republished and circulated as an antislavery tract. Elizabeth also published pro-emancipation writings – hers reportedly more strident than her sister’s. Their activities included Elizabeth founding a private school in St. John’s in 1801, and the sisters in 1809 opening the first Caribbean Sunday school for boys and girls, without regard for race, and founding a society for orphans and women called the Female Refuge Society in 1816. The Bethesda school considered the foundation of education for Black people in the Caribbean, having opened its doors in 1813 to educate enslaved people, was founded by the Hart sisters.
*************
Name: Tim Hector
Works:
Fan the Flame CD collection. 2003.
Note: A book, Tim Hector: A Caribbean Radical’s Story (2006. University Press of Mississippi. USA) was written by American, Paul Buhle. See the ‘B’ section of this list.
***
Name: Lauchland Henry
Book: The Professional’s Guide to Working Smarter. Burrill-Elsworth Associates. USA. 1988.
About the Books:
The Professional’s Guide to Working Smarter is a blueprint for professional success.
About the Author:
Born in Antigua, resident in America, Lauchland is a poet and former member of the marine corps who also holds a PhD in engineering sciences.
***
Name: Paget Henry
Selected Books:
Journeys in Caribbean Thought: the Paget Henry Reader (Creolizing the Canon series) (series editors – Jane Anna Gordon and Neil Roberts; edited, with an introduction, Jane Anna Gordon, Lewis R. Gordon, Aaron Kamugisha and Neil Roberts, with Paget Henry). Rowman & Littlefield International, London & New York. 2016.
The Art of Mali Olatunji: Painterly Photography from Antigua and Barbuda (w/Mali Olatunji). Hansib. UK. 2015.
Shouldering Antigua and Barbuda: The Life of V. C. Bird. Hansib. UK. 2009.
Caliban’s Reason: Introducing Afro-Caribbean Philosophy. 
Routledge. USA. 2000.
Peripheral Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Antigua. Transaction Books. USA. 1985.
About the Books:
Re Journeys in Caribbean Thought: the Paget Henry reader: This volume includes some of Paget Henry’s most important essays from across his remarkable career, providing an introduction to a broad range of pressing contemporary themes and to the unique mind of one of the leading Caribbean intellectuals of his generation. “What it gives us is Henry’s quest to excavate, systematize and articulate Afro Caribbean intellectual production in varied intellectual endeavours such as sociology, literature, political economy and philosophy. The book is not only a negation of but also an antidote to the peripheralization of Caribbean thought. It is a must read for all interested in Caribbean thought’s complexity and depth precisely because it shifts the Geography of Reason.” (Mabogo Percy More, University of KwaZulu-Natal) Among the table of contents are the following Antigua-Barbuda specific articles: V. C. Bird’s Political Philosophy, Philosophy and Antiguan/Barbudan Political Culture, Badminded Nikki: A Review of Joanne Hillhouse’s Oh Gad!, and the Socialist Legacy of Tim Hector.
Re The Art of Mali Olatunji: Painterly Photography from Antigua and Barbuda (w/Mali Olatunji): For a nation that has seen itself many times in photographic essays, The Art of Mali Olatunji is a masterful photographic work on Antigua and Barbuda that genuinely goes beyond all earlier attempts to capture this twin-island state in images. The photographs in this book are truly astounding. They will make you stop and wonder. In addition to their images of home, these photographs also take account of the migratory experiences of Antiguans and Barbudans, and thus include powerful images of New York and London. Adding even more to the riches and power of this book is the engaging story that it tells about the life of the maker of these photographs and his unique aesthetic development. As a result, Antigua and Barbuda is here presented in ways never seen before. The special feature that sets Olatunji’s photographic essay apart is it’s framing within an original and very distinct aesthetic – one that Olatunji calls a woodist/jumbie aesthetic. Like surrealism, cubism and other original aesthetics, woodism is a visual summary of Olatunji’s way of looking at life. In particular, it is an aesthetic that sees the world through the wooded eyes of jumbies. Your jumbie is your soul or the spiritual part of you that survives the death of the body. In Antigua and Barbuda and much of the Caribbean, jumbies are believed to make their post-body home in trees, and in particular silk cotton trees. Hence we can see why Olatunji associates them with a woodist vision of existence. To capture this wooded vision of the jumbie, Olatunji very skilfully layers images of the lines of leaves, flowers, tree bark or of branches of trees over straight photographs of objects, persons or scenes. This layering of lines and textures from different parts of trees not only reveals the jumbie’s vision, but also produces amazing painterly effects. Using this striking and highly versatile woodist/jumbie aesthetic, Olatunji has, in effect, used his camera to paint a well-ordered series of images which have come together to produce a breath-taking photographic essay on Antigua and Barbuda.
Re Shouldering Antigua Barbuda: the Life of V C Bird: As its charismatic labour leader, its first Chief Minister, its first Premier and first Prime Minister, V.C. Bird dominated the political life of Antigua and Barbuda for the 55 years between 1939 and 1994. This is the first full-length biography of this great Antiguan and Barbudan political leader. It begins with a close look at the path of Bird’s development as a man and as a politician. Following this introduction to the man, it examines the major achievements and failures of Bird’s rule, the contours that these positives and negatives outlined, and the indelible traces they have left on the path of Antiguan and Barbudan history. V.C. Bird’s achievements included political independence for Antigua and Barbuda from Britain. His failures included the creating by default of a tourist-based postcolonial state capitalist society as an alternative to the colonial sugar plantation order. This default capitalist order came instead of the Black democratic socialist society that he had promised and ideologically projected. These are the positive and negative poles between which Prof. Paget Henry frames his narrative of the life and political times of V.C. Bird. The book concludes with some reflections on the meaning of Bird’s successes and failures for postcolonial transformation not only in Antigua and Barbuda but also for the wider Caribbean.
Re Caliban’s Reason: Paget introduces the general reader to Afro-Caribbean philosophy in this ground-breaking work. Since Afro-Caribbean thought is inherently hybrid in nature, he traces the roots of this discourse in traditional African thought and in the Christian and Enlightenment traditions of Western Europe.
About the Author:
Paget Henry is Professor of Africana Studies and Sociology at Brown University. He is co- editor of Newer Caribbean: Decolonization, Democracy and Development (1983) and C.L.R. James’ Caribbean (1992). Dr. Henry is also the editor of the CLR James Journal and the Antigua and Barbuda Review of Books (the latter has been published annually since 2008 and includes reviews of books by various Antiguan and Barbudan writers). He has been one of the most articulate and creative voices in Caribbean scholarship, making seminal contributions to the study of Caribbean political economy, C.L.R. James studies, critical theory, phenomenology, and Africana philosophy.
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Name: Basil C. Hill
Books:
The Golden Fleece Found. Trafford Publishing. 2006.
About the Book:
The Golden Fleece Found allows doctrines held sacrosanct to be vetted against a true “spirit level.” The most often asked, yet unanswered questions from over 100 countries are addressed in meticulous details.
About the Author:
Tired of the nightly terror attacks called “Nightmares and Night Terrors,” the writer decided to open his eyes during one such encounter. To understand what he had seen, he visited all manner of strange places and read every type of mystical and religious book available, searching for answers. His theory then was that there were either two spiritual worlds, or one spiritual world inhabited by at least two opposing groups. Frustrated with the lack of understanding of spiritual matters after twenty years of digging, the writer visited a Benny Hinn crusade as a cynical reporter and skeptic. An unusual supernatural experience, a trip to Israel, and an encounter similar to what Saul experienced on the road to Damascus brought the sought-after answers and much more. At one of Israel’s ancient holy sites, a bright light knocked him down and began a conversation. The writer asked: “Why me? I am tired of games, half-truths and esoteric riddles. If you are who I perceive that you are, please tell me why there is so much confusion among your children? Are we all in endless cycles of lies and delusions?” This response came from within a bright light: “Here Son, receive these keys to my ancient schematic that had been published a long time ago. In it you will see that I had foreseen all of the shortcomings of my flocks. That is why I have decreed that all have erred and come short. Those who postulate that they do not err, I want you to highlight all of their errors. Do not compromise my word: I chasten those that I love.” The writer retorted: “How will men know that you have sent me?” The reply: “In the outer pillars of the Temple of Solomon I have published two names. To those two human pillars I have given letters of restoration. Translate the names: Jachin and Boaz.”
******
Name: Emile Hill
Books:
The Angels Project. 2011.
About the Book:
The product of a 7 year long project was introduced to the Antiguan public. Emile Hill’s Angels Project is an artist’s photographic exploration into the unseen world of angels. Much research and dedication have led to a study into different world views on angels and their functions. All captured through the eyes of an artist.
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Name: Joanne C. Hillhouse
Books:
Entry on Gwendolyn Tonge in the Dictionary of Caribbean and Latin American Biography (edited by Franklyn W. Knight and Henry Louis Gates Jr.). Oxford University Press. USA. 2016.
“A Saint in Everyday Clothes” in A letter for My Mother (edited by Nina Foxx). Strebor/Atria/Simon & Schuster. USA. 2014.
About the Book:
The Dictionary of Caribbean and Afro-Latin American Biography is a major biographical reference work covering the lives and legacies of notable Afro-descendants from the Caribbean and Latin American, men and women from all eras and walks of life. This groundbreaking resource provides unprecedented coverage of the region through the lives of its people.
A Letter for My Mother. Whether they’re from the US, Caribbean, India, or the UK, all of the contributors to A Letter for My Mother share one thing in common: thoughts that have been left unsaid to their mothers and mother figures—until now. In this moving book, thirty-three women reveal the stories, reflections, confessions, and revelations they’ve kept to themselves for years and have finally put into words.
About the Author:
Joanne C. Hillhouse is (up to 2021) the author of seven books across different genres. She is also the founder and coordinator of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize.
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Name: Robert Hoffman
Book: Sir Allen & Me: An Insider’s Look at R. Allen Stanford and the Island of Antigua. Southern Cross Publication. 2009.
About the Book:
Author and journalist Robert Hoffman worked for Stanford on the Caribbean island of Antigua, where he was hired to start up a newspaper and publishing company. In Sir Allen and Me Hoffman writes about his days with Stanford and how and why the empire of the flamboyant Texas financier imploded in one of the most spectacular collapses of modern times.
About the Author:
Robert Hoffman (who is American) is an author, journalist and broadcaster. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, International Herald Tribune, Travel and Leisure, Newsweek and many other publications. He is a former Eastern Caribbean correspondent for the Associated Press and editor of the St. Croix Avis. He was editor of the Stanford owned Antigua Sun newspaper between 1997 and 1999.
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Name: Sylvester Hovey
Books:
Letters from the West Indies. Gould & Newman. NY. 1838.
About the Book:
Covers Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Croix during the apprenticeship period (or in the case of Antigua which did not go through an apprenticeship period, during the post slavery period).
About the Author:
American Sylvester Hovey had been a tutor at Yale and professor at Williams and Amherst colleges, visited in 1835-1836 and again in 1836 – 1837.
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Name: Albert E. Hughes
Books:
Paradise Commander. CreateSpace. 2012.
About the Book:
In 1977, the British were in final stages, shutting down the last Caribbean island colonies of their 350 year empire. That year I took command of Antigua Air Station. We flew right into a never-to-be-repeated time of conversion for West Indies cultures. We were there in the last days, participating first hand in the public life of a proto-nation as Antiguans struggled with the meaning of liberation and consequent responsibility; struggled to find their Spirit of Unity. Paradise Commander sets the stage and reveals, chapter by chapter, the steady unfolding of radical change; political and cultural conversion for the island peoples and religious conversion for the author. In the Associated State of Antigua and Barbuda, the meek were about to inherit the earth.
About the Author:
Lt Colonel Albert E. Hughes, (USAF retired) holds an M.S. (with distinction) in Systems Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, an M.M. in Pastoral Ministry from Seattle University (Jesuit) and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction. He taught adults for 25 years as a Catholic catechist and retreat master. He served at the US Base in Antigua in the early 70’s.
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Name: Jose Humphreys
Books:
A Guide to Caribbean Herbs. 2008.
Dr. J’s Guide to Home Remedies. 2008.
A Passion for Words 3 – Trails Through My Garden. 2008.
A Passion for Words 2 – Mischievous Joe. 2000.
A Passion for Words 1.1999.
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Name: Tavia Hunte
Books:
“The Dad I Barely Knew” in Women Across Borders – Fulfilling Purpose (contributor). 2018.
About the Book:
This anthology, edited by Sonia E. Noel, features captivating and empowering stories from women residing in different parts of the world.
About the Author:
Hunte is a dancer and dance instructor.
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Name: Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst
Books:
The Comeback Kid: An Autobiography of Sir Lester Bryant Bird K.N.H. Lester Bird in conversation with Lionel Max Hurst. Antigua. 2019.
Vere Cornwall Bird: When Power Failed to Corrupt. 2012.
Luther George: The Barack Obama of Antigua and Barbuda. 2010.
Democracy by Diplomacy. AuthorHouse. 2007.
About the Books:
The Comeback Kid reportedly chronicles Sir Lester’s early life – including being the first Antiguan and Barbudan to medal in international athletics and the triumphs and defeats, and presumably achievements and controversies, of a 47-year-career in politics which began with his appointment to the senate in 1971.
When Power Failed to Corrupt was Hurst’s answer to Paget Henry’s Shouldering Antigua and Barbuda. The warring bios ar the only book biographies of Father of the Nation V. C. Bird.
Luther George: The Barack Obama of Antigua and Barbuda is the story of the first black Antiguan to win a seat in Parliament at a time when the society was sharply racially-divided. It details the life of the Antiguan politician, entrepreneur, family man and newspaper columnist, born in All Saints in 1903.
How could tiny states possibly compel changes in US foreign policy? A former Ambassador to the UN, the USA and the OAS answers this question in Democracy by Diplomacy.
About the Author:
Ambassador Lionel A. Hurst served 15 cumulative years as Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United Nations, to the Organizationof American States, and to the United States of America. He is an American-trained lawyer, who specialized in international law. He also earned an MBA before law school, specializing in international business; and, he earned an undergraduate degree in international politics at the City University of New York. As a diplomat from a small state, he was instrumental in shaping foreign policy, not only of his country, but of the larger Caribbean region of fourteen states known collectively as CARICOM. Ambassador Hurst was born in Antigua and Barbuda in 1950 when it was still a colony of Britain, and participated in the reshaping of his state and region during the heady years of the 1960s. He writes songs for calypso singers, speeches which he delivers to university audiences and multilateral bodies, and newspaper articles. He also hosted the radio talk-show Fire and Steel, and went on to serve as the government’s chief of staff. He is the father of eight children.
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Name: The International Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda
Books:
From Market to Table Volume II. Cookbook Publishers, USA. 2002.
From Market to Table: A Collection of Favourite Recipes compiled from Members and Friends of the American Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda. Cookbook Publishers, USA. 1991.
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Name: Farida Isaac-Carr
Books:
Live Out Loud: A 90 Day Guided Journal for Women Ready to Live Their Best Lives. 2020.
About the Book:
This book is your personal journey that encourages you to:* Clarify your vision for yourself* Address your fears and limiting beliefs* Practice self love* Highlight your talents and gift* Develop the confidence to be the best you.*
About the Author:
Antigua-born Farida Isaac-Carr graduated from Skidmore College in the United States with a bachelor’s degree in human services. She is, at this writing (2019), employed as a senior welfare officer with the Antigua and Barbuda government. She was the 2018-2019 VP of Membership at the Antigua Toastmasters Club, which she credits with building her confidence to become first a children’s author and now author of this book. You can also find her reading, dancing Zumba, and coaching or playing volleyball. Her debut children’s book Calypso Princess, The Grand Celebration and accompanying Calypso Princess Coloring and Activity Book seek to share the beauty of the Caribbean culture and promote positive self-identity. Her Live Out Loud journal is an ideal self-help writing journal with writing prompt to support your personal development.
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Name: Laura James (artist)
Book:
Anna Carries Water. (cover art and illustrations; book by Olive Senior). Tradewind. 2013.
Book of the Gospels. (cover and interior art). Liturgy Training Publications. USA.
About the Book:
Anna Carries Water – Anna fetches water from the spring every day, but she can’t carry it on her head like her older brothers and sisters can. In this charming and poetic family story set in Jamaica, Commonwealth Prize-winning author Olive Senior shows young readers the power of determination, as Anna achieves her goal and overcomes her fear. Re art work (from Kirkus Reviews): “James, of Antiguan background, allows her bold acrylic paintings in tropical colors to sprawl across wide double-page spreads of lush Caribbean landscapes. The hummingbirds and butterflies add a bit of whimsy to Anna’s cover portrait…” This is a children’s fictional picture book.
Book of the Gospels – The cover art is bold, clearly visible to those near and far. It bears the traditional images of the four evangelists in colorful foil: the angel, Matthew; the lion, Mark; the ox, Luke; the eagle, John. Feasts and many Sundays are illuminated with full-color art. There are more than 30 original pieces of art in the interior of the book.Included are all Gospel readings for Sundays, solemnities, feasts of the Lord, and all ritual Masses. The Catholic Press Association 2002 Book Award winner, third place, in design and production
About the artist:
The artist, Laura James, lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. She paints Biblical themes in the iconographic tradition of Ethiopian Christian art. Her work, with its bright colors and intricate patterns displays a unique style, and vision.
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Name: Charles W. E. Jane
Books: Shirley Heights: the Story of the Redcoats in English Harbour, Antigua (w/drawings by T. J. Holmes). Nelson’s Dockyard National Parks Foundation, Antigua, 1982.
About the Books:
A history of forts in Antigua with an emphasis on the English Harbour area – the history (conflicts, the arrival of General Thomas Shirley for which the Heights are named) and use, plus regiments that served there (Royal Scots, Royal Americans, Hompesch’s Light Infantry, West India Regiments, Royal Artillery) and guns (canons fired etc.) with illustrations, of the forts; also Caribbean food and clothing.
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Name: Cortroy W. M. Jarvis
Books:
Lighting the Fire: A Book About Relationships. 2007.
The Biblical Leader as Bridge Builder. 2000.
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Name: Colin John Jenkins
Book:
“Sustainable Development in the OECS: an Antiguan and Barbudan Case Study“ in Island Systems Planning: a Critical Review of the Presentations from Caribbean Urban Forum 5 (ed. by Asad Mohammed, Perry Polar, Sarika Mahabir, and Nika Maingot). 2016.
About the Book:
This book was produced with support from the European Union, the ACP-EU Cooperation in Higher Education Programme, and the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The included papers provide a combination of state of the art discussions on theory and methods in planning and urban management relevant to the Caribbean region, useful case studies from the region, and some new and relevant insights.
About the Author:
Colin John Jenkins is architect, project manager, and LEED Green Associate with CJC Jenkins Design and the Antigua and Barbuda Council on Sustainable Development.
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Name: Gulliver Johnson and Janie Conley-Johnson
Books: Table Manners: A Culinary Review of Hospitality in Antigua and Barbuda. Leeward Consultants & Associates Ltd. Antigua. 2011.
About the Book: Table Manners features recipes from the annual Mango Festival, the islands chefs, bartenders, hotels, restaurants, bars and professionals from within the culinary industry. Every recipe and article is accompanied by exclusive photography that illustrates the beauty of the island’s gastronomic offerings. The book won the design award in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
About the Authors: The husband and wife, publishers (Food & Drink Guide etc.), and business people were born in the UK to Caribbean parents.
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Name: J. Johnson
Books: An historical and descriptive account of Antigua, illustrated by numerous engravings, coloured in imitation of drawings taken on the spot, delineating the character of the country, the costume of the negroes, accompanied by a map of the island and a chronological table of events connected with the colony. London, 1830.
About the Books:
Early history of the island plus detailing of contemporary life at the time.
About the Author:
John Johnson (artist) was in Antigua in 1824, working as an attorney, surveying the estates formerly owned by James Brebner-Gordon, who had served as a councillor in Antigua and was the Chief Justice of the Ceded Islands in 1761. It is not clear whether Johnson is the same person as ‘Lt. Col. J. Johnson’, who published ‘A Journey from India to England, through Persia, Georgeia, Russia, Poland, and Prussia, in the year 1817’ (1818)
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Name: Hensworth W. C. Jonas
Book: Dancing with Idolatry: are You bowing to a False God. Xulanpress.com. USA. 2009.
About the Book:
Positing that idol worshippers are all around making idols out of anything – ideas, achievements, past times, entertainment, possessions, personalities, and even our own selves – Hensworth Jonas encourages readers to take a close look at this reality, pull down the idols, and guard against the manufacture of any more.
About the author:
Hensworth W.C. Jonas, D.Min., has ministered in Antigua & Barbuda as pastor of Central Baptist Church since 1985. He is Executive Director of the East Caribbean Baptist Mission, an agency focused on church planting, educational, radio and television ministries. Dr. Jonas also serves as Presiding Elder of the Baptist Circuit of Churches in Antigua and principal of the Baptist Academy of Antigua (K-12). He and his wife, Vandah, have two children: Joshua and Stephanie.
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Name: Franklyn Jones
Book: The Shout: For HALCYION STEEL’S CHAMPIONSHIP PANORAMA 1975. GG LLC. 2017.
About the Book:
One player’s tale of Antigua’s Halcyon Steel Orchestra’s rise, and the tremendous Shout of appreciation that welcomed the band as Steelband Champions in 1975.
About the Author:
Franklyn Jones grew up in the Grays Green community in Antigua.
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Name: Jerene Joseph
Book: Antigua and Barbudan Dictionary. 2019.
About the Book:
The Antigua and Barbuda Dictionary is a collection of expressive words and phrases that provide a glimpse into the grammatical structure and features of Antigua and Barbuda creole divergence from standard English. English speaking Caribbean nations speaks a variety of dialects, which are commonly known as English-based creole. Throughout the Caribbean region, there are many distinctive forms of creole languages due to historical contact between Europeans and West African during the slave trade.
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Name: Michael Joseph
Book: Antigua and Barbuda (chapter) in We have a Dream (ed.Taichi Ichikawa and Ibun Hirahara). Iroha Publishing. Japan. 2021.
About the Book: The World Dream Book project gathers dreams from across the globe, and was conceived by the editors after they attended the One Young World global summit for young leaders. Antigua and Barbuda’s Michael Joseph is a contributor.
About the Author: Michael Joseph is a pharmacist and former president of the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross and governing board member of the International Red Cross.
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Name: Ingrid V. Lambie
Book: Pioneers of the Caribbean: A Memoir of Two Mothers’ Journey to Immigrate their Families to Canada for Better Opportunities as seen Through the Eyes of Their Daughters Ingrid and Patricia (w/Patricia L. Tully). Friesen Press. Canada. 2020.
About the Book: Pioneers of the Caribbean invites readers to sh
The Cleansing of the Souls. Discovering Diversity Publishing. United Kingdom. 2017.
Dear Daddy in The Black Notes: Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls edited by Althea Prince (co-edited by Gayle Gonsalves and Aisha Wilks). Insomniac Press. Canada. 2017.
Musical Youth (2nd placed for the inaugural Burt award for Young Adult Caribbean Fiction). Caribbean Reads Publishing. St. Kitts/USA. 2014, 2019.
The Pleasure is Mine: A Caribbean BWWM Romance (A Sapodilla Resort & Spa Novel). 2020.
Into the Black Widow’s Web (as K. N. Mings). 2018.
Dead Beat. 2019.
Mr Fitch and Me and Other Stories. CreateSpace. 2014.
