THE VALLEY, Anguilla – April 20, 2015 – Anguilla will host the fourth annual Anguilla Lit Fest: A Literary Jollification at the Paradise Cove Resort from May 21-24, 2015. This year’s distinguished panel of authors includes
– Zane – award-winning celebrity novelist, (Total Eclipse of the Heart; Addicted; Infinite Words);
– Kate White – award-winning author and former Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine, (So Pretty it Hurts; The Sixes; Eyes on You) ;
– Elizabeth Nunez – award-winning, best-selling author, lecturer and philanthropist, (Boundaries; Not for Everyday Use);
– Benilde Little world-renowned, best-selling author (Good Hair; Welcome to My Breakdown);
– J. Ivy – Grammy-award-winning performance poet, author and motivational speaker, ( Here I am; Here I Am: Then and Now; Dear Father: Breaking the Cycle of Pain);
– Joanne Hillhouse, award-winning debut author, from the island of Antigua ( Oh Gad!; The Boy from Willow Bend);
– Krista Bremer – award-winning author and associate publisher of The Sun magazine, (A Tender Struggle);
– Colin Channer – celebrated award-winning author, professor of Creative Writing, and co-founder of the Calabash International Literary Festival in Jamaica, (The Girl with the Golden Shoes; Iron Balloons)
The publishing panel features
– Leigh Haber, Books Editor of O: The Oprah Magazine;
– Jessica Strawser, Editor-in-Chief of Writers’ Digest;
– Yona Deshommes, Senior Publicity Manager of Atria Books/Simon & Shuster; and
– Dr Rhoda Arrindell – critically-acclaimed author and educator, (Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin).
The Pride of Anguilla writers and poets include:
– Phillip Arnell – debut author, “Fortunate Member of a Caribbean Diaspora”
– Marilyn Hodge – author and Host of Positive Living – The Series
– Alexis Gumbs – poet
– Timmie Webster – performance poet
This year’s event will also celebrate the 2015 Malliouhana Poetry Competition winners, under the theme, Jollification in the 21st century, which is coordinated by the Anguilla Community College and the Department of Youth and Culture in memory of cultural activist, the late Linda Lake; as well as presentations by poets of Anguilla’s soon-to-be-released foundational anthology of poetry, “Where I See the Sun – Contemporary Poetry in Anguilla”, which includes more than 90 poems from 42 seasoned poets and up and coming writers from Anguilla. A selection of books of the featured guest authors, poets and publishers will be available for purchase on site from The Anguilla Lit Fest Book Table, which is coordinated by the Anguilla Library Service.
The Anguilla Lit Fest: A Literary Jollification pays homage to Anguilla’s literary heritage and offers yet another great reason for visitors to come to the island during the early summer period for the event. A registration fee of US$150.00 includes a welcome cocktail party, breakfast and lunch presentations, special sessions with the authors and fun-filled evening soirees. The program includes a free day on Sunday to ensure that participants will have the opportunity to experience the best of all Anguilla has to offer. As in previous years, arrangements are being made for a cross- section of students from the Primary Schools to interact with the visiting authors, and for students from the Secondary School to attend the presentation of the event headliner as specially invited guests. The organizers have also added a special session for children and young writers on the afternoon of Saturday 23rd May.
Residents of Anguilla will pay a special price of US$100.00 for participation in Lit Fest 2015, subject to presentation of proof of residency. A special offer of US$50.00 per day will also be extended to those persons registering for either day of the event before May 15th, 2015. After May 15th, one day registration reverts to US$85.00 per day. Registration is available on line, and tickets can be purchased at The Anguilla Tourist Board and the Anguilla Public Library.
The name of the festival speaks to a very important facet of Anguilla’s cultural heritage–The Jollification. Rhona Richardson-Roydon, a member of the Anguilla Community Foundation, explains the concept of the Jollification as “a getting together of people to share and help neighbors.” This was done through the plowing and planting of ground (fields), all against the backdrop of men working together, women cooking, and children playing, while the work was carried out free of cost, with much laughter, singing and “jollification.” Noted economist, historian, author and playwright, Marcel Fahie writes that through the Jollification, “We helped each other with the construction of our homes. Mutual aid and assistance in the form of free labor was also employed to build community facilities, access roads to and from isolated parts of villages, church buildings, community halls and playing fields. The spirit and elements of the jollification survive to this day in various forms. Most notable is the contribution of our time and effort to furthering the programs of our religious and charitable organizations.”
“The Anguilla Lit Fest would not have been possible without the jollification approach,” notes Director of Tourism, Mrs. Candis Niles. “The spirit of community upon which Jollification is founded is an integral part of our psyche as Anguillians. It is this spirit of community that defines the interaction with our authors, speakers and presenters. For the short time we are together we form a literary community that is vibrant, dynamic and engaging. Like the Jollification itself, the Lit Fest inspires you to look deep within yourself and discover and give expression to the creative force that lies within each one of us, for in so doing we enrich and enlarge the experiences of all of us.”
Special vacation packages for the event are being offered by Anguilla’s leading accommodation establishments, including the Host Hotel, Paradise Cove Resort and Sponsor Hotel, Cuisinart Golf Resort and Spa; Little Butterfly, Villa, Bird of Paradise Villa, Anguilla Great House Beach Resort and Nathan’s Cove. Flights can be arranged on American Airlines, Jet Blue, USAirways, United Airlines, Delta Airlines and Continental Airways through San Juan, Puerto Rico, connecting directly to Anguilla with Seaborne Airlines, or through St. Martin with onward connecting flights or ferry into Anguilla; or on regional carrier LIAT (www.liat.com). Travel from the Caribbean can also be done through Winair (www.fly-winair.com)
For more information on the Anguilla Lit Fest: A Literary Jollification, or to register for this year’s event, go to http://ivisitanguilla.com/register or call 305-444-4033 or 264-497-2759. You may also engage with the Lit Fest community on Twitter and Facebook at the address given below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/anguillalitfest.
