Press Release – Wadadli Pen, New Prize Pays Tribute

A Wadadi Pen Release, the second after the release announcing the launch of the Wadadli Pen 2021 season, was disseminated to the media on March 10th 2021. Thanks to media like the Daily Observer, and many others – including longtime patron Antiguanice.com. The text is copied below.

Press Release

Wadadli Pen, New Prize Pays Tribute

March 10th 2021

On the heels of launching the 2021 season of the Wadadli Pen Challenge with a March 26th submission deadline, the organizers announce several additional and very meaningful patronages.

Cedric Holder, father of Zuri Holder, who died tragically in a road accident in January, has requested inclusion of a plaque to honor his memory. The Cushion Club Zuri Holder Achievement Award, inclusive of a gift certificate toward the purchase of books, will be awarded to a writer 12 years or younger. Cedric is a long time Wadadli Pen patron, his gifts typically made in the name of the Cushion Club Reading Club for Children, with which he is chief volunteer and of which Zuri was a member. Zuri also had history with Wadadli Pen – 2nd place in the 12 and younger category in 2011 and 3rd place overall and winner of the 12 and younger age category in 2013.

Zuri with his two prize certificates from the 2013 Wadadli Pen awards ceremony.

“His passing remains a huge personal loss to his family, friends, and all the communities he belonged to,” said Wadadli Pen founder and coordinator Joanne C. Hillhouse, who also volunteered with the Cushion Club and knew Zuri for many years as a result. “We welcome Cedric’s desire to keep his name alive in this way, while contributing meaningfully to the development of other young people.”

Wadadli Pen also welcomes a cash contribution (EC$300) from award winning author Rilzy Adams, pen name of local lawyer Rilys Adams. Rilys, author of almost 20 self-published books, recently collected an international romance industry award for her novel Go Deep, only her latest accolade. Rilys is also a former Wadadli Pen finalist (2nd place in 2005 and 2006) – one of two former finalists who are 2021 patrons. The other is Daryl George who has contributed EC$250. “It feels good to see that Wadadli Pen has not only survived these 17 years, since it first launched in 2004, but that the people who’ve come through the programme have gone on to do great things, of which we are only a small part,” Hillhouse said, “and that they’ve looked back.” The Wadadli Pen core team also includes two former finalists.

Though focused on nurturing and showcasing the literary arts in Antigua and Barbuda, Wadadli Pen is networked with Caribbean literary entities and one, Diana McCaulay and her publisher Peepal Tree Press have pledged her latest award winning book Daylight Come to the Prize Package.

More than 80 books including Big Cat Caribbean titles have already been received from Harper Collins (UK). Other announced 2021 patrons, so far, are the Best of Books, Moondancer Books, award winning Jamaican author Olive Senior, and new local author Patricia Tully.

Wadadli Pen is still hoping to attract more patronage for both the Wadadli Pen Challenge and the #readAntiguaBarbuda readers’ choice book of the year initiative. To support the work, email wadadlipen@gmail.com To create and submit to the Wadadli Pen Challenge download the submission form at the Wadadli Pen 2021 tab on wadadlipen.wordpress.com There, too, you’ll find the link to vote for your favourite Antiguan and Barbudan book of the year.

Cushion Club Media Notice

NOTICE A reminder that the Cushion Club is closed during the summer months; the children’s reading club is open during the regular school year and takes its break when they do.

(additional note – to contact the Cushion Club of Antigua-Barbuda, email cushionclub at yahoo dot com)

As with all content on wadadlipen.wordpress.com, except otherwise noted, this is written by Joanne C. Hillhouse (author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings, Oh Gad!, Musical Youth, With Grace, and Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure). All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed it, check out my page on WordPress, and/or Facebook, and help spread the word about Wadadli Pen and my books. You can also subscribe to the site to keep up with future updates. Thanks.

 

 

From the Mailbox – Cushion Club, Wadadli Pen

Actually, these two are from my mailbox and they concern my two longest running community/volunteer projects. These are notices I sent out to the media about The Cushion Club and Wadadli Pen. Feel free to grab and share.

First, the Cushion Club.

The Notice:

The Cushion Club resumes its Saturday meetings on January 20th. The Antigua-Barbuda children’s reading club meets Saturdays during the regular school year between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon at the University of West Indies Open Campus between Queen Elizabeth and Sir Sidney Walling highways. Volunteer readers and children welcomed.

Cushion Club Background/About the Cushion Club: This is a reading club with which I started volunteering more than 10 years ago. I didn’t keep track but every Saturday for a great number of years I would go and read and play reading/word games with children in Antigua first at the Senior Centre in Lower Gambles, then when we moved to Best of Books, then when we moved to the ice cream park on Friars Hill Road, then when we moved to the University Centre, and though I’ve long since withdrawn from the regular Saturday meetings, they continue without me as they did before me, thanks especially to Cedric Holder. I still help with promotion though, so that’s what this is. For more on the Cushion Club, check AntiguaNice which has been generous enough to host and sponsor a page for us over these many years.

Second, Wadadli Pen.

The Notice:

The Wadadli Youth Pen Prize 2018 Challenge is now open for submissions. Resident Antiguans and Barbudans 35 and younger, send entries with submission forms (now mandatory) by February 28th 2018. Form available at wadadlipen.wordpress.com If you would like to contribute to the Wadadli Pen prize package, please email wadadlipen@gmail.com

Wadadli Pen Background/About Wadadli Pen: Well, you’re here so you know that this project is committed, and has been since 2004, to nurturing and showcasing the literary arts in Antigua and Barbuda. It’s my baby as much as any of my books, and while it has undertaken several developmental, fundraising, advocacy, and promotional projects over the years, its main and most consistent project has been the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize Challenge – an annual writing (and sometimes arts) challenge for young Antiguans and Barbudans. Basically, I started this project after I became a published author to help create the environment that had not been there to support my own journey as a writer becoming. For more on Wadadli Pen, check Antigua Nice which gave us a presence on the web before we had a home of our own and continues to do so. For the 2018 registration form, go here; and to contribute to Wadadli Pen, email wadadlipen@gmail.com

Here’s what both projects need:

Support.

That’s it.

If you’re a parent or guardian, bring your child out to the Cushion Club. There is no fee and no registration is required. If you’re an adult – parent or not – consider volunteering to read one or two or three or four Saturdays per month.

If you’re a teacher, parent, guardian, youth club leader, or are otherwise in contact with young people encourage them to write and submit their pieces to the Wadadli Pen Challenge; help them with the forms if you need to but let them write their own stories.

If you’re a business or an individual, or other donor-type looking for a project to contribute to an arts-community-youth-centred project, consider Wadadli Pen.

Thanks for your consideration.

As with all content on Wadadli Pen, except otherwise noted, this is written by Antiguan and Barbudan writer Joanne C. Hillhouse (author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Oh Gad!, Musical Youth, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings, With Grace, and Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure; also a freelance writer, editor, writing coach and workshop facilitator). All Rights Reserved. If you like the content here follow or recommend the blog, also, check out my page on Amazon, WordPress, and/or Facebook, and help spread the word about Wadadli Pen and my books. Thank you.

Cushion Club Back in Session

The Cushion Club reading club for children in Antigua is back in session.

It meets Saturdays between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon, at the University of the West Indies Open Campus (Antigua and Barbuda). Children on island from Barbuda are invited to come out as well.

Anyone can come (including adult volunteers). There is no fee. No special books are required. Age range, let’s say 5 and up (though some younger ones are accepted as well, depending on level of independence).

For more on the Cushion Club, go here.

 

Cushion Club Resumes This Weekend

The Cushion Club, a fun reading club for children in Antigua, resumes this coming Saturday 23rd September, at the University of the West Indies Open Campus (Antigua and Barbuda). Children from Barbuda currently resident in Antigua are invited to come out as well. Adult volunteers are always needed as well. The Cushion Club meets between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon. If you have questions ahead of Saturday, please call 722-7719. Less urgent inquiries can be sent to cushionclub@yahoo.com

Mailbox – Cushion Club

As promised, the Cushion Club (the Antigua and Barbuda reading club for kids with which I have volunteered with for several years) has been reaching out to the junior winners of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize 2016 Challenge (of which it is part patron)

we are sending you a BIG Cushion Club invitation to come visit us and share/read your story; we guarantee you will have fun with us.

…intent on having them come out to share their winning stories with the kids of the Club. We can confirm that Judah Christian, author of My Worst Day Ever, has accepted

 I accept your invitation on Judah’s behalf. He will be available on Saturday 28th May to share his story.

…via his parents, and will be sharing his story with the Club kids on May 28th. You’re welcome to join us and here Judah’s story come alive. The Cushion Club meets between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon at the University of the West Indies Open Campus (Antigua and Barbuda) located on College Drive between Queen Elizabeth Highway and Sir Sydney Walling Highway (i.e. Factory Road). See you then.

Factoids re the Cushion Club’s contribution to the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize:

The Cushion Club’s chief volunteer Cedric Holder (a National Youth Award winner for his volunteerism) has contributed gift certificates in the name of the Club from the very first year of Wadadli Pen. Over the years, his pledge has been a given and Wadadli Pen has been grateful.

In this photo from the Cushion Club archives, Cedric reads to some of the children.

Factoids re young author Judah Christian:

His stories include The Worst Day Ever (2nd runner up for the 12 and younger prize in 2016) and Judah and His Friends Save the Day (a Best of Books Promising Writer Pick in 2015)

2015: Judah collecting his prizes from guest reader/presenter Dotsie Isaac Gellizeau. Be sure to check out her CD, I am Speaking.

Judah – far right – with other 2016 winners in the 12 and younger category collecting prizes from Seven Seas rep.

p.s. I believe Zion and Chammaiah have also accepted the invitations – dates to be confirmed.

As with all content on wadadlipen.wordpress.com, except otherwise noted, this is written by Joanne C. Hillhouse (author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Oh Gad!, Fish Outta Water, and Musical Youth. All Rights Reserved. Seriously, a lot of time, energy, love and frustration goes in to researching and creating content for this site; please don’t just take it up just so without even a please, thank you or an ah-fu-she-subben (credit). If you enjoyed it, check out my page on WordPress, and/or Facebook, and help spread the word about Wadadli Pen and my books. You can also subscribe to the site to keep up with future updates. Thanks.

A & B Arts Roundup (February 3rd 2016 – )

Chrys-Ann Ambrose – book launch – Operation Game Plan: How to Overcome Habits that Hinder us from Succeeding in Life – Saturday 27th February – 7 p.m. – Jolly Beach Resort.

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Wadadli Pen Open Mic returns Saturday 13th September 2016 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Best of Books Bookstore on St. Mary’s Street.

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Talented Antiguan, Asher Otto…

According to her fb page, you can catch her at these upcoming dates and times:
Sun 7th Feb. Jumby Bay
Mon 8th Feb. Al Porto
Wed 10th Feb. Curtain Bluff
Fri 12th Feb. Carlisle Bay
Sun 14th Feb. Valentines Regatta, Jolly Harbor.

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“At every moment I strive for connection. If you are in the moment, you are stretching out to reach that which you recognize in others. That’s my secret,” [Ashley]Bryan said. Bryan is a New York writer and illustrator with Antiguan roots – this is news of his new poster commissioned by the NYC transit system. Read more.
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Don’t normally share purely commercial activities here (this is an unfunded arts blog, after all) but given that it’s a showcase for spoken word artists, I figured I’d make an exception. It’s monthly by the way.

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Just a reminder: The Cushion Club Reading Club for children (in Antigua and Barbuda) meets Saturdays between 10:30 a.m. and noon at the UWI Open Campus during the regular school year. There are no sessions during regular school holidays. All young readers and adult volunteers are welcomed. No registration is necessary for children, and volunteers do not have to be available every Saturday. Contact cushionclub@yahoo.com or 772-7719.

Cushion Club Release

“The Club coordinator admits that one of the current disappointments is that more than a year after the opening of the new library, the hours are such that access is still limited. The library does not currently open after regular working hours or on weekends. Among the Club’s hopes was to get the kids into the library at least once a month – but with the library not open on Saturdays when the Club meets, that’s not possible. Among the hopes was to get the children into an environment where there are books – though, with the lending programme on hold since its move, not necessarily borrowing; getting them to learn how to use a library and understand the value of a library; and contributing to the library being an obstacle-free community space.” (Read the full release)

Good news though, the library is now reportedly lending books on a limited basis.

How long has the Cushion Club been around? One of these children is getting ready to finish university and one is getting ready to finish high school in just a couple of years. Both would have come of age with either no public library or a library at less than full potential. We welcome the baby steps towards returning the library to the level of functionality (and more) that it enjoyed before the 1974 quake.

Another one for the Cushion Club Wadadli Pen Summer Reading List

This is one I actually thought of adding to the Cushion Club Wadadli Pen Summer Reading List but it’s only available on kindle and I know everyone may not have access to e-books. But you know what, consider it added (unofficially) if you can access it. It’s Jamaican writer Geoffrey Philp’s Marcus and the Amazons. Looks fun, doesn’t it?

A & B SUMMER READING CHALLENGE GETS “MUSICAL”

Teens in Antigua and Barbuda, this one’s for you! As part of the Cushion Club Wadadli Pen Summer Reading Challenge, Antiguan and Barbudan teens, 12 to 18, are being invited to read Musical Youth, a Best of Books’ teen summer pick, post a musical or otherwise creative review to the social media platform of your choice, and send the link to submissions@caribbeanreads.com
This is a challenge within a challenge.

You don’t know about the original Cushion Club Wadadli Pen Summer Reading challenge?

Here it is in 50 words or less: Read as many books as you want, write a really-really-really short review of each book read, email your list of books completed and reviews to cushionclub@yahoo.com at the end of August 2015. Maybe win a prize. There are discounts and minimum requirements; search “reading challenge” at the Wadadli Pen website (https://wadadlipen.wordpress.com) go here for details.

The Map Shop and the Best of Books helped compile the reading lists, so you know the books can be sourced locally.

The Best of Books and Cindy’s Bookstore are offering 20 percent discounts to anyone “taking the challenge”. Now, Caribbean Reads Publishing and Joanne C. Hillhouse – publisher and author, respectively – have made the challenge just a little more “Musical”. As Musical Youth, second placed for the Burt Award for Caribbean Literature in 2014, is targeted at teens; they want to know what teens think of this book. This additional prize – sponsored by the publisher and author of Musical Youth – will go to the most creative review.

Keep it honest: you’re not going to be graded up for gushing over the book if that’s not how you feel. Keep it creative: the internet and social media provide infinite ways for you to express yourself. So, in keeping with the book’s theme and cast of characters who embrace music and creativity, share your review in a way that shines a light on your creativity. Once you’ve posted to your YouTube, Instagram, vine, tumblr, twitter, or wherever, email the link and your contact information to submissions@caribbeanreads.com. Feel free to tag as many people as you want in the meantime. You can tag Hillhouse and CaribbeanReads via any of their social media platforms – but you still need to email the link to submissions@caribbeanreads.com. Check caribbeanreads.com and https://wadadlipen.wordpress.com for more details (oh, you’re already here).

You must be based in Antigua and Barbuda to participate. And remember this is part of the Cushion Club Wadadli Pen Reading Challenge. So, you know what you have to do first: read…and remember, get creative and have fun with it.