Chairperson of Anguilla’s upcoming 2019 Lit Fest Sherille Hughes, welcomed book enthusiasts to ‘An Evening with Alafair Burke’ on March 17 at the CuisinArt Resort & Spa on Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla. Author Burke, a New York Times bestselling author, whose most recent novels include The Wife, which is under production for a feature film, and The Ex, is a long time visitor to the island and supporter of Anguilla’s annual Lit Fest.
Burke, a former prosecutor, now teaches criminal law at Hofstra University and lives in Manhattan, New York. She read excerpts from her novel The Wife, and then spent time discussing how she chooses and develops her novel topics. Also on the programme were two local poets, Fiona Wilkinson and Alexis Ryan – as well as talented singer Charisma Jones-Chin.
Hughes said one of the key components of the Anguilla Lit Fest is to champion the pursuit of literacy on the island. She said, “This valuable outreach work, funded by our generous sponsors, donations, and ticket sales, allows a cross-section of our students from all of the island’s primary and secondary schools to interact with the visiting authors and attend sessions at the Lit Fest. Authors visit schools, the library, the Community College, other educational establishments and Her Majesty’s Prison. For many of the Lit Fest participants, this opportunity to give back to the local community is one of the most rewarding aspects of the festival.”
The Anguilla Literary Festival allows writers, performers and the audience to get involved. This year’s event, dubbed “Books, Beaches and a Better You”, is the 8th annual event and will be held May 16 through 19 at the Paradise Cove resort. Headlining the list of participants is Pulitzer winning novelist, Alice Walker, who wrote The Colour Purple. Also attending will be poet/author, Jason Reynolds, social media speakers including husband and wife team Tony A. Junior and Sheri Gaskins, literary advocate Glory Edim, Denene Miller, motivational speaker Sadequ Johnson, Patricia Marie Cummings, Ira Summer Simmonds and Stephanie Stokes Oliver.
Hughes said that this combination of outstanding writers and speakers combined with the beauty of Anguilla’s beaches and the opportunity to mix and mingle with like-minded people in a laid back, yet luxurious destination, is sure to be a tonic for anyone hoping to relax, rejuvenate or reinvent themselves.
– Contributed
