THE VALLEY, Anguilla, May 15, 2018. If you have not yet joined in the literary jollification events that have been taking place over the past week, you should plan now to be a part of the annual Anguilla Lit Fest: A Community Outreach, Anguilla. We invite you to join us in support of the sterling line up of Local Poets, Authors, Publishers, Bloggers and Spoken Word Artistes who will be showcasing their literary skills on Litfest Saturday May 19, at Paradise Cove Resort from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm, alongside a cadre of regional literary notables. Against the backdrop of Anguilla’s journey to restoration following the destruction of Hurricane Irma, a number of literary presentations, panel discussions and performances will be presented which are guaranteed to leave all participants motivated, equipped and empowered to hone your literary skills, and to face the challenges posed by the approaching 2018 Hurricane season. Registration for Lit Fest Saturday is now open at the Public Library and Paradise Cove Resort, and tickets, inclusive of breakfast and lunch, cost only US$50.00 per person.
Pride of Anguilla Authors
Patricia J Adams who was born in Anguilla. She has worked as a radio announcer, telephone operator and as a trained primary school teacher, a career from which she retired in 2005, after 18 years of service. An accomplished poet, songwriter and playwright, she is the author of three collections of poems: A Jewel Made of Sand, Windows of Yesteryear and A gift of Fire. Her poems have also appeared in several anthologies including Sargasso and Anguilla:Where I see the Sun. She has received several awards including the Anguilla Day award and the Queens Certificate for the preservation of Anguillian culture through poetry and song. The Patricia J Adams Literary award was established by the Ministry of Education and is given annually to the best primary school student in creative writing in Anguilla. The book, Blue Beans (ISBN 978-976-95888-3-7 (pbk 2017) is her first published novel.
? Dr Oluwakemi Banks holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, 1986 and a Masters Degree 1983, from the Pennsylvania State University as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education from Mounte Hloyoke College, Massachusettes, USA. She currently works as a Clinical Psychologist, in her practice the Sunshine Lady Professional Services on Anguilla as well as an Associate Professor of Psychology, at the St James Medical School in Anguilla. She is a Human Resource Development Consultant, an Educator, a radio and television Communications Specialist, a Motivational Speaker, a Certified Court Mediator, an assessor in the Juvenile Magistrate’s Court, an Employee Assistance Counsellor, an Anglican Lay Reader and Chalice Bearer, a poet, a composer, and an Afrocentric Entrepreneur. Dr. Banks is the Founder of the UNESCO endorsed Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute. Although Dr. Banks has been writing poetry and delivering Spoken Word performances for many years, the collection of poems Starfish: A Journey in Healing is her first published poetry compilation.
? Collette Jones-Chin graduated from the Burrowes School of Art (BSA), Guyana, with a Diploma in Painting and Graphic Arts and with Bachelor’s Degree (BA) in Art Education and Painting from the University of Guyana’s (UG). She is as an Educator, Writer, Artist, Dramatist, Arts Therapist, Interior, Set & Costume Designer who has performed and mounted several one-woman and group exhibitions across the Caribbean Region and in North & South America. She is an Educational Youth and Community Development Expert who possesses additional experience in Programme Development and in Human Resource and Operations Management. She was instrumental in the establishment of the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama in Guyana where she served as the first Director of Studies, Lecturer of Design and Production Management and Festivals Director. Collette is presently the Director & Executive Producer of her own company SENOJ CREATIONS. She is the recipient of many Awards in the Theatre & Visual Arts as well as in Playwriting. Mrs. Jones-Chin, who is married and the mother of one daughter, is currently residing in Anguilla where she has recently established a Community Drama Club for Youths called “Stages”. Mahaica Belle Rings (ISBN 978-976-95897-0-4) is her first novel and highlights most of her childhood memories of growing up in the country-side of Guyana. These memories she says, assisted in shaping her existence and equipped her with the tools needed to carve her path along life’s challenging roadways.
? Bernard B. Wattley is a veteran educator who spent some twenty-five years as a classroom teacher at both the primary and secondary levels and has also taught at the tertiary level. He holds a Teacher Training Certificate (1979) from the University of the West Indies, a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with first class honours also from the University of the West Indies (1991) and a Master’s of Education Degree in Administration and Policy Studies from McGill University in Montreal Canada (1998). He’s spent the last decade of his long public service career as Director of Library Services in the Anguilla Public Service.
His foray into calypso writing dates back four decades to his teenage years and along the way has written winning calypsos in three territories St Kitts, Anguilla and St Maarten at both the junior and senior levels for various artistes. His calypsos cover a wide range of issues but he has a preference for social and political commentary. In recent years he emerged as a calypso singer under the moniker the Anonymous but has never competed and clearly prefers his role as a writer. The book ‘From the Heart: 101 Calypsos Sung and Unsung’ is his first published book.
? Hyacinth E. Hughes has been writing poems and skits since her teen years and later on she began writing short stories. Though none of these early writings were published, her skits and poems were used at church and in all of the primary schools where she taught. She is an avid reader. She enjoys exercising, story-telling and performing/dramatizing poems and monologues. Hyacinth has been an educator for many years. The vast experience gained during this time has enabled her to hone her creative writing skills and is a source of inspiration for her poetry writing. She recently published an anthology entitled “Sweet River Song” in late 2016, having been inspired by her participation in the Anguilla Lit Fest. Hyacinth is married and she is the proud mother of three children and two grandchildren.
Blogger Panel
? Shellecia Brooks-Johnson strives to live by three words which are Encourage, Inspire, Empower. In 2013, she started My Anguilla Experience, a destination and lifestyle blog and social media platform which encourages visitors and locals to explore and experience all that Anguilla has to offer. She also writes the popular feature Island Explorer for Design Anguilla magazine. Shellecia vlogs regularly on YouTube and Facebook with positive messages aimed at inspiring others to reach their personal and professional development goals and fulfill their purpose.
? Sherise Brooks strives to live by the personal mantra ‘Life is not meant to be lived on the sidelines.’ She is deeply passionate about female empowerment and seeks to empower and inspire others. In 2016, Sherise started The Business of Chic (www.thebusinessofchic.com), a fashion and lifestyle blog and social media platform where she shares her personal style, travel adventures, natural hair journey and quirky musings on life as a 20 something year old. She hopes that her style, words and experiences can either help or inspire individuals, especially women. Through blogging, Sherise developed an avid interest in social media and currently serves as the Social Media Officer for the recently established Business Professional Women (BPW) Anguilla.
In her capacity as an HR professional, she trains and coaches individuals and groups in the areas of governance and personal and professional development. Sherise strongly believes that learning and training are the keys to success and national development.
Her educational background includes a BA (Hons) in Business Management – Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster, London, UK and a MSc in Governance and Policy from the University of Southampton, UK.
? Vanessa Croft Thompson was born in the United States of America, and raised partly in Anguilla and partly in the country of her birth. Her writing is often infused with issues of racial identity, cultural duality and the West Indian experience. Vanessa holds a B.Ed in Literature from the University of the West Indies and is currently reading for her Master of Arts in English Language. Several pieces of her poetry were published in the 2015 Anthology of Anguillian poetry, Where I See the Sun. A longtime winner of the Malliouhana Poetry Competition, she most recently captured first place with her spoken word poem “Hidden Opinions”. An avid supporter of the arts, she currently teaches high school and sixth form students at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School in Anguilla.
Publishing Panel
? Ivenia A Benjamin hails from the island of Dominica and is an Attorney at Law by profession and the author of the book “Seeds of Sacrifice, Harvests of Faith” and “Seeds of Sacrifice Harvests of Faith, Journal.” She started her law career as a State Attorney in the Attorney General’s chambers in Dominica and has gone on to work as a Prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and as a Magistrate both in Dominica and other OECS islands. Miss Benjamin is a founding member of the book publishing company, Emmanuel Publishing House in Dominica. In addition to publishing, she conducts training seminars and speaks extensively on matters of faith and on matters that motivate and inspire others. She currently works in Anguilla as Senior Magistrate.
? Trudy Nixon changed her life for the better when she moved from London to Anguilla. She writes and publishes a popular tourism magazine, True Anguilla, has recently completed her first novel (which she was inspired to pen after attending a workshop with Terry McMillan at the first Anguilla Lit Fest) and is working on the second. Her short story “Anguilla Day Boat Race” was featured on the Akashic Books Website as part of their “Mondays are Murder” flash fiction series.
Malliouhana Poetry Competition Winners
? Alexis Ryan, dubbed the Designer Poet at the 2014 Jamaica Poetry Festival, is a Kittian by birth, who has resided in Anguilla for over 35 years. An Anguillian at heart, he is a youth enthusiast who enjoys working with the Anguilla Youth through track and field and mentoring. Alexis has a keen interest in fashion as well, and is a fashion designer of regional notoriety. Alexis considers himself a lyrical activist and entertainer, who uses his poetry to raise awareness on issues and does so with much passion interjected by humour. Mr. Ryan is the 2015 and 2018 Malliouhana performance poetry winner.
? Rhonica Connor is a fourteen year old young lady who has a keen interest in the literary arts, as demonstrated in her story writings and poetry pieces. She has won several awards during her primary years for her story writings and essay entries. Rhonica’s writing passion allows her to script stories or essays from environmental topics to social injustice issues. In developing her writing passion, she oftentimes challenges herself to produce different perspectives on the same topic. Rhonica Connor has won multiple awards in the Malliouhana Poetry Competition, in both Performance and On the Page, categories. She is the current winner of 2018 Malliouhana Poetry Competition I the On the Page Junior category with her poem entitled “Temporary Neighbours’
For more information on the Anguilla Lit Fest: A Literary Jollification go to www.anguillalitfest.com or www.paradisecoveanguilla.com. You may also engage with the Lit Fest community on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/anguillalitfest) and Twitter.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
