• This and that

    Burt Award for Caribbean Literature Now Open for Submissions

    CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Now in its fifth year, the Burt Award for Caribbean Literature recognizes up to three English-language literary works for young adults (aged 12 through 18) written by Caribbean authors. CaribbeanReads has had the pleasure of publishing two Burt Award winners, 2nd place winner in 2014 Musical Youth by Joanne C. Hillhouse and 3rd place winner in 2016…

  • On Writing,  This and that

    Taking Caribbean Stories to the Stars!

    I’m really looking forward to attending WORD! – A Caribbean Book Fest in NYC this weekend. I just read an article by Kellie Magnus, my co-panelist and I loved the quote “Caribbean stories deserve a place in the multi-billion dollar children’s book market.” Join us at CUNY this weekend.

  • This and that

    Equal pay for equal work

    When you work for yourself, especially if you are providing a service in which the raw materials of your craft are primarily intellectual, you will inevitably (read often) be asked to work for free. In fact, you are lucky if the person even acknowledges that they should expect to pay for the services. This article contains very professional ways to…

  • On Writing,  This and that

    Image, Then and Now

    The first time I picked up The Giving Tree, I reacted very strongly to the author’s photo on the back. I thought, “This must be an excellent book, because the author is a scary looking guy!” And it was true. Shel Silverstein became one of my favorite children’s books authors. I thought about him this morning as I got ready…

  • Children and Reading,  On Writing,  This and that

    Anansesem

    When Summer Edwards, the founder and Managing Director of Anansesem CaribbeanReads contacted me for an interview I readily agreed. Anansesem is a wonderful project, and I encourage budding writers of all ages to take a look. –Click here to read the interview.

  • This and that

    Birth of Love

    The events in Connecticut last week made me just want to hold my kids close and reminded me of this little note I jotted down several years ago. I held him in my arms and I knew that I would never again be the person I was just seconds before.

  • This and that

    A little ditty for three

    I knew it would end, you see one night; this triangle of he, me, she wasn’t right, it could never be. A terrible plight, but love doesn’t work with three. I planned it would be ended by me on my terms; Not so that he would squirm, ache, cry, plea and yearn, begging to return to three. But so I…

  • This and that

    Nape

    I stand in front of my mirror, examining my body, checking for new lines, blemishes, wrinkles, those things that come with a maturing body. I hold up my hair to get an unfettered view of my back and realise for the first time that no matter how I twist and turn, I cannot see the nape of my neck. I…