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labelthumbs({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","xmlns$blogger":"http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008","xmlns$georss":"http://www.georss.org/georss","xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-07-17T07:02:21.946-04:00"},"category":[{"term":"Fiction"},{"term":"Nonfiction"},{"term":"Special issue"},{"term":"Illustration"},{"term":"Poetry"},{"term":"Interviews"},{"term":"News \u0026 Notes"},{"term":"Guests from Around the World"},{"term":"Featured Illustrators"},{"term":"Table of Contents"},{"term":"Puerto Rico Issue"},{"term":"Book Lists"},{"term":"Editor's Column"},{"term":"Libraries"},{"term":"Self-Publishing Journeys"},{"term":"Book Reviews"},{"term":"Love Issue"},{"term":"Book Review Issue"},{"term":"Events"},{"term":"Great Ladies of Caribbean Children's Literature"},{"term":"Submissions Call"},{"term":"10th Anniversary"},{"term":"Environment"},{"term":"Giveaways"},{"term":"Excerpts"},{"term":"Cover Reveals"},{"term":"Cultural Traditions"},{"term":"Publishing"},{"term":"Special Offers"},{"term":"Bookstores"},{"term":"Social Justice Author Series"},{"term":"Anansesem Correspondents"},{"term":"From the Archives"},{"term":"Quizzes"},{"term":"Stereotypes"},{"term":"Yoga"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Anansesem: Caribbean Children's \u0026 YA Literature Magazine"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"Anansesem is the premier publication devoted to promoting and reviewing quality Caribbean books for children and teens."},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/-\/Interviews?alt=json-in-script\u0026orderby=updated"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/search\/label\/Interviews"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"25"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"25"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-358450874839333147"},"published":{"$t":"2019-06-06T14:33:00.013-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-26T08:38:46.091-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Libraries"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Nonfiction"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Puerto Rico Issue"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Special issue"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Use of Children’s Literature in Puerto Rican Learning Institutions "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: -1em; margin-right: 0em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z7G67ZimIqM\/XPlbBryi1CI\/AAAAAAAAF6g\/t9akjprTh_A5ldAoG43Y_9uTFzInUOuygCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Childrenreading.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" width=\"750px\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z7G67ZimIqM\/XPlbBryi1CI\/AAAAAAAAF6g\/t9akjprTh_A5ldAoG43Y_9uTFzInUOuygCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Childrenreading.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EStock image of a teacher reading to her students\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 60px; color: #000000;\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003Ehe need to support preservice teachers in building rich and deep knowledge of culturally relevant children's and young adult (YA) literature is something that has gained traction in Puerto Rico's university teacher preparation and library studies programs. Inspired by mounting calls for books that reflect Puerto Rican children's lives in the primary and secondary school English language arts curriculum, a new generation of English teachers, youth librarians and teacher educators across the Puerto Rican archipelago are examining their reading habits. They are also investing in their own continued growth, learning, and development as advocates of Puerto Rican children’s and YA literature, and youth literature more generally. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EWe are delighted to exclusively publish the below conversation between Yazmín Méndez Bonet and Dr. Melissa Lee García Vega, a middle school English teacher and a university English professor respectively, both of whom teach in the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián metropolitan area in northwestern Puerto Rico.\u003C\/b\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003EMelissa:\u003C\/b\u003E Thinking about children’s literature, my mind takes me back to second grade at Catholic school in New York City. I fell in love with books in our classroom reading corner and enjoyed meeting with my teacher for reading tutoring during the mornings. Once I was able to read independently, I started visiting one of the New York Public Library branches with a neighborhood friend. I would always select not one, but a few books to take home. My library card, the excitement of having so many books to choose from, and the library building remain clear in my mind. Those library visits played a significant role in my development as an early reader. \n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\nI also remember that in sixth grade, my dad saw my interest in reading and gifted me a copy of L. M. Montgomery’s \u003Ci\u003EAnne of Avonlea\u003C\/i\u003E. Because my family did not have a lot of money (my self-sacrificing parents could just barely afford to send me to Catholic school), receiving a book as a gift was a big deal, however my younger self couldn’t completely identify with Anne’s life, or with the red-headed girl illustrated on the book’s cover. I began searching for books that spoke more directly to my experience as a young Puerto Rican girl living in a big city.  \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\nToday, I teach in the English Department at the University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Campus, where I also research Caribbean children’s literature. Shortly after my arrival on campus, I began teaching courses in children’s literature and was excited to share my teaching and reading experiences. During the first weeks of class, I always ask my undergraduate students to share their memories and experiences with children’s literature. These conversations have led to an ever-broadening understanding of how children’s stories support the development and shape the lives of individual readers. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EYazmin:\u003C\/b\u003E I grew up in Rincón, a small town located on the west coast of Puerto Rico. From Kindergarten through twelfth grade, I went to public schools, and like my current students, I took classes in Spanish and was enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) class. Reading was not something I used to do at home and my father only read the newspaper. I was introduced to books in my Kindergarten classroom where we read European fairy tales like \u003Ci\u003EThe Ugly Duckling\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003ELittle Red Riding Hood\u003C\/i\u003E. I don’t recall reading books in which I could see my Puerto Rican self and heritage reflected, at least not in English class. But I do remember \u003Ci\u003EMaría Chuzema\u003C\/i\u003E, a Puerto Rican TV show that featured María Chuzema reading different stories to children. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\nVisiting a library wasn’t something I was  \u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-a5z7p6PgDtQ\/XPlrE8PFBVI\/AAAAAAAAF7Q\/eZVyvPBBN3UUC3P7Vzrjcf9TOVCimO7-gCLcBGAs\/s1600\/San%2BAntonio%2BAguadilla%2BLibrary1.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" width=\"400px\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-a5z7p6PgDtQ\/XPlrE8PFBVI\/AAAAAAAAF7Q\/eZVyvPBBN3UUC3P7Vzrjcf9TOVCimO7-gCLcBGAs\/s1600\/San%2BAntonio%2BAguadilla%2BLibrary1.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EA shelf of children's books at the public library\u003Cbr \/\u003E in San Antonio, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003Eencouraged to do as a child. There was a public library in my hometown, but I mainly used it to look up information for a school project or homework assignment. In middle school, I stopped by the school library several times and even participated in oratory events where I spoke about the importance of reading and the magic of books. Thinking back, I don’t recall seeing a story time session at the library or a children’s book display. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\nIt wasn’t until I enrolled as an undergraduate student in the English program at the University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Campus that I had the opportunity to learn more about children’s and young adult literature. However, even in the Young Adult (YA) Literature course, only a few YA books that portrayed Puerto Ricans were assigned, and they were mainly about the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. I decided to focus my master’s thesis on the use of Caribbean children’s literature in the English classroom in Puerto Rican schools. I am now an English teacher at the Profesora Juana Rosario Carrero Middle School.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EMelissa:\u003C\/b\u003E For many of my students in the Children’s Literature course, it was their first experience holding a picture book. In creating the course, my approach was to outline markers of quality in children’s literature. I tried to expand beyond Scholastic books and Disney’s picture books. I often got pushback from students since Disney stories were a big part of their childhood reading experiences. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\nOne of the purposes of the course was to explore the intersection of learning, pleasure and language development in the reading of children’s books. In these respects, Yazmin, your experiences are very similar to my students’ experiences. You said that in middle school you participated in oratory events where you spoke about the magic and importance of reading. What were those experiences like for your younger self? What books or poems do you remember reciting? Do you remember choosing a story to read or did your teachers always assign them?  \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EYazmin:\u003C\/b\u003E  As a young student, I was eager to participate in speech contests, and my teachers noticed this. I remember how my history teacher motivated me to participate in an oratory event organized by the school librarian. I wrote my own speeches on those old square papers everyone used in school back in those days. I memorized the words all afternoon and all night. I thought about my life experiences, how I had never had the chance to travel, but how books transported me to other places, allowed me to learn about other people’s lives, and sparked my imagination. I placed first in that oratory competition! \n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-size: 35px;   line-height: 1.6; margin-top: 30px !important; margin-bottom: 25px !important;\"\u003EIt is our responsibility as educators to share children’s literature that is provoking, that reflects our children’s lives, and that motivates them to read independently. This is the way to build lifelong readers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EMelissa:\u003C\/b\u003E What you just said makes me think of the picture book \u003Ci\u003EThe Day You Begin\u003C\/i\u003E written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López. The main character feels different because she spent the summer at home while her classmates were off “flying and sailing.” Yet, she realizes that through books she had also traveled to many places. As a child, you also experienced that sense of empowerment through reading.   \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EYazmin:\u003C\/b\u003E  Absolutely. To answer your question about whether the stories were assigned reading or not, my teachers chose most of the books and stories we read in class. I remember how in seventh grade my Spanish teacher took us to the computer lab and told one of my friends and I that he thought we would like \u003Ci\u003EEl polizón del Ulises\u003C\/i\u003E by the Spanish writer Ana María Matute. He gave us a copy and we read it and discussed it together. It was meaningful because the book exposed us to a different vocabulary and experiences outside of our own. I would also go through books at the school library by myself, even if I didn’t consider myself an avid reader. I liked reading both fiction and non-fiction, especially picture books. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EMelissa:\u003C\/b\u003E Now as a high school English teacher, how do your personal experiences guide or influence you when you are matching books to students? What are you doing to ensure that your students don’t view the public library as just a homework resource, and have access to story time, children’s book displays, and other things your younger self didn’t get to experience? \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EYazmin:\u003C\/b\u003E  As teachers we often feel trapped by having to follow a curriculum and emphasize teaching practices that are “accountable”. Technology and media can be distractions that hamper students from reading books for pleasure; on the other hand, technology does allow more access to books, and I am able to present stories to my students in video format. However, the reality of Puerto Rican schools is that many lack the resources and support to integrate technology and digital media in the classroom. Often, we can’t put what we learn in professional development trainings into practice. But we always look for different ways to expose students to books. Recently, for International Day of Reading, I brought some of my own children’s books to the classroom so students could read them in small groups. It was an enriching activity for them, and for some, a new experience.   \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EMelissa:\u003C\/b\u003E Thinking about Puerto Rican cultural heritage and children’s literature, it’s tough to think that in the 21st century we still have an undersupply of books that present our heritage. We can make a distinction between children’s books that reflect island-based Puerto Rican experiences and those that reflect Puerto Rican experience in the United States. I discuss this with my students and learn from them about how the two perspectives and experiences are distinct, but also similar in some ways. There’s so much to explore within the “two branches” of the Puerto Rican experience. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SAozDtCENBA\/XPldU6MCmlI\/AAAAAAAAF6s\/bTF1EQmcu8ARi-ZkoQgft-lnNlZ0jxVggCLcBGAs\/s1600\/puerto%2Brican%2Bchildren%2527s%2Bbooks%2Brealistic%2Bfiction.p\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SAozDtCENBA\/XPldU6MCmlI\/AAAAAAAAF6s\/bTF1EQmcu8ARi-ZkoQgft-lnNlZ0jxVggCLcBGAs\/s1600\/puerto%2Brican%2Bchildren%2527s%2Bbooks%2Brealistic%2Bfiction.p\" data-original-width=\"325\" data-original-height=\"489\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EMany of my students are not familiar with the life and groundbreaking work of Pura Belpré, who was the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City. In my course, pre-service teachers learn about her and review the Pura Belpré Award website to identify winning books and read them. I also assign chapter books that reflect familiar Puerto Rican childhood scenarios and immigration experiences such as \u003Ci\u003EGoing Home\u003C\/i\u003E and its sequel, \u003Ci\u003EFelita\u003C\/i\u003E, both by Nicholasa Mohr. My students are drawn to the relatable settings and characters and consider the value of using these stories to teach English to their students.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\nTeaching and supervising pre-service teachers allows me to learn how to effectively incorporate best practices in teaching reading and writing into my course and professional development workshops. We discuss how students read some books over and over, how revisiting a text allows an engaged reader to explore their own path to learning, and how we should celebrate what seems like purposeless repetition because it is building independence. As an educator, I recognize that some challenges are beyond a teacher’s control, and yet, the art of teaching is finding space to celebrate learning within complex social realities. \n    \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EYazmin:\u003C\/b\u003E  Using Puerto Rican children’s literature, and children's literature in general, with my ESL students has helped me to build their enthusiasm for reading, and their ability to analyze and interpret themes portrayed in texts. Children’s books provide the opportunity to learn about the world from a child or teenager’s perspective. These viewpoints open spaces for conversations, reflection and even roleplay. Sadly, reading and ESL resources, including high-quality children’s literature, are not that accessible in Puerto Rico; many of the books my students read are books I have purchased myself. Also, not all public schools have a library, and those that have one often misuse the space for meetings, storage, or as a digital media center. This undermines the school community’s perception of the library.  \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EMelissa:\u003C\/b\u003E I often run into former students, now teachers, working in public and private schools with or without libraries. We inevitably start talking about books they are currently reading, books they are using with students, and difficulties accessing books. I love learning about new titles, and learning from their teaching experiences. Our community of educators keeps growing. We aim to create and develop libraries, story time approaches, and book displays for children. Puerto Rican students should see the library as an empowering space that belongs to them.   \n \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EYazmin:\u003C\/b\u003E  It is our responsibility as educators to share children’s literature that is provoking, that reflects our children’s lives, and that motivates them to read independently. This is the way to build lifelong readers. Children’s books inspire readers to reflect on and question their own realities and social responsibilities. Libraries have been a part of educational reforms around the world, and to empower our Puerto Rican communities, we should advocate for fully engaged children’s and youth libraries in all our towns, municipalities, and cities. Going to libraries that serve as reading and writing centers, and as technology hubs, should be an essential part of our youth culture. We must begin from an early age to foster an appreciation of the value of literature in Puerto Rican society, and we must be active in the construction of movements that promote community empowerment and growth through reading.  \n\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Authors\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-VkcduTQMcV8\/XPlprC7LNbI\/AAAAAAAAF7E\/B1cWfulp8EYLFJPBIA0aPMlcD6jaaX4BQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Melissa_Garcia_Vega.png\"\/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDr. Melissa Lee García Vega\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E was born in Brooklyn, New York to Puerto Rican parents. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from CUNY-Queens College and completed her doctoral degree examining postcolonial and global contexts in Caribbean children's literature at the UPR, Rio Piedras Campus. She is currently co-editing a collection of essays on children’s and young adult literature of the Caribbean and its diaspora. She teaches courses in English literature, as well as curriculum and instruction, at the UPR, Aguadilla Campus.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZawJ3MMEeaI\/XPlSAW72roI\/AAAAAAAAF50\/9XD5Y2aE9fMKA7Hy9wNk9PqvFiqyqvTQACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Yazmin%2BMendez.png\"\/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EYazmín Méndez Bonet\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E has been a secondary school English teacher for the past ten years in Puerto Rico’s public school system, and has taught all grades from sixth through twelfth grades. She completed a bachelor’s degree in teaching english as a second language at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Aguadilla Campus and a master’s degree in English education at the UPR, Mayagüez Campus. As part of her professional development, Yazmín has been involved with the Maya West Writing Project, AFORMAR Academy and the WebTools Project, all at the UPR, Mayagüez Campus, and participated in the Pilar Barbosa Internship in Washington, D.C.. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction with a sub-concentration in instructional technology. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/358450874839333147\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2019\/06\/melissaandyazminconversation.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/358450874839333147"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/358450874839333147"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2019\/06\/melissaandyazminconversation.html","title":"The Use of Children’s Literature in Puerto Rican Learning Institutions "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z7G67ZimIqM\/XPlbBryi1CI\/AAAAAAAAF6g\/t9akjprTh_A5ldAoG43Y_9uTFzInUOuygCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Childrenreading.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-6823707883701648968"},"published":{"$t":"2018-08-07T14:42:00.008-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-26T08:38:31.228-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Libraries"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Caribbean Children's Literature: A Library Perspective With Cherie Miot Abbanat"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IQ8RkCiVoO8\/W2njG_aj3xI\/AAAAAAAAFR0\/lRTanuRcsCU4OukKdwLMZx2NsjsaxHmKQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Cherie%2BMiot%2BAbbanat_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IQ8RkCiVoO8\/W2njG_aj3xI\/AAAAAAAAFR0\/lRTanuRcsCU4OukKdwLMZx2NsjsaxHmKQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Cherie%2BMiot%2BAbbanat_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EOur special \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Eseries of interviews\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E with librarians continues today. Join our editor-in-chief, Summer Edward, as she investigates forward-thinking children's library projects across the Caribbean and the crucial role librarians everywhere play in broadening awareness of Caribbean children's and young adult literature. \u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 60px;\"\u003EC\u003C\/span\u003Eherie Miot Abbanat is a lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, and in the Department of Architecture where she has been teaching for over fifteen years. She lectures on policy, non-profit management, post-disaster rebuilding in New Orleans and Haiti, and the need for grassroots initiatives. At a young age, Cherie moved from the USA to Haiti where she lived for many years. She is passionate about empowering women in Haiti and throughout the world. She holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and French from Simmons College and a Masters with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Planning from MIT. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAs a practitioner, Cherie joined \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.haitiprojects.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHaiti Projects Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, a 501 (c)3 non-profit, in 2013. As its CEO, she successfully turned Haiti Projects around financially, and oversaw its transformation from a fledgling non-profit into a growing social enterprise. Haiti Projects boasts 4 employees in the US and close to 90 employees in Haiti. Haiti Projects operates a women's sewing cooperative; a women's health clinic that focuses on family planning, health and hygiene; and the Haiti Projects' Community Library. With support from the Kellogg Foundation, Haiti Projects plans to build a new community multi-purpose center in the near future.  \n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: The \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.haitiprojects.org\/library.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHaiti Projects' Community Library\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E opened in January 2018 and has been steadily building capacity and adding to its roster of initiatives. What programmes for young people does the Library offer? And what are some of the features of the Library that appeal to children and teens? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECherie Miot Abbanat:\u003C\/b\u003E The Library offers a number of programs for children, young adults and teens including Saturday kids club where kids learn to read, sing songs, go on short field trips around town, play recorder, and play games.  Parents get a break, and little kids get a jump-start on learning.  Young adults have access to book club, theater club, film club, and also dance.  Some of our popular classes include English class and French class.  We also have an adult literacy class where folks who never learned to read and write can come to the library to begin to learn to read and write letters and numbers.  Finally, we are beginning to offer community vocational training classes in the \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Library_makerspace\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emakerspace\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, including sewing classes and, soon, woodworking classes.  As we try different classes, we hope to learn more about what works\/doesn’t work with the community. \n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Kxtq-vviyZM\/W2no1R5r_uI\/AAAAAAAAFSE\/N5yRhM-ieuoHCCywylLXtgOXQ67tXhHTQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Haiti%2BProjects%2BCommunity%2BLibrary.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" ;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Kxtq-vviyZM\/W2no1R5r_uI\/AAAAAAAAFSE\/N5yRhM-ieuoHCCywylLXtgOXQ67tXhHTQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Haiti%2BProjects%2BCommunity%2BLibrary.jpg\" style=\"width: 687px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe 10,000 square foot Haiti Projects' Community Library building in Fond des Blancs, Haiti.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: The Library is housed in a striking building surrounded by smooth green lawns and flourishing trees. I can only imagine what the inside looks like. I think that when many people think of Haiti, they don’t necessarily think of stylish architecture. How important do you think it is for Haitian children to have beautiful, memorable learning and cultural spaces that calm, energize, uplift, and create emotional resonance? Was the social experience of the space something the Library’s designers had in mind?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECMA:\u003C\/b\u003E A library is a place that celebrates learning in its many forms, and it seems appropriate that the building should be beautiful and invite the community to strive toward higher learning.  If you look at the libraries built or funded by \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carnegie_library\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAndrew Carnegie\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E and some of the old schools built around the same time period—the early 1900s—you will see this grand celebration of education through the beauty of the structure—large windows, a grand walkway up to the library, a dramatic roof.  Libraries and schools built around this time seem to be monuments to education, and seem to speak to the importance of educating the community.  We held a similar vision for our library, but it needed to also speak to the culture and building typology of Haiti— a grand entrance, large windows, high ceilings, and a roof that has a large overhang so that windows could be open even during the rainy season.  If you take a look at some of the older homes in Haiti, the Gingerbread houses,  you will see elements of this style of building in our library, including the truss roof made of wood that is key to safety when building in seismic zones.  The color of the library, a blush pink, celebrates the colors you see in the Caribbean and, also speaks subtly to Haiti Projects' mission— the empowerment of women.   \n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nImportantly, our library is off the grid with no electricity, no running water, or heating or cooling technologies.  As such, the building is positioned on the site to ensure that natural cooling and ventilation can happen. We use rainwater collection that flows into a cistern below the library for reuse.  In addition, in 2019, if we can get donors on board, we hope to install and run most of our operations using a solar energy system, an inverter and batteries, reducing our diesel generator fuel costs. \n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In the library world there’s always a lot of talk about ‘responsiveness’, in the sense of making sure that library collections, programming and management take patrons’ needs into account. How does the Library work with the people of Fond des Blancs to make sure that the Library responds to the needs and possibilities of the community, and remains an inclusive space? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECMA:\u003C\/b\u003E  Before our new Community Library opened, Haiti Projects operated a tiny library in Fond des Blancs for over 10 years and we have learned a few things about what the community wants\/doesn’t want. Also, we have been lucky to be connected to amazing partners locally and nationally to help us.  For example, we are working with the Haiti National Libraries, \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.fokal.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFOKAL\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, and consultants from the American Library Association to determine the best collection for the library.  We are working with Haitian and Haitian\/American authors to gather books that are relevant to the culture.  \n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003EAt the local level, we are working with local law enforcement to design and implement a series of civics classes to help people better understand the rule of law, what it means to be a good citizen, the importance of civic engagement, and the importance of community service, among other topics.  We are also working with a local spinal cord injury program at the local hospital, to add a ramp to allow handicapped access to our second floor.   Furthermore, we have populated a local library board composed of leaders of the community who help us better understand what the community wants\/needs.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nStill, in some ways it is hard to know what the community wants, because for many the basic survival needs of food, water, clothing and education remain a daily struggle. Because many folks have have never seen or had access to books and programs, it’s hard for many to imagine possibilities. So, we designed our first ever \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/us7.campaign-archive.com\/?u=e0cac99cf25280c9ac175e4fd\u0026id=1415541ddb#\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELiterary Week in June 2018\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E as an open house with books, membership sign-up, author talks, workshops in drumming, poetry, film, storytelling, dance and theater, as a way to help people see the potential of a library.\n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: It's troubling that, usually, in children’s libraries in the Caribbean, most of the shelves are filled with American and European books, while the children’s books by Caribbean authors only get one shelf, if so many. Do you think culturally relevant\/responsive literacy should be a prime motive—as opposed to a peripheral consideration—of the Haiti Projects’ Community Library, and is it? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECMA:\u003C\/b\u003E It is critical to speak to the children in their own languages, Haitian Kreyòl, and make these books the center of our collection in our library.  At Haiti Projects, we turn away many, many offers of English books for our Library, because we know that these are not relevant.  We also work to include as many Haitian authors as possible in setting up our collection. What is most difficult for us is finding writings for our children and young adults in Haitian Kreyòl. \n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003EIn fact, at one point I asked the kids what we should do since we don’t have many books in Kreyòl to include in our Library. In response, the kids, with the help of their teacher, started writing down their own stories and making Kreyòl books for the Library. This was beautiful. Our adult literacy students, who never learned to read or write, jumped in when asked to tell stories to the children, who then wrote them down in Kreyòl. During Literary Week, we hosted Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat and she did a story-telling workshop with the kids; she encouraged them to continue writing down their stories in Kreyòl and sharing them with as many folks as possible. As we move forward and build our library collection, it will be critical to gather the voices of Haiti in print, and audio, for the community.\n \n\n \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: -10px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-jV_jZmF8YvM\/W2nvIe1pg1I\/AAAAAAAAFSc\/e4f0TtTe8lQZnQOr2Km-B7sBTLAf89OhACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Haiti%2BProjects%2BCommunity%2BLibrary3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" ;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-jV_jZmF8YvM\/W2nvIe1pg1I\/AAAAAAAAFSc\/e4f0TtTe8lQZnQOr2Km-B7sBTLAf89OhACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Haiti%2BProjects%2BCommunity%2BLibrary3.jpg\" style=\"width: 640px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EYoung library patrons engrossed in silent reading\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Haiti Projects was conceived due to the altruism and vision of American founders, is a registered charity in the state of Massachusetts, USA, and has a Board of Directors comprised of American people. Given the unequal power relations between Haiti and the USA, do you think it’s possible for charitable organizations like yours to avoid authoritarian and paternalistic approaches to social\/literacy development in Haiti? How so? Is that something the Library's administration actively thinks about?\u003C\/b\u003E\n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECMA:\u003C\/b\u003E Haiti Projects' focus is on empowering women in rural Haiti by providing access to jobs, family planning services, and education through our Community Library. The very inception of Haiti Projects was about bucking the Catholic Church patriarchy at the local hospital that dictated that contraception, and by extension choice, was not okay to provide to women. In response, Haiti Projects opened the first-ever family planning clinic in the region, which now boasts 8,000 patient visits each year. Haiti Projects employs 80 women artisans in our workshop, has 60 women beekeepers, and 500 girl soccer players. Of course our library, cyber cafe and makerspace are open to both genders, and we continue to track female\/male participants to gauge our impact. As Haiti Projects has grown, we have learned the power of providing a job to a woman, and the importance of breaking gender norms about who can play soccer (we have 5 all-girls soccer teams) and who can bee a beekeeper; all traditional male roles and activities.  \n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nIn terms of leadership, all of Haiti Projects leaders are either Haitian-American or Haitian, and most of our leaders are women. Finally, half of our board members are women and we have two Haitian-American or Haitian board members in the US, a Haitian Library Board, and a Haitian Clinic Advisory Committee. So, while there is room for many more Haitian or Haitian-American voices, especially on the US board of directors, we have come along way in terms of Haitian Leadership for Haiti Projects. \n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: The Haiti Projects’ Community Library is Haiti’s first Maker Library. The Maker Library Network, created as a project of the British Council (although the British Council stepped back from its involvement in the project in 2017) enables the UK-facilitated development of library makerspaces all over the world, including at MIT where you teach. The British Council has been criticized for being an organization that “projects Britishness abroad” thereby continuing the legacy of colonialism. Does the Haiti Projects’ Community Library, as a Maker Library, fall under such a charge?\u003C\/b\u003E\n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECMA:\u003C\/b\u003E The Haiti Projects makerspace is indeed modeled after the makerspaces at MIT. MIT’s makerspaces or fablabs have been positioned around the world and are designed to talk with each other so that students from around the world can learn from each other about how to make almost anything. MIT’s approach is focused on hands-on learning, entrepreneurship, as well as open access learning for all, and yes, I hope that we can spread these ideas as we move forward in developing our makerspace.  \n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nAs part of our research for this project, Haitian-American board member and PhD Engineer, Dale Joachim, helped us design the space and helped us make it relevant to the community of Fond des Blancs, a largely agricultural and artisan community.  Dale was an instructor at MIT’s media lab where he worked with innovators on the concept for our maker lab, and had a chance to visit and teach alongside MIT faculty exploring many of the open access learning concepts.  Furthermore, we had many conversations with MIT librarians, Haitian librarians, and other international organizations about how to make the maker space functional and relevant.\n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nBased on our research, we have included equipment such as sewing machines, woodworking tools and equipment, computers, and our stretch machine, a vinyl cutter. We have avoided the purchase of the “cool” machines, including a laser cutter and 3D printer, to date because of the lack of applicability right now in the region.   \n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: The Library carries books written in Haitian Kreyòl, and also English and French. The Haitian Kreyòlist Michel DeGraff, \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.voicesfromhaiti.com\/inner-views\/michel-degraff-mit-linguistics-professor-our-word-is-our-bond\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebelieves that requiring Haitian children to learn, speak and read French as well as Kreyòl, their mother tongue, causes inferiority complexes in those who can’t speak French well, and hinders their ability to excel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E. Has the Library put measures in place to make sure Kreyòl books aren’t viewed by young patrons as inferior or aren't sidelined in library programming?\u003C\/b\u003E\n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECMA:\u003C\/b\u003E All classes, including our technology classes, are taught in Haitian Kreyòl. We also have Kreyòl books, and have included many of the \u003Ci\u003EKreyòl Mother Tongue Books\u003C\/i\u003E, donated to us by the Matinwa project that Professor DeGraff helped facilitate. We were also fortunate enough to have an MIT team who worked with Professor Degraff to help us translate the programming software we use, Scratch, into Kreyòl for the kids in our January coding workshop.  Still, we struggle to find books and resources translated into Haitian Kreyòl, and we find that we must translate many things ourselves.  For example, during Literary Week our fabulous Haitian librarian had to translate an Edwidge Danticat story we were teaching into Kreyòl so that our theater piece could be accessible to all.  \n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nBut to your point, it is hard to know how an entire culture views or doesn’t view its mother tongue, or books written in its mother tongue, Haitian Kreyòl. It it even harder to know how to change a mindset. When the taxi driver tells you how proud he is that his children are getting good grades in French, a language that he hopes will allow his children to move to a higher social class, it is hard to know what to say.  Still, as a Haitian-American, and having lived in Haiti as a child, I have seen that the problems that Professor Degraff points to in his writing remain a challenge for all who work and live in Haiti.  \n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nHaiti Projects has chosen to address these challenges by celebrating Haitian Kreyòl and providing access to resources in Haitian Kreyòl to our community (books, computer training, theater, and film). We teach in Haitian Kreyòl, and use both languages, Haitian Kreyòl and French, in our communications.  We also teach French as a non-native language, much like we teach English.  At the Haiti Projects Library, we strive to celebrate literacy in its many forms— written, oral, dance, theater, and music.  In fact, during Literary Week, we opened our doors to multiple workshops for the arts, culture and literacy, all held in Kreyòl. We invited Haitian and Haitian-American authors to join us in the celebration and help the community celebrate what it means to be Haitian in its many, many transformative forms.    \n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What needs and challenges does the Library currently have? What would you say to someone who might be considering supporting the Haiti Projects’ Community Library?\n\u003C\/b\u003E\n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECMA:\u003C\/b\u003E Haiti Projects is focused on the question of how to make all of our projects sustainable over the next five years.  Because of donor fatigue in Haiti, we need to find ways to support and enhance our projects in creative ways. The questions that we are asking include:  Can our artisan workshop produce enough revenue to fund not only itself, but also the library? Can our women’s beekeeping program produce enough revenue to pay for the costs of new equipment, trainings, and maybe even the girls soccer program? Haiti Projects Library needs to continue to reduce its operating costs and increase its revenues in order to move closer and closer to a fully sustainable building. \n\n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003EOur first step in the sustainable direction is to purchase and install a solar system to power the entire library— lights, machines, computers, etc. Other ways to create sustainable programs may be to partner with the local schools and schools abroad to offer teacher training in exchange for teaching in our library, so that we can extend the reach of our programs to kids and teachers in the region.  One of our biggest challenges that needs a solution is how to get high-speed internet to the rural locations in Haiti.  Our “high-speed” network is painfully slow, and expensive. How can we bring  the power of the Internet to our rural locations so that kids can learn from many teachers around Haiti, the Caribbean and the world?\n \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: -10px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-hG5Vhj7dJ1w\/W2ntO5wJywI\/AAAAAAAAFSQ\/2C-HHegEMAs4jEPzWipUGf3XzMnrVIKiACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Haiti%2BProjects%2BCommunity%2BLibrary2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" ;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-hG5Vhj7dJ1w\/W2ntO5wJywI\/AAAAAAAAFSQ\/2C-HHegEMAs4jEPzWipUGf3XzMnrVIKiACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Haiti%2BProjects%2BCommunity%2BLibrary2.jpg\" style=\"width: 750px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EYoung patrons learning how to code in the library\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In terms of your involvement with the Library, what are some of the experiences that have brought you the most joy?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ECMA:\u003C\/b\u003E Last April, I was at the Library working on a host of challenges that we were dealing with: Internet problems, car problems, books that had gotten damaged from the hurricane the year before, etc. At the end of the day, my staff let me know it was graduation day for our first adult literacy class, folks who had never had the opportunity to go to school to learn to read or write. I was exhausted, but wanted to be a part of the ceremony.  \n  \u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nYou would have thought that we were attending the Academy Awards. Women and men were dressed in prom dresses, men in suits, and friends and family held cameras.  Everyone was celebrating, including dancing and singing when names were called at graduation.  One woman spoke about how proud she was that she could write her own name.  She explained “I will never have to sign my name by only making a little cross, now I can sign my own name.”  Another man had written a poem and read it to the audience, and still another woman read a passage from a book that she loved.  As each individual came to the microphone to thank the staff and share something they learned, tears flowed. It was clear that those 60 graduates had a precious new gift that was worth more to them than the 6 months of work they had put in at the library. Each had a new tool, a new gift that they had given themselves, a new way of being in the world.  Now that each had begun to decipher words and numbers, write their names, a passage, or a poem, they celebrated the door they had opened up for themselves— a door to reading and writing.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ci\u003EThis is the last interview in the first installment of our series on Caribbean children's librarianship. Links to all of the interviews in this series have been archived on our website on \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Ethis page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/6823707883701648968\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/08\/libraryperspectivecheriemiotabbanat.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6823707883701648968"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6823707883701648968"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/08\/libraryperspectivecheriemiotabbanat.html","title":"[Interview] Caribbean Children\u0026#x27;s Literature: A Library Perspective With Cherie Miot Abbanat"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IQ8RkCiVoO8\/W2njG_aj3xI\/AAAAAAAAFR0\/lRTanuRcsCU4OukKdwLMZx2NsjsaxHmKQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Cherie%2BMiot%2BAbbanat_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-5490643793397911667"},"published":{"$t":"2018-10-12T08:56:00.009-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-26T08:37:44.180-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Environment"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Special issue"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Submissions Call"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview \u0026 Submissions Call] Anansesem's Special Issue On Puerto Rican Children's Literature"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-3vLd4PrgMeQ\/W8CjxLzdI6I\/AAAAAAAAFVY\/snOyvrSm8vcEY4ixDAeyjUPNUFQ0USbrgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/LA%2BCOTORRITA%2BBORICUA%2Billustration.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" width=\"750px\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-3vLd4PrgMeQ\/W8CjxLzdI6I\/AAAAAAAAFVY\/snOyvrSm8vcEY4ixDAeyjUPNUFQ0USbrgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/LA%2BCOTORRITA%2BBORICUA%2Billustration.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIllustration by  Lea Stagno from \u003Ci\u003ELa Cotorrita Boricua\u003C\/i\u003E, written by Enrique Hidalgo\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 60px; color: #000000;\"\u003EC\u003C\/span\u003Earmen, one of our associate editors, is a Puerto Rican who lives in Puerto Rico. When Hurricane Maria first hit landfall on Wednesday September 20, 2017, I doubt she or anyone on the island imagined that they were about to experience the worst natural disaster on record to affect Dominica and Puerto Rico. Before the hurricane, I knew Carmen as many things: a warm and positive person, a devoted mother, an educator passionate about the Caribbean children's literature courses she teaches at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao and exceptionally dedicated to her students, and an avid reader and researcher of Puerto Rican children's literature (check out her article, '\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/muse.jhu.edu\/article\/551561\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPuerto Rican Children's Literature and the Need for Afro-Puerto Rican Stories\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E' in \u003Ci\u003EBookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature\u003C\/i\u003E, and for a good overview of Puerto Rican children's literature, check out \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/2014\/10\/publishing-perspectives-interview-with.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis 2014 interview\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E with Carmen over on my website.) After Hurricane Maria, Carmen is still fully all of these things. In a country where so much has been lost and derailed, and most of the public libraries have been destroyed, she \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.elnuevodia.com\/entretenimiento\/cultura\/nota\/labibliotecamovilquefomentalalecturaportodoelpais-2444797\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E and many others\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E continue to forge community, build resilience and reassure young people through the power of children's books.\n\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nI've always wanted \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E to publish an issue devoted to Puerto Rican children's and young adult (YA) literature, but I never felt I was fully equipped to edit a Puerto Rican issue (I don't speak Spanish fluently for one) and other ideas took priority. Now, with millions of Puerto Ricans still struggling to rebuild and the rich tapestry of Puerto Rican life in danger of being reduced to \"a single story\" à la Chimamanda Adichie, an issue devoted to Puerto Rico's distinctive legacy of #ownvoices children's narratives feels more than timely. From the early \u003Ci\u003Ejibaro \u003C\/i\u003Etales and coqui stories, to the bilingual folktale re-tellings of Pura Belpré and trailblazing works by Fernando Pico (\u003Ci\u003ELa Peineta Colorada\/The Red Comb\u003C\/i\u003E) , Georgina Lázaro (\u003Ci\u003EEl flamboyán amarillo\u003C\/i\u003E), Ángeles Pastor (the \u003Ci\u003EPor el mundo del cuento y la aventura\u003C\/i\u003E series), and children's poet Andrés Díaz Marrero, to name only a few, to fresh new fiction by the likes of Pablo Cartaya, Ann Dávila Cardinal and other Twitter-savvy Puerto Rican migrants to the US mainland, Puerto Rican literature for young audiences is ripe for \u003Ci\u003Emuch\u003C\/i\u003E wider recognition, essential for Caribbean children, and historically vital for building pivotal cultural bridges.\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nSmall publications like ours struggle to meet our editorial needs, so we are beyond excited to announce that Sujei Lugo Vázquez—a US-based Puerto Rican children's librarian and PhD candidate who is well-known in the children's literature world for her advocacy and teaching regarding anti-racist and social justice themes in children's books—will be guest curating and editing our upcoming May 2019 issue. Check out my interview with her below to learn more about her and her vision for the issue, and scroll down to the bottom to read the issue's Submission Call in Sujei's own words.\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-RyeqQ3v8rU4\/W7_6QI3nY8I\/AAAAAAAAFUs\/29CqdGc_ypYPOShyBiNYRSyDu1YuVMsUgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/LA%2BCOTORRITA%2BBORICUA2.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" width=\"750px\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-RyeqQ3v8rU4\/W7_6QI3nY8I\/AAAAAAAAFUs\/29CqdGc_ypYPOShyBiNYRSyDu1YuVMsUgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/LA%2BCOTORRITA%2BBORICUA2.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIllustration by  Lea Stagno from \u003Ci\u003ELa Cotorrita Boricua\u003C\/i\u003E, written by Enrique Hidalgo\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rxzx9h1RBCA\/W7_7GH5GLfI\/AAAAAAAAFU4\/0ktg6AX1qjg_Jh4SBK2x5DwShD1IyfW7QCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Sujei%2BLugo%2BV%25C3%25A1zquez.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rxzx9h1RBCA\/W7_7GH5GLfI\/AAAAAAAAFU4\/0ktg6AX1qjg_Jh4SBK2x5DwShD1IyfW7QCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Sujei%2BLugo%2BV%25C3%25A1zquez.jpg\" data-original-width=\"512\" data-original-height=\"488\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESujei Lugo Vázquez\u003C\/b\u003E is a former elementary school librarian from\nPuerto Rico, who moved to Boston, USA to pursue doctoral studies at\nSimmons University. Her research focuses on racial justice in\nchildren’s librarianship. She currently works as a children’s\nlibrarian at the Boston Public Library and is an active member of\nprofessional organizations such as REFORMA, ALA, and ALSC.\nShe is a member of the \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/latinosinkidlit.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELatinxs in Kid Lit\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E blog and We’re the\nPeople Collective. Her body, heart, and mind constantly travel\nbetween Boston and Puerto Rico.\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: Why do you think reading, writing and telling Puerto Rican stories is important for\nchildren and teens right now?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESujei Lugo Vázquez: \u003C\/b\u003EPuerto Rican stories told and retold to my grandparents, parents, myself and our children were\nmainly filled with colonial perspectives and outsiders telling our stories, or insiders with\ninternalized oppressions telling fractured stories. Digging outside the mainstream publishing\nworld and school curriculum was a way to find our stories of resistance and empowerment, and\nperspectives of marginalized voices. Right now, we need to continue telling our own stories, in\nour words, so youth can challenge and re-imagine our past, present and potential future.\nThere’s no single way of being Puerto Rican and living in Puerto Rico, and our political,\nsocial and cultural landscape keeps influencing and shifting our stories. We need to keep our\nchildren and teens up-to-date on these changes, and educate them about their role in writing and telling Puerto\nRican stories.\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What are you looking for in terms of submissions to the issue? Is there a particular\nkind of writing that stands out to you?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESLV:\u003C\/b\u003E I’m looking for stories, experiences, literacy projects, words, and images that center works for\nyouth, and with youth, in a post-Hurricane María Puerto Rico. The issue seeks to showcase voices and perspectives\nfrom the whole island, metropolitan area, rural areas, our coasts and mountains, and the islands\nof Vieques and Culebras. Educators, librarians, writers, illustrators, artists, activists, community\nleaders and community members mobilized and expressed their experiences and concerns in\ndifferent ways regarding issues such as health, education, literacies, art, food justice, the environment,\nsustainability, power\/energy, migration, and temporary relocations. I would like the issue to provide a\nglimpse of all of these local efforts, projects and activism for, and with, our youth.\nI'm not only looking for writing but also images that speak from hands-on experience and life in\nPuerto Rico. Pieces that readers could see and feel the sincerity, emotions and perspective of\nthe creators using the language that best represents and portrays their voices.\n\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Ultimately, with this issue, what message do you want to send to Puerto Ricans—\nyoung Puerto Ricans especially, but adults too—still grappling with the after-effects of\nHurricane María, and to those who will read the issue?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESLV:\u003C\/b\u003E Our people might not be ready now to completely express ourselves, since we are still healing,\ncoping, understanding and surviving the effects and aftermath of the natural, political and\nhuman disasters that Hurricane María made clearer. Our children and teens need to\nacknowledge that they have the experience and tools to control their own narratives, and that they\ncan be expressed in many ways— through words, images, community organizing, and\ncollaborative work. Their memories, experiences and reflections are all valid, and reflect not just an individual feeling, but a collective, intergenerational, and historical one.\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nLiteracy, education and children’s literature have played, and will continue to play, an important role in moving Puerto Rico and our\ncommunities forward, serving as vehicles of change, empowerment and resistance for our youth,\nand for adults that work with youth. Through this issue, I want readers to see activism and children’s\nliterature in practice and to understand that our voices, and \u003Ci\u003Eyouth\u003C\/i\u003E voices, can and should be heard. I want Caribbean readers to know that\ncollaboration is intrinsic for (re) building communities, and that we should enhance our\nconnections with our fellow Caribbean peoples.\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 60px; color: #000000;\"\u003ECall for Submissions\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 30px; color: #ff9900;\"\u003ESpecial Post-Hurricane Maria Issue on Puerto Rican Literature for Young People\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qgLrVOE8dsg\/W8CjIa2lwvI\/AAAAAAAAFVQ\/MBUVKiVwyEwq349wYY5c420G7sVUCYnzwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/How%2BFar%2BDo%2BYou%2BLove%2BMe%2BLulu%2BDelacre.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\"  src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qgLrVOE8dsg\/W8CjIa2lwvI\/AAAAAAAAFVQ\/MBUVKiVwyEwq349wYY5c420G7sVUCYnzwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/How%2BFar%2BDo%2BYou%2BLove%2BMe%2BLulu%2BDelacre.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIllustration by  Lulu Delacre from \u003Ci\u003EHow Far Do You Love Me?\u003C\/i\u003E, written by Lulu Delacre\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E is currently accepting submissions for our May 2019 issue. The issue will be guest edited\nby Sujei Lugo Vázquez, and will be titled \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EY este cuento (no) ha terminado: rebuilding, rewriting and resisting in Puerto Rico\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. The issue will spotlight stories, images, experiences, and projects in\npost-Hurricane María Puerto Rico connected to children's and young adult (YA) literature.\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nWe want to highlight local and community art, literacy, and storytelling efforts for youth in Puerto\nRico; Puerto Rican children’s authors and illustrators' work and experiences; Puerto\nRican\/Caribbean youth voices and experiences in writing and art; and works that intersect children’s\nliterature with any of the following: activism, art, education, the environment, sustainability, food justice, housing rights,\ncolonization and imperialism, and re-imagining a new future for Puerto Rico.\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nPoetry, short fiction and non-fiction, illustrations, comics, photographs, book reviews, and\nreflections are being accepted. Send in up to five poems, images, panels, and illustrations. Written pieces must be no more than 2,000 words max. We will accept .pdf, .docx, and .jpeg formats.\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nSubmissions are limited to Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Caribbean peoples living in Puerto\nRico. Works may be in English, Spanish, Bilingual and Spanglish.\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nInclude name(s), contact information and brief (up to 75 words) biographical notes.\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003ESend up to two submissions to \u003Cb\u003Esujeilugo@gmail.com\u003C\/b\u003E with “Anansesem Puerto Rico Issue — Poetry” or “Anansesem Puerto Rico Issue —  Prose” etc. in the subject line.\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: #ff9900;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 30px; color: #ff9900;\"\u003EEdición especial sobre literatura infantil y juvenil puertorriqueña post paso del huracán María.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E está aceptando entregas para su edición de mayo 2019. Esta edición cuenta con Sujei Lugo Vázquez como editora invitada y será titulada “\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EY este cuento (no) ha terminado: rebuilding, rewriting and resisting in Puerto Rico\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E”. La edición busca darle exposición a relatos, imágenes, experiencias y proyectos en el Puerto Rico post huracán María que estén conectados a la literatura infantil y juvenil.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\nQueremos darle énfasis al arte local y comunitario, alfabetización e iniciativas de contar cuentos para lxs jóvenes en Puerto Rico; las experiencias de autores e ilustradores puertorriqueñxs; las voces y experiencias de jóvenes de Puerto Rico y el Caribe; y trabajo donde se intersecta la literatura infantil con cualquiera de los siguientes temas: activismo, arte, educación, el medio ambiente, la sostenibilidad, justicia alimentaria, derechos de vivienda, colonialismo e imperialismo y la re-imaginación del futuro de Puerto Rico.\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nPoesía, cuentos o relatos cortos, ilustraciones, cómics, fotografías, reseñas de libros y reflexiones son bienvenidas. Se pueden someter hasta cinco poemas, imagenes, paneles e ilustraciones. Las piezas escritas no deben ser de más de 2,000 palabras. Aceptamos entregas en los siguientes formatos: .pdf .docx y .jpeg.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nEntregas limitadas a puertorriqueñxs, dominicanxs y personas del caribe que viven en Puerto Rico. Los trabajos pueden ser en inglés, español, en ambos idiomas o en spanglish.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\nSe debe incluir nombres, información de contacto y una breve nota biográfica (hasta 75 palabras) en las entregas\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nEnvíe hasta dos presentaciones a \u003Cb\u003Esujeilugo@gmail.com\u003C\/b\u003E con \"Anansesem Puerto Rico Issue - Poetry\" o \"Anansesem Puerto Rico Issue - Prose\", etc. en la línea de asunto.\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EFecha límite: 15 de enero de 2019.\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: #ff9900;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELAS PRESENTACIONES ESTÁN AHORA CERRADAS.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/5490643793397911667\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/10\/specialissuepuertoricanchildrenslit.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/5490643793397911667"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/5490643793397911667"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/10\/specialissuepuertoricanchildrenslit.html","title":"[Interview \u0026amp; Submissions Call] Anansesem\u0026#x27;s Special Issue On Puerto Rican Children\u0026#x27;s Literature"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-3vLd4PrgMeQ\/W8CjxLzdI6I\/AAAAAAAAFVY\/snOyvrSm8vcEY4ixDAeyjUPNUFQ0USbrgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/LA%2BCOTORRITA%2BBORICUA%2Billustration.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-2970808186424066230"},"published":{"$t":"2018-07-31T10:17:00.006-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-26T08:37:21.478-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Publishing"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Submissions Call"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview \u0026 Submissions Call] Lantana Publishing Seeks to Champion Caribbean Children's Stories"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-jsanWsE_0Jo\/W2BegjFivBI\/AAAAAAAAFQQ\/a8nOpHTq6vorG048MQPNNeJtpHJvMZjTQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Call%2Bfor%2Bsubmissions%2Bbanner_Lantana%2BPublishing.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-jsanWsE_0Jo\/W2BegjFivBI\/AAAAAAAAFQQ\/a8nOpHTq6vorG048MQPNNeJtpHJvMZjTQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Call%2Bfor%2Bsubmissions%2Bbanner_Lantana%2BPublishing.jpg\" width=\"750px\"\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 60px; color: #000000;\"\u003EI\u003C\/span\u003E first met Dr. Alice Curry, founder of UK-based \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lantanapublishing.com\/\"  target=\"_blank\"\u003ELantana Publishing\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, in 2013 when we worked together on a think tank to brainstorm the curriculum for \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.coursera.org\/learn\/writing-for-children\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWriting for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, a project she spearheaded during her tenure as  Children's Literature Adivsor with the \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cet1886.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECommonwealth Education Trust\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E. We've kept in touch since, and got together again in London in the summer of 2016, when Lantana was in its second year of operations and already making a mark on children's publishing in the UK. \n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nWith a degree in English Literature from Oxford University, a PhD in Children’s Literature from Macquarie University in Sydney, a keen sense of social responsibility, and a commitment to environmentally-friendly publishing, Alice is one of the youngest recipients of the prestigious Kim Scott Walwyn Prize for women in publishing. Over the years, she's spoken to me about wanting to find talented Caribbean children's writers to work with; as a small house, Lantana doesn't necessarily have the advertising budget or influence (yet) to reach children's writers as far away as the Caribbean, but that doesn't mean they aren't interested. Lantana is one of those exciting publishers who reassures me that publishing demand for stories like ours exists.\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nLantana Publishing describes itself as \"a young, independent publishing house producing inclusive picture books for children.\" Their mission is \"to publish outstanding writing for young readers by giving new and aspiring BAME authors and illustrators a platform to publish in the UK and by working with much-loved authors and illustrators from around the world.\" Lantana’s award-winning titles have been nominated for a Kate Greenaway Medal (three times), received starred Kirkus reviews (three times), been shortlisted for the Early Excellence Awards, the North Somerset Teachers’ Book Awards, and the Sheffield Children’s Books Awards, and won the Children’s Africana Best Book Award. Lantana has been shortlisted for the Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publisher of the Year and the Clarissa Luard Award for Independent Publishing. In 2017, they \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.publishersweekly.com\/pw\/by-topic\/childrens\/childrens-book-news\/article\/74813-lantana-publishing-breaks-into-u-s-market.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebroke into the US market\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, and will continue to push high-quality children's literature from underrepresented groups even further.\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nI've always been struck by Alice's openness and genuineness, as well as her smarts, and am extremely happy to share her thoughts on working with Caribbean children's writers.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-GyLcTzR7DLU\/XZIRRMCgdrI\/AAAAAAAAHw4\/mqzDqpFbQrkT9k-JTQBNzEAPrtnJRCbrQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/London%2BPhoto.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-GyLcTzR7DLU\/XZIRRMCgdrI\/AAAAAAAAHw4\/mqzDqpFbQrkT9k-JTQBNzEAPrtnJRCbrQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/London%2BPhoto.png\" data-original-width=\"700\" data-original-height=\"466\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAlice Curry and I in London in 2016.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: I was happy to learn that Lantana is specifically interested in receiving more submissions from Caribbean writers in the hopes of publishing its first Caribbean title (and hopefully many more after that!). What types of manuscripts do you tend to look for and accept? Do you handle a variety of genres and formats? Also, what types of manuscripts will you \u003Ci\u003Enot\u003C\/i\u003E accept? \n\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EAlice Curry:\u003C\/b\u003E We mainly publish picture books so we tend to look for relatively short narratives – around 400-500 words is ideal – that are fun and childlike, or evocative and inspiring, where children of colour are the stars. We tend not to accept manuscripts that are primarily explanatory – teaching the reader about a particular culture, tradition or custom, even if couched in a story format. We may publish a manuscript that has already been self-published (this would depend on the context), and we do consider narrative nonfiction for slightly older readers (7-11). \n\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Y1dvOB162Lk\/W2Bx1fsVFfI\/AAAAAAAAFQ0\/y3UA0F3NVtQ9LMiLStjUtRb4ypstoYVpwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Looking%2Bfor%2BLord%2BGanesh%2BInterior.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" width=\"750ps\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Y1dvOB162Lk\/W2Bx1fsVFfI\/AAAAAAAAFQ0\/y3UA0F3NVtQ9LMiLStjUtRb4ypstoYVpwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Looking%2Bfor%2BLord%2BGanesh%2BInterior.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIllustration by\u0026nbsp;Sonja Wimmer, from \u003Ci\u003ELooking for Lord Ganesh\u003C\/i\u003E by Mahtab Narsimhan, published by Lantana in 2016.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: As a children's publisher focused on cross-cultural collaborations, you've published picturebooks set in Africa, India, Syria and Singapore. Given that Lantana is based in the UK, how do you reach and serve the \"cultural markets\" in the countries and communities your authors are from? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EAC:\u003C\/b\u003E This is always tricky. We have thriving export markets in the United States and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa and most recently India, so we are steadily expanding our reach. But whether or not we can feasibly distribute our books in – say – Kenya or Syria depends so much on the political and economic context in that region. While our US distributors have some links with the Caribbean, we would actively seek sales or distribution outlets in this region if we were to publish a Caribbean title. And of course, in the meantime, our books can always be bought from our own website or via other online retailers who ship worldwide. \n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rb76yh0FZW4\/W2BztyenRXI\/AAAAAAAAFRA\/kjISrj-bsSgorA5_CyhqopbdVSdoxRkEQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Chicken%2Bin%2Bthe%2BKitchen%2BInterior.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" width=\"750px\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rb76yh0FZW4\/W2BztyenRXI\/AAAAAAAAFRA\/kjISrj-bsSgorA5_CyhqopbdVSdoxRkEQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Chicken%2Bin%2Bthe%2BKitchen%2BInterior.pngg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIllustration by Mehrdokht Amini, from \u003Ci\u003EChicken in the Kitchen\u003C\/i\u003E by\u0026nbsp;Nnedi Okorafor, published by Lantana in 2017.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-4oIxl4w9OYc\/W2B6nW8AfZI\/AAAAAAAAFRY\/4hpnbIKJ0eIZWEnFaliGI4LhvEDAL2OcwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Phoenix%2BSong%2BInterior.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" width=\"750px\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-4oIxl4w9OYc\/W2B6nW8AfZI\/AAAAAAAAFRY\/4hpnbIKJ0eIZWEnFaliGI4LhvEDAL2OcwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Phoenix%2BSong%2BInterior.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIllustration by Martina Peluso, from \u003Ci\u003EThe Phoenix Song\u003C\/i\u003E by Tutu Dutta, published by Lantana in 2015.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: All children's publishers have a \"house style\" that they impose upon the text, illustrations and layout of the stories they publish. What would you say to a children's writer in the Caribbean who might be concerned that a British publisher's house style could detract from the authenticity of the text or illustrations in their book? In other words, as a cross-cultural publisher, how does Lantana balance the sometimes competing concerns of house style and cultural authenticity in the picturebooks you publish? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EAC:\u003C\/b\u003E I will answer your question with an example from one of our previous titles. Ugandan author Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl’s wonderful \u003Ci\u003ESleep Well, Siba and Saba\u003C\/i\u003E, illustrated by French illustrator Sandra van Doorn, is a story set in Kampala. It is the story of two adorable sisters who lose everything, except each other. Over the course of a few months, Nansubuga, Sandra and I had several three-way conversations trying to ensure that we were as culturally authentic in our representation of Ugandan life as possible – particularly when it came to Sandra’s illustrations. We became stuck, however, when Nansubuga suggested that Ugandan women often kneel when at home, while men tend to stand. Sandra drew a lovely scene in the family’s living room with the mother, father and children spending time together…with the wife kneeling before her husband. Culturally authentic, yes, but absolutely sure to be misinterpreted by a British reader as a patriarchal image of male control and female subservience. Our solution was for Sandra to move the mother figure further across the page to kneel beside her children rather than in front of her husband, thereby retaining a sense of Ugandan tradition without sacrificing British values. We strive for this balance on every occasion. We may of course make mistakes, but we are usually aware of the potential dangers. \n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: So many of the children's books with Caribbean content that have been published by Global North publishers have perpetuated cultural stereotypes or narrow narratives of the Caribbean. How will Lantana ensure that your books avoid doing this? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EAC:\u003C\/b\u003E First of all we think it’s vital that authors tell the stories they want to tell, rather than our own vision of what we think that story should be. Being committed to really listening to our authors means that we often publish very personal stories – memories of spending time with a beloved grandfather, or of the architecture of the city where an author grew up – where stereotypes can more easily be avoided. For many of our readers, the titles we publish might give them one of only a handful of chances to glimpse themselves, their families and their neighbourhoods on the pages of a book, and knowing this demands our absolute commitment and dedication. And we have a wealth of friends to call on if we need advice, including the wonderful \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mona.uwi.edu\/soe\/staff\/dr-aisha-spencer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDr. Aisha Spencer\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, lecturer in literatures in English at UWI Mona, and you yourself, Summer.  \n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-gnP6gp7ni5A\/W2B3HpznUuI\/AAAAAAAAFRM\/zqdvfvT7_KkgYeZrBKzyUYhlP3ol0sS7ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/The%2BAmmuchi%2BPuchi%2BInterior.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" width=\"750px\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-gnP6gp7ni5A\/W2B3HpznUuI\/AAAAAAAAFRM\/zqdvfvT7_KkgYeZrBKzyUYhlP3ol0sS7ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/The%2BAmmuchi%2BPuchi%2BInterior.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIllustration by Nerina Canzi, from \u003Ci\u003EThe Ammuchi Puchi\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Sharanya Manivannan,\u0026nbsp;published by Lantana in 2016.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Generally speaking, what would you say makes Lantana a good publisher to work with? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EAC:\u003C\/b\u003E We’re passionate about what we do which means we’re passionate about our authors and getting their stories heard. Unlike larger publishing houses with A lists and B lists – and thus varying levels of advertising and attention – we dedicate ourselves to each of our authors and illustrators and their books as equally as we can. We don’t expect to receive nigh on perfect manuscripts or to work only with authors with agents – we are happy to undertake an extended editing process if we think your manuscript shows promise. And becoming a Lantana author means joining a supportive international community of talented authors and illustrators who are all achieving great things in their lives and writing – a community we find constantly inspiring! \n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/2970808186424066230\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/07\/LantanaSubmissionsCallAliceCurryInterview.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/2970808186424066230"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/2970808186424066230"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/07\/LantanaSubmissionsCallAliceCurryInterview.html","title":"[Interview \u0026amp; Submissions Call] Lantana Publishing Seeks to Champion Caribbean Children\u0026#x27;s Stories"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-jsanWsE_0Jo\/W2BegjFivBI\/AAAAAAAAFQQ\/a8nOpHTq6vorG048MQPNNeJtpHJvMZjTQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Call%2Bfor%2Bsubmissions%2Bbanner_Lantana%2BPublishing.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-6122832940538000035"},"published":{"$t":"2017-10-10T05:32:00.006-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-26T08:35:00.607-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Love Issue"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Nonfiction"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Special issue"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Picturebook Love: 5 Caribbean Children's Authors on Helping Kids Choose Love Through Stories "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YGSYsyX9nqA\/WdzBCLJTw4I\/AAAAAAAAEXo\/NBT2t8DEYmUBNd2sukhnJ9cMM_GVfM0egCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Caribbean%2BPicturebook%2BLove.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YGSYsyX9nqA\/WdzBCLJTw4I\/AAAAAAAAEXo\/NBT2t8DEYmUBNd2sukhnJ9cMM_GVfM0egCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Caribbean%2BPicturebook%2BLove.png\" width=\"750px\"\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor our September special Love issue, we reached out to a few of the Caribbean's noteworthy children's authors, some of whom are also children's book illustrators, to ask them about the message of love in their picturebooks. Here's what they had to say:\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003E1.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"color: #1EC0D9; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003EJoanne C. Hillhouse\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wkDrKiCTug0\/Wdx0bRL5-UI\/AAAAAAAAEVI\/mmuI7th-VJocrIhQmjDyc3QyLMVTdvfEwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Joanne%2BC%2BHillhouse%2BWith%2BGrace.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: -1em; margin-right: 0em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wkDrKiCTug0\/Wdx0bRL5-UI\/AAAAAAAAEVI\/mmuI7th-VJocrIhQmjDyc3QyLMVTdvfEwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Joanne%2BC%2BHillhouse%2BWith%2BGrace.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLove wasn’t what was in my heart when I started writing \u003Ci\u003EWith Grace\u003C\/i\u003E. I was feeling beaten up by an encounter and confused as to why the encounter had gone sideways – even after reaching out to try to understand. It was this bad mojo and mixed-up-ness that had me picking up my pen because, so often, I’m trying to process and understand things when I write. Swirling in my mind, apart from the particulars of the situation, was the way it touched on issues of class and position…and what would become the central theme of the book, grace. In the book, a girl who has nothing approaches a woman who has an orchard of fruit trees for permission to pick something to eat; the woman directs her to the stingiest mango tree she has, expecting it to yield nothing. But she underestimates the girl and the persistence of hard work, music, and love.\n\u003Chead\u003E\n\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header start --\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003E\n\/\/ Expandable content script from flooble.com.\n\/\/ For more information please visit:\n\/\/   http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\n\/\/ Copyright 2002 Animus Pactum Consulting Inc.\n\/\/----------------------------------------------\nvar ie4 = false; if(document.all) { ie4 = true; }\nfunction getObject(id) { if (ie4) { return document.all[id]; } else { return document.getElementById(id); } }\nfunction toggle(link, divId) { var lText = link.innerHTML; var d = getObject(divId);\n if (lText == '+') { link.innerHTML = '−'; d.style.display = 'block'; }\n else { link.innerHTML = '+'; d.style.display = 'none'; } }\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header end   --\u003E\n                \n                \n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header start --\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003E\n\/\/ Expandable content script from flooble.com.\n\/\/ For more information please visit:\n\/\/   http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\n\/\/ Copyright 2002 Animus Pactum Consulting Inc.\n\/\/----------------------------------------------\nvar ie4 = false; if(document.all) { ie4 = true; }\nfunction getObject(id) { if (ie4) { return document.all[id]; } else { return document.getElementById(id); } }\nfunction toggle(link, divId) { var lText = link.innerHTML; var d = getObject(divId);\n if (lText == '+') { link.innerHTML = '−'; d.style.display = 'block'; }\n else { link.innerHTML = '+'; d.style.display = 'none'; } }\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header end   --\u003E\n\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header start --\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003E\n\/\/ Expandable content script from flooble.com.\n\/\/ For more information please visit:\n\/\/   http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\n\/\/ Copyright 2002 Animus Pactum Consulting Inc.\n\/\/----------------------------------------------\nvar ie4 = false; if(document.all) { ie4 = true; }\nfunction getObject(id) { if (ie4) { return document.all[id]; } else { return document.getElementById(id); } }\nfunction toggle(link, divId) { var lText = link.innerHTML; var d = getObject(divId);\n if (lText == '+') { link.innerHTML = '−'; d.style.display = 'block'; }\n else { link.innerHTML = '+'; d.style.display = 'none'; } }\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header end   --\u003E\n\n\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header start --\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003E\n\/\/ Expandable content script from flooble.com.\n\/\/ For more information please visit:\n\/\/   http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\n\/\/ Copyright 2002 Animus Pactum Consulting Inc.\n\/\/----------------------------------------------\nvar ie4 = false; if(document.all) { ie4 = true; }\nfunction getObject(id) { if (ie4) { return document.all[id]; } else { return document.getElementById(id); } }\nfunction toggle(link, divId) { var lText = link.innerHTML; var d = getObject(divId);\n if (lText == '+') { link.innerHTML = '−'; d.style.display = 'block'; }\n else { link.innerHTML = '+'; d.style.display = 'none'; } }\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header end   --\u003E\n\n\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header start --\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003E\n\/\/ Expandable content script from flooble.com.\n\/\/ For more information please visit:\n\/\/   http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\n\/\/ Copyright 2002 Animus Pactum Consulting Inc.\n\/\/----------------------------------------------\nvar ie4 = false; if(document.all) { ie4 = true; }\nfunction getObject(id) { if (ie4) { return document.all[id]; } else { return document.getElementById(id); } }\nfunction toggle(link, divId) { var lText = link.innerHTML; var d = getObject(divId);\n if (lText == '+') { link.innerHTML = '−'; d.style.display = 'block'; }\n else { link.innerHTML = '+'; d.style.display = 'none'; } }\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content header end   --\u003E\n                \n       \n                \n\u003C\/head\u003E  \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nGrace, in the context of \u003Ci\u003EWith Grace\u003C\/i\u003E, is the quality of being kind and generous not because of who the person is but, in spite of the person being nothing to you at all...just because. I’m as imperfect as the next person – and I have my days – but I do believe in trying (trying, though we fall short) to be carriers of grace, doing unto others as we would like done to us; not saying things pitched to hurt, not glorying in another’s misfortune, not being bad-minded… just because.\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-INVvgSLZo4M\/WdyD-YgatXI\/AAAAAAAAEWU\/S7JF4n_piMshya9kRKSnMkklO-cBvdGKACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Joanne%2BHillhouse%2Bquote.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-INVvgSLZo4M\/WdyD-YgatXI\/AAAAAAAAEWU\/S7JF4n_piMshya9kRKSnMkklO-cBvdGKACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Joanne%2BHillhouse%2Bquote.png\" data-original-width=\"413\" data-original-height=\"290\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\nSo, in trying to get to a better place after my encounter, I wrote about a girl not looking for handouts but a hand, and about a woman who, out of selfishness and better-than-ness, couldn’t find it in herself to be gracious. Yes, there may have been some projecting. I didn’t know it was going to be a fairytale but when the tree and its faerie responded to the girl’s tending, I went with it. My mother is a gardener so perhaps I took some inspiration from how she gets even the most reluctant plants to grow in unforgiving soil. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the end, I believe writing this story helped me shoo some negative energy (creative expression is nothing if not cathartic) and reminded me of the power of love (and the pen) as a curative for (and a shield against) bad mind, bad energy, and bad soil.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box start --\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 5px; background: #ffffff; \"\u003E\u003Ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"750px\" style=\"background: #ffffff; color: #000000; margin-left: 5px;\"\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout Joanne C. Hillhouse\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd align=\"right\"\u003E\n[\u003Ca title=\"show\/hide\" id=\"exp1507627372_link\" href=\"javascript: void(0);\" onclick=\"toggle(this, 'exp1507627372');\"  style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #000000; \"\u003E−\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"exp1507627372\" style=\"padding: 5px; margin-top: 5px;\"\u003EJoanne C. Hillhouse is an Antiguan and Barbudan writer. She writes in different genres and has authored six books, two of which are children's picturebooks. For more, visit\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/jhohadli.wordpress.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E jhohadli.wordpress.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cnoscript\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\"\u003Ethis expanable content box is made using a \nfree javascript from flooble\u003C\/a\u003E | \u003C\/noscript\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003Etoggle(getObject('exp1507627372_link'), 'exp1507627372');\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box end  --\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003E2.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"color: #1EC0D9; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003EAnika Denise\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-E4CKvSNwVZc\/Wdx2oVmH3_I\/AAAAAAAAEVU\/FySjJJXzRoMIiccK2yLT54w4aqCQYvs4ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anika%2BDenise%2BStarring%2BCarmen.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: -1em; margin-right: 0em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-E4CKvSNwVZc\/Wdx2oVmH3_I\/AAAAAAAAEVU\/FySjJJXzRoMIiccK2yLT54w4aqCQYvs4ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anika%2BDenise%2BStarring%2BCarmen.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile reviewing the first round of sketches for \u003Ci\u003EStarring Carmen!\u003C\/i\u003E, my picturebook about a one-girl \u003Ci\u003Esensación\u003C\/i\u003E who loves to perform, my editor and I remarked on how perfectly Lorena Alvarez Gómez, our brilliant illustrator, had captured Eduardo—Carmen’s \u003Ci\u003Ehermanito\u003C\/i\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n“He’s pure love,” we agreed.  \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd he is. Despite his big sister’s tendency to want to run the show, he adores her in that singularly precious way little ones look up to their older siblings. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEduardo is based on my real life \u003Ci\u003Ehermanito\u003C\/i\u003E, Brandon. He’s all grown up now and towers over me. But when I look at him, I still see the sweet five-year-old boy with saucers for brown eyes and deep dimples, the boy who loved me and was always happy to see me, even when—because of our age difference—I was more interested in school and friends and boys, than Play-Doh and Pokémon.\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZjxRsUg4tak\/WdyB-dKTRaI\/AAAAAAAAEWE\/Yc6d7CkcwK8yXN6Cknv0juf4qrlGFLVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Aniks%2BDenise%2Bquote.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZjxRsUg4tak\/WdyB-dKTRaI\/AAAAAAAAEWE\/Yc6d7CkcwK8yXN6Cknv0juf4qrlGFLVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Aniks%2BDenise%2Bquote.png\" data-original-width=\"413\" data-original-height=\"314\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nCarmen may be the star of the book, but it was in writing the character of Eduardo that I came to the heart of the story. It’s about the unconditional love that exists in families. \"\u003Ci\u003ELa sangre llama\u003C\/i\u003E, my Títi Rosie likes to say. \u003Ci\u003EBlood calls\u003C\/i\u003E. It calls to Eduardo to forgive his sister, even when she makes him play a rock or a lamp in her elaborate living room stage productions. It calls to Carmen, and shows her that her pesky \u003Ci\u003Ehermanito\u003C\/i\u003E is actually her biggest fan. And it calls to Carmen’s parents, who handle her more theatrical moments with patience and humor.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt’s the call of our hearts—to the people who celebrate us for who we are, love us despite our flaws, and can be “the rock” when we need it most. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box start --\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 5px; background: #ffffff; \"\u003E\u003Ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"750px\" style=\"background: #ffffff; color: #000000; margin-left: 5px;\"\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout Anika Denise\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd align=\"right\"\u003E\n[\u003Ca title=\"show\/hide\" id=\"exp1507629089_link\" href=\"javascript: void(0);\" onclick=\"toggle(this, 'exp1507629089');\"  style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #000000; \"\u003E−\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"exp1507629089\" style=\"padding: 5px; margin-top: 5px;\"\u003EAnika Denise is a Puerto Rican children's author based in Rhode Island, USA. She is the author of the picturebooks \u003Ci\u003EStarring Carmen!\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EMonster Trucks\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EBaking Day at Grandma’s\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EBella and Stella Come Home\u003C\/i\u003E, and the forthcoming \u003Ci\u003EPura Belpré, Planting Stories\u003C\/i\u003E, a biography of pioneering Puerto Rican librarian, author and storyteller Pura Belpré. You can visit her online at \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/anikadenise.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eanikadenise.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cnoscript\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\"\u003Ethis expanable content box is made using a \nfree javascript from flooble\u003C\/a\u003E | \u003C\/noscript\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003Etoggle(getObject('exp1507629089_link'), 'exp1507629089');\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box end  --\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003E3.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"color: #1EC0D9; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003EMatt Tavares\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-vodfF55MHnc\/Wdx_WvbiCfI\/AAAAAAAAEV0\/kI6uou2BNfU4hBTL1g4ET5grkcKQ_y1lwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Matt%2BTavares%2BGrowing%2BUp%2BPedro.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-vodfF55MHnc\/Wdx_WvbiCfI\/AAAAAAAAEV0\/kI6uou2BNfU4hBTL1g4ET5grkcKQ_y1lwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Matt%2BTavares%2BGrowing%2BUp%2BPedro.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhen I set out to write about Pedro Martinez, I didn’t think it was going to be a book about brotherhood, or about love. But once I got going, I realized that it was impossible to tell Pedro’s story without telling the story of his brother, Ramon. And maybe that is the message of love in \u003Ci\u003EGrowing Up Pedro\u003C\/i\u003E: all of our stories are intertwined, and it’s impossible to tell one person’s story without also telling the stories of their loved ones.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy original outline focused more on Pedro overcoming obstacles, like the poverty of his childhood and the fact that everyone thought he was too small to make it in the major leagues. But eventually the theme of brotherhood emerged.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nReading through Pedro’s interviews, I found so many quotes where Pedro said that everything he learned, both in baseball and in life, he learned from Ramon. When Pedro was young, Ramon was his idol. Pedro’s goal in life was not just to make it to the major leagues, but to make it to play in the major leagues with his big brother.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xGChmEsp-BY\/WdyFkLofabI\/AAAAAAAAEWg\/mlrW1hcABMU3--0VgHWhQU3fbSfaTQvegCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Matt%2BTavares%2Bquote.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xGChmEsp-BY\/WdyFkLofabI\/AAAAAAAAEWg\/mlrW1hcABMU3--0VgHWhQU3fbSfaTQvegCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Matt%2BTavares%2Bquote.png\" data-original-width=\"413\" data-original-height=\"313\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nWhen Ramon struggled adjusting to life in the United States as a minor league baseball player, he made sure his little brother Pedro started studying English right away, so he would be ready. And when Pedro had reached the pinnacle of his profession and Ramon suffered a major shoulder injury, it was Pedro who offered encouragement, helping Ramon work his way back to the major leagues.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPedro Martinez will be remembered as one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball. But he did not do it alone. His big brother, Ramon, was there every step of the way. And together, they helped each other rise above their circumstances and live their shared dream of playing major league baseball.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box start --\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 5px; background: #ffffff; \"\u003E\u003Ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"750px\" style=\"background: #ffffff; color: #000000; margin-left: 5px;\"\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout Matt Tavares\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd align=\"right\"\u003E\n[\u003Ca title=\"show\/hide\" id=\"exp1507627047_link\" href=\"javascript: void(0);\" onclick=\"toggle(this, 'exp1507627047');\"  style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #000000; \"\u003E−\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"exp1507627047\" style=\"padding: 5px; margin-top: 5px;\"\u003EMatt Tavares was born in Boston, and grew up surrounded by books and reading. Matt's first published picturebook, \u003Ci\u003EZachary's Ball\u003C\/i\u003E, won a Massachusetts Book Award Honor, and was named one of \u003Ci\u003EYankee Magazine\u003C\/i\u003E's “40 Classic New England Children's Books.” Since then, Matt has published eighteen more books and won several awards, including three Parents' Choice Gold Awards, an Orbis Pictus Honor, and two ALA Notable books. His artwork has been exhibited at the Museum of American Illustration, the Brandywine River Museum, and the Mazza Museum of PictureBook Art. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhen Matt's not working in his studio on his latest book project, he travels the country speaking (and drawing) at schools, libraries, conferences and bookstores. He has presented at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Eric Carle Museum, the White House Easter Egg Roll, and he's even done a few book signings at Fenway Park. Matt lives in Maine with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cnoscript\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\"\u003Ethis expanable content box is made using a \nfree javascript from flooble\u003C\/a\u003E | \u003C\/noscript\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003Etoggle(getObject('exp1507627047_link'), 'exp1507627047');\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box end  --\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003E4.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"color: #1EC0D9; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003EOlive Senior\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-x9L5rz8itoo\/WdyIz83j1rI\/AAAAAAAAEWs\/LN0r-wOqcrQIV3RQWJNt9xAPx9d7gUkJQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Olive%2BSenior%2BBoonoonoonous%2BHair.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-x9L5rz8itoo\/WdyIz83j1rI\/AAAAAAAAEWs\/LN0r-wOqcrQIV3RQWJNt9xAPx9d7gUkJQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Olive%2BSenior%2BBoonoonoonous%2BHair.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EBoo-noo-noo-nous Hair\u003C\/i\u003E is about a little girl learning to love her Black hair and, in the process, learning to love herself. She starts off hating her hair, as many Black kids do, and asks why she can’t have hair like her schoolmates who have hair that \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E \n\u003Ci\u003Elong or short\u003Cbr\u003E \n. . .  can swish as they wish.\u003C\/i\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E  \u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ydPfcrObkoQ\/WdyNseQ1SyI\/AAAAAAAAEW8\/xhRjO-n_qLwqC30IAMxwvq0KpgfRqO6RQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Olive%2BSenior%2Bquote.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ydPfcrObkoQ\/WdyNseQ1SyI\/AAAAAAAAEW8\/xhRjO-n_qLwqC30IAMxwvq0KpgfRqO6RQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Olive%2BSenior%2Bquote.png\" data-original-width=\"413\" data-original-height=\"314\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nHer wise and loving mother assures her that she has the best hair of all because it can do so many things that straight hair can’t do. The child is mesmerized by the long list of possible hairstyles and we witness her growing self-esteem. “Really?” she says and immediately conjures up a different style for every day of the week, every month of the year, starting with:\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E \n\u003Ci\u003E- Puffs on Monday\u003Cbr\u003E \n- Plaits on Tuesday\u003Cbr\u003E \n- Braids on Wednesday\u003Cbr\u003E \n- Cornrows Thursday\u003Cbr\u003E \n- Twist out Friday?\u003C\/i\u003E\n \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E \nHer positive feelings are reinforced by big sister as a model of someone who has already gone through the process \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E \n\u003Ci\u003EWith her electric, kinetic,\u003Cbr\u003E \nBombastic, fantastic\u003Cbr\u003E \nTwirly, whirly, curly, fuzzy, snappy, nappy,\u003Cbr\u003E \nWavy, crazy\u003Cbr\u003E \nBoonoonoonous\u003Cbr\u003E \nHAIR.\u003C\/i\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\nMy story is absolutely about love: a mother’s love for her child and her gracious way of healing the wounds of inferiority imposed by racial difference or images of “beauty” that don’t reflect who we are. Like all stories, it teaches by example – a good way to get a message across. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E \nThe onomatopoeic Jamaican word \"boonoonoonous\" is evocative of everything beautiful and sweet. It was once widely used to express admiration of everything from a girl’s sexy walk to a pretty baby, in a time before mass media and European models became the norm. The word is hardly used today, but I revived it because I thought children everywhere would enjoy its delicious sound – challenging but easily pronounced if broken into syllables. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box start --\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 5px; background: #ffffff; \"\u003E\u003Ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"750px\" style=\"background: #ffffff; color: #000000; margin-left: 5px;\"\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout Olive Senior\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd align=\"right\"\u003E\n[\u003Ca title=\"show\/hide\" id=\"exp1507625800_link\" href=\"javascript: void(0);\" onclick=\"toggle(this, 'exp1507625800');\"  style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #000000; \"\u003EClick here to read bio.−\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"exp1507625800\" style=\"padding: 5px; margin-top: 5px;\"\u003EOlive Senior is the prizewinning author of 17 books of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s literature. Her picturebooks include \u003Ci\u003EBirthday Suit\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EAnna Carries Water\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EBoo-noo-noo-nous Hair\u003C\/i\u003E (forthcoming). \u003Ci\u003EAnna Carries Water\u003C\/i\u003E was nominated for the 2014 Rainforest of Reading Award, shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize 2014 (Young Reader’s Award), listed by \u003Ci\u003EKirkus Reviews\u003C\/i\u003E as “one of the best books of 2014”, selected as one of \u003Ci\u003ESchool’s Library Journal\u003C\/i\u003E’s “100 Magnificent Children’s Books (ages 2-16) and New York Public Library’s “100 Tales for Reading and Sharing,” and won the Isabel Sissons Canadian Children’s Story Award.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cnoscript\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\"\u003Ethis expanable content box is made using a \nfree javascript from flooble\u003C\/a\u003E | \u003C\/noscript\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003Etoggle(getObject('exp1507625800_link'), 'exp1507625800');\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box end  --\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003E5.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"color: #1EC0D9; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 40px;\"\u003ELulu Delacre\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lD1Qyq_t5hA\/WdySELAYF3I\/AAAAAAAAEXI\/dASp3olTxPkV7WlhM3K9r0chnjvvS5cLwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Lulu%2BDelacre%2BHow%2BFar%2BDo%2BYou%2BLove%2BMe.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lD1Qyq_t5hA\/WdySELAYF3I\/AAAAAAAAEXI\/dASp3olTxPkV7WlhM3K9r0chnjvvS5cLwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Lulu%2BDelacre%2BHow%2BFar%2BDo%2BYou%2BLove%2BMe.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLove is the invisible current that connects us. It knows no boundaries, traveling through space and time. An unbreakable bond between child and parent, it transcends culture and religion, ethnicity and race. It is felt in all corners of the world. Not even death can break it. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-9nliF5mVOIw\/Wdyec6on55I\/AAAAAAAAEXY\/ttvFk4Cm6wkHRc5gzxo2zasLdjGACQmBwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Lulu%2BDelacre%2Bquote.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-9nliF5mVOIw\/Wdyec6on55I\/AAAAAAAAEXY\/ttvFk4Cm6wkHRc5gzxo2zasLdjGACQmBwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Lulu%2BDelacre%2Bquote.png\" data-original-width=\"413\" data-original-height=\"402\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI’ve always loved both my daughters; my love goes deep and far. But it wasn’t until my youngest daughter died, that I realized that I love her as much in death as I did in life. For me, this means that she still is. And as I struggled to describe this permanent and invisible bond I remembered a game we used to play when my girls were young. “\u003Ci\u003E¿Hasta dónde me amas?\u003C\/i\u003E How far do you love me?,” either of them would ask. Back then, the game took us to the park, to the beach, to the school or all the way to the moon and sky. Each time we would try to outdo one another with words sprinkled with kisses and giggles. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EI believe that the expansiveness of parental love is echoed in the many breathtaking places the earth has given us. With a simple question \u003Ci\u003EHow Far Do You Love Me?\u003C\/i\u003E, takes the reader on a journey through the 7 continents. It enables young readers to witness that this love is identical everywhere; it reaches far and deep. As the child flips to the last spread of the book, she finds the question posed in 23 different languages. In this way, I entice the young reader and her parent to embark on their own imaginary journey in the language of their choice. And I hope that in doing so, they’ll give voice to the permanent bond that not even death can erase.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box start --\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 5px; background: #ffffff; \"\u003E\u003Ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" width=\"750px\" style=\"background: #ffffff; color: #000000; margin-left: 5px;\"\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout Lulu Delacre\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd align=\"right\"\u003E\n[\u003Ca title=\"show\/hide\" id=\"exp1507627991_link\" href=\"javascript: void(0);\" onclick=\"toggle(this, 'exp1507627991');\"  style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #000000; \"\u003E−\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"exp1507627991\" style=\"padding: 5px; margin-top: 5px;\"\u003EThree-time Pura Belpré Award honoree Lulu Delacre has been writing and illustrating children's books since 1980. Born and raised in Puerto Rico to Argentinean parents, Delacre's Latino heritage and her life experiences inform her work. Her 38 titles for children include \u003Ci\u003EArroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America\u003C\/i\u003E, a Horn Book Fanfare Book in print for over 25 years, and \u003Ci\u003ESalsa Stories\u003C\/i\u003E, an IRA Outstanding International Book. Her bilingual picture book \u003Ci\u003E¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z! Descubriendo el bosque nublado\/Olinguito, from A to Z! Unveiling the Cloud Forest\u003C\/i\u003E has received 20 awards and honors including an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor and an ALA Notable for All Ages. Her most recent title, starred twice, is \u003Ci\u003EUs, in Progress: Short Stories About Young Latinos\u003C\/i\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EShe has lectured internationally and served as a juror for the National Book Awards. She has exhibited at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, The Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators in New York, the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico, and the Museum of Ponce in Puerto Rico among other venues. More at \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.luludelacre.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eluludelacre.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E. \n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cnoscript\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.flooble.com\/scripts\/expand.php\"\u003Ethis expanable content box is made using a \nfree javascript from flooble\u003C\/a\u003E | \u003C\/noscript\u003E\n\u003Cscript language=\"javascript\"\u003Etoggle(getObject('exp1507627991_link'), 'exp1507627991');\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C!-- flooble Expandable Content box end  --\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/6122832940538000035\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2017\/10\/picturebook-love-5-caribbean.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6122832940538000035"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6122832940538000035"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2017\/10\/picturebook-love-5-caribbean.html","title":"Picturebook Love: 5 Caribbean Children\u0026#x27;s Authors on Helping Kids Choose Love Through Stories "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YGSYsyX9nqA\/WdzBCLJTw4I\/AAAAAAAAEXo\/NBT2t8DEYmUBNd2sukhnJ9cMM_GVfM0egCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Caribbean%2BPicturebook%2BLove.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-6207042611411597376"},"published":{"$t":"2013-12-19T14:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-12T11:40:34.368-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Meet the Author] Silver People and The Adventure of History- Interview with Margarita Engle  "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EMargarita Engle talks to Summer Edward about her upcoming middle grade to young adult novel, \u003C\/i\u003ESilver People: Voices from the Panama Canal\u003Ci\u003E, her love of rain forests, imagining the historical past and more.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-JRI8RSH1Ccw\/UrMISpBscVI\/AAAAAAAABmc\/mru91SfxE98\/s1600\/Margarita_Engle.png\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-JRI8RSH1Ccw\/UrMISpBscVI\/AAAAAAAABmc\/mru91SfxE98\/s1600\/Margarita_Engle.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\nMargarita Engle is the Cuban-American winner of the first Newbery Honor ever awarded to a Latino. Her award winning young adult novels in verse include \u003Ci\u003EThe Surrender Tree\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EThe Poet Slave of Cuba\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ETropical Secrets\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003EThe Firefly Letters\u003C\/i\u003E. Engle’s most recent books are \u003Ci\u003EThe Lightning Dreamer\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EWhen You Wander\u003C\/i\u003E. Her new middle grade chapter book, \u003Ci\u003EMountain Dog\u003C\/i\u003E, was published in August 2013. Margarita's upcoming book, \u003Ci\u003ESilver People: Voices From the Panama Canal\u003C\/i\u003E, will be released in 2014. She lives in central California where she enjoys helping her husband with his volunteer work for wilderness search and rescue dog training programs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n***\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: \u003Ci\u003ESilver People: Voices from the Panama Canal\u003C\/i\u003E is your upcoming children’s novel from Harcourt Publishers and University of Queensland Press. The book’s release will coincide with the centenary of the Panama Canal in 2014. What is the story behind this book and what inspired you to tell the story of the “silver people” 100 years later?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EM. E.:\u003C\/b\u003E Long ago, when I was still working as a botanist, I was treated kindly by silver people of Jamaican ancestry, in a remote corner of Costa Rica’s rain forest. I was surprised to learn that they were the descendants of a massive labor force of imported Panama Canal “diggers” who were abandoned by the U.S. at the end of the project, and had to spread out in search of work on banana plantations. This book is written in honor of all the “silver people” from all the Caribbean islands and southern Europe, who were paid silver, while Americans and northern Europeans received gold, simply based on skin color. \u003Ci\u003ESilver People\u003C\/i\u003E is also my personal love letter to tropical rain forests. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: What was something surprising or interesting that you learnt, either about Panamanian history or about yourself (or both), while researching and writing \u003Ci\u003ESilver People\u003C\/i\u003E? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EM.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E I knew about the Panama Canal Zone’s U.S.-imposed, apartheid-like system of racial discrimination, because my Cuban mother talked about it when I was a child. I was only vaguely aware that most of the Panama Canal’s incomprehensibly vast excavation was accomplished by Caribbean islanders with shovels, not modern equipment. I had no idea that there were hundreds of thousands of laborers, over a period of decades that began with a disastrous attempt by France, and ended with a successful one by the U.S.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: As a children’s and young adult writer, you are known for your historical picturebooks and verse novels that combine poetry, history and biography to tell stories about the Cuban experience. How and why did you hit upon this particular “formula” if you will, for writing books? Why the verse novel form in particular?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EM.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E It is a passion. When I was writing my first two young adult verse novels, \u003Ci\u003EThe Poet Slave of Cuba\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003EThe Surrender Tree\u003C\/i\u003E, I fell madly in love with the form. Now, every time I try to go back to prose, I find myself feeling unsatisfied. I need free verse. This form allows me to distill complex historical situations down to their emotional essence. I am more interested in asking questions with my books, than in trying to answer them. My recurring question is, “What did it feel like to live in that time and place? I invite modern young readers to join me in wondering about the young people of long ago, who often managed to make hopeful choices in times that must have seemed hopeless.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-mO10HZseMdU\/UrMQ9aLWuLI\/AAAAAAAABm4\/ibCVcqOCSiU\/s1600\/Margarita+Engle+Historical+Research.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-mO10HZseMdU\/UrMQ9aLWuLI\/AAAAAAAABm4\/ibCVcqOCSiU\/s1600\/Margarita+Engle+Historical+Research.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EA writer's life: Conducting historical research\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: Your books are largely biographies and so your characters are either imagined historical people or real life historical figures like the Swedish traveler Fredrika Bremer in \u003Ci\u003EFirefly Letters\u003C\/i\u003E and the celebrated Cuban poet Juan Francisco Manzano in \u003Ci\u003EPoet Slave of Cuba\u003C\/i\u003E. What are some of the things you have had to consider when bringing historical characters to life in general and in \u003Ci\u003ESilver People\u003C\/i\u003E in particular?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EM.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E Because my books are verse novels rather than academic biographies, “poetic license” allows me to imagine missing details. Nevertheless, I am happiest when a first person diary is available, which was true for both Bremer and Manzano. I did not have to imagine events, because they wrote about their own lives, and all I had to do was wonder how those events felt.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the case of \u003Ci\u003ESilver People\u003C\/i\u003E, I read many first person accounts, in order to develop composite characters. The topic of Panama Canal construction is so incredibly enormous that I could only portray a few people. Many characters were written out of early drafts, in order to avoid losing the emotional impact of wondering about the lives of individuals. I chose to focus on a Cuban character for reasons of cultural familiarity, even though the vast majority of laborers were from Jamaica and Barbados. I hope writers from those islands, and from Panama, will also offer their own portrayals, which I will be eager to read.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: Typically your books have multiple characters who speak in first-person free verse. In \u003Ci\u003ESilver People\u003C\/i\u003E, along with the voices of the West Indian labourers, you’ve included the voices of the animals and trees of the Panama rainforest. Tell us a bit about what voice means to you and about the nature of voice in your work. How do you go about creating unique voices for your characters and is this difficult to do?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EM.E.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EWriting the voices of animals and trees came so naturally to me that I don’t know if I will ever feel entirely human again. Perhaps it is because I am a botanist and birdwatcher, married to an entomologist, but also because I love to imagine. Imagine the tropics without rain forest. Imagine the future without biological diversity. Imagine the laments of falling trees, the protests of howler monkeys, the survival strategies of butterflies and snakes… I hope children can learn some basic rain forest biology from these voices. I also hope they learn about balance. The Panama Canal was the first modern engineering project of its magnitude. \u0026nbsp;Even today, it is viewed as a symbol of man’s conquest of nature. Imagine if someday, somehow, people who are just children now, will grow up to be adults who learn how to balance “progress” and conservation. I hope teachers will let children choose voices to read out loud. What twelve-year-old would not instinctively understand the territorial rage of howlers, or the shy camouflage of sloths?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: You were born in Los Angeles, the child of a Cuban immigrant mother, and have lived in the United States all your life. Cuban history, culture and people figure predominantly in your work. How have you maintained your connection to Cuba and what made you focus on Cuba as your writing material?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-3fT6YrXILdQ\/UrMPfBWJOsI\/AAAAAAAABmw\/BV0fvhtzDO8\/s1600\/Margarita+Engle+quote.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-3fT6YrXILdQ\/UrMPfBWJOsI\/AAAAAAAABmw\/BV0fvhtzDO8\/s1600\/Margarita+Engle+quote.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cb\u003EM.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E Childhood summers in Cuba were the magnet that keeps drawing me back. I have returned many times since 1991, but during the worst of Cold War isolation, from before the 1962 Missile Crisis until after the fall of the Soviet Union, I could not travel to Cuba. Those were decades of imagining. The island became more than a real place. It was the emotional center of my childhood’s universe, and now it is the magic-realistic center of my poetry. I just completed a childhood memoir that has helped me clarify my hyphenated self. \u0026nbsp;I have, however, also branched out. Two of my new books for younger children, When You Wander, and Mountain Dog, are set in the U.S., because my husband is a volunteer K-9 handler, and our dogs are wilderness SAR dogs, trained to find lost hikers in the Sierra Nevada mountains. I spend part of every weekend hiding in the forest near Yosemite, so the dogs can practice finding a lost person. It is a huge part of my “real life.” I also have a picture book called Tiny Rabbit’s BIG WISH, coming out in March, and one due out next year, about orangutans, inspired by a visit to a wildlife refuge in Borneo.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: I always look forward to seeing the cover art for your books; I find the covers quite distinctive. Raúl Colón did the cover art for \u003Ci\u003ESilver People\u003C\/i\u003E and also for \u003Ci\u003ETropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees\u003C\/i\u003E in Cuba. I am a Raúl Colón fan myself. Do you ever collaborate with illustrators and do you place a high value on what the covers of your books look like?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EM.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E Thank you! \u0026nbsp;I am so incredibly fortunate to have wonderful editors who choose marvelous artists. Most of my covers are by illustrators chosen by Reka Simonsen. I am a Raúl Colón fan too, so I am thrilled that he agreed to do two of my book covers. When I saw \u003Ci\u003ESilver People\u003C\/i\u003E, it took my breath away. The faces, the forest, the butterflies, frog, monkey…it’s absolutely perfect for this story, because he painted beauty and hope, but there is a shovel too. Hard work. A struggle…\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: Most children’s writers come to the craft of writing stories for children with a specific vision for reaching child readers. What is the hope or message that propels you as a children’s author and what do you think Caribbean children in particular can gain from reading your books?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EM.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E I hope children from the Caribbean will realize that their history has not yet been told. Only the mainland view is available for most topics. Young people will be the ones who can grow up and research, write, correct errors of misunderstanding…I also hope that children from any background will be able to identify with the universal themes of freedom and justice. I hope readers enjoy the adventure of history, experiencing books as a form of time travel. I hope they fall in love with poetry---I know some teachers avoid poetry because they assume it will be hard to understand, but that’s not true of novels written in free verse. These books have friendly pages, with just a few simple words, and a great deal of open space that can be filled in by the reader’s own imagination. I hope children will see my books as gardens where they can plant their own thoughts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n###\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"alignleft\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and lives in Philadelphia, USA. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her poems and art have been published in\u0026nbsp;literary magazines such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EObsidian: Literature in the African Diaspora,\u0026nbsp;tongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Caribbean Writer\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Esx salon\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eand more. She was shortlisted for the 2012 Small Axe Literary Prize in the\u0026nbsp;fiction\u0026nbsp;category. She blogs at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/6207042611411597376\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2013\/12\/silver-people-and-adventure-of-history.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6207042611411597376"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6207042611411597376"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2013\/12\/silver-people-and-adventure-of-history.html","title":"[Meet the Author] Silver People and The Adventure of History- Interview with Margarita Engle  "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-JRI8RSH1Ccw\/UrMISpBscVI\/AAAAAAAABmc\/mru91SfxE98\/s72-c\/Margarita_Engle.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-2605595467051343744"},"published":{"$t":"2013-12-19T14:11:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-12T11:39:51.984-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Carol Mitchell-Ottley: Awakening an Interest in History"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003ECarol Mitchell-Ottley talks to Summer Edward about her latest middle grade novel, \u003C\/i\u003EFury on Soufriere Hills\u003Ci\u003E, being nominated for the 2014 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and more.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OBay9tgfmLE\/UrHC_TER0cI\/AAAAAAAABks\/4LAfu1ipRiU\/s1600\/Carol+Mitchell-Author.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OBay9tgfmLE\/UrHC_TER0cI\/AAAAAAAABks\/4LAfu1ipRiU\/s1600\/Carol+Mitchell-Author.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPhoto by: Livingstone Jackson\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBorn in Nevis, Carol Ottley-Mitchell loves books and kids. She has lived in and traveled to many Caribbean countries. She is the author of the \u003Ci\u003ECaribbean Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E books, the \u003Ci\u003EChee Chee\u003C\/i\u003E picturebook series, as well as the picturebook \u003Ci\u003ESeascapes\u003C\/i\u003E, and the YA book, \u003Ci\u003EAnother Day\u003C\/i\u003E. Shortly after learning of her Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award nomination, Ottley-Mitchell spoke to Summer Edward about her approach to writing, the business of publishing, and the life of a children's author.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n***\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-7CqeKk1X7FA\/UrHFcxJHKcI\/AAAAAAAABlA\/4vnNsxMBRU4\/s1600\/Fury+on+Soufriere+Hills.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-7CqeKk1X7FA\/UrHFcxJHKcI\/AAAAAAAABlA\/4vnNsxMBRU4\/s1600\/Fury+on+Soufriere+Hills.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cb\u003ES. E.: Let’s talk about your latest book. \u003Ci\u003EFury on Soufriere Hills\u003C\/i\u003E is Book 4 in the Caribbean Adventure Series. What is it about?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFury on Soufriere Hills\u003C\/i\u003E, or \u003Ci\u003EFury\u003C\/i\u003E as we affectionately call it, is about volcanoes, adventure, and Amerindians. Mark and Kyle, two characters that feature in earlier books in the \u003Ci\u003ECaribbean Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E, hike with a group to the top of Mount Liamiagua in St. Kitts. Frankie, a defiant younger boy, is along for the hike. When Mark attempts to rescue Frankie from the edge of Mount Liamiagua’s crater, they both tumble over the edge. They find themselves in very unfamiliar territory and soon realise that they have not only traveled into the past, as evidenced by the appearance of a Carib boy, but they have for the first time traveled in space, from St. Kitts to the foot of the Soufriere Hills volcano in Montserrat. The Carib boy saves their lives and in return, with Chee Chee’s help, they are able to assist the Caribs when the volcano threatens to erupt.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003EThe 1996 eruption of the Soufriere volcano is one of those watershed moments in recent Caribbean history, certainly in the history of Caribbean natural disasters. How does one tackle the reality of natural disasters in a work of children’s fiction? It certainly is a pertinent issue in today’s world isn’t it?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ENatural disasters and the possible impact of global warming are certainly topical issues and \u003Ci\u003EFury\u003C\/i\u003E tackles the very relevant issue of a child who is displaced by a natural disaster. My intention in the \u003Ci\u003ECaribbean Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E is first and foremost to draw young readers in with secret tunnels, pirate ships, kidnappers, and erupting volcanoes galore. As a result, I introduce serious issues in the lightest manner possible without being trite.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor example, the first book in the series, \u003Ci\u003EAdventure at Brimstone Hill\u003C\/i\u003E is set in the Caribbean in the 17th century and so it is impossible to ignore the reality of slavery, however, it is not the center of the story and so I touch on it very briefly. Similarly in \u003Ci\u003EFury\u003C\/i\u003E, although one of the characters is angry about being displaced by the volcanic eruptions, unlike many real-life refugees, he is living in a safe environment and in the end … well, I’ll let you read the book to see how it all turns out.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: \u003Ci\u003EThe Caribbean Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E is a time-travel\/historical fiction\/adventure series of children’s novels set in various Caribbean islands. In the world of fiction, it’s something that’s rarely ever been done. You’re reimagining aspects of Caribbean history that are simultaneously over-stereotyped and underexamined―pirates, the physical landscape, and in \u003Ci\u003EFury on Soufriere Hills\u003C\/i\u003E, the indigenous Amerindians, and you’re doing it for a children’s audience. Do you ever feel like you’re farming in an empty plot? I guess I want to know what it takes to build up these kinds of stories from scratch?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ETo be honest, I never thought of the series as being ground-breaking, but perhaps in the Caribbean context it is. I am very happy to be filling a niche that may be needed, awakening an interest in Caribbean history by placing modern day children into past scenarios.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTo a large extent the stories build themselves. The initial spark might be something that I see or read and then the rest of the ideas come as I write. Often the original ideas are discarded and replaced with more feasible ones. Sometimes I am stuck for long periods. In \u003Ci\u003EFury\u003C\/i\u003E, the children in the book sat in the shadow of the volcano eruption in Montserrat for months as I tried out different scenarios for escape. I don’t necessarily recommend this approach to writing, but it is what works for me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: The Caribbean Adventure Series is your most recognizable work, but you’ve also authored the \u003Ci\u003EChee Chee’s Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E, which is a picturebook \u0026nbsp;series, and another picturebook, \u003Ci\u003ESeascapes\u003C\/i\u003E. Do you thrive more writing novels or picturebooks and why?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EIf I had to choose, I would have to say that I am a short story writer at heart. There is something satisfying about putting a complete idea across in one sitting. As I write this I can picture the satisfied looks on children’s faces after hearing the ‘happily ever after’ ending of a story. However, I also enjoy the scope for depth and revelation that the novel affords and Caribbean children novels are what I think is necessary to fulfill my desire to encourage Caribbean children of all ages to read. I have already written two more short stories to finish up the \u003Ci\u003EChee Chee’s Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E, and I have been commissioned to do some short stories on a particular topic. My plan is, however, to focus on novels going forward.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003EThis August you self-published your first young adult novel, \u003Ci\u003EAnother Day\u003C\/i\u003E, a book about a fifteen-year-old teen who struggles to find her place in a new environment. What inspired your crossover from children’s literature to young adult fiction? And while we’re talking YA, what do you make of the Caribbean YA market today?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EI started \u003Ci\u003EAnother Day\u003C\/i\u003E several years ago while I was living in Ghana. I was working on one of the \u003Ci\u003ECaribbean Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E books when the story popped into my head of a girl going through a difficult time after moving to a new country and communicating via messenger with the best friend that she left behind. At the time I thought it was a short story so I started writing it, but it began to morph into something more and I had to put it aside while I completed the work that I had in process. While I was battling with the ending for \u003Ci\u003EFury\u003C\/i\u003E, I came across the story in my notebook and decided to make it my next project.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo the reality is that I did not make a conscious decision to write a young adult novel. The story that I started in Ghana was about a teenager who was having experiences involving alcohol, drugs, and romance and so one could say that it announced itself as a young adult novel. Once I decided to complete \u003Ci\u003EAnother Day\u003C\/i\u003E, I read a lot of novels with teenaged protagonists to help me to prepare, however, I must admit that none of them were by Caribbean authors or even Caribbean themed. I am really familiar with very few YA novels by Caribbean authors, and my impression is that we really need many more Caribbean books for this age group. I’ve read a couple of books that are labelled as young adult because the main protagonists are teens, however, I find that they are so explicitly focused on the sexual aspect of the coming of age experience that I would recommend only to the oldest tranche of the YA group.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: You are well known for your writing, but you’re also a publisher. Give us an overview of your publishing house, CaribbeanReads.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nCaribbeanReads is a small publishing company dedicated to serving talented Caribbean authors. Our aim is to make publishing more accessible to potential Caribbean authors and to increase the number of high-quality books about and for the Caribbean. Basically CaribbeanReads offers all of the services necessary to get the book from a draft into a finished product, for example, editing, type-setting, layout, and illustration. We do not provide any major marketing effort. Things have been moving slowly but we are working with a couple of authors.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Pz_2eCxquo4\/UrG7dBzQ1YI\/AAAAAAAABkg\/tYRiBdM-6FQ\/s1600\/Carol+Ottley+Mitchell.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Pz_2eCxquo4\/UrG7dBzQ1YI\/AAAAAAAABkg\/tYRiBdM-6FQ\/s1600\/Carol+Ottley+Mitchell.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESigning books at the Montserrat Public Library\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: Most children’s authors will tell you that they aren’t in this field for the money. What has the commercial side of being a children’s author taught you?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ERelatively few children’s authors make it big enough to make a comfortable living on writing alone and I do believe that most of us are driven by a passion for words and expression. Children’s authors in the Caribbean are perhaps at an even greater disadvantage because of a number of issues including lack of resources, the small market size and problems distributing books across geographically diverse markets. I honestly write because I have to and I am driven forward by the thought that my work may encourage even one child to read.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI recently received an email from a colleague who told me that her nephew was in the hospital for a few days and in that time, without the distraction of the TV and other electronics, he picked up the second book in the \u003Ci\u003ECaribbean Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EPirates at Port Royal\u003C\/i\u003E. He read it and regaled her with details about the story all the way home from the hospital. This is what keeps me going.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI think that it is very important, however, that parents begin to encourage and support Caribbean children’s authors by insisting that the education system incorporate a wider range of quality Caribbean children’s literature into the curriculum.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: You were nominated for the 2014 international Astrid Lindgren Memorial award. It’s the world’s largest children’s literature award and only a few Caribbean children’s authors have ever been nominated. Do you think this nomination signals a new era for Caribbean children’s literature?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EI certainly hope that my nomination will shine a spot light on Caribbean children’s literature and encourage more nominating bodies to actively seek out and submit our work.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: You have two children, you travel, you run a publishing house, and yet you somehow find time to write. From one writer to another, please tell me how you do it!\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EVery little sleep and lots of caffeine. Just kidding. I’m not sure that I’m a good model. When I look at how many books Enid Blyton churned out, or the number of books in the \u003Ci\u003EMagic Tree House\u003C\/i\u003E series, I feel like a real slacker with only nine books under my belt.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBut seriously, the basic principal is consistency. Carve out a couple hours out of your day that you dedicate to writing and stick with it as much as possible. For me, this is at night after the children have gone to bed at which point I try to dedicate two hours to writing. Sometimes this plan works better than others, but even when I don’t get it done for a while, I get back on track whenever I can. In addition, I’m always turning over my work-in-process in my head, scribbling notes on a scene while I’m cooking or recording ideas (handsfree) on my phone while I’m driving.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: You’ve collaborated with UK illustrator Ann-Catherine Loo on the \u003Ci\u003ECaribbean Adventures Series\u003C\/i\u003E books. Her artistic style― realistic pencil illustrations― embraces literal representation. Historically, Caribbean children’s book illustration has favored cartoon, folk, or impressionistic styles, so the illustrative realism of the CAS books seems like a notable illustrative shift in Caribbean children’s literature. Is this something you actively thought about in your choice of an illustrator? What might illustrative realism contribute to Caribbean children’s literature in general?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EI came across Ann-Catherine when I was just starting out and we have had a wonderful partnership over the years. I was looking for someone who could deliver in a short time frame and with whom I could maintain a very professional relationship. Illustrative realism—I did not have a term for it then, but I knew it when I saw it—was my top priority in choosing an illustrator. I believe that Caribbean children really need to see themselves portrayed in books the way they see themselves in the mirror. I wanted children to pick up my books because they were drawn to the images on the front cover. The look of a book is of paramount importance in encouraging a child to read, and too often we don’t pay enough attention to cover design as a medium for drawing children (and parents) towards our books.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo, I reviewed the work of several artists, especially looking at the way that they portrayed people of colour before settling on Ann-Catherine. I was also very upfront with her about why I chose her and what I wanted from the illustrations. Since the \u003Ci\u003ECaribbean Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E I have worked with two Caribbean illustrators, Vanessa Soodeen who illustrated \u003Ci\u003ESeascapes\u003C\/i\u003E and Cherise Ward who illustrated \u003Ci\u003EAnother Day\u003C\/i\u003E. These ladies reaffirmed my belief in Caribbean illustrators. Both women were extremely professional, handled my indecision with great patience, and produced exceptional work. I intend to continue to use Ann-Catherine for future publications for the \u003Ci\u003ECaribbean Adventure Series\u003C\/i\u003E and the \u003Ci\u003EChee Chee’s Adventures\u003C\/i\u003E, however, I hope to continue to discover Caribbean artists in subsequent publications.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: I’ve heard the complaint that too many successful Caribbean children’s writers live abroad. You were born in Nevis and spent most of your adult life between the Caribbean, the US and Ghana. Travel seems to be a way of life for you. Is there a case to be made for travelling and migration in terms of the writing life? Also, I’m curious, why Ghana?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EThe number of successful Caribbean writer’s living abroad begs the question: are they successful because they have moved abroad or does the experience of living abroad improve their writing thus making them successful? The answer is probably a little bit of both. It is difficult to become a successful author in the Caribbean. The publishing houses are few and tend to focus on academic publications. Many publishers in the US and the UK focus on books produced by their nationals. As a result, migration is often a key ingredient for successful authors.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn addition, the Bible’s pronouncement that “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own hometown …” is too often proven true in the Caribbean context. We tend to wait for our artists to receive foreign accolades before we recognize them at home. On the other hand, while I don’t think that foreign experience is a necessary ingredient in a writer, I will say that experiencing other cultures helps you to better describe your own because you can identify, appreciate, and thus portray the idiosyncrasies more clearly.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-B3cfL1WGDKs\/UrG3VP_8YWI\/AAAAAAAABkU\/5JhRtetf1t0\/s1600\/Carol+Lincoln+Reading+1.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-B3cfL1WGDKs\/UrG3VP_8YWI\/AAAAAAAABkU\/5JhRtetf1t0\/s1600\/Carol+Lincoln+Reading+1.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESharing Chee Chee's story with kindergartners\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: The life of an author is interesting, even more so the life of a children’s author. Children’s authors always tell the best stories about their work, especially their encounters with children. What’s one thing that a child reader did or said that you will never forget?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EC. M-O.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EDo I have to choose just one? One of the best parts of my job as a children’s writer is doing school visits. I relish the interactions with the children and the fresh perspectives that they express. One of my more heartening experiences was when I did a book launch\/writing workshop in Ghana. I invited a number of children, mainly expatriates, but there was a road block on the main thoroughfare to get to the venue and so many people were unable to attend. It turned out that there was a reading programme finishing up at the venue just as we were getting ready to start. It had been attended by disadvantaged children in the neighbourhood who had difficulty reading. I invited those children to join in the workshop. At first their participation was tentative but by the end they were raising their hands and thoroughly enjoying the activities. It was wonderful because their life experiences brought a new perspective into the discussions. I sincerely believe that the event resonated longer with those children than most of the original invitees for whom access to books and education was never an issue.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n###\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"alignleft\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and lives in Philadelphia, USA. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her poems and art have been published in\u0026nbsp;literary magazines such as \u003Ci\u003EObsidian: Literature in the African Diaspora,\u0026nbsp;tongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EThe Caribbean Writer\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Esx salon \u003C\/i\u003Eand more. She was shortlisted for the 2012 Small Axe Literary Prize in the\u0026nbsp;fiction\u0026nbsp;category. She blogs at www.summeredward.com.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/2605595467051343744\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2013\/12\/awakening-interest-in-history-interview.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/2605595467051343744"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/2605595467051343744"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2013\/12\/awakening-interest-in-history-interview.html","title":"[Interview] Carol Mitchell-Ottley: Awakening an Interest in History"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OBay9tgfmLE\/UrHC_TER0cI\/AAAAAAAABks\/4LAfu1ipRiU\/s72-c\/Carol+Mitchell-Author.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-7359989406877224391"},"published":{"$t":"2012-06-01T22:51:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-12T11:05:00.483-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Big Kids Wear Clothes: Interview with Olive Senior, author of Birthday Suit"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-VNbnJV65Zzc\/T8l3__hMwpI\/AAAAAAAAA1w\/gWX42KWEN0Q\/s1600\/Olive+senior.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-VNbnJV65Zzc\/T8l3__hMwpI\/AAAAAAAAA1w\/gWX42KWEN0Q\/s1600\/Olive+senior.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOlive Senior, \u003Ci\u003EBirthday Suit\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr\u003Eauthor\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\nWe know her as the author of \u003Ci\u003ESummer Lightning\u003C\/i\u003E and other applauded adult titles. Now, Jamaican writer Olive Senior has made her children's book debut with \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1554513685\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=thebed-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=9325\u0026amp;creativeASIN=1554513685\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBirthday Suit\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, a picturebook about\u0026nbsp;zipping, tying, fastening and fitting in.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kirkusreviews.com\/book-reviews\/olive-senior\/birthday-suit\/#review\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKirkus Reviews\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E described the book as \"buoyant\" and \"full of phonic riffs that make [..] a terrific read-aloud.\" In this interview,\u0026nbsp;Senior shares her love for rhymes and riddles, why it's important to see the world through a child's eyes and the special joys of writing for children.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n***\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: What was it like moving from writing for adults to writing for children?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EOlive Senior:\u003C\/b\u003E Poems or stories for children tend to pop into my head and I usually just have\n\nfun letting them sing to me. But moving from that impulse to publication is\n\nquite another matter as the children’s market is bound with a lot more rules\n\nthan the adult. The picture book, for instance, has to fit into a set number of\n\npages which limits the number of words. A major consideration is how the\n\nstory ends and what the children are learning from it. Of course language and\n\nvocabulary are also challenges as they have to be age appropriate. \u003Ci\u003EBirthday Suit\u003C\/i\u003E\n\nas my first published children’s book was a learning experience but I had great\n\nteachers at Annick Press and a special joy was seeing the story come to life in\n\nthe illustrations. I ended up enjoying the experience and I do want to continue to\n\nwrite and publish for children.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What inspired you to write \u003Ci\u003EBirthday Suit \u003C\/i\u003E?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZXjuVyP7RK4\/T8l8kJoRQZI\/AAAAAAAAA18\/6e04uZCQHk8\/s1600\/Birthday+Suit.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; \"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZXjuVyP7RK4\/T8l8kJoRQZI\/AAAAAAAAA18\/6e04uZCQHk8\/s200\/Birthday+Suit.jpg\" width=\"173\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOS:\u003C\/b\u003E Every family has a story of a child who doesn’t want to wear clothes, but in\n\nmy story, I wanted nature to assist in the learning process. I got the idea for\n\n\u003Ci\u003EBirthday Suit\u003C\/i\u003E while I was staying by the sea and I was struck by all the activity\n\naround me. So the reactions of the sea, birds, fish, and so on, mark Johnnie’s\n\nprogress in the book. The artist’s interpretation reinforces this idea, for instance\n\nthe Sun’s changes expression on every page. They say it takes a village to raise\n\na child but in Johnnie’s case it also includes the sun, sea, land, and a lot of the\n\ncreatures that dwell therein.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Children's stories often have a lot of word play. Are you comfortable taking a more playful approach to language?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EOS:\u003C\/b\u003E Word play comes naturally to me – I love rhymes, riddles, puns and word\n\npuzzles and I still remember a lot of nonsense verse from my childhood. I\n\nhave continued to ‘play’ throughout my life and even my most serious writing\n\nwill contain some element of humour and word play. When reading, it is good\n\nto listen to the rhythm of the language and learn as many words and their\n\nmeanings as possible; knowing word origins helps too. If you cultivate words,\n\nfrom time to time they will spontaneously burst into play.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: How does viewing the world from a child’s point of view change the way you write?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EOS:\u003C\/b\u003E A lot of my stories for adults are written from a child’s point of view. When\n\nI started writing I didn’t make a conscious decision about this, it just came\n\nnaturally to me. Seeing the adult world through a child’s eyes gives a double\n\nlayer to fiction because children in their innocence can see and speak of things\n\nthey don’t understand though the adult reader will. I also believe that adult\n\nbehaviour is shaped by childhood experiences so I will include such experiences\n\neven when the story is told from the adult point of view.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Children who challenge authority, like the boy in \u003Ci\u003EBirthday Suit\u003C\/i\u003E, are a recurring theme in children's literature. Do such children interest you as a writer?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EOS:\u003C\/b\u003E Children who challenge authority are the most interesting because they’re sure\n\nto generate plenty of action, as Johnny does in \u003Ci\u003EBirthday Suit\u003C\/i\u003E. I don’t write\n\nabout wicked or destructive children but about the ones who simply want some\n\nfreedom to be themselves. So they find creative ways of challenging the world.\n\nChildren in my stories tend to be verbal – they read and think and imagine and\n\nlearn big words or puzzles or hard questions to throw adults into confusion –\n\nas the little girl in my most popular story does when she asks, ‘Do angels wear\n\nbrassieres?’\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What do you think of the illustrations Eugenie Fernandes did for the book?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EOS:\u003C\/b\u003E My publishers blessed me when they found such a wonderful artist as Eugenie\n\nFernandes to illustrate \u003Ci\u003EBirthday Suit\u003C\/i\u003E. Her magnificent paintings complement\n\nevery aspect of the story. She captured the colours and life on a tropical\n\nbeach and added such whimsical activity on every page that the whole world\n\nsurrounding Johnny seems to be in play. Each picture contains a great deal of\n\nmaterial to engage young minds. As for Johnnie, it is as if the artist plucked him\n\nfrom inside my head. He is exactly the way I imagined him.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Do you think adequate attention is paid to homegrown children's literature in the Caribbean?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EOS:\u003C\/b\u003E I can’t speak in general terms about Caribbean children’s literature as I am not\n\naware of what is happening on all the islands. I grew up reading about English\n\nor American children since there was nothing about Caribbean islanders in our\n\nbooks. I am glad that children today are more fortunate. Even now I love to read\n\nbooks for children with a setting and characters that are familiar. My favourite\n\nCaribbean children's authors are Jean D’Costa and C. Everald Palmer and I am also happy\n\nto see new children's books coming from authors such as Hazel Campbell, Diane\n\nBrowne and Martin Mordecai. I don’t see as much happening with picture\n\nbooks for the younger children. These books are expensive to produce and\n\nneed large markets to make them commercially viable so we need to find new\n\nand creative ways to make this material available to our little ones. Sites like\n\nanansesem.com are really valuable in helping us to exchange ideas on how best\n\nto do this.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: How has living in Ontario affected your writing for children?\u0026nbsp;\n\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EOS:\u003C\/b\u003E Nowadays I am based in Toronto and I travel a great deal but I also make sure\n\nthat I continue to spend a lot of time in Jamaica which is the place where I\n\nhave spent most of my life and which continues to be the source of my creative\n\nideas. But I do find it enriching to be able to live and work in different places.\n\nCanada has given me opportunities for publishing which I would not have had\n\nin Jamaica and working with Canadian publishers and artists has really educated\n\nme especially to the requirements of writing for children.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Do you have any additional children’s book projects in the works?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EOS:\u003C\/b\u003E I do have another picture book in production called \u003Ci\u003EAnna Carries Water\u003C\/i\u003E. The\n\nunpublished story won the Helen Isobel Sissons Canadian Children’s Story\n\nAward sponsored by PACE (Canada). This is an organisation based in Canada\n\nthat sponsors basic schools in Jamaica. Interested readers can learn more from\n\ntheir website www.pacecanada.org. This award is open to submissions from\n\nboth Canada and the Caribbean. It offers a cash prize for unpublished stories\n\nreflecting diversity that are aimed at children under the age of 7. The deadline\n\nfor 2012 has already passed but writers might make a note for next year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n*\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and lives in Philadelphia, USA. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her poems and art have been published in\u0026nbsp;literary magazines such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Etongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Esx salon\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/7359989406877224391\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/06\/big-kids-wear-clothes-interview-with.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/7359989406877224391"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/7359989406877224391"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/06\/big-kids-wear-clothes-interview-with.html","title":"[Interview] Big Kids Wear Clothes: Interview with Olive Senior, author of Birthday Suit"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-VNbnJV65Zzc\/T8l3__hMwpI\/AAAAAAAAA1w\/gWX42KWEN0Q\/s72-c\/Olive+senior.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-5182748828148905831"},"published":{"$t":"2012-06-29T13:53:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-11T14:36:14.315-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] \"Many grains make a beach\": Mario Picayo, Caribbean Children's Publishing Pioneer "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-akk13MThQKs\/T-3lN9jWIlI\/AAAAAAAAA6c\/sDIM-ENK-Ps\/s1600\/mario+picayo.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-akk13MThQKs\/T-3lN9jWIlI\/AAAAAAAAA6c\/sDIM-ENK-Ps\/s200\/mario+picayo.jpg\" width=\"176\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMario Picayo\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\nJust as Caribbean literature for adults had André Deutsch in the 1950s, Caribbean literature for children has its present-day idiosyncratic publishing pioneer in the person of Mario Picayo. Only unlike Deutsch, Picayo was born here.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA Cuban by birth and Puerto Rican by\u0026nbsp;upbringing,\u0026nbsp;Picayo is publishing's equivalent of the travelling salesman. And yes, Picayo is selling books\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"\u003E―\u003C\/span\u003E his independent publishing company Editorial Campana sells innovative\u0026nbsp;bilingual Caribbean children's books through its Little Bell Caribbean imprint\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"\u003E―\u003C\/span\u003Ebut it's really culture that Picayo is selling more than anything, or perhaps more correctly, a way of seeing ourselves.\u0026nbsp;His company's children's books are thoughtfully packaged conduits of culture, given\u0026nbsp;in absolutely good faith\u0026nbsp;to the children he meets in his extensive travels throughout the region.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOr at least, that is the way I think Picayo sees it.\u0026nbsp;I've known him long enough to know that the idea of self-sufficiency\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"\u003E―\u003C\/span\u003Ecultural self-sufficiency that is\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"\u003E―\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Estrongly colors his motives as a publisher.\u0026nbsp;Indeed, from our conversations, I can tell you that Picayo seems bent on using an\u0026nbsp;indigenous\u0026nbsp;mode of literary production\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"\u003E―\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;and literary celebration\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"\u003E―\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003Eto promote cultural ownership\u0026nbsp;wholesale. For Picayo, it's really about abolishing the old gatekeepers and building a new publishing model that privileges our worlds and our stories.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd just as John Calder once called\u0026nbsp;Deutsch\u0026nbsp;an \"entrepreneur\u0026nbsp;of the imagination,\" the same can be said of Picayo.\u0026nbsp;A tireless innovator and canvasser, he is one of the most familiar faces in\u0026nbsp;Caribbean children's publishing. Beyond\u0026nbsp;pushing\u0026nbsp;the mathematical\u0026nbsp;envelope, he may actually be re-plotting the entire curve.\u0026nbsp;Recently, Picayo took time out from his busy\u0026nbsp;schedule\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;respond\u0026nbsp;to my interview prompts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n***\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: There's an interesting story about your picture book, a story involving two first ladies, am I right?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMario Picayo:\u003C\/b\u003E Yes. In 2008 the First Lady of the United States Virgin Islands, Cecile de Jongh, decided that the gift from the Office of the Governor to the children of the Territory for the December Holiday Season should be a book.\nAfter a long search, they chose \u003Ci\u003EA Caribbean Journey from A to Y (Read and Discover What Happened to the Z)\u003C\/i\u003E by me. The gift was enthusiastically embraced by kids, parents, teachers and librarians.\nA copy of \u003Ci\u003EA Caribbean Journey from A to Y (Read and Discover What Happened to the Z)\u003C\/i\u003E was handed to Michelle Obama by Ms. deJongh as a gift for her daughters.  I was surprised when weeks later I received a photograph capturing the moment, signed by the two First Ladies. Later I also received a note from Michelle Obama thanking me for the book.\nIt remains our best-selling title.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What's the U.S. Virgin Islands Summer Reading Challenge and how is Little Bell involved?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1.5em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-kQKCDNbXw3A\/T-3i9WdmrdI\/AAAAAAAAA6U\/MBO1fkBFJiE\/s1600\/Mario_with_new_book.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-kQKCDNbXw3A\/T-3i9WdmrdI\/AAAAAAAAA6U\/MBO1fkBFJiE\/s320\/Mario_with_new_book.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPicayo with a fan at this year's launch of \u003Cbr\u003Ethe SR Challenge\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMP:\u003C\/b\u003E That first book and the idea of free Little Bell books for the kids raised the subject of literacy in the Territory and the need to promote reading. The following year governor, John deJongh, implemented the Summer Reading Challenge, asking kids from K to 8th grade to read five books during the summer.\nA celebratory party at the end of the summer was held and prizes were given, including Kindles.\n\nOn December of that same year, the Office of the Governor decided to give one book, written and illustrated by Virgin Islanders, to the children.  We helped edit and produce the book. \u003Ci\u003EEfa and the Mosquito\u003C\/i\u003E became the second title in what now has become a yearly tradition: the creation and distribution, at no charge to the children of the Territory, of a hardcover, fully illustrated book written and illustrated by Virgin Islanders. No project gives me more satisfaction than working on this initiative.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You did a promotional tour where you visited 17 islands in 1 month. What was that like?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1.5em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-5_sYCe-kXuc\/T-3lu94CM4I\/AAAAAAAAA6k\/mQe1SlIQdmk\/s1600\/Best_Books_Antigua.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"213\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-5_sYCe-kXuc\/T-3lu94CM4I\/AAAAAAAAA6k\/mQe1SlIQdmk\/s320\/Best_Books_Antigua.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPicayo at the Best of Books bookstore in Antigua\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMP:\u003C\/b\u003E Friends from all over the Caribbean that heard about the USVI Summer Reading Challenge inspired us to present it to other Caribbean nations. It took lots of preparation plus the assistance of many people. I started with St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix in December of 2011. Then off to (in random order): Dominica, Barbados, Anguilla, Antigua, Grenada, St Vincent and three of the Grenadines: Bequia, Mayreau and Union Island, St. Marteen, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba and finally the International Book Fair in Havana, Cuba.  I donated a set of the books from the Virgin Islands initiative to the National Library of each island, and to many schools as well. I spoke, and listened, to authors, teachers, students, librarians and members of the Ministries of Education of most of the islands visited. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the project has now taken center stage for us.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: How would you describe your independent publishing company, Editorial Campana\/Little Bell Caribbean, in a nutshell?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1.5em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-r0v95hKuAx0\/T-3phLrMJEI\/AAAAAAAAA64\/yauJToPwbZo\/s1600\/Stephanie_Browne_Primary.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-r0v95hKuAx0\/T-3phLrMJEI\/AAAAAAAAA64\/yauJToPwbZo\/s320\/Stephanie_Browne_Primary.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUnion Island children receive books \u003Cbr\u003Efrom Editorial Campana\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMP:\u003C\/b\u003E Our company (Editorial Campana) is focused on particular themes and genres. My native Caribbean is the epicenter. The Lesser Antilles is an expensive area to work with. Expensive and logistically complex, but what we do down island is needed.  Creating books by local authors and illustrators and giving them for free to the kids transcends business calculations.  Kids need to see themselves, their lives, the lives of their parents and grandparents and the nature around them in books. Local authors become role models and the books dispel, even if slightly, the myth that everything cultural and educational has to come from abroad.  We have our own magicians and heroes, and a history rich enough for a million books. We are storytellers by tradition. I make it possible for those stories to be preserved and shared in the form of books. My contribution is only a grain of sand, but many grains make a beach.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You speak English and Spanish. Is translation of Caribbean titles for young readers something your company is focused on?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMP:\u003C\/b\u003E It is crucial that books get translated. Our region is small, and divided more by language than by water. There is so much to learn from each other, and language is a huge barrier.  Another goal of our project is to make as many bilingual or trilingual books as possible. For this year's Virgin Islands holiday book, titled \u003Ci\u003EI am the Virgin Islands\u003C\/i\u003E by Tiphanie Yanick and Moses Djeli, we will do a Spanish translation which can be downloaded for free from our webpage. Parents, or teachers can cut the strips of text and add them to the appropriate pages. It is not a perfect solution, but at the very least it will serve as a bilingual educational tool and will open the book to many, many children, and adults that could not read it otherwise.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What was your experience like at the International Havana Book Fair?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-bottom: 1em;  margin-right: 1.5em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-b8f9A1C_Tl4\/T-3onZlEoAI\/AAAAAAAAA6w\/eIYr1yPEiNM\/s1600\/Table_JoseMarti.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"213\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-b8f9A1C_Tl4\/T-3onZlEoAI\/AAAAAAAAA6w\/eIYr1yPEiNM\/s320\/Table_JoseMarti.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPicayo on a panel at the International\u003Cbr\u003E Havana Book Fair\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMP:\u003C\/b\u003EThe International Havana Book Fair (IHBF) was certainly inspiring. It was dedicated to the Caribbean Region and next year it will honor Angola.  European, Canadian and Latin American publishers were well represented. It is one of the most important cultural events in Cuba attracting millions of visitors. The book industry is subsidized so book prices are very low. Converted to USD, most books are in the 45 to 75 cents range. Gente Nueva, the largest publisher of C-Y-A literature, releases about one hundred titles per year, but there are many other publishers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA novelty for the last two years are pop-up books. I found five titles and bought one of each for about 2 USD.  I also met many Cuban illustrators. Some are very traditional and some border on the experimental but most of them are very good.\nIHBF and my contact with local children book creators taught me that much can be done with little resources. What is mostly needed is the elementary understanding that a country's best investment is in the education of its children. Ignore that simple corollary, and the price that is paid is high and the consequences irreversible for another generation, or two.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n*\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and lives in Philadelphia, USA. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her poems and art have been published in\u0026nbsp;literary magazines such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Etongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Esx salon \u003C\/i\u003Eand \u003Ci\u003EThe Caribbean Writer\u003C\/i\u003E (forthcoming). She was selected to participate in the Cropper\u0026nbsp;Foundation\u0026nbsp;Caribbean Creative Writers Workshop.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/5182748828148905831\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/06\/many-grains-make-beach-interview-with.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/5182748828148905831"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/5182748828148905831"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/06\/many-grains-make-beach-interview-with.html","title":"[Interview] \"Many grains make a beach\": Mario Picayo, Caribbean Children's Publishing Pioneer "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-akk13MThQKs\/T-3lN9jWIlI\/AAAAAAAAA6c\/sDIM-ENK-Ps\/s72-c\/mario+picayo.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-1835698933322723014"},"published":{"$t":"2012-07-27T13:32:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-11T14:05:41.952-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Floella Benjamin: Changing the Perception of the Caribbean through Children's Literature (Part 2)"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\n\n\n\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis is the second half of Summer's interview with Baroness Floella Benjamin, Trinidadian-born author of the children's novel,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003ESea of Tears. \u003Ci\u003ERead part 1 of the interview \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/06\/heart-for-caribbean-floella-benjamin.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n* * *\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6Jueg6JZPrI\/WWveMWyBurI\/AAAAAAAAD-I\/gLQ1wFHeeZgFYNug9BBSp4aAIXc0Wg9RgCLcBGAs\/s320\/Baroness-Floella-Benjamin.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6Jueg6JZPrI\/WWveMWyBurI\/AAAAAAAAD-I\/gLQ1wFHeeZgFYNug9BBSp4aAIXc0Wg9RgCLcBGAs\/s320\/Baroness-Floella-Benjamin.jpg\"  \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward: Within the canon of Caribbean juvenile literature, you find a lot of narratives about a Caribbean child who migrates to a foreign land, but there aren’t that many stories about children living elsewhere who migrate to the Caribbean, about children of Caribbean descent who return. Your book falls into the latter category. What do you think is the value of this narrative?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFloella Benjamin:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E Well I think it just goes to show that, you know, in the Caribbean, there is a lot to be celebrated. Because when you come back to the Caribbean, because I spent ten years of my life living in the Caribbean and when I came to Britain we were so far ahead compared to what ten-year-olds were doing in schools in England, in London and so I know in the Caribbean there is a very high standard of education, high standard of discipline, high standard of actually, of you proving yourself and pushing yourself. So I wrote a book called \u003Ci\u003EComing to England\u003C\/i\u003E talking about what it’s like to leave the Caribbean and come to England. In that book it shows you the differences in education and the important thing is that when you understand that going back to the Caribbean you are a person but when you come to England or to America or to Canada you are perceived as a colour, you’re always described as the “black person” whereas in the Caribbean you are a person.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FcB4qfH4nAI\/UBLG69Q0TeI\/AAAAAAAAA7o\/S44wa8RttRc\/s1600\/Coming+to+England.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1.5em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FcB4qfH4nAI\/UBLG69Q0TeI\/AAAAAAAAA7o\/S44wa8RttRc\/s320\/Coming+to+England.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EAnd I think that when you’re going to school and you’re having that kind of experience, it’s a better experience for you as a person, learning and seeing yourself as equal to everyone around you whereas when you’re in, when you go to Europe or you go to America or Canada, you’re suddenly not as equal because you’re always looked upon as a colour. And so the Trinidadian and Jamaican and Barbadian education system, I think it’s really great to people of Caribbean descent. We should try and find a year for our children to actually go to a school in the Caribbean and then they will see they are worthy. Because a lot of children growing up in Europe or America or Canada they don’t feel, kind of, as worthy as they should because there is a perception of who they are and the feeling of not believing in themselves, not believing I can do this. It’s a great burden on their children so they’re having to work extra hard to prove they’re somebody whereas in the Caribbean you just know you’re somebody and so you work hard to get an education. So the barrier of having to prove yourself is not quite the same. All you have to do is pass your exam. All you have to do is make sure you can read, you can write, you can learn and, you know, you can be something education-wise. I am pleased that I had my first ten years in the Caribbean because I knew I was somebody. [Children of colour] being born in England or America or Canada, they don’t know they are somebody, yet. They have to work at being somebody. And it’s a big difference. It’s a big psychological difference, a big mental difference to a person. That’s why Caribbean education, I feel, is so good for the soul. It makes you know you’re somebody and you just take it for granted that hey, here I am, it’s me. Not me being a colour.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESE: Jasmine's British friends think that when she moves to Barbados she will live on the beach under a palm tree and listen to Reggae music all the time. Do you think many British children buy into these stereotypes about the Caribbean? Or has the Caribbean presence in places like Lewisham and Birmingham made Caribbean culture more accessible to British children?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFB:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E Well I think why they have the stereotypical idea of the Caribbean is because of the media. What the media shows you is what you believe because if you know nothing else, then you believe what you’re seeing. I’m not sure what it’s like in America or Canada, but in England, definitely, the majority of portrayals that you see of the Caribbean is only when they do limbo dancing, steel band music, a bit of Carnival and it’s always the beach scene. Beach scene, blue sky, sandy beaches. And I remember once being on an airplane going to Barbados and sitting beside me was a young white girl and as we were about to land, she goes “Oh my God, they’ve got roads and houses!” Because the brochures she saw were beaches and little huts and palms trees and so you know, she was really shocked and she couldn’t help but say it out loud. And I think it’s because they don’t realize that five or six hundred years ago we were colonized by the British, by the Spanish, by the Portuguese, by the French and a lot of their architecture are seen throughout those islands. We do have beaches, we do have palm trees, but we have a lot more. But to sell the idea of Caribbeaness, it sells through palm trees and through beaches. Even the adverts. We have a drink called [. . .], and you have these two ladies doing limbo dancing. So it’s a kind of stereotypical image, like all Eskimos live in igloos and they don’t, do they? And I think that’s the kind of mentality and that’s the kind of advertising world and that’s the type of portrayal and perception you’re still fed in places like England. So that’s what children grow up thinking.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo unless you take your children to the Caribbean, unless you are Caribbean-conscious by educating your children about the Caribbean and about the history of the Caribbean, and I was lucky, because my parents did that so we knew the difference. And we were born over there so we knew the difference and my children have grown up to know the difference. And that’s why I think my books are terribly important to a lot of Caribbean children, to feel proud of their heritage. \nBut also, my book, \u003Ci\u003EComing to England\u003C\/i\u003E which I wrote in fact seventeen years ago and is now used in school to teach about history, about coming from another land, I get letters and a lot of the white children who read this book want to be Caribbean, they want to go there!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Lpx3J-Wu11k\/UBLKTMlOW7I\/AAAAAAAAA8Q\/9vZZDdrOfU0\/s1600\/sea+of+tears.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1.5em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Lpx3J-Wu11k\/UBLKTMlOW7I\/AAAAAAAAA8Q\/9vZZDdrOfU0\/s320\/sea+of+tears.jpg\" width=\"208\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nWhat I’ve done is, I’ve changed the perception of what the Caribbean looks like, feels like and is like, by describing the land to them. And we need more books like that, we need more programmes on television, we need more, kind of, an unblinkered look at what the Caribbean is all about. And for us to be proud of who we are. And when I go to a school and talk about Caribbeanness, and talk about my book \u003Ci\u003EComing to England \u003C\/i\u003Eor \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E, the black kids, suddenly their shoulders go back and their chests puff out because they think “I am Caribbean!” and the white kids they say, “Oh, I wish I could be too!” You see what I mean? And it’s so exciting to open people minds. That again is what you get with acceptances and differences. You know you can tap into that kind of culture, tap into that kind of land and not lose anything. And to be able to be whoever you are, wherever you are and enjoy it and have respect, have the same type of respect that you have for the Eiffel Tower or Buckingham Palace as you do for the Red House in Trinidad.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003EIt’s not just palm trees and beaches, it’s not just coconuts and bananas. Because we have been exposed to Spanish culture, English culture, French culture, African culture, Chinese culture, Indian culture and we are a rich kind of tapestry of cultures and of worldly experiences. We are an example to everyone else in the world. Look at what we’ve got, how we live together and that’s what Caribbean people should be proud of. There is no other part of the world like the Caribbean, observing all those different cultures and I want every Caribbean person to go out and show the world I am Caribbean, I am a survivor, Think of what our ancestors had to go through, being dragged from their villages in Africa, shackled. If they\u0026nbsp;weren't\u0026nbsp;strong, they were dead, they were gone. Put on a boat like sardines, packed together. If they\u0026nbsp;weren't\u0026nbsp;strong they were thrown overboard alive. Got to the Caribbean, branded on their chest, separated from their language, from their religion, not speaking their own tongues, being taken, dragged across all the various islands, never seeing your relations again and having to survive into this age. If you are Caribbean, you are a survivor when you think of what your ancestors have been through to get you to where you are today. Fly the flag for Caribbeaness because you know that you are strong survivor.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd that’s the  kind of mentality I want people to start believing and thinking and to don’t put themselves down. Whenever somebody comes back to the Caribbean they should greet them with open arms because they’re bringing something back. We’re not trying to take something from you. We’re trying to build you up and make you even more proud of what you are already and not have segregation, not saying you’re from one island and you’re from the other island. Because we’re all related; my ancestors and your ancestors probably are the same, you don’t know which island they sent you to when they brought you from Africa. The root cause is that that you are African. If you are Indian you from India, you are from China, you are from wherever, because you were brought here to the Caribbean to make this kind of wonderful mixture, kind of melting pot of  people, and cultures, religions. Fantastic. We should be so proud of who we are. I really wish people could see it. I feel so proud to be Caribbean.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESE: Ultimately, what do you want to say to parents and children through your books?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFB:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E When you're dealing with children you make every child feel loved, because childhood lasts a lifetime and every experience they go through will stay with them forever, good or bad. So we have to make sure we give them as many good experiences as possible, because you never know what they're going through in life. And the purpose of writing \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E was to teach children that same message. You have dignity and pride in yourself and no matter what the world is throwing at you, it's not your fault, it's other people's fault. What you've got to do is have a good heart and make sure you do the right thing always, with\u0026nbsp;morality, with\u0026nbsp;integrity, and to be somebody people can put their trust in. Act with honesty and dignity.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n#\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/1835698933322723014\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/07\/floella-benjamin-changing-perception-of.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/1835698933322723014"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/1835698933322723014"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/07\/floella-benjamin-changing-perception-of.html","title":"[Interview] Floella Benjamin: Changing the Perception of the Caribbean through Children's Literature (Part 2)"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6Jueg6JZPrI\/WWveMWyBurI\/AAAAAAAAD-I\/gLQ1wFHeeZgFYNug9BBSp4aAIXc0Wg9RgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Baroness-Floella-Benjamin.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-1308543856662774591"},"published":{"$t":"2012-06-29T17:45:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-11T13:39:03.093-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Floella Benjamin: A Heart for the Caribbean (Part 1)"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fMvb2YngnBI\/WWvataUjOlI\/AAAAAAAAD94\/wIbGYAwMB2ML1ZV11AtxQ1eFEehnAKnAwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/floellabenjamin.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1.5em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"320\" data-original-width=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fMvb2YngnBI\/WWvataUjOlI\/AAAAAAAAD94\/wIbGYAwMB2ML1ZV11AtxQ1eFEehnAKnAwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/floellabenjamin.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 60px; color: #000000;\"\u003EI\u003C\/span\u003Et’s 3pm London time when Floella Benjamin picks up the phone. Although I am calling at a prearranged hour there is, at first, a hint of confusion in her voice. I am not offended. After all, Baroness Benjamin is a very busy lady. It only takes her a brief moment to re-orient herself to the prospect of our interview. Once she does, Benjamin’s larger-than-life personality registers fully across several thousand miles. She speaks with her trademark conviction and authority, yet there is an unassuming warmth about her conversational style that makes me feel like I’m chatting with an affectionate aunt. After more than fifty years in London, her British accent is fully-formed, but she is not averse to throwing out a Trini-ism now and then.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBenjamin is taking a break from writing a speech for an upcoming session of the House of Lords to talk to me about her new children’s novel, \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E.\u0026nbsp;At one point, she tells me matter-of-factly that she is in the habit of turning down interview requests because of how busy she is. She says when she got my request however, she felt compelled to speak with me. \"You're doing something that I'm passionate about; spreading the word about Caribbean culture. Of course I'll do it, but I'm very busy.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBenjamin is no newcomer to children’s writing. Following her long and illustrious career as a children’s television presenter on \u003Ci\u003EPlay School\u003C\/i\u003E, the UK’s equivalent of \u003Ci\u003ESesame Street\u003C\/i\u003E, she launched into writing for children, producing two successful picturebook collaborations with the English illustrator, Margaret Chamberlain. \u003Ci\u003EMy Two Grandads\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EMy Two Grannies\u003C\/i\u003E are jovial stories that celebrate cultural differences. They’re picturebooks on whose pages the influence of Benjamin’s Caribbean roots can be seen.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBenjamin’s first children’s novel, \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E displays a similar focus. In fact, \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;reaches back even further; it signals a return to themes Benjamin first started exploring in \u003Ci\u003EComing to England\u003C\/i\u003E, the now classic 1995 autobiography about her migration from Trinidad to England as a young girl in the 1960’s. It is clear that Benjamin’s material has  not changed.\u0026nbsp;In \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E, a British teen reluctantly moves with her family to Barbados where her parents were born and struggles with homesickness and marginalization. Migration, culture, crossing barriers, the ties that bind, the unique perceptions of childhood― Benjamin speaks fixedly and recursively on these themes during our interview.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward: You were inspired to write this book by something that happened to you in Barbados.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1.5em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-aE1a4MvkRzM\/T-4Yf_yN_RI\/AAAAAAAAA7I\/lNlYl3FyQQs\/s1600\/floella+benjamin_Barbados.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-aE1a4MvkRzM\/T-4Yf_yN_RI\/AAAAAAAAA7I\/lNlYl3FyQQs\/s1600\/floella+benjamin_Barbados.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBenjamin at Days Bookstore in Barbados \u003Cbr\u003Eearlier this year\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFloella Benjamin:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E Yes, I went to Barbados. I was filming over there. They’re making a program on the history of the Caribbean, and I met this young girl who was about thirteen and she was very, very unhappy and I said, “What’s the matter?” And she said, well, I was born in London and my family decided that they wanted to come back to Barbados to live, so that meant I had to come with them and leave all my friends behind and now I’m here and people kind of treat me as if I’m an outsider. They call me you know, English and I hate it, so I want to go back to where I was born. And I realized that that was the same thing that happened to me in 1960 when I left Trinidad. When you go to a new place it’s hard to fit in if you’re different and migration means going to somewhere that’s different and that you will perhaps not be accepted because of you being perceived as being somebody who’s different. So that theme, even through \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E, was to show that it doesn’t matter where you go in the world, what you have to do is try and fit in and try and, as long as you love yourself and know who you are as a person, establish yourself in a new environment and that’s what \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E is all about.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESE: I can certainly relate to that. And your character, Jasmine, does learn this doesn’t she?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFB:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E For Jasmine in the story, she, first of all, believes that friends last forever, and that isn’t necessarily the case. You can make new friends in a new land, as long as you know who you are as a person, and you become, you blossom into the environment that you’re in. Don’t kind of keep judging people on things [sic] of what you left behind. When you move forward, you have to see, okay, they don’t like me because of this. What am I doing that they don’t like? How can I change my perception of myself and see myself through their eyes, how other people see me. And other people might not like you because they don’t like themselves, and if they see something special in you, they want to take it out on you. So they might be fighting their own battles. And people who can’t accept differences are people who don’t like themselves as human beings. So you have to understand that as well. So that’s the philosophy I want to teach young children and young people, especially if they have to move to a new land. I think if you’re about five or six it’s not so difficult, but when you’re a teenager trying to find your own self and establish your own personality those kinds of messages are very important for you to be aware of and need to be spoken about and told. And that why I think \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E is a book that I really try to concentrate on those emotions that you go through at the kind of age.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESE: Yes, the teenage years…\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFB:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E Becoming a teenager, kind of when the clock strikes midnight on your thirteenth birthday, suddenly so many things change, you don’t know who you are, your hormones are going wild, you’re trying to find out you who you are. You rely on friendship and I think, you know, there is nothing different about young people, teenagers living in the Caribbean as there are in America, Canada, London. They are all the same and as long as you understand that, as long as you understand why things are happening to you, then you can cope with life. But I think a lot of the problems we have in life is because no one talks about it. No one has, you know, you need to have a conversation with somebody who’s been through that and who can actually talk about it through the eyes of that person at that particular stage in their life. Through the eyes of the child. You have to speak to people through what they’re going through at that time, not as an adult, but you talk to them on the same level. And I think that is what I try to do and I hope it came over in \u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E, is that I was talking to a thirteen year old, talking through the eyes of that thirteen year old so they understood.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYou know, their parents are going through traumas themselves because as you come, as a returnee in the Caribbean, you know, as an adult, you’re treated with, you know, with resentment as well, you know, rejection. And we all have to face rejection but at different stages in our lives it’s how we cope with it. And as a child it could be quite catastrophic for you when you feel as if nobody loves you, nobody cares about you, your parents are telling you off, your friends have abandoned you, you can’t find new friends and you feel your whole world is falling apart […] but you can cope, life gets better. You just go through different phases in your life. You know, like the terrible twos, the seven year olds, the teenagers. Even when you’re fifty you go through some sort of phase in your life that you have to cope with. And it’s just getting young people to realize life gets better and the more experiences that you have, the richer you are as a person.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESE: I saw this book as being about difference as well. What it means to be different.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFB:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E I know for a fact when I first went back to Trinidad, I left Trinidad in 1960, I went back ten years later, eleven years later, and everybody knew. They said, “English girl” and I said “Why?’ What is it about me? And I think when you are living in a particular culture, in a different environment, in the different land, you pick up, the way you walk, the way you talk, the way you dress, your style, and it tells a person when you go back to your homeland or go back to an environment where you think you fit in, they know you immediately. And you then have to work even harder to tell people, I might be from a different land but I understand everything about you. And so you have got to make the extra step, you can't expect them to come towards you, because they won’t, because they perhaps might feel threatened by your existence. They don’t understand who you are as a person.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBut I know from experience, when I go to the Caribbean, when people first see me, they kind of go, “Uh, uh, who is this person?” But I say, “Hello.\" I smile. I ask them questions about themselves. I say, “I like how you are looking.” And so that person thinks, “Hey, this is a really nice human being!” I kind of engage in conversation. So you mustn’t wait for people to come to you. I’m one of these people who go to people, because I know that people don’t like differences and when they see you they have, they kind of, within thirty seconds of somebody setting eyes on you, they form their opinion about you. And that’s human nature. So as long as you’re aware of that, you can actually break those barriers down by jumping over the barrier, being the first one to engage, being the first one to be constructive about relationships that you want to form with those particular people that you’re with.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd so it’s human nature that you smell differences. You look at something, that’s different. You don’t know why you know. But if you know that you’re different and there’s a feeling in that way, you’ve got to say, hey, I might be different, I might be from England, I might be from America, I might be from Canada, but I know my culture, my roots. My roots are Caribbean, that’s what makes me the person that I am. I might be living somewhere else, but I’ll never forget what my ancestors have gone through you know, what my African connections are, wherever I’ve come from, I know who I am. And if you show them you have the ability to think like the person trying to have a particular view about you, then they warm to you. And that’s what happens to me every time I go anywhere in the Caribbean. People say “Aye aye! You Trinidadian! Who are you?” And it’s because I become the people of that land. Because I connect with people. And I want children to not just sort of, kind of have fixed views about who they are. Saying well, she’s from Jamaica, she’s from Grenada, she’s from St. Kitts, she’s from Venezuela, she’s from this and that. No. What you do is, you are [indistinguishable word] human beings on this earth and we can only move forward if we take that out of each other and don’t have any preconceived ideas, judgmental, but to have consideration for one another. And the ability to connect.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESE: Yes and that seems to be an idea you explore through the character Devlin, the Bajan boy who befriends Jasmine, the fisherman’s son.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFB:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E I wrote Delvin as a strong character. I wanted to make him somebody who, because of what he had to go through, the maturity of his life taught Jasmine to realize that yes, you know, the important thing in life is not to ever give up, to love the person who you are, and to respect who you are. And at the end of the book, you find that comes out quite loud and clear. It’s that together, when you find something, you know, you can move mountains if you start believing and understanding who you are. And having values, the values and principles that you have in your life, what’s important and what’s not important.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESE: In the first half of the book, you paint a rather grim picture of Jasmine’s life in South London. It’s this sort of tableau of the many troubling issues Jasmine and her friends face as young people. Is it something about their community or do you think their issues are the reality for young people today, universally speaking I mean?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFB:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E Why I wanted to highlight it is because, the parents, when you’re a parent of young children, you worry about the world they might be drawn into. And one of the reasons why I highlight those particular incidents is because her [Jasmine’s] parents were concerned that they didn’t like the kind of environment that big cities like London, like Montreal, you know, like New York, the kind of environment a child could be drawn into. There are good things happening as well, but the parents in the book weren’t looking at the good things, they were looking at the negative things that might just derail their child. In fact, I just had a phone call just now, somebody living in Belgium who’s worried about the gang culture that her son, who is a good boy, is being drawn into and she’s saying, “What should I do? How should I protect him?” And so in the book, I wanted to highlight these are the kinds of things that parents focus on. They don’t look at so many of the good things, but the bad things.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd I work with a lot of children’s charities where we deal with grooming, sexual exploitation and how young children get drawn into a world where they think at the time is kind of nice, that people are being nice to them, but they don’t realize that they want to take advantage of them. And there is gang culture because there are lots of people who feel that they don’t belong to a society, so they clump together to have a cluster of friendship that is sort of a bad thing. Because society is telling them they’re no good, they’ll say alright, well if you don’t think I’m any good, I’ll show you how bad I can be. So they turn on society. \nSo those are the kinds of issues I wanted to bring up.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJust this week here in London, we heard about a young girl who ran away from home and went off with somebody she met through the Internet. We talk about Internet pornography. Children can do online games but they’re seeing pornography on the site. So children are being exposed to so many things that they shouldn’t really be exposed to because of the kind of modern world that we’re living in, with the technology that we’re living in. And Jasmine’s parents were wanting her not to grow up so fast, and wanted to protect her, they felt the way of protecting her was to go back to Barbados. So the book highlights the negative things rather than the positive things about being a young person. The majority of young children growing up in London, they have a wonderful life. They have a very happy life, where they have friends, who don’t do shoplifting, who don’t have gangs. But as a parent, you don’t think about that. The book is a work of fiction, so even though I was writing part reality, it was also part you know, telling a story, of what a parent like you or me, what we would want for our children. So that’s why I actually pointed it out. So it’s not something that’s the be-all and end-all of most cities. Instead, it’s something that actually does happen and that does affect young people’s lives. Perhaps it’s a minority, but you don’t know as a parent, you don’t know if your child will be attracted to that minority.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESE: It’s not like life is perfect for Jasmine in Barbados either right?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFB:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E No it isn't. Going back to Barbados, you find there are other problems you have to cope with. So everywhere you go in the world, there are problems for children and young people. So I wanted to cut the balance both ways. The grass might look greener over the way, but it’s how you cope with that and what you do for your children. Jasmine’s parents were making a moral judgment about what they wanted for their child and the opportunity came for them to go back to the Caribbean and they felt that would be a better place for her to grow. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n#\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThis is the first half of Summer's interview with Baroness Floella Benjamin, Trinidadian-born author of the children's novel,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003ESea of Tears\u003C\/i\u003E. You can read part 2 of the interview \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/07\/floella-benjamin-changing-perception-of.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/1308543856662774591\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/06\/heart-for-caribbean-floella-benjamin.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/1308543856662774591"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/1308543856662774591"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/06\/heart-for-caribbean-floella-benjamin.html","title":"[Interview] Floella Benjamin: A Heart for the Caribbean (Part 1)"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fMvb2YngnBI\/WWvataUjOlI\/AAAAAAAAD94\/wIbGYAwMB2ML1ZV11AtxQ1eFEehnAKnAwCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/floellabenjamin.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-8365146383369316802"},"published":{"$t":"2012-12-23T14:07:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-11T12:01:20.993-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Sint Maartener Children's Writer Embraces Self-Publishing: Interview with Loekie Morales"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward inteviews Loekie Morales\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-TbCqc6ymPtQ\/UNuUPrWib-I\/AAAAAAAABMg\/myuUTB28VoY\/s1600\/Loekie+Morales.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-TbCqc6ymPtQ\/UNuUPrWib-I\/AAAAAAAABMg\/myuUTB28VoY\/s320\/Loekie+Morales.JPG\" width=\"241\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELoekie Morales\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\nIn the island of Saint-Martin\/Sint Maarten in the northeast Caribbean, Loekie Morales is making her mark. A well-known children's author and oral storyteller in her country, she has taken her love of stories and words into St. Maarten's schools and abroad.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMorales has also found her own level as a publisher; as President of the Beyond Writing Foundation, she seeks to publish books that Saint Martiners can recognize themselves and their experiences in. Through the Foundation, she also publishes her own children's books. She is the author of 6 children's books, including \u003Ci\u003ETropisch Nestje\u003C\/i\u003E (\u003Ci\u003ETropical Nest\u003C\/i\u003E), \u003Ci\u003EMina Marina\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003EZonnesproetjes \u003C\/i\u003E(\u003Ci\u003EFreckles\u003C\/i\u003E).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBorn in Curaçao, Morales studied and worked as a teacher in Holland for many years\u0026nbsp;before\u0026nbsp;settling in St. Maarten. She\u0026nbsp;recently took time out of her busy schedule to answer some of my questions about her writing career.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n###\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You founded the Beyond Writing Foundation in St. Maarten. Give us the sort of digest version of the foundation and it's activities.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;The Beyond Writing\u0026nbsp;Foundation\u0026nbsp;(BWF) sends writers and storytellers to schools, and organizes drama and storytelling nights.\u0026nbsp;We have published 7 children's books and 1 book for adult.\u0026nbsp;Our latest project is the Living Statues Festival. In\u0026nbsp;February we will celebrate 10 years of creating a world of reading, writing, and storytelling for our kids.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Earlier this year, you participated in the 21st Feria International del Libro over in Cuba. I heard there was a Children's Pavilion. What was the whole experience like?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;In the pavilion, the children get all kinds of books by mainly Caribbean and Latin American authors. They also get to meet some of the authors who will tell something of their stories, or have an interview with them and get their signature. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: I read something where you mentioned working with Casas de Las Americas to get your books translated into Spanish. How important is it to make English-language children's books available in other Caribbean languages?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E I advise every Latin American and Caribbean writer to ‘merge’ by translating your story into English and Spanish to reach as much possible readers as possible in the Caribbean and on the American continent (North, South, and Central America). In that way you erode the boundaries in literature and create a bigger world for readers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You've been self-publishing your books since 2000 through the Beyond Writing Foundation. Describe your evolution from reader to writer to publisher.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E I like to listen to and read Caribbean stories, but found as a child mainly books with stories from Holland. I couldn’t recognize myself or my environment in these stories. I started to write my own stories. My first book \u003Ci\u003EZonnesproetjes\u003C\/i\u003E (\u003Ci\u003EFreckles\u003C\/i\u003E) was published by ICS (International Communication Support) in 2000 in Holland. I didn’t get any royalties although that was stated in the contract. I also got letters from Dutch publishers when I was sending in my manuscript stating that their readers would not recognize themselves in my Caribbean stories. By publishing via BWF, young readers in all the Dutch Caribbean islands will get to know of me as an\u0026nbsp;author\u0026nbsp;and recognize themselves in these stories.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What are the greatest rewards and the biggest challenges of being a publisher?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E The greatest reward with BWF is being able to get funds from mainly Dutch funding agencies to publish books, and for storytelling activities. The main obstacle is the distribution of the books.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Much of your writing can be described as contemporary realistic fiction for children. Your books touch on universal childhood experiences like a child's love for a pet or a childhood crush. Your books also fit the description of so-called 'problem books' in the sense that they deal with issues like the death of a parent, family separation, poverty, and child abuse. What are your goals as a writer of contemporary realistic fiction for children?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E Mainly for children to simply enjoy stories by reading. Next to that, reading about a recognizable environment and situations that reflect their own situation. It is important for children to seek a solution to their problems and my books convey that message.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2ZuGM-ec-W8\/UNusNhgU_VI\/AAAAAAAABNA\/rVT8MHPddkk\/s1600\/mina+marina.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1.5em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2ZuGM-ec-W8\/UNusNhgU_VI\/AAAAAAAABNA\/rVT8MHPddkk\/s320\/mina+marina.jpg\" width=\"246\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nS\u003Cb\u003EE: You've also written books that are more fantastical in nature. Your latest book, \u003Ci\u003EMina Marina\u003C\/i\u003E, is about a mermaid who rallies the help of the water spirits to save her coral reef home from destruction. In \u003Ci\u003EPapito and the Storytelling Tree\u003C\/i\u003E (\u003Ci\u003EPapito en de vertellende boom)\u003C\/i\u003E an ancient Flamboyant tree has the ability to tell stories to a young boy. Describe the role of the fantastical in your writing.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E Sometimes a fantasy figure or concept adheres more to children. The role of fantastical writing is to adhere to fantasy elements and give children another way of dealing with challenges.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: \u003Ci\u003ESelina and the Obeah Woman\u003C\/i\u003E (\u003Ci\u003ESelina en de Brua vrouw\u003C\/i\u003E) is a story in which folk magic is a central theme. In children's literature, obeah and voodoo are the Caribbean's answer to the supernatural and occult themes we see in so many contemporary European or American fantasy books for children. What do you make of the role that black magic or the \"dark arts\" plays in contemporary children's literature?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E To me, Selina is just a child who doesn’t listen to her granny (adults) and therefore gets into difficulties: a world she doesn’t understand and can’t handle. Black magic is seen as one of the mysterious things children are supposed to stay away from. At the same time, children need to know about it as a part of Caribbean culture.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You published \u003Ci\u003EFreckles\u003C\/i\u003E (\u003Ci\u003EZonnesproetjes\u003C\/i\u003E) in 2000 and then published the sequel, \u003Ci\u003ETropical Nest \u003C\/i\u003E(\u003Ci\u003ETropisch Nestje)\u003C\/i\u003E, five years after. What is your writing process like in general and also, when you're plotting a series?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ci\u003EZonnesproetjes\u003C\/i\u003E started as a process of writing about my own childhood and ended up being a popular book. Because of the popularity in my nieces' schools when I would read my manuscripts to students, I published the book. The publisher, ICS, selected 20 of the 35 short stories I had written. Each chapter has a plot (based on a problem-solution format) and a message. All the stories together form a part of the life story of the main characters in their developing childhood. In the sequel, I followed the same concept for the lives of mainly three of the girls. The stories in the series could fit most lives of (Dutch Caribbean) children of poor families who fight to get a better life by studying, working hard etc. and who overcome despite the challenges life can bring.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: How and when did you realize that you wanted to be a children's author?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E I didn’t have any ambition to be a children’s author. I just started with writing about my own childhood from the perspective of being a child. I wrote mainly short stories with realistic and fantasy elements, and later some of them were published. Now I am called a children's book author.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What has been your proudest or most memorable moment so far as a children's author-publisher?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oIoeJGGm400\/UNutPOTH5hI\/AAAAAAAABNU\/Wpaefl9K16E\/s1600\/Tropisch+Nestje.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1.5em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oIoeJGGm400\/UNutPOTH5hI\/AAAAAAAABNU\/Wpaefl9K16E\/s1600\/Tropisch+Nestje.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Once I was reading a story to some students. There is a moment in the story when the character, Loek, writes a sad letter to her mother after her mother passes away. The classroom was completely silent. As I was leaving, one student, a boy, cried heavily because he felt the sadness of Loek. As a writer it was good to know that, because of the way I described something, that the feeling ‘came over’ and was experienced by the reader.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe nicest, proudest moments are those when I meet young adults now who have read my books as children and compliment me on the stories that in one way or the other have touched their hearts. But also when adults tell me they recognize their childhood in my books.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Do you have any upcoming projects that you'd like to share?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELM: \u003C\/b\u003EYes. Every year in February\/March in Sint Maarten, BWF organizes the Kids Night Out event, an evening of storytelling, drama, and readings for children and mostly by children. Also, in February 2013, BWF will launch a children's book, \u003Ci\u003EThe Magical Wedding Cake\/La Tarta Magica Nupcial\u003C\/i\u003E (English-Spanish)\u0026nbsp;in Philipsburg; there will also be a\u0026nbsp;Dutch-Papiamentu edition of the book,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EDe Magische Bruidstaart\/E bolo di Batrei Mágiko\u003C\/i\u003E. Furthermore, in 2013 BWF will publish my book about slavery and freedom to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n*\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"alignleft\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and lives in Philadelphia, USA. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her poems and art have been published in\u0026nbsp;literary magazines such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Etongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Caribbean Writer\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Esx salon\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eand more. She was shortlisted for the 2012 Small Axe Literary Prize in the\u0026nbsp;fiction\u0026nbsp;category. She blogs at \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/8365146383369316802\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/12\/sint-maartener-childrens-writer.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/8365146383369316802"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/8365146383369316802"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/12\/sint-maartener-childrens-writer.html","title":"[Interview] Sint Maartener Children's Writer Embraces Self-Publishing: Interview with Loekie Morales"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-TbCqc6ymPtQ\/UNuUPrWib-I\/AAAAAAAABMg\/myuUTB28VoY\/s72-c\/Loekie+Morales.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-79575166598205413"},"published":{"$t":"2012-12-27T23:38:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-11T11:56:09.550-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Gomes-Mckie Takes the Helm: Interview with New Regional Advisor of the SCBWI Caribbean South Chapter"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward interviews Marsha Gomes-Mckie\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qqzPivzQ-CM\/UNdseQ8loTI\/AAAAAAAABGo\/gMbSLrucWoY\/s1600\/Marsha+Gomes-McKie,+new+Regional+Advisor,+SCBWI+Caribbean+South.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qqzPivzQ-CM\/UNdseQ8loTI\/AAAAAAAABGo\/gMbSLrucWoY\/s320\/Marsha+Gomes-McKie,+new+Regional+Advisor,+SCBWI+Caribbean+South.jpg\" width=\"292\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMarsha Gomes-Mckie\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\nIn the field of children's literature, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) can be considered the gold standard of professional associations. Founded in Los Angeles, USA in 1971,\u0026nbsp;and with\u0026nbsp;chapters in every American state and over 70 countries, the SCBWI plays a strong role in children's publishing worldwide.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the Caribbean region, an active chapter of the SCBWI once existed.\u0026nbsp;Headquartered in Trinidad, a small cadre of illustrators, writers, and activists from various islands started meeting in 2005. With Trinbagonian children's book author\u0026nbsp;Joanne Gail Johnson at the helm, the group was known as the Caribbean South Chapter of the SCBWI.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn its earliest incarnation, the Caribbean\u0026nbsp;South\u0026nbsp;Chapter was both a writing group and a grassroots professional development organization.\u0026nbsp;Members worked out a culture and a modus operandi for producing and championing children's literature at the local level. But by 2007, after a\u0026nbsp;promising\u0026nbsp;start, the Caribbean South Chapter had fallen into\u0026nbsp;stagnancy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow fresh life is stirring in the Caribbean South Chapter; a new Regional Advisor, Marsha Gomes-Mckie, has been selected.\u0026nbsp;Born and raised in Trinidad, Marsha Gomes-Mckie admits that she has always been \"a twister of words\" and that she embraced art at an early age. A member of the 'Women in Art' group in Trinidad, she is also the founder, author, and publisher of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EFamily Matters\u003C\/i\u003E, a fledgling values-focused ezine which supports Trinbagonian mompreneurs.\u0026nbsp;Gomes-Mckie is married with one child.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI recently chatted with\u0026nbsp;Gomes-Mckie about her new position, children's publishing, dirty ducks, and more.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n###\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You were recently selected to be the new Regional Advisor of the Caribbean South Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), succeeding Joanne Gail Johnson. How do you see yourself performing in this role?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E I have high hopes for this position. The SCBWI RA position gives me the opportunity to get more involved in the process of getting a manuscript off your desk and on to a book shelf. More than that, it gives me the opportunity to shape the industry, to be involved in discussions that would impact writers and illustrators worldwide.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What are your plans and hopes for the Caribbean South Chapter and how can people get involved?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E My plan in the first year is really to build awareness of the SCBWI and encourage writers to finish their manuscripts so that they can take the next step. Many times writers and illustrators don’t see how they can make an immediate living off of their craft, so they keep busy with other jobs that pay the bills. It would be a great accomplishment to just get more persons taking the time to write daily and querying publishers for contracts. To change the industry we have to show that there is potential for children's literature once more.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nPeople can get involved by contacting me at info@marshagomes.com or following me on Facebook. The Chapter also has a blog at http:\/\/scbwi-caribbeansouth.blogspot.com\/ and I alwys ask perosns to check www.scbwi.org or weekly updates. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: ‘Caribbean South’ can be interpreted variously. Which islands make the cut and how are you going to bring members from various islands together?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E The SCBWI divides the Caribbean into two regions - Caribbean North and Caribbean South. Caribbean South begins in Trinidad and ends in Anguilla and Caribbean North looks after US Virgin Island up to Cuba. The Caribbean South Chapter has been blessed to have two advisors in a row coming from Trinidad. We currently have members in Barbados, Aruba, Anguilla, and the Netherlands Antilles.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nMy biggest challenge at this time is promoting SCBWI within the chapter. I have been able to keep in contact via email, a closed Facebook group, and even Skype, but I plan to visit the islands as well when they have literary activities or fairs. Nothing is better that a face-to-face visit. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You wrote a story 'Duck in Red Boots' that was published in \u003Ci\u003EIsland Garden\u003C\/i\u003E, a 2007 children’s anthology edited by Trinidadian children’s author Joanne Gail Johnson. What was the best thing about writing that story?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E Duck in his own special way is fussy, but he's also funny. I love to add humor to my work, which makes the story flow easier. The best thing about writing 'Duck' was that I was able to create a universal character that any child could relate to. Duck is different and there are always days when you feel to be different and want to do it confidently like Duck does.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Yes and Duck is quite fastidious isn’t he? What made you latch onto that quality? Cleanliness I mean. Are you a neat freak yourself?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E Most children want to be dirty and I made Duck border on the ridiculous, for emphasis and understanding. The funny thing is that Duck was written three years before my daughter was born, and she is very much like Duck. She is always washing her hands and asking for a change of clothes; I usually say to her \"Don’t worry, you can get more dirty than that.\" Then she looks at me with this expression that says: Why is this woman standing between me and the sink? I find it quite ironic and absolutely hilarious at times, but I encourage her differences even if it means I have to wash clothes more often than I used to.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: I have some neat freak tendencies myself. Lucky for me, I don’t always end up in the mud like Duck does.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E I am fastidious in some areas; “putting everything in its place and every place in its thing.” So I may not end up in the mud either.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: And do you have other stories in the boiling pot?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E Yes actually I launched two stories on Kindle last month which I am currently illustrating- \u003Ci\u003EFred and Frank; A Tale of Files\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EA Christmas Caper\u003C\/i\u003E.\u0026nbsp;Fred and Frank are two Frogs who are best friends. One loves to eat flies and ones does not. The story carries the same message as 'Duck' – that embracing differences at an early age is good.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EA Christmas Caper\u003C\/i\u003E is about three brothers who are as naughty as naughty could be and decide to hi-jack Santa on Christmas since they\u0026nbsp;weren't\u0026nbsp;going to get toys anyway. It’s a bit more action-oriented and targets older children but it’s funny and again borders on the ridiculous. It asks the question; if you were sure you\u0026nbsp;weren't\u0026nbsp;going to get presents for Christmas what would you do? The true wonder of this story will come out in the illustrations so I am looking forward to completing it.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE:You were a member of the Caribbean South Chapter back in 2005 when it was just starting out. What was the chapter like then? Do you have fond memories of that time?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E The Chapter was new. There were meetings and critique groups, and I also remember the Art Editor from Macmillan Caribbean visiting. He had an interest in my work and I thought, wow I am going to develop this area as much as my writing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-right: 1.5em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-zKSehOcj2sA\/UNdt5I_hzeI\/AAAAAAAABHE\/GtiMjaTg_iY\/s1600\/incoming+and+outgoing+advisors.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-zKSehOcj2sA\/UNdt5I_hzeI\/AAAAAAAABHE\/GtiMjaTg_iY\/s400\/incoming+and+outgoing+advisors.JPG\" width=\"270\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EGomes-Mckie and Johnson at the relaunch\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Joanne Gail Johnson has been involved in children’s publishing in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean for a long time. What was it like working with her, both as former Regional Advisor and as your editor?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EIn 2005, there was a writing competition hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Theatre workshop and I received an honorable mention for my children’s story 'Duck in the Red Boots.' My prize was one year of free membership to the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators.\u0026nbsp;It was great but truthfully, that competition made me realize that my stories\u0026nbsp;didn't\u0026nbsp;have a very Caribbean focus and I have found that Caribbean competitions usually require that very Caribbean element that I\u0026nbsp;didn't\u0026nbsp;seem to have, so I\u0026nbsp;didn't\u0026nbsp;enter any more local competitions. I decided that if the Caribbean theme\u0026nbsp;wasn't\u0026nbsp;coming out naturally, I\u0026nbsp;wouldn't\u0026nbsp;force it. SCBWI gave me hope that I would be able to publish internationally. I held on to that dream and even when the chapter\u0026nbsp;wasn't\u0026nbsp;as active as before, I still remained a member. Joanne has always been a great help since I could always get honest feedback on my work. The best thing about SCBWI is that she and I were able to form a friendship and we continue to support each other’s efforts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You’ve been a member of Women in Art of Trinidad and Tobago for many years. Given you have this artistic bent, do you see yourself acquiring the designation of ‘children’s book artist’ one day?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E Of course, as I said before the true wonder of any story comes out in the illustrations.\u0026nbsp;I am actually registered as a writer-illustrator with SCBWI and my illustration portfolio can be viewed on their site. Each chapter is allowed to have an Illustrators Coordinator to work with illustrators and it is a position that is currently open in the Caribbean South Chapter.\u0026nbsp;Even though I can illustrate I\u0026nbsp;wouldn't\u0026nbsp;want to wear both hats within the Chapter but I would love to wear both hats professionally. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: The Caribbean South Chapter was re-launched on December 7th in Trinidad. Can you share with us a few highlights from the launch?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-V9HbsKNjkho\/UNdvhvN4npI\/AAAAAAAABHg\/FZv1MRhGMfI\/s1600\/audience+shot+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"268\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-V9HbsKNjkho\/UNdvhvN4npI\/AAAAAAAABHg\/FZv1MRhGMfI\/s400\/audience+shot+2.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAn attendee skims SCBWI literature at the Chapter relaunch\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;The event really focused on the things that the Society could do for writers and illustrators. We discussed things like the history of the SCBWI, the value of being a member, the resources offered to members \u0026nbsp;such as the website's Members Area, the Illustrators Gallery, the yearly Publication Guide, and grants, awards, conferences, and networking.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn my talk, I also noted that there was one thing the Society couldn't do for members which is to write their manuscript. I encouraged writers to own their craft and honor the inner spirit. SCBWI will act as a guide, an excellent guide but it begins with the individual.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In a nutshell, what advice would you like to share with aspiring children's authors or illustrators?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI would tell them to visit the children’s library and look for books that resemble what they envision their book to look like and zero in on those publishers. Publishers have a style and look and if you can find someone who prints that style there is a good chance you would be a match.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nCaribbean fiction writing has really been hit hard on the publishing end; I spoke to Macmillan Caribbean who noted that they were focusing only on textbooks at this time. Other Caribbean publishing may be doing the same. Even when they publish children's books, you have to market your books yourself on the side so that it would get a second print. We are a textbook publishing region because there is money in it. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nTherefore writers need to unite to get their work out. There’s nothing wrong with self-publishing, it just means that we have to have other conversations, e.g. marketing, promotion, distribution and much more. The SCBWI is open to all conversations and will work with the Caribbean South Chapter to develop the region.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Are you interested in speaking to aspiring children’s authors\/illustrators, teacher\/librarian groups, or to children via school visits? If so, how can interested parties contact you?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMG:\u003C\/b\u003E Yes, I am interested in working to promote the industry on all levels and can be contacted at info@marshagomes.com. Please feel free to contact me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI am also interested in networking with bookshops, publishers, trade fairs, and any other medium, be it persons or organizations, that can promote the work of our writers. I am also working on a new site, www.caribbeanbooks.org, which is envisioned to be a place where Caribbean writers can showcase their books to the world.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EPhoto credit:\u0026nbsp;La Red Graphic Studios\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n*\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"alignleft\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and lives in Philadelphia, USA. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her poems and art have been published in\u0026nbsp;literary magazines such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Etongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EThe Caribbean Writer\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Esx salon \u003C\/i\u003Eand more. She was shortlisted for the 2012 Small Axe Literary Prize in the\u0026nbsp;fiction\u0026nbsp;category. She blogs at www.summeredward.com.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/79575166598205413\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/12\/gomes-mckie-takes-lead-interview-with.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/79575166598205413"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/79575166598205413"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/12\/gomes-mckie-takes-lead-interview-with.html","title":"[Interview] Gomes-Mckie Takes the Helm: Interview with New Regional Advisor of the SCBWI Caribbean South Chapter"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qqzPivzQ-CM\/UNdseQ8loTI\/AAAAAAAABGo\/gMbSLrucWoY\/s72-c\/Marsha+Gomes-McKie,+new+Regional+Advisor,+SCBWI+Caribbean+South.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-7346025750597147732"},"published":{"$t":"2013-12-19T14:09:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-01-17T13:12:19.538-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Shining a Light on the Human Condition in Books for Children with Vashanti Rahaman"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhile children's author Vashanti Rahaman has mostly stayed out of the limelight, her picturebooks shine a light on the human condition. Indeed, they might be best described as illuminating stories that engage and challenge children without speaking down to them. She recently spoke to Summer Edward about the power of literature to help children understand the human condition, bridging cultural gaps, and navigating the world of publishing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-y9e4zXAMrEw\/UrMaGa74DJI\/AAAAAAAABnI\/pSjkfINJUro\/s1600\/Vashanti+Rahaman.png\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-y9e4zXAMrEw\/UrMaGa74DJI\/AAAAAAAABnI\/pSjkfINJUro\/s1600\/Vashanti+Rahaman.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nVashanti Rahaman is the author of the picturebooks\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EO Christmas Tree\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ERead for Me, Mama\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003EA Little Salmon for Witness: A Story from Trinidad\u003C\/i\u003E. Her latest picturebook\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EDivali Rose\u003C\/i\u003E, was described as \"[An] appealing, multilayered story\" by \u003Ci\u003ESchool Library Journal\u003C\/i\u003E. Born in Trinidad, she received her B.S. at Mt. Allison University in Canada. Her articles and short stories for children have been published in \u003Ci\u003EHighlights\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EPockets\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003ECricket \u003C\/i\u003Emagazines. She lives in Missouri, USA.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n***\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: How did you come to write for children?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u003C\/b\u003E I was new to America (the USA) and had young children. This exposed me to the richness of children's literature here, of which I had, previously, been only vaguely aware. Like many parents I often thought, as I read to my children: 'I could write something like that'. My first attempts were more in the nature of a mental exercise than anything else. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: Three of your picture books-- \u003Ci\u003EO Christmas Tree\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ERead for Me, Mama\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EDivali Rose\u003C\/i\u003E-- were published by Boyds Mills Press. I did a tour of their offices in Honesdale earlier this year and I find them to be an interesting publisher. What would you say has been the best thing about your working relationship with Boyds Mills?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EThe very first story I actually sold was to \u003Ci\u003EHighlights for Children\u003C\/i\u003E, and Boyds Mills Press published my first picture book. All along, Kent Brown and his editors worked hard to help me become a better writer, and to keep me writing. I might even venture to say that they saw more potential in my writing than I did.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EI read \u003Ci\u003EDivali Rose\u003C\/i\u003E earlier this year and was struck by the maturity of the story. A young boy struggles to understand the resentments between different generations of Indo-Trinidadian immigrants. Do you see children's literature as having a role to play in addressing social issues like prejudice?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EI teach high school Chemistry and Biology. In the sciences, a model is a partial representation of some aspect of the natural world which is used to study, understand and explain that selected part of the world. Using the word \"model\" in that same sense, I consider works of literature, including children's literature, to be models of the human condition, and the human condition includes negative responses to the existence of those deemed to be \"other\".\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf, as adults, we honestly look back to the thought processes we had as children we will find that our younger selves were, indeed, quite mature in their attempts to understand the human condition, given the paucity of our experiences at that time. Children's literature adds to, or confirms, or questions, a child's experience of the world. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-50RZoOD9glo\/UrMmOK8XJDI\/AAAAAAAABnk\/xuk7EjFfTIk\/s1600\/Vashanti+Rahaman+quote2.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-50RZoOD9glo\/UrMmOK8XJDI\/AAAAAAAABnk\/xuk7EjFfTIk\/s1600\/Vashanti+Rahaman+quote2.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EO Christmas Tree\u003C\/i\u003E is another rather mature picturebook. Anslem, the little boy in the story, comes to understand that Caribbean ways of observing and celebrating Christmas are just as valid and meaningful as imported European and American traditions. \u003Ci\u003EO Christmas Tree\u003C\/i\u003E was first published in 1996; do you think the story is still relevant for young readers today?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EThe problem of valuing their own cultures in the face of pressure from dominant cultures is an ever present reality for many young readers. It takes many faces but is recognizable, if you are aware of the potential for its existence. I have found that children have a remarkable ability to find parallels to their own lives in what are, to them, alien stories.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003EIn your picturebooks, elders are typically figured as cultural stewards who reminisce or impart lessons about the past to a child. For example, the Aaji in \u003Ci\u003EA Little Salmon for Witness: A Story from Trinidad\u003C\/i\u003E remembers a time when everyone in her village ate smoked salmon as a way of observing Good Friday, inspiring her grandson to work hard to buy a piece of salmon for her. Can you speak about the role of remembering and cultural transmission in your stories?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EActually, the setting I originally had in mind when I wrote the story was the city of San Fernando in Trinidad. It is interesting that it ended up looking like a village to almost everyone else. But, to address your question,\" elders are cultural stewards who reminisce or impart lessons about the past to a child\". When they are unable to carry out or even abdicate that role, a void is created in a child's experience of the world. I think, in retrospect, that my stories were indeed often an exercise in cultural transmission to my children. My husband and I are \u0026nbsp;immigrants from what used to be the British Caribbean, and we were bringing up our children in a small American mid-western university town, far away from relatives and from other British Caribbean immigrants.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u0026nbsp;You were born and raised in Trinidad and lived in Dominica for many years before moving to the United States. You now live in Missouri. As an author, do you find it difficult bridging the gaps between your Caribbean background, your semi-rural mid-western American life, and the demands and expectations of metropolitan American publishers\/editors?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EI was born in Trinidad, moved as a very young child to England and India with my parents, and eventually settled with them in Dominica where we lived all through my elementary and high school years. \u0026nbsp;We visited our relatives in Trinidad yearly, and my parents and brothers returned to Trinidad while I was in college in Canada. After graduation, I joined them in Trinidad for about 8 years before moving to the USA with my husband and our first son who was still a baby. \u0026nbsp;I've been bridging cultural gaps all my life. That has made me quite comfortable with having to look at the world through another's eyes and trying to help others see the world through mine.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAs for metropolitan American publishers\/editors, I have had very good mentoring editors whose high expectations were welcome. Publishers, however, may have wished that I had been more involved in the marketing of my work, but I cannot blame that on either my Caribbean background or my semi-rural mid-western life. I can only blame it on the place I allowed writing to have in my life.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rl8c5L937GU\/UrMofi_ghyI\/AAAAAAAABnw\/Mm6coQqAnC0\/s1600\/Vashanti+Rahaman+quote3.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rl8c5L937GU\/UrMofi_ghyI\/AAAAAAAABnw\/Mm6coQqAnC0\/s320\/Vashanti+Rahaman+quote3.png\" width=\"244\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u0026nbsp;I enjoyed your short story \"Round and Round Music\" in \u003Ci\u003EKahani\u003C\/i\u003E children's magazine. You've also published short children's stories in \u003Ci\u003EHighlights for Children\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EPockets\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003ECricket\u003C\/i\u003E. How would you describe your short stories for children?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EMost of my writing has been short stories and articles for children. I write for the children I have known, to share with them things I've learned that might interest them, as well as my thoughts and experiences and glimpses of my personal models of the human condition. I have enormous respect for the ability of children to build their own models of the human condition from the experiences to which they have access.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u0026nbsp;Indo-Caribbean children's authors are a minority in the field and Caribbean children's stories disproportionately feature Afro-Caribbean characters over characters of other ethnicities. Do you think of yourself as an anomaly and do bring an awareness of cultural representation to your work?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWriters write who they are. In that regard, we are all anomalies. Indo-Caribbean people are a minority in the world. Most of the Indian diaspora is outside of the Caribbean. Most of the people of the Caribbean are of African descent. By some estimates there are more than ten times more people of African descent than there are people of \u0026nbsp;Indian descent in the Caribbean. So I am not sure that the presence of Afro-Caribbean characters in Caribbean children' stories is really disproportionate.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy awareness of being from the Caribbean does include my memories of my visits to relatives in Trinidad as a child, but it also includes experiences during my formative years in Dominica where my being of Indian descent had nothing of the socio-political baggage that it had in Trinidad because, in Dominica, people of Indian descent were recent and few. I grew up aware of myself, and being treated by others, more as a unique individual than as a member of a demographically significant ethnic group. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u0026nbsp;You haven't done a lot of interviews in the past, in fact, it seems like you've kept a rather low profile as an author. Have you deliberately avoided the public side of being a children's author?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EI simply haven't made room for it in my life. It was a tradeoff. Other things were more important.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u0026nbsp;As a Caribbean children's writer living abroad, what has been the most interesting or challenging thing about navigating the publishing world in the States?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ETo tell the truth, navigating the publishing world was like backpacking through a foreign country without a map and with only a tenuous grasp of the local language, depending on the kindness of strangers to help me find my way. It was enormous fun. And I was lucky.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-EFUwA_2Fwjg\/UrMj4k0MvMI\/AAAAAAAABnY\/xQ2-KmlvmeQ\/s1600\/Vashanti+Rahaman+quote1.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-EFUwA_2Fwjg\/UrMj4k0MvMI\/AAAAAAAABnY\/xQ2-KmlvmeQ\/s1600\/Vashanti+Rahaman+quote1.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EI am of a generation that grew up communicating with the outside world through the postal services. To begin with, that is how I communicated with the publishing world. As electronic communication became more common I used that happily. I found that writers and editors do very well writing to each other.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat amused me most was the way my stories looked and sounded to others. I am keenly aware that the story each reader reads is different from the story I wrote, and different from the story that other readers read, and I am content and delighted that it should be so.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.:\u0026nbsp;Your last children's book was published in 2008; a lot has changed in the world of children's publishing since then. Are you still writing and how do you see your future as a children's author in the current landscape?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EI had taught high school biological sciences and maths in Trinidad, so after my sons left for College, I decided to go back to teaching full time. That meant first going back to school to get a teaching certificate for my state, and later getting a Masters degree in science education. I teach in a very small rural high school in a town not far from the one where I live, and I enjoy it thoroughly. Now I tell my stories of cultural transmission to my students, but this time the culture I am transmitting to them is the culture of science. The result of all of this is that the empty space in my mind, which I need to be able to write, is filled most of the time now with lesson plans. \u0026nbsp;I do write for publication occasionally, still. My writing for \u003Ci\u003EKahani\u003C\/i\u003E for example, was done after I started teaching and the final re-writes of \u003Ci\u003EDivali Rose\u003C\/i\u003E were also done during that time. I have not given up on writing, though. Perhaps after I retire in four or five years, or so, I will re-enter the brave new world of children's writing more fully.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES.E.: What has been the most rewarding aspect of your experience as a children's author?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EV. R.:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EI enjoy the process of writing: the research, the playing with words, and the re-writing. Then, when I offer my writing to publishers and editors and readers, I enjoy watching the transformation that happens as my work takes on a life of its own, independent of me. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n###\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"alignleft\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and lives in Philadelphia, USA. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her poems and art have been published in\u0026nbsp;literary magazines such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EObsidian: Literature in the African Diaspora,\u0026nbsp;tongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Caribbean Writer\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Esx salon\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eand more. She was shortlisted for the 2012 Small Axe Literary Prize in the\u0026nbsp;fiction\u0026nbsp;category. She blogs at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/7346025750597147732\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2013\/12\/shining-light-on-human-condition-in.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/7346025750597147732"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/7346025750597147732"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2013\/12\/shining-light-on-human-condition-in.html","title":"[Interview] Shining a Light on the Human Condition in Books for Children with Vashanti Rahaman"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-y9e4zXAMrEw\/UrMaGa74DJI\/AAAAAAAABnI\/pSjkfINJUro\/s72-c\/Vashanti+Rahaman.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-8564650492277583400"},"published":{"$t":"2018-06-02T15:43:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-08-07T16:48:27.198-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Libraries"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Caribbean Children's Literature: A Library Perspective "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBelow you'll find links to all the interviews in our special series of interviews with librarians in the Caribbean and those abroad working to make sure children's and youth libraries meet the needs of Caribbean communities. Find out about forward-thinking children's library projects in the Caribbean and the crucial role librarians everywhere play in broadening awareness of Caribbean children's literature. \n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EInterview with Cherie Miot Abbanat\u003C\/b\u003E, CEO of Haiti Projects, Inc., Founder of The Haiti Projects’ Community Library, and Lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (USA\/Haiti): \u003Ci\u003ERead it \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/08\/libraryperspectivecheriemiotabbanat.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EInterview with Janice Ferdinand\u003C\/b\u003E, School Librarian at the  Juanita Gardine Elementary School (St. Croix): \u003Ci\u003ERead it \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/07\/libraryperspectivejaniceferdinand.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EInterview with John Robert Lee\u003C\/b\u003E, Veteran Librarian, Archivist at Msgr. Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre, and Highly Regarded Author (St. Lucia): \u003Ci\u003ERead it \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/06\/libraryperspectivejohnrobertlee.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EInterview with Lindsey Dunn\u003C\/b\u003E, Readers' Advisory Librarian and Content Editor at NoveList (North Carolina, USA): \u003Ci\u003ERead it \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/06\/libraryperspectivelindseydunn.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EInterview with Michelle Warren\u003C\/b\u003E, Operations Manager at the Grenada Community Library (Grenada): \u003Ci\u003ERead it \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/07\/libraryperspectivemichellewarren.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/8564650492277583400\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/8564650492277583400"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/8564650492277583400"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html","title":"[Interview] Caribbean Children\u0026#x27;s Literature: A Library Perspective "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Anansesem_Libraries.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-4581132892746404341"},"published":{"$t":"2018-07-09T13:48:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-07-21T15:41:43.869-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Libraries"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Caribbean Children's Literature: A Library Perspective With Janice Ferdinand"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zKyXw5I9aUs\/W0OK5i4RL6I\/AAAAAAAAFOI\/zdsXC9D-1sohkkWwbBJvWwViUP88hBUawCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Janice%2BFerdinand_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zKyXw5I9aUs\/W0OK5i4RL6I\/AAAAAAAAFOI\/zdsXC9D-1sohkkWwbBJvWwViUP88hBUawCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Janice%2BFerdinand_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EOur special \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Eseries of interviews\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E with librarians continues today. Join our editor-in-chief, Summer Edward, as she investigates forward-thinking children's library projects across the Caribbean and the crucial role librarians everywhere play in broadening awareness of Caribbean children's and young adult literature. \u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 60px;\"\u003EJ\u003C\/span\u003Eanice Ferdinad is the school librarian at the \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vide.vi\/our-divisions\/pbis\/1043-juanita-gardine-elementary-school.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJuanita Gardine Elementary School\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E in St. Croix. She graduated from the University of the Virgin Islands and has served as coordinator of the Young Writers’ Camp, sponsored by the national V.I. Writing Project (VIWP). In 2014, her initiative, \"Bookopoly: An Interactive Project to Encourage Student Reading\", received an Anderson Family Teacher Grant from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. She lives in Christiansted, St. Croix.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJanice and I met earlier this year when I led a workshop titled '\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/03\/event-healing-through-childrens-stories.html\"\u003EHealing Through Children's Stories: 10 Talents for Cultivating a Caribbean Children's Book Harvest\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E' in St. Croix, under the auspices of the U. S. Virgin Islands Literary Festival and Book Fair and the U.S Virgin Islands Department of Education. The event took place in the school library and was attended by elementary school and high school teachers from across the three main islands. Janice helped set up, and participated in, the workshop and afterward, she and I chatted about the rewards and challenges of school librarianship in the territories.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JSKNWoMb0Ak\/W0Oii6d7pjI\/AAAAAAAAFOo\/vgXPp_cPTAw5J5ow1aLrVr3bPDBuCOAIACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Juanita%2BGardine%2BElementary%2BSchool%2BWorkshop.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JSKNWoMb0Ak\/W0Oii6d7pjI\/AAAAAAAAFOo\/vgXPp_cPTAw5J5ow1aLrVr3bPDBuCOAIACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Juanita%2BGardine%2BElementary%2BSchool%2BWorkshop.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EJanice Ferdinand (far left), myself (far right), and some of the  U. S. Virgin Islands teachers who attended the '\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/03\/event-healing-through-childrens-stories.html\"\u003EHealing Through Children's Stories: 10 Talents for Cultivating a Caribbean Children's Book Harvest\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E' workshop, pictured here in the library of the Juanita Gardine Elementary School where the workshop was held.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: Children can always go to the public libraries in their communities, so why is it important for schools, and even classrooms, to have their own libraries as well?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EJanice Ferdinand:\u003C\/b\u003E School and classroom libraries tremendously enrich learning and influence literacy by giving children daily, on-demand access to books that pique their interest. Surrounding young learners with books says to them that literacy\/reading matters. We read for pleasure and delve in for information as well. School libraries highlight great authors, variety in genres, as well as subject matter content. The books in the school library expose students to new vocabulary, an array of authentic writings, factual information and attractive places in real life, and teach them about elements of storytelling like voice and conflict among characters. What I particularly\nlike are the discussions, in the corners of these libraries, among adults and students, or student-to-student, \nand observing how they decipher the wording of a difficult text in order to comprehend the author’s\nmeaning.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\nAccessing titles from the public libraries in my area is simple if families want to do so, but that’s as far\nas it goes. I believe all local libraries should have modern-day titles, appealing activities, and tech tools, otherwise\nthey fail in anchoring literacy throughout communities. Creative planning and sufficient\nfunding are needed to bring about change in St. Croix. The professionals needed in our public libraries are\nwithin our communities.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: We chatted a bit before about the difficulty of finding short Caribbean picture books (books less\nthan 900 words long) that are suited for quick read-alouds in the classroom. The majority of\nCaribbean picture books are really \u003Ci\u003Epicture storybooks\u003C\/i\u003E which have longer text lengths of 900-2,000\nwords. Why are short, quick Caribbean children’s books important for child readers?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJF:\u003C\/b\u003E The youngest readers in my school are best served with quick picture books. They are always intrigued\nby the comical or real-life characters, rhyme and catchy rhythm in the text. Students quickly grasp the\nfamiliar settings and dialects, and are engaged by the fast-paced and concise form. These short-paced texts with less wording are designed to induce lots of laughter, voice and pitch changes during read-alouds, and spontaneous applause. Each story teaches a valuable lesson that\nyoung readers internalize. Caribbean picture books are much-needed culturally-relevant introductions to the world of words.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: I looked around the library at Juanita Gardine Elementary School and was pleased to find a\nnumber of Caribbean children’s and young adult books, but most of the books are American and\nBritish books. I imagine this is also true for other school libraries across the U.S. Virgin Islands.\nWhat do you think is necessary in order for this to change?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJF:\u003C\/b\u003E Access, access, access! Librarians need updated publications, flyers and links to reputable websites\nthat highlight new Caribbean releases. Sadly, some librarians stick to the curriculum, which is still Americentric and Eurocentric, and buy only those types of books. I am always\nlooking for published Caribbean stories because I was raised listening to the oral traditions from the elders.\nI do quick online searches or visit the local bookstores, but with these methods, it's hard to find a good sampling of what might be available. A\nsuggestion is for Caribbean children's and young adult authors to send library guides, advertising flyers or emails to department chairpersons, reading councils, librarian associations, and librarians. There are so many great children's books out\nthere that are not getting the publicity. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: It’s easy for the Caribbean books in the school library to get lost in the shuffle. How do you\nensure that the Caribbean books are visible to students and how do you help students recognize\nthe distinct value of Caribbean children’s\/YA literature?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nThe Caribbean Literature Section in my library is a standout because it is strategically placed in an\narea that everyone passes by. Each school year, I plan and execute a new look for this section\nbecause I strongly believe that books unique to our region and diaspora are paramount. Organizing an area that\nstimulates the senses with appealing designs, headings, and pictures is key. Namely, indigenous\nfoods, colloquial sayings, flora and fauna, cultural elements like moko jumbies, Caribbean people and places. Then, I read aloud a host\nof Caribbean stories with different grade levels using the text to teach lessons and reading\/comprehension strategies. I love\nwhen students return to the Caribbean Literature Section to reread a favorite. I know I’ve struck rare gold when\na teacher diverts from the American curriculum and requests a Caribbean story to teach a\nlesson.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What difficulties do school librarians in St. Croix face in terms of adding Caribbean children’s and\nyoung adult books to their collections? Are there perhaps gatekeepers you have to get past?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJF:\u003C\/b\u003E School librarians on St. Croix are independently charged to order books for their libraries when funding\nis approved. Each school librarian is unique. If building a Caribbean collection is not important to the\nlibrarian, that section of the library can be limited or neglected. As the faces of librarians change, the\navailability of Caribbean titles can be negatively affected.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nThe gatekeepers in my area are the individuals that grant funding for new items. Teacher-librarians should\nnot be the only ones leading the discussions about the need for Caribbean storybooks in schools. The\nschool district has an overarching responsibility as well. It’s imperative that school librarians extend their expertise to the district, and spend time learning how various titles tie-in to a content skill or fit the different interests and personalities of children who want to read just for pleasure. It’s important to persevere when it comes to finding, ordering and exposing children to quality books about \"us”!\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\nWe have to also encourage each other to continue writing authentic Caribbean stories and then talk\nand teach about why children and young adults should see themselves in the books they read and learn\nfrom. It’s how culture is passed on!\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In your experience, are teachers in St. Croix aware of the Caribbean children’s and young adult books\nthat are available to them in school libraries, and are they using these books enough in the classroom?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJF:\u003C\/b\u003E Many teachers are conditioned to use the American books that accompany their curriculum guides even though they can\nuse any text to teach a skill. It’s rare for a teacher to request a Caribbean story to teach a skill\/lesson.\nWhen we are celebrating Virgin Islands History Month, there are slightly more requests for books to tie in with a\nschool-wide theme or for a visitor to read aloud. Many believe Caribbean books are solely for occasions like these when we want to explicitly teach children about our culture, but when exposed to our students on an everyday basis, Caribbean books win hands-down because of students’ familiarity with aspects of the story which heightens interest to listen and learn more. \n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In terms of developing the school library collection and deciding which books to purchase, do\nyou think it’s important to get input from students and parents? Is this something that you do?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJF:\u003C\/b\u003E Each year, I request input from students and teachers. I find that students have a lengthier wish list\nthan their teachers because students are heavily influenced by a variety of advertisements online\nand on television. Likewise, if they are hooked on the first volume of a great read, then they want to\ncontinue that series. Some teachers, on the other hand, just rely on the librarian to make collection choices. For the past five years, I’ve noticed that some teachers only request a tie-in text\nwhen it is time for them to present a lesson that will be observed by the building administrator. When this\noccurs, I have to locate specific titles from other school libraries. To garner more suggestions from\nstaff, I regularly attend grade-level planning meetings just to listen in on the types of skills teachers\nare working on, and then I begin the work of deciding what to add to the collection.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Do you have any tips for teachers who want to build a classroom library?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJF:\u003C\/b\u003E Each classroom library should be comfortable, vibrant, organized by subject\/genre, and employ a user-friendly system to check books in and out. It is vital that students are empowered to organize this space.\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What, for you, are the most rewarding aspects of being a school librarian?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJF:\u003C\/b\u003E Being a librarian is such an empowering and flexible role. I love to see students reading, but when the boys\nin particular huddle together on the rug and are intensely engrossed in a book of their choice, that stands out! I’ve been supported by\nadministration and intermediate teachers in the planning and execution of school-wide activities. My school’s\nlargest celebration so far was the first Battle of the Books Competition on St. Croix.\nEach year, there is a new twist to keep students interested in reading. So far, we have celebrated literacy with\nbook parades, challenges, pajama reads, and independent explorations. Each successful event makes the job all the more rewarding.\nThe icing on the cake is to hear a child say, “I love to come to the library!” or when former students stop in to\nsay, \"We miss this library, can we still check out books?”\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ci\u003ENext week, the first installment of this series on Caribbean children's librarianship closes with an interview with Cherie Miot Abbanat, CEO of Haiti Projects, Inc., Founder of The Haiti Projects’ Community Library, and Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Links to all of the interviews in this series will be archived on our website on \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Ethis page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/4581132892746404341\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/07\/libraryperspectivejaniceferdinand.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/4581132892746404341"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/4581132892746404341"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/07\/libraryperspectivejaniceferdinand.html","title":"[Interview] Caribbean Children\u0026#x27;s Literature: A Library Perspective With Janice Ferdinand"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zKyXw5I9aUs\/W0OK5i4RL6I\/AAAAAAAAFOI\/zdsXC9D-1sohkkWwbBJvWwViUP88hBUawCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Janice%2BFerdinand_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-1141072775969392338"},"published":{"$t":"2018-07-02T06:49:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-07-19T15:20:29.712-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Libraries"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Caribbean Children's Literature: A Library Perspective With Michelle Warren"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lapTNvDoqlE\/WzjygRIpN7I\/AAAAAAAAFNE\/RuOdQ5vPU34A0vcLqhSy-zxGq9Ji-hjuwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Michelle%2BWarren_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lapTNvDoqlE\/WzjygRIpN7I\/AAAAAAAAFNE\/RuOdQ5vPU34A0vcLqhSy-zxGq9Ji-hjuwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Michelle%2BWarren_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EOur special \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Eseries of interviews\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E with librarians continues today. Join our editor-in-chief, Summer Edward, as she investigates forward-thinking children's library projects across the Caribbean and the crucial role librarians everywhere play in broadening awareness of Caribbean children's and young adult literature. \u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 60px;\"\u003EM\u003C\/span\u003Eichelle Warren grew up in Windsor Forest, St. David, Grenada and is the Operations Manager at the \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/grenadacommunitylibrary.org\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGrenada Community Library and Resource Centre\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, previously called the Mt. Zion Public Library. She is an alum of St. Joseph's Convent St. George and holds an Associate Degree in Technology from the T.A Marryshow Community College, and a BSc in e-business from Ashworth College. She formerly worked for CARICOM's Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network and has fifteen years of experience in the field of education and technology. She lives in St. George's, Grenada.\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: First of all, how, why and by whom was the Grenada Community Library conceived?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMichelle Warren:\u003C\/b\u003E The library was established in 2013 through the efforts of Caribbean and internationally-published author Oonya Kempadoo, the faith-based organization Mt. Zion Full Gospel Revival, and the social-action collective Groundation Grenada. \nThey recognized the urgent need for a public library, as the Grenada National Public Library had been closed since 2011. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4wb0sXxh050\/Wzj-rs_sMtI\/AAAAAAAAFNQ\/vQ3vGe3LM1Q3-euCgD3BNeojhuchdFdawCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Grenada%2BCommunity%2BLibrary%2Bbuilding.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" ;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4wb0sXxh050\/Wzj-rs_sMtI\/AAAAAAAAFNQ\/vQ3vGe3LM1Q3-euCgD3BNeojhuchdFdawCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Grenada%2BCommunity%2BLibrary%2Bbuilding.png\" style=\"width: 750px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe Grenada Community Library building at 7 Lucas Street in St. George's, Grenada. The library's opening hours \u003Cbr \/\u003Eare Mon-Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 10am-1pm.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: By the end of the first month, the library had 25 members. In 2016, it had over 1,000 members. As of today, where does the membership count stand and has membership been stable?\n\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E We now have 2841 members, and yes membership is stable.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E SE: You've struggled with securing volunteer participation. Why do you think it's so hard to get people to volunteer at libraries? Also, what are some of the things library volunteers do?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E Library volunteering is still new to Grenadians and many don’t understand the benefits. A library volunteer will be trained to carry out some of the duties of a librarian: cataloging; greeting members; assisting members to locate books of interest and\/or recommending  books to them; returning and loaning books to members; assisting children with reading; and ensuring the library environment remains user-friendly.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In 2013, the library started a new after-school programme for children. What is the goal of the programme and what do children gain from it? Also, what types of creative programmes for children does the library offer? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E The goal of the programme is to expose children to learning by using a  variety  of creative methods that may not be used in a classroom. The classes are structured to reinforce creativity in language, math, reading, critical thinking, science and arts and crafts.\nThe children are able to master various lessons and skills that may be challenging them in school. We offer creative programs that utilize internet research, group games, video documentaries and discussions. We offer chess club, story time, a boys' Kindle book club, arts and crafts activities, and science activities to demonstrate concepts like gravity, evaporation etc.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What is the Grenada Community Library's Children's Library doing to build children's and teens' awareness of the range of literature for young people written by Caribbean authors? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E The library keeps an active \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mtzionlibraryhrc\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFacebook page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E and noticeboard  which updates members of our growing collection of books. Recently the library was fortunate to add 1,200 books all written by Caribbean and Caribbean-American authors. This collection was officially launched on March 27th of this year. To further bring awareness to this collection and other literature, the library celebrated World Book Day on April 23 under the theme, “Reading should not be presented to a child as a duty, a chore. It should be a gift.” All of the nation's secondary and primary schools were invited to the library. Some of the Grenadian children's authors who have done events at the library include Richardo Keens Douglas, Sheldon Charles, Fidelia Fisher, Sue Brathwaite, Jemilla Francis, Reena Andrews and Verna Wilkins. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: 0px;  text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qb-mfufh9yI\/WzkJMO66uqI\/AAAAAAAAFNo\/4SPt2HcRbVM8lVVAKUfAPbQlojsq3Q7RACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Grenada%2BCommunity%2BLibrary%2BChildren%2527s%2BLibrary.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qb-mfufh9yI\/WzkJMO66uqI\/AAAAAAAAFNo\/4SPt2HcRbVM8lVVAKUfAPbQlojsq3Q7RACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Grenada%2BCommunity%2BLibrary%2BChildren%2527s%2BLibrary.png\" style=\"width: 750px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EChildren busy reading in the Children's Library.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-IdfU4ySX_Og\/WzkFeS5kWzI\/AAAAAAAAFNc\/O8z2gAr14P89v00l-X9yniNOakgRFGIhQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/grenada-community-library6-1600x800.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-IdfU4ySX_Og\/WzkFeS5kWzI\/AAAAAAAAFNc\/O8z2gAr14P89v00l-X9yniNOakgRFGIhQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/grenada-community-library6-1600x800.jpg\" style=\"width: 750px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EYoung patrons hold copies of  \u003Ci\u003EThe Grenada Chocolate Family\u003C\/i\u003E, The Grenada Community Library’s first publication, a children’s story\/coloring book written by library co-founder Ooyna Kempadoo. The book was named BEST IN THE WORLD at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards (considered the “Oscars” of Cookbooks).\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: How are children and teens responding to books by Caribbean children's\/YA authors\/illustrators or to the authors\/illustrators themselves?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E They are usually fascinated to see someone ordinary, someone resembling  their big sister or mother, someone real who can achieve something creative. I believe they are inspired on the spot, and are motivated to create something equally unique and creative that will represent their own experiences and environment. The books are usually easier to relate to compared to books written by an author of another nationality\/race because  they can see their own culture\/heritage reflected within.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: How does one go about building a community of child readers? \u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E First create a space that is safe and child-friendly. Create  book clubs for both   adults and children, and have parents and community members participate in programmes that encourage reading and creative writing. Collaborate with similar outreach initiatives and schools to continue to motivate children to read, and parents to read with and to their children. It is the reading culture we really need to develop since children mimic parents and elders in society. Children should be encouraged to view reading as both entertaining and educational, and as an adventure. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE:\nIn 2014, the library employed its first youth librarians. What is the role of a youth librarian and why is it an important role?\n\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E The children’s librarian's main role is to administer the Children's Library’s functions which include registering new members, entering and cataloging new books, training volunteers, supervising  after-school activities for children and teens, and assisting them with homework and research. This role is important because the children's librarian guides and supports children who are still creating opinions of the world, and creates a space where the child feels equal and comfortable enough to express herself or himself.  \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In 2015, the library began to digitize its services, becoming the first digitized Grenadian library free and open to the public. What does the digitization of library materials entail and why is it so important?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E The digitization of library materials entails the migration of members' information, books and other materials into a centralized  computer database system. This significantly decreases the need to have records on paper. This was an important achievement as it signalled the library moving forward and keeping up with other libraries around the world.   \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: How has the library gone about securing patronage? Has that been a struggle?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E In an effort to secure patronage, the library has been inviting the private and public sectors to become Partners for Literacy. A Partner usually pledges $1000 for 3 years. This donation goes towards the salary of the children’s librarian. More recently, we have implemented partnership categories: a Bronze Partner EC$1000, a Silver Partner EC$5000 and a Gold Partner EC$10,000. All pledges are for a 3-year period. It is our hope that persons realize the importance of a library in our community. The library, so far, has one patron, Mr. James Bristol, who has given the library its current home.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Why is taking children to the library so important? What role do libraries play in childhood?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E Taking a child to the library is an opportunity for their youthful imagination to be fueled by fantasies and dreams, and enriched with knowledge about the real world. The interplay of imagination and knowledge involved in reading makes a direct positive impact on how children will use their minds, skills and talents as they evolve into more independent learners. A library can be seen as an enchanted palace of books and knowledge. To a child, the atmosphere is comforting, quiet, and relaxed. It introduces learning to a child in a way that is very unique. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: What needs and challenges does the library currently have? What would you say to someone who might be considering supporting the Grenada Community Library?\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E There is an urgent need for the library to become sustainable.We are  challenged monthly to meet basic operational expenses such as remuneration and  utility payments.  There is no investment more fulfilling than that of investing in a child’s future. Very often, we see children flourish once given the opportunity to explore the natural talents and skills that they have. The Grenada Community Library provides a haven for them to nourish their minds and travel the world through the pages of a book. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EO-T8XoI-YM\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWatch the Grenada's Community Library's fundraising video and head on over to \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/our-gift-to-all-reading-donate\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etheir Go Fund Me page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E to make a donation.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In terms of working with child and youth readers, what has been one of the most special or rewarding moments you've had so far?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMW:\u003C\/b\u003E The moment when a child has a “Ah!” moment, when the light enters their eyes, curiosity is developed, and questions are asked. This is the most rewarding thing to witness, and can be repeated every time a child visits the library or reads a book. Children need to know that movies like \u003Ci\u003EHarry Potter\u003C\/i\u003E began with a story, that all of the magic in the world can be found in the books that sit on a library shelf somewhere. \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ci\u003ENext week, the series continues with an interview with Janice Ferdinand, school librarian at the Juanita Gardine Elementary School in St. Croix. Links to all of the interviews in this series will be archived on our website on \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Ethis page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/1141072775969392338\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/07\/libraryperspectivemichellewarren.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/1141072775969392338"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/1141072775969392338"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/07\/libraryperspectivemichellewarren.html","title":"[Interview] Caribbean Children\u0026#x27;s Literature: A Library Perspective With Michelle Warren"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lapTNvDoqlE\/WzjygRIpN7I\/AAAAAAAAFNE\/RuOdQ5vPU34A0vcLqhSy-zxGq9Ji-hjuwCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Michelle%2BWarren_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-7775041322324555468"},"published":{"$t":"2018-06-25T06:30:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-07-10T09:41:35.074-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Libraries"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Caribbean Children's Literature: A Library Perspective With Lindsey Dunn"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-p7acgJbYRxc\/WzDD7DnibgI\/AAAAAAAAFLo\/l7g3pjzFvvwlCyD2L7Or7OyZ7Debr7-ZACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Lindsey%2BDunn_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-p7acgJbYRxc\/WzDD7DnibgI\/AAAAAAAAFLo\/l7g3pjzFvvwlCyD2L7Or7OyZ7Debr7-ZACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Lindsey%2BDunn_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EAs promised, here is the first interview in a special \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Eseries of interviews\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E with librarians that \u003C\/i\u003EAnansesem\u003Ci\u003E will be publishing in the upcoming days. Join our editor-in-chief, Summer Edward, as she investigates forward-thinking children's library projects across the Caribbean and the crucial role librarians everywhere play in broadening awareness of Caribbean children's and young adult literature. \u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 60px; color: #000000;\"\u003EL\u003C\/span\u003Eindsey Dunn, an American librarian based in Durham, North Carolina, served as a youth services librarian with a specialty in teen services for 13 years. She is currently a Readers' Advisory Librarian and Content Editor at \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ebscohost.com\/novelist\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENoveList\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E. She recently completed a readers' advisory project to help librarians use NoveList to find culturally authentic books by Caribbean children's authors and illustrators. Lindsey combs through the children's litosphere to discover what real-time questions librarians are being asked by their young patrons. She then creates solutions for those questions in the form of lists and articles. She regularly updates the popular Books to Movies lists for all ages, is a member of the NoveList Book Squad, and regularly serves as a judge for the \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.christyawards.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChristy Awards\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\nLindsey’s favorite childhood characters are Owl from \u003Ci\u003EOwl at Home\u003C\/i\u003E by Arnold Lobel, Ramona from the \u003Ci\u003EBeverly Cleary\u003C\/i\u003E novels, and the main character from Roald Dahl's \u003Ci\u003EThe Enormous Crocodile\u003C\/i\u003E. She reads in any genre, but enjoys atmospheric suspense, heartwarming chick lit, or romantic science fiction the best. Her favorite type of story has a redemptive quality and a character with a haunting past. When she's not working, she's catching up on her Netflix queue, taking walks (as long as it's above 40 degrees), and perfecting her popcorn recipe.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward:\u0026nbsp;For those who may not know, please tell us about \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ebscohost.com\/novelist\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEBSCOhost NoveList\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E. What’s it used for, how can we access it, and why is it a good tool for librarians? Also, is it available outside of the US? \n\n\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELindsey Dunn: \u003C\/b\u003ENoveList is dedicated to helping librarians help readers. Our suite of products allows readers and reading advocates to find and select books and audiobooks by genre, reading appeal, theme, subject heading, author characteristics, and more. Our innovative staff continuously brainstorms to identify the different things people look for in their stories and then creates a \"language of books\" made up of searchable terms readers and librarians can combine to find the perfect book.  \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor instance, NoveList can help you fill requests like these:\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI’m looking for historical fiction that deals with immigrant experiences in the 20th century.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI love mysteries where the setting sticks with you, where it really feels like you’re there. Even better if the storyline sticks with me for days. Can you help me find some?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECan you help me find romances about friends who turn into lovers?\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\nNoveList is an EBSCO product. Most of our customers are libraries that purchase our products and then makes them available to their library patrons. Individuals access NoveList through their local public library. NoveList is available worldwide, though we do focus on books published in the United States, Canada, and Australia\/New Zealand.  \n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTo see if your local library has NoveList, try searching in your library's website under keywords such as \"research\" or \"databases.\" Even better, contact your local library and ask if they have access to NoveList.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fa5A59h-hww\/Wy1E0D-vhvI\/AAAAAAAAFKs\/vcvDBSPQATonv48E7ViNOU3PbbkOJ4SWwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/NoveList%2Bpromotion%2Bflyer.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fa5A59h-hww\/Wy1E0D-vhvI\/AAAAAAAAFKs\/vcvDBSPQATonv48E7ViNOU3PbbkOJ4SWwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/NoveList%2Bpromotion%2Bflyer.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: As part of your work at NoveList, you recently completed \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ebscohost.com\/novelist-the-latest\/blog-article\/caribbean-and-proud\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea readers' advisory project\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E to help librarians use NoveList to find culturally authentic books by Caribbean children's authors and illustrators. What inspired your project and what did it entail?\n\n\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELD:\u003C\/b\u003E I came across your article, \"\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hbook.com\/2017\/11\/choosing-books\/horn-book-magazine\/foreign-correspondence-beyond-four-fs-caribbean-voices\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EForeign Correspondence beyond the Four Fs\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\" in the November 2017 issue of \u003Ci\u003EThe Horn Book\u003C\/i\u003E. This article spoke to me because it was bringing attention to a group that is underrepresented, and like all librarians, we at NoveList are interested in diversity and making sure all children can find themselves represented in books. I was curious to know what, if anything, our product had already done or could do to make these books easily findable in our database.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the article, you said that the books about Caribbean communities that get attention are often written by cultural outsiders, lack authenticity and aren't empowering for Caribbean people. Of course the solution would be to find authors who are themselves Caribbean – what we call \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/why-we-need-diverse-authors-in-kids-ya-lit\/\"\u003E#ownvoices\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E – and see what books they had created. Since NoveList staff include cultural identity in our author records, I used a NoveList power search to create a list of juvenile titles by Caribbean authors and illustrators, featuring Caribbean kids, double checking our metadata against official author\/illustrator websites.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe book list is now available in the NoveList database under the title \"Caribbean and Proud\", bringing attention to these titles for being #ownvoices. The list features books by authors and illustrators from Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, Haiti, and Guyana.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bkf698lZxdo\/Wy1JIPBZ-FI\/AAAAAAAAFLE\/5SwkkIMA0zwNLuIuJSZt6DGcrrFUpjfZACLcBGAs\/s1600\/LIbraryAware_Caribbeankidlit.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bkf698lZxdo\/Wy1JIPBZ-FI\/AAAAAAAAFLE\/5SwkkIMA0zwNLuIuJSZt6DGcrrFUpjfZACLcBGAs\/s1600\/LIbraryAware_Caribbeankidlit.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: From \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ebscohost.com\/novelist-the-latest\/blog-article\/caribbean-and-proud\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyour blog post\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E about the project, I learned about LibraryAware, which looks like it could be really useful. I’m curious; is LibraryAware something librarians in the Caribbean can use? What are some of the things it can be used for?\n\n\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELD: \u003C\/b\u003ELibraryAware is an extremely useful product. It is the only graphic design program out there that is created specifically for libraries. Our designers create templates customers can use to make customized attractive bookmarks, flyers, display signs, and shelf talkers. Customers can either print and post the templates exactly as created or customize to include the titles\/images that speak to their patrons.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJust like NoveList, these products are available to any library that wants to purchase them. The beautiful thing is that we do the work, but no one will ever know that you aren't making these beautiful signs yourself. For more information about LibraryAware or to ask for a quote for your library, please go to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ebscohost.com\/novelist\/our-products\/libraryaware\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe NoveList website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8Lyex26JsVk\/Wy1H0exOqEI\/AAAAAAAAFK4\/ldAkx19N-EcdLltrAz-qnEBiUFz1Sn1bgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/LibraryAware.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8Lyex26JsVk\/Wy1H0exOqEI\/AAAAAAAAFK4\/ldAkx19N-EcdLltrAz-qnEBiUFz1Sn1bgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/LibraryAware.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: As a librarian in the US, you’re very aware of the diversity problem in literature for young people and the many conversations happening around it in the field. From a practical standpoint, what do American librarians need in order to be able to build responsive children's\/youth library collections that meet the needs of Caribbean communities in the US?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELD: \u003C\/b\u003ELibraries need advocates like \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E to speak up and let us know where we are falling short. For example, your article provoked me into action and to see how we could do better.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLibraries also need readers to speak up and let us know what they want. Libraries will purchase the books they think their customers want. If you are a customer or patron of a library, make sure to speak up and let your voice be heard.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLibraries need tools they can use to find diverse titles featuring Caribbean characters, as well as other underrepresented identities. We hope NoveList can be one of those tools. \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E is another tool, providing reviews and information about Caribbean authors and books.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLibraries need Caribbean authors to be bold and tell the stories they want to share about their culture.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFinally, libraries need courage, flexibility, and a desire to do better in building a truly diverse collection that meets the needs of all its customers. Libraries will have to choose to use a portion of their resources (budget, shelf space) for this work. It isn't easy to reverse the status quo, and it takes work to do it and do it correctly. Initially, the books you purchase may not fly off the shelves. It is partially the library's responsibility to promote and market these diverse titles to make sure they are being read and circulated.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You’ve said that working to address library service gaps when it comes to culturally and racially diverse patrons and communities has been a learning experience for you. What are some of the things you’ve learned that might be useful for other librarians to know?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ELD:\u003C\/b\u003E This has been one of the most rewarding and challenging projects I have worked on to date. Usually we (NoveList editorial content team) can rely on reviews to tell us what books are going to be good. I have found that with diversity, it takes more steps. Those of us in the library profession have to learn, sometimes through trial and error, what good representation looks like. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn particular, the Caribbean is a challenge due to the many countries and islands that are included. Making the list has made me feel more invested in seeing the culture represented well. I feel somewhat protective even. Now, when I see that a story is set in Jamaica or Haiti or Trinidad, my ears perk up, and I start wondering if the story is going to \"get it right\" or not. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYour article helped me open my eyes to how problematic it was that most books I could think of set in the Caribbean featured characters that were slaves or cavorting on the beach. And the issue was driven home even more when our marketing department was looking for the right image to pair with the blog post and again found mainly palm trees and images that looked like they could be from a vacation brochure. It just really brought this issue home to me. When you talk about diversity in general, you can think, \"Hey, we're doing it.\" It's only when you think about specific groups of people, like Caribbean people, that you see how much work there is to be done.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: I like to think that readers (including young readers!) have the power to shape the collections in libraries and should have a sense of ownership of the libraries in their communities. What are some things Caribbean readers (or readers in general) can do to help their local library build better Caribbean children’s\/YA book collections?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELD:\u003C\/b\u003E Librarians love to feedback from our customers. We want to build collections our readers want. If you can't find the types of stories you want, please let us know. If you don't feel brave enough to approach the desk, most libraries have a suggestion box or you can post a feedback on the website or social media page. We so often don't hear from our public and have to just assume we understand what our customers want. Trust me, your librarian will be thrilled that you spoke up, no matter what your age. At my library, if a young person asked for something we didn't have (after I offered to get it through inter-library loan), I would email the collection development librarians right away.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ci\u003ELater this week, the series continues with an interview with John Robert Lee, St. Lucian veteran librarian, archivist and highly-regarded author. Links to all of the interviews in this series will be archived on our website on \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Ethis page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" \u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/7775041322324555468\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/06\/libraryperspectivelindseydunn.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/7775041322324555468"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/7775041322324555468"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/06\/libraryperspectivelindseydunn.html","title":"[Interview] Caribbean Children\u0026#x27;s Literature: A Library Perspective With Lindsey Dunn"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-p7acgJbYRxc\/WzDD7DnibgI\/AAAAAAAAFLo\/l7g3pjzFvvwlCyD2L7Or7OyZ7Debr7-ZACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Lindsey%2BDunn_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-6398053649072749950"},"published":{"$t":"2018-06-26T09:58:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-07-10T09:41:19.132-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Libraries"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Caribbean Children's Literature: A Library Perspective With John Robert Lee"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ASiKH2BB0Ro\/WzI17kmd0BI\/AAAAAAAAFMg\/4N0da2DxhGQWp33DUfMlxCfoUOA-UqDTwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/John%2BRobert%2BLee_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ASiKH2BB0Ro\/WzI17kmd0BI\/AAAAAAAAFMg\/4N0da2DxhGQWp33DUfMlxCfoUOA-UqDTwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/John%2BRobert%2BLee_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EOur special \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Eseries of interviews\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E with librarians continues today. Join our editor-in-chief, Summer Edward, as she investigates forward-thinking children's library projects across the Caribbean and the crucial role librarians everywhere play in broadening awareness of Caribbean children's and young adult literature. \u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;federo\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 60px;\"\u003EJ\u003C\/span\u003Eohn Robert Lee (b. 1948) is a prolific St. Lucian poet, art and theater critic, journalist, editor and educator. For over a decade, he taught children's literature at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St. Lucia where he also worked as a librarian. He was a librarian at the Central Library of St. Lucia for seven years, and is currently the librarian and information Officer at the Msgr Patrick Anthony Folk Research Center where he organizes educational programs for young people and adults. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHe has published several collections of poetry: \u003Ci\u003EJohn Robert Lee: Collected Poems 1975-2015\u003C\/i\u003E (Peepal Tree Press,\n2017); \u003Ci\u003ESong and Symphony\u003C\/i\u003E (Mahanaim Publishing, 2016); \u003Ci\u003ECity Remembrances\u003C\/i\u003E (Mahanaim, 2016); \u003Ci\u003ESighting and Other Poems of Faith\u003C\/i\u003E\n(2013); \u003Ci\u003EElemental: New and Selected Poems\u003C\/i\u003E (Peepal Tree Press, 2008); \u003Ci\u003ECanticles\u003C\/i\u003E (2007); \u003Ci\u003EArtefacts\u003C\/i\u003E (2000); \u003Ci\u003ESaint Lucian\u003Ci\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E (1988) and \u003Ci\u003EVocation\u003C\/i\u003E (1975). His short stories and poems appear in numerous literary journals and in international anthologies including \u003Ci\u003EFacing the Sea\u003C\/i\u003E (1986), \u003Ci\u003EThe Penguin Book of Caribbean Verse\u003C\/i\u003E (1986), \u003Ci\u003EThe Faber Book of Contemporary Caribbean Short Stories\u003C\/i\u003E (1990), \u003Ci\u003EThe Heinemann Book of Caribbean Poetry\u003C\/i\u003E (1992) and \u003Ci\u003EThe Oxford Book of Caribbean Verse\u003C\/i\u003E (2005). \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHe lives in St. Lucia and writes the occasional blog at \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/www.mahanaimnotes.blogspot.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.mahanaimnotes.blogspot.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: You completed post-graduate courses in librarianship studies. That was back in the 80s. Do you recall if there was an emphasis on children’s librarianship in St. Lucia at the time? What, if anything, has changed in the field of children’s librarianship since then?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJohn Robert Lee:\u003C\/b\u003E The 80s was a good time for children’s librarianship and school libraries in St. Lucia. Led by Dr. Janet Forde\u003Csup\u003E*\u003C\/sup\u003E, then Librarian of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College,  the libraries were developed and school librarians trained. I worked with her at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Library to develop training programmes for all librarians. I also taught a course in children’s literature to all students of the Teacher’s Division of the Community College.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nUnfortunately there has been a decline in development of school libraries and interest in children’s librarianship since then. Of course there would be isolated efforts from the Central (public) Library and some teachers. But I could not say that that there is a visible, obvious developing and interest in the area now.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Your background is in folk studies; you worked as an education officer and archivist at the Msgr. Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre from 2002 until it’s \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.caribbeanliteraryheritage.com\/john-robert-lee-on-the-msgr-patrick-anthony-folk-research-centre-saint-lucia\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etragic destruction earlier this year\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E. Folkloric children’s literature is a significant facet of folk studies and children's books in general can tell us a lot about the folklife of a given culture and period. Why do you think cultural centers and other repositories for cultural heritage in the Caribbean have paid such little attention to the region's children's literature and how can that be changed?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJRL:\u003C\/b\u003E I would say that some attention is paid to folk and traditional stories, games, dances for children, but there is certainly room for more focus on them, more continuing research to be carried out to find more of these stories and games and songs that are directed to children and that have an appeal for children. One of the keys is to involve teachers in that research so they can accumulate resource materials to share with and pass on to the children they teach.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4NnPDwSyX2M\/WzI927t91hI\/AAAAAAAAFMs\/ZhG4iJiaw78tu-rnq4tkpd6afFuH5mmdwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Msgr%2BPatrick%2BAnthony.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4NnPDwSyX2M\/WzI927t91hI\/AAAAAAAAFMs\/ZhG4iJiaw78tu-rnq4tkpd6afFuH5mmdwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Msgr%2BPatrick%2BAnthony.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMsgr Patrick 'Paba' Anthony, founder of the Folk Research Centre: “We have been trying to get our children to understand and to love the Saint Lucian culture. When I started the Folk Research Centre it was with young people. That’s my source of hope, the children.” Photo credit: \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.damajority.com\/selected-essays-published-honour-paba-book-launched-november-7th-saint-lucia\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDaMajority\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Seven Stories, the UK's National Centre for Children’s Books, \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.sevenstories.org.uk\/blog\/seven-stories-acquires-the-archives-of-john-agard-and-grace-nichols\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Erecently acquired the archives\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E of UK-based award-winning Guyanese children's authors, John Agard and Grace Nichols. I find it unsettling that institutions in the UK are more concerned about preserving Caribbean children’s literature as cultural heritage than we here in the English-speaking Caribbean are. What do you see as some of the advantages of creating our own repositories to collect archival material related to the Caribbean children's literature?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJRL:\u003C\/b\u003E The advantages are that we are better placed to understand the roots and sources of our literature, to identify the authentic stories and storytellers, to make connections between the stories, our histories and our community lives, and to see how the older stories can provide a continuity into the present and future, and even generate new stories that have an authentic foundation in the traditional experiences and values of the past. Our own repositories provide national archives of what we recognise as important records of our literature and history.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sH5V1HanDeQ\/WzIuYFtTYtI\/AAAAAAAAFMA\/l8m5ufXyYDIt1VvOCqQHm3L9IYNhDjXjgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Sketch.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"410\" data-original-width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sH5V1HanDeQ\/WzIuYFtTYtI\/AAAAAAAAFMA\/l8m5ufXyYDIt1VvOCqQHm3L9IYNhDjXjgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Sketch.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rsu9nQ1V3nI\/WzIuby7sW8I\/AAAAAAAAFME\/PmyfSdZR_5It76mm9hFZzwitcRiEE5QpQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/illustration_jacqueline%2Balcantara.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rsu9nQ1V3nI\/WzIuby7sW8I\/AAAAAAAAFME\/PmyfSdZR_5It76mm9hFZzwitcRiEE5QpQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/illustration_jacqueline%2Balcantara.png\" style=\"width: 640px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EJacqueline Alacantara's sketches and final illustrations for \u003Ci\u003EThe Field\u003C\/i\u003E, a picturebook set in St. Lucia, are valuable physical artifacts that can connect people to the historical, social and economic significance of St. Lucian literary works for children and illuminate the conditions in which they were produced.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: You taught children’s literature courses at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in the late 80s and early 90s. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that! It’s one of the reasons we invited you to join \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E’s advisory board. I’m interestested in the overlap between the academic and librarianship aspects of children’s literature. Having worked in both areas, do you see an interplay?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJRL:\u003C\/b\u003E Well, yes. The academics, the teaching of children’s literature, feed into the collection- building of libraries, since the teachers of the literature will make recommendations to the library for new and necessary acquisitions. A librarian conscious of the literature, interested in it, can also ensure that the library’s collection contains a good representation of children’s literature across genres and age groups and can also help the teachers of the literature to keep up with what is available and the discussions about children’s literature. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: Yesterday we published \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/06\/interview-caribbean-children-literature.html\"\u003Ean interview\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E with an American librarian at \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ebscohost.com\/novelist\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENoveList\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E who recently asked me for advice on her subject index project; she used metadata to enhance access to Caribbean children’s books in the NoveList database. What are some other things librarians can do to make Caribbean children’s books easier to find both in online searches and in brick-and-mortar library buildings?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJRL:\u003C\/b\u003E Given the limited public knowledge of children's books and audio-visual materials with Caribbean settings, themes and authors, it's necessary that books, nationalities and themes should be catalogued as comprehensively as possible in databases. Within the libraries themselves, there is merit in identifying the Caribbean children’s books as clearly as possible in separate library sections or departments to encourage their use by patrons, both children and adults, especially parents and teachers.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESE: In your decades working as a librarian in various institutions, you organized many special library collections. I often think of all the rare, valuable and fragile Caribbean children’s books that still need to be collected, organized and preserved. Firstly, what is the precise value of a special collection? Also, what advice do you have for any librianian out there thinking of creating a Caribbean children’s (or young adult) literature special collection?\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EJRL:\u003C\/b\u003E The value of a special collection, especially a Caribbean children’s collection, is that it draws attention to the importance, significance and national value of such literatures. It places these literatures alongside the other forms and genres of literature that have adults as audience. It makes a statement that children’s literature is a vital and important part of all national literature and should not be seen as works that can be ignored or undervalued. Advising a librarian interested in creating a special collection of Caribbean children’s or young adult literature, I would say they need to investigate the field, develop a real interest in the works and authors, read as much as they can across genres and age groups, become relative experts in the field and then become advocates to their patrons of this genre of literature. \n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E* Janet Forde, Obl. S.B. is currently a librarian at Benedictine University in Arizon, USA. From 1969-1971, she worked as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer at the St.Lucia Teacher's Training College Library, assisting in its development. From 1987–1997, she guided the growth of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Library in St. Lucia where she trained library staff and served as a member of the College's Senior Management team.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ci\u003ELater this week, the series continues with an interview with Michelle Warren, Operations Manager at the Grenada Community Library. Links to all of the interviews in this series will be archived on our website on \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/05\/caribbean-childrens-literature-library.html\"\u003Ethis page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DtrUAxXCqUA\/W0S3RP2bqxI\/AAAAAAAAFPM\/aaOv6qWYZQ8PZ3hnJeKvassPzYv2AAVZQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Anansesem_Libraries.png\" width=\"750px\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5G_SpUEYEC0\/WzDHxGrEqNI\/AAAAAAAAFL0\/4eBh3L5f59U7iMTuRNF1EjEELCdeCVdAgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/sed.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the Editor-in-Chief here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. Her writing and art have been published in various  literary magazines and anthologies. Her home on the web is \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.summeredward.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/6398053649072749950\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/06\/libraryperspectivejohnrobertlee.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6398053649072749950"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6398053649072749950"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2018\/06\/libraryperspectivejohnrobertlee.html","title":"[Interview] Caribbean Children\u0026#x27;s Literature: A Library Perspective With John Robert Lee"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ASiKH2BB0Ro\/WzI17kmd0BI\/AAAAAAAAFMg\/4N0da2DxhGQWp33DUfMlxCfoUOA-UqDTwCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/John%2BRobert%2BLee_Library%2BInterview%2BSeries.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-9151344963136012442"},"published":{"$t":"2017-08-07T07:09:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-08-07T10:39:25.944-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Ruth Behar: Finding Wholeness in the Age of Multicultural Childhoods"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-tF5nfCMICbQ\/WYerwv4mhXI\/AAAAAAAAEC0\/t01LMAMZqhYjULdGh8rgp3SaKr1-S6SVACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Ruth%2BBehar%2BLucky%2BBroken%2BGirl.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: -1em; margin-right: 0em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-tF5nfCMICbQ\/WYerwv4mhXI\/AAAAAAAAEC0\/t01LMAMZqhYjULdGh8rgp3SaKr1-S6SVACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Ruth%2BBehar%2BLucky%2BBroken%2BGirl.png\" width=\"750px\"\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 60px; color: #000000;\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003Ehis interview comes out of an on-stage conversation I had with Richard Blanco \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/booksandbooks.com\/event\/ruth-behar-with-richard-blanco\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eat Books \u0026 Books in Miami\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E on July 25, 2017. Richard Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet of the United States and the first Latino and openly gay man to be selected for this honor. I am fortunate to have been close friends with Richard for over twenty years and to have traveled together with him to Cuba three times. Together we run the \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bridgestocuba.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBridges to\/from Cuba\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E blog dedicated to telling untold and emotionally profound stories about the Cuban experience. I greatly appreciated Richard’s interview questions and decided to write out our exchange, so this conversation could be remembered.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERichard Blanco: So Ruth, to get things going and add some context, give us a brief synopsis of \u003Ci\u003ELucky Broken Girl\u003C\/i\u003E in your own words. And, more importantly, tell us what inspired you to write it? What was the urgency?\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERuth Behar:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ci\u003ELucky Broken Girl\u003C\/i\u003E is a book about a Cuban immigrant girl just arriving in New York, starting to find her way, when she is involved in a terrible car accident with her family. She suffers a serious fracture to her right leg and is placed in a body cast so that her legs will grow at the same rate. She spends a year in bed. Sad and angry at first, she gradually comes to accept her state and find luck in her suffering. Immobile, she takes a journey of the mind and the heart, learning that she isn’t the only one who suffers and listening to the stories of those around her. She comes to forgive the boys who caused the accident who died as a result of their recklessness, and she realizes that she is now on another life path, finding her way toward becoming an artist, inspired by Frida Kahlo, whom she discovers through the kindness of a Mexican neighbor.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis was a story I had carried with me all my life – I was that girl in the body cast. The accident was an event that changed my life and made me the person I am today. I had tried to tell the story earlier, but from the point of view of my adult self looking back on her childhood. The accident created some serious trauma. I never felt totally secure about my leg, always feared it could break again, and never could run well afterwards. I get panic attacks on the highway and can only drive on side streets. I have never forgotten the experience. It was etched into my body. Nearing sixty, I decided I needed to write down my story, but from the point of view of the girl─ Ruthie’s perspective. Somehow the child’s voice felt natural to me, as if the girl was whispering in my ear. The story flowed out of me as no other writing had before. The first draft was a series of vignettes that I then developed into full chapters.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003E RBL: Given that this story is partly autobiographical, why did you choose to write a novel for young adults, instead of, say, a memoir, or some other genre? As both a reader and a writer, I’m curious:  What’s the difference between a young adult novel and a “regular” novel? What defines the genre of young adult literature as you understand it? You and I often talk about our mutual interest in blurring or bridging genres.  Was that part of what you wanted to do in this book?\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBE:\u003C\/strong\u003E Writing for young readers gave me a sense of freedom; I could write with a mix of innocence and wisdom, which is the way kids approach the world. I felt a need to go deep into that experience, which I had shelved away as being in the past, over and done with, and revive it, to see who that girl I was had been and give her the full empathy she deserved. As a child, I was often reminded that I was lucky to have survived, that a broken leg wasn’t the worst that could have happened. Five young men died in the accident and the woman in the car in front of us was left paralyzed. So in resurrecting that moment, I could give that girl a chance to speak and be heard and be loved.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy novel is technically a middle-grade novel, not a young adult novel. The protagonist is 10 and middle grade goes to age 12, then the teenage years, 13-18, is the young adult genre. But younger and older kids are reading the book, as are adults.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMiddle grade and young adult literature have young protagonists and the world is seen from their perspective. The language is accessible to children and teens but not simple by any means; indeed, books for young readers are often very poetic and lyrical. One of the things I love about writing for young readers is that I can let the poet in me speak.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBlurring and bridging genres─ yes, it’s something I do in all my work. I’m interested in the limits of what we can say within a certain form. When I read a book, I always want to know who the person writing the book is, so I’ve often meshed the autobiographical with my writing about people I’ve come to know on my journeys as an anthropologist. When writing ethnographies about people I’ve interviewed, I include my own story as an observer. It’s very hard to observe others without being affected by what they’re telling you. I have tried to express something of the poetry of getting to know the people placed in my path. The kindness of strangers, which is such a huge gift, makes it possible for us to go beyond our tribal understanding of the world and expand our ability to accept cultural differences and diversity.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003E RBL: I found \u003Ci\u003ELucky Broken Girl\u003C\/i\u003E just as moving and engaging as an adult novel, with just as many revealing and profound truths. I was especially moved by the novel’s message that we are all figuratively “broken” in some way. But we heal and our healing makes us stronger.  Tell us more about that.\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBE:\u003C\/strong\u003E Thank you for your kind words. I agree that the main theme of the book is exactly that─ we are all broken in some way, by loss, by trauma, by sorrows we experience, and everyone is trying to heal and become stronger. What child has not suffered an injury? What child has not felt a wound to the body or the mind? We learn about boo-boos when we are tiny. We can be broken by cruel words that have been said to us by family, friends or strangers. We can also be broken by our experiences of losing home, of losing a sense of belonging. As immigrants, often we spend our lives trying to become whole again. Ruthie is broken away from Cuba, her homeland, and she experiences it through her mother’s memories, fragments of the island that have come with the family in their suitcases. We are all in constant search of wholeness.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBL: I’m always inspired by your perspectives as a cultural anthropologist, especially on matters of the Cuban diaspora. You and your work have helped me understand so much about myself and the context of my own work. So, how does anthropology inform this novel?  How does Ruth, the “anthropologist,” show up in the book?\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBE:\u003C\/strong\u003E Anthropology informs all my work; it is my perspective, my framework for looking at the world. I think of anthropology as the pursuit of an understanding of what makes us human, through the study of cultural diversity and difference. Being human is about the search for meaning. Storytelling is a core action that gives meaning to the lives of human beings around the globe. If we couldn’t tell stories, we wouldn’t be human. So for me, being a “storylistener” is how I have defined my role as an anthropologist; I am always listening to the stories of others and finding ways to share them with respect and gratitude.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnthropology informs \u003Ci\u003ELucky Broken Girl\u003C\/i\u003E through an awareness of all the different immigrant groups that come together in Ruthie’s neighborhood in Queens, New York. No one is “the other” because all of the characters are “other” in that they are all Americans-in-the-making. Culture and cultural identity are key concepts in the book. Ruthie’s friend Ramu gives her a samosa to taste in school and it reminds her of the \u003Ci\u003Epapas rellenas\u003C\/i\u003E that her nanny used to make for her in Cuba. Ruthie asks her mother to make \u003Ci\u003Epastelitos de guayaba\u003C\/i\u003E and gives one to Ramu, fearing it will be too exotic for him to appreciate, and instead he enjoys it immensely and says they also have guavas in India. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nRuthie is a “vulnerable observer,” a concept I introduced into anthropology years ago. She watches the world around her, not in a distant way, but rather with feeling, because she is vulnerable herself and sees that vulnerability in others. And she accepts the various ways that people try to offer spiritual support, whether it’s Ramu giving her his necklace with the Hindu dancing god Shiva, or her nanny in Cuba going to the shrine of San Lázaro to pray for her healing. She accepts the relativity of culture, one of the basic concepts of anthropology. She realizes that there isn’t one way of doing things; there are many ways, and they are all worthy.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBL: Another unique perspective you bring to the literary table is that of a “Jewban”— that diaspora within a diaspora. Did that perception inform this book? How?\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBE:\u003C\/strong\u003E Jewban— yes! That Jewish-Cuban (Jewban or Juban) identity is always present in my life and work. It’s there from the start in \u003Ci\u003ELucky Broken Girl\u003C\/i\u003E, but woven into Ruthie’s worldview without a lot of fanfare.  Growing up, I thought being a Jewban was normal, because I grew up with that mix of identities in my family and among my parents’ friends. Ruthie’s family eats challah for Shabbat on Friday nights, when they can afford it, and they also have a rich milky Cuban flan for dessert.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere is a lot of spiritual flexibility in Ruthie. Although aware that she is Jewish by birth, she is open to other religious traditions, which I think is a very Cuban thing. You can’t grow up in Cuba without an awareness of the \u003Ci\u003Esanteros\u003C\/i\u003E and the beautiful spiritual traditions the African slaves brought to Cuba. Not too long ago, I found pennies left as an offering for San Lázaro on my Sephardic Jewish father’s porch in New York.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAn important character in the book is Baba, who is Ruthie’s Polish-Jewish maternal grandmother. Baba comforts Ruthie with her stories and through her, the reader learns about the Jewbans who were double refugees; they fled European anti-Semitism and found a refuge in Cuba, only to have to depart again for the United States when their economic livelihood was threatened by the communist turn of the Cuban Revolution.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nRuthie’s paternal side is Sephardic Jewish. Her father’s family is Turkish but descends from the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain. Ruthie’s last name is Mizrahi, a classic Sephardic name, but she is closer to her Ashkenazi family, who speak Yiddish. The Sephardic grandparents make a cameo appearance at her eleventh birthday party, bringing two singing canaries “\u003Ci\u003Epara alegrar la caza\u003C\/i\u003E,” to bring joy to the house. In real life, my Sephardic grandparents lived in Brooklyn and we saw them less often than my Ashkenazi grandparents, but I always remembered that they had songbirds, which is a Turkish tradition, and how much I loved going to their house to hear them sing.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBL: When I was about 4 years old, my family “immigrated” to the \u003Ci\u003ERepública de Miami\u003C\/i\u003E from New York, which is where your novel is set. Reading it made me recall some very important and tender memories of my family life in New York. Yet, it’s a setting that we don’t often find in stories about the Cuban exile experience. How does the New York setting inform the novel? What would be different if the novel happened to be set in Miami, let’s say?\u003C\/strong\u003E    \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBE:\u003C\/strong\u003E Growing up in New York gave me a very unique perspective on the world. I came to experience the amazing multicultural diversity of the city, seeing different immigrants living side by side, colliding with each other. In Miami, it’s possible to be in an exclusively Cuban enclave, which continues today in neighborhoods like Westchester and Hialeah. You can find a lot of Cubans in New York─ many settled in Spanish Harlem in the 1940s and 1950s before the Cuban Revolution─ but those who came afterwards were dispersed and many went to Queens, which is a big immigrant borough of people from all over the world. I have heard it said that more languages are spoken in Queens per capita than in any other part of the United States. \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSetting the novel in New York allowed me to show how Ruthie’s identity is informed by her relationship with a diverse set of immigrants─ her Indian friend Ramu, her Belgian friend Danielle, her Mexican neighbor Chicho, her Puerto Rican physical therapist Amara, and many others. She is surrounded by her Cuban family, but she realizes that they are not the only immigrants. Moreover, she learns that even within her family there are different approaches to being an immigrant. Her mother is nostalgic for Cuba, while her father thinks they should move forward and forget the past.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBL: Given the wide spectrum of your work and interests, would you say there is some kind of central theme or obsession that ties everything together? And if so, how is that reflected in \u003Ci\u003ELucky Broken Girl\u003C\/i\u003E?\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBE:\u003C\/strong\u003E I think that what ties together all my work and interests is vulnerability, an unceasing awareness of the fragility of life. By being made vulnerable through her injury, Ruthie comes to see this fragility and to cherish the beauty of life more fully.\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBL: Lastly, how would you describe \u003Ci\u003ELucky Broken Girl\u003C\/i\u003E in one word?\u003C\/strong\u003E \n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003ERBE:\u003C\/strong\u003E LOVE. In the end, Ruthie learns a fundamental lesson: that without the love of all those who cared for her she would never have healed.\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Author\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-adgF1VsX_dQ\/WYeGNa2zpWI\/AAAAAAAAEBk\/amOog0Pe-no5tYuXDjEZjomwYlB6UETHgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Ruth%2BBehar.png\" \/\u003E\n\n\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E Ruth Behar \u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E was born in Havana, Cuba and grew up in New York City. She is the Victor Haim Perera Collegiate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan and the recipient of a MacArthur Fellows “Genius” Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship. A traveler, storyteller, poet, educator, and public speaker, her books include \u003Ci\u003EThe Presence of the Past in a Spanish Village\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ETranslated Woman: Crossing the Border with Esperanza’s Story\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EThe Vulnerable Observer: Anthropology That Breaks Your Heart\u003C\/i\u003E. Ruth frequently visits and writes about her native Cuba and is the author of \u003Ci\u003EAn Island Called Home: Returning to Jewish Cuba\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003ETraveling Heavy: A Memoir in between Journeys\u003C\/i\u003E. She is the editor of the pioneering anthology, \u003Ci\u003EBridges to Cuba\u003C\/i\u003E and co-editor of \u003Ci\u003EThe Portable Island: Cubans at Home in the World\u003C\/i\u003E. Her poetry is included in many collections, among them \u003Ci\u003EThe Whole Island: Six Decades of Cuban Poetry\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EThe Norton Anthology of Latino Literature\u003C\/i\u003E. Her debut novel for young readers, \u003Ci\u003ELucky Broken Girl\u003C\/i\u003E, the story of a Cuban-Jewish immigrant girl, is a 2017 release from Penguin Random House. You can find her online at \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.ruthbehar.com\/\" target=\"_black\"\u003Ewww.ruthbehar.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Interviewer\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SsmdsGa7ScA\/WYeJndH7-fI\/AAAAAAAAEBw\/f-JxdwX4PHIGmIed8LD1K_ezAkKjqObLgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Richard%2BBlanco.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ERichard Blanco\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history— the youngest, first Latino, immigrant, and gay person to serve in such a role. He was born in Madrid to Cuban exiled parents and raised in Miami. He is the author of the memoirs \u003Cb\u003EThe Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EFor All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet’s Journey\u003C\/i\u003E; the poetry chapbooks \u003Ci\u003EMatters of the Sea\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EOne Today\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003EBoston Strong\u003C\/i\u003E; the poetry collections \u003Ci\u003ELooking for the Gulf Motel\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EDirections to the Beach of the Dead\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003ECity of a Hundred Fires\u003C\/i\u003E; a children’s book of his inaugural poem, “One Today,” illustrated by Dav Pilkey; and \u003Ci\u003EBoundaries\u003C\/i\u003E, a collaboration with photographer Jacob Hessler. With Ruth Behar, he is co-creator of the blog \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bridgestocuba.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBridges to\/from Cuba: Lifting the Emotional Embargo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E. His many honors include the Agnes Starrett Poetry Prize from the University of Pittsburgh Press, the Beyond Margins Award from the PEN American Center, the Paterson Poetry Prize, a Lambda Literary Award, and two Maine Literary Awards. The Academy of American Poets named him its first Education Ambassador in 2015. You can find him online at \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/richard-blanco.com\" target=\"_black\"\u003Ewww.richard-blanco.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E.\n\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/9151344963136012442\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2017\/08\/ruth-behar-finding-wholeness-in-age-of.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/9151344963136012442"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/9151344963136012442"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2017\/08\/ruth-behar-finding-wholeness-in-age-of.html","title":"[Interview] Ruth Behar: Finding Wholeness in the Age of Multicultural Childhoods"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-tF5nfCMICbQ\/WYerwv4mhXI\/AAAAAAAAEC0\/t01LMAMZqhYjULdGh8rgp3SaKr1-S6SVACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Ruth%2BBehar%2BLucky%2BBroken%2BGirl.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-8221401072786784963"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-16T08:14:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-27T14:22:15.432-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Nonfiction"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Interview] Author to Author: A Conversation Between Nadia L. Hohn and Itah Sadu"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5eLP_acilUI\/WFv96Rt_rkI\/AAAAAAAADX4\/BaXDxKSjhOcbhNIpkUu5RtYGZpQi-9GVACLcB\/s1600\/Greetings%2BLeroy%2Band%2BMalaikas%2BCostume.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5eLP_acilUI\/WFv96Rt_rkI\/AAAAAAAADX4\/BaXDxKSjhOcbhNIpkUu5RtYGZpQi-9GVACLcB\/s1600\/Greetings%2BLeroy%2Band%2BMalaikas%2BCostume.png\" width=\"750px\"\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 60px; color: #000000;\"\u003EC\u003C\/span\u003Earibbean-Canadian children's authors Itah Sadu and Nadia L. Hohn stand at opposite ends of their writing careers\u0026mdash; Sadu about to publish her tenth picturebook, \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1554987601\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026tag=thebed-20\u0026camp=1789\u0026creative=9325\u0026linkCode=as2\u0026creativeASIN=1554987601\u0026linkId=d8ea1c65a84e8c8457afdf4772de1880\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGreetings, Leroy\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, in May 2017 and Hohn still riding the wave of success from her debut picturebook, \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1554987547\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026tag=thebed-20\u0026camp=1789\u0026creative=9325\u0026linkCode=as2\u0026creativeASIN=1554987547\u0026linkId=9ea2edf6a132f65a45954e1ccb11079c\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMalaika's Costume\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E, released in early 2016. Both books are published by Groundwood Books, an independent Canadian children's book publisher, and both tug at the theme of immigration. Born to immigrant parents themselves, Sadu and Hohn inhabit a growing sphere of Canadian literary culture carved out largely by black women writers, many of them with Caribbean roots. They have both created black-owned spaces\u0026mdash; a bookstore and a writers network\u0026mdash; which serve as vital hubs for their communities. In the spirit of the authors salon, we asked them to dialogue without any planned topic or prompt and let us in on the conversation. Here's what they had to offer.  \n\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 40px; color: #000000;\"\u003EItah Interviews Nadia L. Hohn\u003C\/span\u003E\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EItah Sadu: What is the coolest thing you have done in your career as an author?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENadia Hohn:\u003C\/strong\u003E For me that would be organizing and traveling on my own book tour.\u0026nbsp; I enjoyed connecting with people and made appearances or presentations at schools, libraries and bookstores in Ottawa, Toronto, Brampton, Montreal, New York City, Boston, Atlanta and London. I found and signed my books in bookstores in Miami and New Orleans, and even at the Eric Carle Picture Book Museum in Massachusetts.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt was all done on a shoestring budget and I had a great time staying at hostels, hotels, and relatives\u0026rsquo; homes, traveling by plane, train and automobile, and vacationing too. It was also cool to see how \u003Cem\u003EMalaika\u0026rsquo;s Costume\u003C\/em\u003E, my picturebook set in the Caribbean, written in \u0026ldquo;patois lite\u0026rdquo;, connected with readers cross-culturally and across age groups.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: Who were your favourite authors growing up?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E I didn\u0026rsquo;t really have one when I was young but I got into Laura Ingalls Wilder in my childhood years. In my teens I liked Rita Williams Garcia, \u003Cem\u003EBabysitters Club\u003C\/em\u003E author Ann M. Martin, Alice Walker, Terry McMillan, Rosa Guy and Walter Dean Myers\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: \u0026nbsp;What cultural influences do you bring to your work as a children's writer?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E Caribbean culture, music and language, as well as childhood interactions are all influence my writing.\u0026nbsp; My personal mission is to ensure our histories do not get forgotten and this also comes out in my writing.\u0026nbsp; In Canada, my identity is Jamaican yes, Caribbean yes, West African yes; it is hybridized, a pan-African-Caribbean if you will.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI grew up listening to reggae, ska, and rocksteady at home and eating curried chicken, oxtail, curried goat, soup on Saturday, and rice and peas.\u0026nbsp; My childhood friend invited me to events at Our Lady of Good Counsel\u0026rsquo;s Caribbean Catholic Church where she attended.\u0026nbsp; There, I ate pilau and macaroni pie and would watch her Trinidadian mom dance to soca and sing old calypsos.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI would marvel at how another friend with Guyanese parents was Black and her aunties Indian. Her mom once gave me sugar water when I skinned my knee.\u0026nbsp; I would talk to my best friend\u0026rsquo;s Barbadian grandmother whom I had difficulty understanding at first, but years later I could grasp every word and cadence clearly.\u0026nbsp; My friends were Grenadian, St. Lucian, Barbadian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Guyanese, and of course many other ethnicities each with a different story, listening to their parents\u0026rsquo; accents, different cooking smells in their homes, all of us growing up in Toronto.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOf course, attending and playing Mas\u0026rsquo; in Caribana (Toronto\u0026rsquo;s annual Caribbean Carnival) had a large part to play in the backstory of \u003Cem\u003EMalaika\u0026rsquo;s Costume.\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/em\u003EThe culture of Carnival in Trinidad was also a major influence.\u0026nbsp; I have not yet been to Trinidad but would love to go. The poetry of Miss Lou and Jamaican proverbs, their musicality and cadences, all influence my writing of both stories and songs.\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: Why children's literature? Have you considered writing for adults?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E My writing for adults is in the form of magazine and newspaper articles, and through my blog; however, I have been making picturebooks since I was a child.\u0026nbsp; I also started writing novels in elementary school. I wrote about people who were the same age I was but now, stories often come to me that are for children. I feel a personal responsibility to teach, inspire and entertain children.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs a teacher at the Africentric School, although there was a great collection of books in the library, I found very few books that reflected my students who were Canadians of Caribbean and African descent. There was a lack of books about certain topics so I started writing some stories myself. I'm on a personal mission to write books that educate younger and future generations about Caribbean cultures and that expose them to stories from the African diaspora.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E Keep writing. Find a community that is supportive, encourages you and gives you good feedback. Write about all kinds of things, including outside of your genre. Stretch yourself. Read. Never stop learning, take courses, go to conferences, meet other writers.\u0026nbsp; Don\u0026rsquo;t give up (as clich\u0026eacute;d as that sounds). Lastly, in the words of Toni Morrison, \u0026ldquo;If there\u0026rsquo;s a book that you want to read, but it hasn\u0026rsquo;t been written yet, then you must write it.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: How can writers of color impact the Canadian publishing industry?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E I think we can impact the industry both inside and outside. First, we must get our books published. We need to write great manuscripts and send them to publishers and work at our craft. We need to make sure we are at the decision-making table, so we need to get in there and work in the industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWriters of colour are highly underrepresented in the publishing industry but have a long history of independent (self) publishing and developing alternative presses of our own. In addition to these, I think we need to be \u0026ldquo;at the table\u0026rdquo; in mainstream publishing conversations in order to see a shift. Movements like We Need Diverse Books and publications like \u003Cem\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/em\u003E are needed to increase the visibility of our work. We need to play a role in the acquisitions process and marketing like my Haitian-Canadian colleague Leonicka Valcius is doing, and hold others accountable to increase the publication of more diverse books.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: What motivates you? From where do you draw inspiration?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E From life and my students. They inspire me to write new stories. Seeing the joy that children get from stories and the inspiration I can share is so important. Sometimes it\u0026rsquo;s the character or the situations that influence me and also life. Life is full of pain but sometimes humour can be found there too. Learning about interesting people and hearing their stories makes me realize that they need to be shared.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: How has your teaching experience shaped your writing?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E Hugely. I get to spend every day, all day, with students. As an educator, I think a lot about the absence of our stories as people of colour and I worry that future generations of the African and Caribbean diaspora will forget our wisdom or histories. Sometimes, while teaching, I think up new stories or characters who are an amalgam of the children I know. Sometimes, stories come from the need to creatively teach something; but of course, with a picturebook, you can\u0026rsquo;t be so explicit or over the top with your teaching.\u0026nbsp; Kids can smell that from a mile away. The story comes first above all, it has to be good, or else children won\u0026rsquo;t like it. They are pretty obvious about that too. The lessons are kind of sprinkled in.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: What is the current role of Sankofa Pen and what is your vision of the group?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E Sankofa\u0026rsquo;s Pen began as an idea that I had at the end of 2013 when I received two publishing contracts that I was about to sign. Even though I belonged to other writing organizations and groups, I felt the need to find and connect with other writers of colour who are focused on children and young adults, and writing about similar things. There was nothing like that at the time so I formed the African-Canadian Writers for Children and Young Adults (ACWCYA). My vision was to provide a support network and workshops and for it to be communal. I eventually changed the name to Sankofa\u0026rsquo;s Pen.\u0026nbsp; We have a Facebook group.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS: Name an emerging author we should be looking out for in the future?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH:\u003C\/strong\u003E Hmmm\u0026hellip; I am in touch with quite a few authors so I don\u0026rsquo;t want to just pick one. In kid lit in Canada, I am thrilled that there are more and more people of colour writing kid lit and in publishing. The number is small but growing. There are several self-published authors in the African diaspora whose books I love; however, I would like to see more first-generation Caribbeans (like myself) writing and publishing books. In terms of kid lit authors with Caribbean and Canadian roots, I am thinking of Simone Da Costa, Jennifer Mook-Sang, Nadine Chevolleau, Natasha Henry, Ann Marie Meyers, and Zetta Elliott who are all \u0026ldquo;killing it.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp; I would love to see more of their work now and I think they are doing really well.\u0026nbsp; I hope I didn\u0026rsquo;t leave anyone out.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: center; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-MdEK7-K7j98\/WFvk1_rEJbI\/AAAAAAAADXc\/gKPBNl7JkBwr2Mx7n8-uyZm7ChrDSw31wCLcB\/s1600\/Nadia%2Band%2BItah.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-MdEK7-K7j98\/WFvk1_rEJbI\/AAAAAAAADXc\/gKPBNl7JkBwr2Mx7n8-uyZm7ChrDSw31wCLcB\/s1600\/Nadia%2Band%2BItah.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 11px;\"\u003ENadia L. Hohn (L) and Itah Sadu (R) at the launch of \u003Ci\u003EMalaika's Costume\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003Eat Sadu's bookstore, A Different Booklist\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top-color: rgb(255, 125, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; width: 562px;\"\u003E\n-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\n\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Federo', sans-serif; font-size: 40px; color: #000000;\"\u003ENadia Interviews Itah Sadu\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cstrong\u003ENadia Hohn: I know you are both Barbadian and Trinbagonian. What are your roots in the Caribbean?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E I am especially proud to say that my roots are in the beautiful country of Barbados, because 2016 marks Barbados\u0026rsquo; 50\u003Csup\u003Eth\u003C\/sup\u003E anniversary of independence. This shaped my formative and early years. My family understood the value of independence and what it represented.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: I\u0026rsquo;ve heard you attribute your earliest writing influences to the storytelling that took place around you while growing up. Can you tell us what that was like?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E My home in Barbados was in front of a sugar factory; can you imagine the \u0026ldquo;sweetness\u0026rdquo;? I lived across the street from the beach\u0026hellip;endless pleasure. The rum shop was two doors away. The butcher was my neighbor. There was the mid-wife; the fisherman; Clem, the man who sold milk and had a donkey; Ms. Headley the seamstress; Ms. Gibbs who went to America; Ms. Griffith who had an accent. They all told stories and had stories of their own. There was the climbing of every fruit tree, freedom\u0026hellip; these childhood memories have inspired my writing as well. A million stories to be found.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: What year did you migrate to Canada? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E Well, I was born in Canada. As a child, I was sent off to Barbados to be steeped in my grandparents\u0026rsquo; love. There, I was educated in the ways of the culture. I was brought up with the knowledge that African-Caribbean people are people of excellence and are able to undertake any aspect of leadership. I returned to Canada in the early 70s.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: Who is the audience for the books you write?\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E Everyone! In particular, children.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: Why was it important for you to open your bookstore, A Different Booklist?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E I believe I had that romantic desire to own a bookstore. Writers, I have learned, have a couple of desires in life. To write something down. To write poetry and get it published. To record family history. Me on the other hand, I bought a bookstore because someone sold me the idea at 11.00 pm at night. Now that\u0026rsquo;s a story.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: You have been an oral storyteller for many years. When and how did you decide to commit your stories to the written page?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E In 1986, the late Dr. Milton Phillips met me in the parking lot of Tropicana Community Services in Ontario. He said, \u0026ldquo;Young lady, you are great storyteller. Think \u0026lsquo;Dr. Seuss\u0026rsquo; and write your stories down.\u0026rdquo; The rest is history. As Barbados\u0026rsquo; national anthem states, \u0026ldquo;We write our names on history\u0026rsquo;s page with expectations great.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: How does your Caribbean background\/ancestry influence and come through in your writing?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E Reference points. The rhythm of the piece. I write through the lens of Caribbean people. I am Caribbean and I write what I know.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: You have a new book coming out in 2017. Can you please tell us about it?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E Greetings Leroy\u003C\/em\u003E, which will be published by Groundwood Books, is a story about Roy, a boy from Jamaica, and his first day at school as an immigrant in Canada. The book references the artist whose music is played very second, every minute, every hour, everywhere, every day in the world. I mean Bob Marley of course.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: Where did the inspiration for the book come from\u003C\/strong\u003E?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E One evening after a book fair, a teacher came to the bookstore and said, \u0026ldquo;I look forward to a book on Bob Marley for my students. He was a great ambassador of peace.\u0026rdquo; I found it interesting that people from all walks of life are brought together by their shared love of Bob Marley, which is what happens in the book.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: Was it harder to get published after the first time? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E Sixth time, seventh time\u0026hellip;it\u0026rsquo;s always hard. I welcome independent publishing and publishers. I thank the hip hop movement for leading the way in breaking this glass ceiling.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: Can you paint a picture of what it was like for you as a newcomer (and at one time you were also a publisher) to a Canadian literary landscape that was far less diverse and socially aware than now? How much has changed since then?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E I am less interested in looking back and more interested in where we are going with publishing and technology in Canada and the world. Will we continually seek permission to enter spaces or will we define new spaces and ways of doing things? The glass is full, not half-empty. This is the PR we have to debunk.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENH: Can you separate your art\/your writing from your activism?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIS:\u003C\/strong\u003E I haven\u0026rsquo;t met such an artist yet.\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Author\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Tc8f3yNmXoU\/WFst1umJYhI\/AAAAAAAADWY\/dQd9NicMRaoBWd0XDaYR96dG8ZNaKT-8ACLcB\/s1600\/Itah%2BSadu.png\" \/\u003E\n\n\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EItah Sadu\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E was born in Canada and raised in Barbados. She is a cultural animator and advocate, an award-winning storyteller and a bestselling children's author. She is the co-owner of the independent bookstore, A Different Booklist, a cultural destination located on Bathurst Street in Toronto, Canada. \n\n\n\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv id=\"author-box2\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"block-head\"\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n                            About the Author\n                        \n                          \u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"stripe-line\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"post-listing\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"author-avatar2\"\u003E\n\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qaOTp8ZSlcc\/WFstQEOJQWI\/AAAAAAAADWU\/iyfJw1QywVkPHoYPlhsKWvLzMfoW-Dn0gCLcB\/s1600\/Nadia%2BHohn.png\" \/\u003E\n                          \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E Nadia L Hohn\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E began writing, illustrating and making books at age five. She is the author of the \u003Ci\u003EMusic\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EMedia\u003C\/i\u003E books in the Sankofa Series (Rubicon Publishing, 2015.)\u0026nbsp;In 2014, she was awarded the Helen Issobel Sissons Canadian Children's Book Award for her\u0026nbsp;picturebook manuscript,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EMalaika's Costume\u003C\/em\u003E, which was published by Groundwood Books and won the 2015-2016 Elementary Teachers\u0026rsquo; Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Children's Literature Award.\u0026nbsp;She has studied writing at the Highlights Foundation, Humber College School of Writers, George Brown College and Voices of our Nation (VONA). \u003Ci\u003ELe Costume de Malaika\u003C\/i\u003E, the French translation of \u003Ci\u003EMalaika’s Costume\u003C\/i\u003E, is due in January 2017 and the sequel, \u003Cem\u003EMalaika's Winter Carnival\u003C\/em\u003E, is due in the fall of 2017. Presently, she is on leave from her Toronto public school teaching position and lives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) where she teaches early grades music.\n\n\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/br\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/8221401072786784963\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2016\/12\/interview-author-to-author-conversation.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/8221401072786784963"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/8221401072786784963"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2016\/12\/interview-author-to-author-conversation.html","title":"[Interview] Author to Author: A Conversation Between Nadia L. Hohn and Itah Sadu"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5eLP_acilUI\/WFv96Rt_rkI\/AAAAAAAADX4\/BaXDxKSjhOcbhNIpkUu5RtYGZpQi-9GVACLcB\/s72-c\/Greetings%2BLeroy%2Band%2BMalaikas%2BCostume.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-4468139634818489046"},"published":{"$t":"2011-10-20T18:01:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-09-08T23:50:09.443-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Meet the Author] \"Culture again!\": Interview with YA author, Ramin Ganeshram (Part 1)"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpPgb87mD1U\/TpxM_K2WfxI\/AAAAAAAAAmc\/45CobFPUkiY\/s1600\/ramin+ganeshram.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: 10px;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpPgb87mD1U\/TpxM_K2WfxI\/AAAAAAAAAmc\/45CobFPUkiY\/s1600\/ramin+ganeshram.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERamin Ganeshram, author of \u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003ERamin Ganeshram is the author of a YA (young\u0026nbsp;adult) novel, \u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E, published by Scholastic (USA) this August. I first caught wind of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E back in July when I noticed it popping up on book blogs all over the Internet— positive reviews all around. When I learned that the book's protagonist is a Trinidadian-American teen, I just had to see what all the fuss was about. I recently asked Ramin a few questions about her new best-selling book via email. Here is the first half of my interview with her. Read the second half \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2011\/10\/stir-it-up-is-novel-with-recipes.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E###\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Hi Ramin, how are you?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E I’m great—thank you for asking. I hope you are well too!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Thanks. I’ve been following the entries on your newly released YA book, \u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;on all the various book blogs. Most people who have read your book seem to really like, if not love, it. The book was released on August 1st. How does it feel?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E Of course it’s a wonderful feeling, but it’s a little odd for me too. I am a journalist, food writer, cookbook author and this is my 3rd book, 5th or 6th when you talk about ghost writing and partnerships. But it’s my first novel and my first book for kids. I’m overwhelmed with the attention it has gotten—and so please as well! I never thought though, that the major recognition would be for a kid’s book! It makes it all the sweeter.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Now, I know this is not your first taste of success as a published author. In 2006, Hippocrene published your cookbook, \u003Ci\u003ESweet Hands: Island Cooking From Trinidad \u0026amp; Tobago\u003C\/i\u003E which did very well and you’ve been a contributing writer with numerous food publications. Yet, YA is an entirely different market is it not? Seems like a 180 degree turn. What made you decide to write a YA book of all things?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E It’s an interesting story. I had actually written a lightly fictionalized account of my family in Trinidad during WW2. The book was being sold as a novel when it was more a true story, retold. In any case, it didn’t sell but the lady who would become my editor, Andrea Pinkney at Scholastic, had seen the manuscript and loved it. She kindly asked me if I’d ever consider a book for teens about Trinidadian culture. I said yes, but the food aspect was a must-have for me. She agreed, we brainstormed, and \u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E is what I ultimately got cooking!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: That \u003Ci\u003Eis \u003C\/i\u003Ean interesting story. I know Andrea Pinkney has written some great children's books herself. So in a nutshell, please tell our readers what your book, \u003Ci\u003EStir it Up!\u003C\/i\u003E is about.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8LIamYFeIOc\/TqBop-oQ9-I\/AAAAAAAAAnI\/j5ix1KNX7N4\/s1600\/stir+it+up+cover.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8LIamYFeIOc\/TqBop-oQ9-I\/AAAAAAAAAnI\/j5ix1KNX7N4\/s320\/stir+it+up+cover.jpg\" width=\"211\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E It is the story of Anjali Krishnan, a Trinidadian-American teen who aspires to be the youngest and first Caribbean chef with her own cooking show. Her parents have other ideas that center around her attending Stuyvesant, New York City’s premier high school for intellectually gifted children.  Although the Krishnans own a roti shop in the Indo-Caribbean neighborhood of Richmond Hill, Queens, where the family also lives, they want their daughter to have a better future than one linked to food service. When Anjali is given an unexpected opportunity to fulfill her dream—by competing on a “Top Chef” style show for teens on Food Network—\u0026nbsp;she must go against her family’s wishes, ultimately losing and regaining their trust, in order to have a shot at the future she envisions for herself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Anjali does sound like a spunky\u0026nbsp;character. Her going against the grain is part of why this story appeals to me anyway. Which brings me to another question: why this story? Ultimately, what message(s) are you seeking to convey to teens?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E The message is this: follow your dreams and never give up but be aware of others while you do it. There is an appropriate way to go for the gold—and that doesn’t include only thinking of yourself. Be willing to share, discuss and make your dreams known to get the support of those around you.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Just to clarify for our readers, how old is the main character, Anjali, in the book? Also, is she perhaps a reflection of yourself at that age?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E She is thirteen and she is way cooler and more self-assured than I ever was at that age. Sure, I’m ½ Trinidadian (she is fully Trinidadian) and I loved to cook but I wasn’t anywhere near as passionate as Anjali. As an older teen I was as passionate about writing as Anjali is about cooking and, similarly, my parents didn’t see it as a “real” job though they acknowledged my talent.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: And now I have to ask this. Is it true that the book sold 140, 000 copies before the release date? I read that somewhere on the Web (not always the most reliable source I know).\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E Yes, it did, that’s accurate—as a Scholastic Book Fair\/Book Club featured selection.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: That’s incredible, congratulations. Can you even believe it?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER: \u003C\/b\u003EIt’s very hard to believe. Dumbfounding actually!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Indeed. Let's\u0026nbsp;switch\u0026nbsp;gears a little. Here in the States, authors of color often talk about the difficulty of getting their books picked up by the mainstream publishing houses. Was it hard getting \u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E published? How long did it take you to get an offer?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E Well because of the particular nature of how this came about it wasn’t in a regular publishing stream, however I agree with this assessment. My novel did not sell although it was widely thought to be well written, evocative, and historically accurate. I imagine this is because the mainstream American audience would feel highly disconnected from the protagonists (descendants of Indian indentured laborers) in that book.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E###\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECheck in next week for the second half of my interview with Ramin Ganeshram!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top: 3px solid rgb(255, 125, 0); font-size: 0pt; height: 0pt; width: 562px;\"\u003E-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and Tobago. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. She lives in Philadelphia, USA.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/4468139634818489046\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2011\/10\/culture-again-conversation-with-ya.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/4468139634818489046"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/4468139634818489046"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2011\/10\/culture-again-conversation-with-ya.html","title":"[Meet the Author] \"Culture again!\": Interview with YA author, Ramin Ganeshram (Part 1)"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpPgb87mD1U\/TpxM_K2WfxI\/AAAAAAAAAmc\/45CobFPUkiY\/s72-c\/ramin+ganeshram.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-7865224031063961"},"published":{"$t":"2011-10-28T18:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-09-08T23:48:33.704-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Meet the Author] 'Stir It Up!' is \"A Novel With Recipes\": Interview with YA author Ramin Ganeshram (Part 2)"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpPgb87mD1U\/TpxM_K2WfxI\/AAAAAAAAAmc\/45CobFPUkiY\/s1600\/ramin+ganeshram.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpPgb87mD1U\/TpxM_K2WfxI\/AAAAAAAAAmc\/45CobFPUkiY\/s1600\/ramin+ganeshram.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERamin Ganeshram, Author of \u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EWe're back today for the final part of my interview with Ramin Ganeshram, author of the new YA book, \u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E Don't forget to check out \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2011\/10\/culture-again-conversation-with-ya.html\"\u003Epart 1\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E of the interview. Below, Ramin and I discuss the publication process, her Trinidadian roots, food (of course) and the plans she has for her writing career.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n###\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: What was it like getting the offer from Scholastic then?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Because of the way that it came about—an offer without a book—it was surprising and incredibly flattering. Andrea Pinkney is easily the most respected children’s editor (and author herself) living today. The fact that she had such faith in me was amazingly uplifting.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EExactly. I didn't know she was your editor. You're lucky, her work is so well respected. It's great to know she took a chance on something different. Speaking of different, I’ve been hearing interesting things about the format of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EStir it Up!\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;Apparently, it’s not your standard, linear YA novel…?\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EKirkus Reviews\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;for example described it as “more fiction-seasoned cookbook than recipe-studded novel.” Did you intentionally set out to create a YA novel that was a little different?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EThe first thing I have to say is that I’ve always strongly disagreed with that Kirkus review. It is absolutely a novel with recipes, not a cookbook with fiction. I didn’t set out particularly to do something different but the way the book should have been formatted just came to me. Anjali was speaking to me and I just wrote what she said.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Gotcha. You were born to a Trinidadian mother and an Iranian mother, is that correct? What has it been like growing up both Iranian and Trinidadian in America?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;It was incredibly hard! Talk about being utterly misunderstood—even though I grew up in New York City. Things were particularly bad during the Iran Hostage Crisis when I was about 10. It’s still somewhat difficult to explain the nuances of all I am to folks—so I just try to do it with my writing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Yes the nuances; I think many \"third culture\" types can relate to hard-to-explain nuances. Can you think of another YA published in the States that features a Trinidadian or a Trinidadian-American protagonist or even secondary characters? I feel like they are far and few between. I can think of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAngel’s Grace\u003C\/i\u003E, Tell Us We’re Home and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EJazz in Love\u003C\/i\u003E. There are a couple more that I can’t remember right now. Ultimately though, Trinis (Caribbean people in general) don’t pop up that often in American fiction for teens. Do you think your character, Anjali, is special then, especially being an Indo-Caribbean character? Do you think it’s important to have Caribbean\/Caribbean-American characters in American YA books?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Another great book by the very amazing Trinidadian writer Lynn Joseph is\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Color of My Words\u003C\/i\u003E. The protagonist is Dominican, not Trinidadian but Caribbean and she is pretween—12. Still, I count this wonderful book as one that is adding to the form.\u0026nbsp;But to answer your question, I do think Anjali is special because she is a strong portrayal of culture that is little known to Americans, or sadly, only known in very limited light. I can’t tell you though, how very many people have told me wonderful stories about Trinidadian friends they have met once they hear about or read this book.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Would you say that culture is a focus in your writing?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Writing about culture—particularly the culture of food—is the only focus in my writing. It is what I’m most passionate about.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: And of course I have to ask this ―Have you ever been to Trinidad? What was the experience like?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Been to Trinidad! I’ve gone nearly every year since I was five! It’s always wonderful, I feel like I’ve come “home” when I’m there and am melancholy when I leave.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cright\u003E \u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"215\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2PSh6z4BY8Q\" width=\"360\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/right\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAuthor Ramin Ganeshram introduces you to \u003Ci\u003EStir It Up!\u003C\/i\u003E's main character.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: I\u0026nbsp;believe\u0026nbsp;you. It's funny. I feel like Caribbean immigrants in the States tend to go back home a lot more regularly than immigrants from other parts of the world.\u0026nbsp;Would you say you are very in touch with your Trinidadian roots then? And would you say the same thing for your Iranian heritage?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Yes, I would say that I’m incredibly in touch with both. It’s a bit easier to stay in touch with Trinidadian roots because of the growing community of Trinis here in the NYC area and because I write about it so much people come forward. But I’ll let you in on a secret, my favorite food in the whole world is actually Persian (Iranian) not Trinidadian.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: Ha! Being from Trinidad myself, I can't imagine any food being better than Trinidadian food, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt! So what’s next for Ramin Ganeshram? More YA books? Book tours? Where\/how can we keep up with you and your movements as an author?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;You can check me out at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.stiritupbook.com\/\"\u003Ewww.stiritupbook.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;or my own site\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.nibblescribble.com\/\"\u003Ewww.nibblescribble.com\u003C\/a\u003E. Up next is another cookbook I think (culture again! This time an aspect of American food culture) and yes, several YA projects—all involving food!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: And are there any plans to market\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EStir it Up\u003C\/i\u003E! in the Caribbean?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;I’d love to and that’s part of my long-term goal!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: And to close us off, say something deep about food – or about roti in particular.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Food is always a foil for other things. Yes it sustains us but it also gives us joy, or sadness or, most importantly an entryway to a story. Roti, for example, is a time capsule to the time when East Indians were brought as indentured laborers to Trinidad. Paratha Roti is original but the evolutions: dal puri for every day instead of special occasion and buss up shut—a uniquely Trinidad take on paratha roti—all tell a story of a people who are developing their own unique amalgamated culture and history.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ES: And finally, ask the question you wanted me to ask.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ER:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;“Do you see yourself more of a chef or writer since you are both?”\u0026nbsp;Neither. I see myself as a storyteller. Food is my medium. Words are my medium. Together they are my art and my craft. Hopefully, it’s an interesting enough one to keep people reading and trying my recipes so they can create stories of their own.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E###\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top: 3px solid rgb(255, 125, 0); font-size: 0pt; height: 0pt; width: 562px;\"\u003E-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was born in Trinidad and Tobago. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. She lives in Philadelphia, USA.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/7865224031063961\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2011\/10\/stir-it-up-is-novel-with-recipes.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/7865224031063961"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/7865224031063961"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2011\/10\/stir-it-up-is-novel-with-recipes.html","title":"[Meet the Author] 'Stir It Up!' is \"A Novel With Recipes\": Interview with YA author Ramin Ganeshram (Part 2)"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpPgb87mD1U\/TpxM_K2WfxI\/AAAAAAAAAmc\/45CobFPUkiY\/s72-c\/ramin+ganeshram.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-6109847554438426898"},"published":{"$t":"2011-11-15T13:45:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-09-08T23:46:00.327-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Meet the Author] \"The Caribbean needs more young readers\": Interview with Macmillan Caribbean Publisher, Nicholas Gillard"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"color: black;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: white;\"\u003EMacmillan Caribbean Publisher, Nicholas Gillard talks to Summer Edward\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci style=\"color: white;\"\u003E \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: white;\"\u003Eabout regional children's literature\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/div\u003EMacmillan Caribbean Publisher, Nicholas Gillard talks to Summer Edward\u003Ci\u003E \u003C\/i\u003Eabout regional children's literature and the changing face of publishing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-VS3vLfAuQRs\/TciEBL60eOI\/AAAAAAAAAQ8\/aR-n7yhMVpk\/s1600\/Nicholas+Gillard.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-VS3vLfAuQRs\/TciEBL60eOI\/AAAAAAAAAQ8\/aR-n7yhMVpk\/s200\/Nicholas+Gillard.jpg\" width=\"144\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003ENicholas Gillard was born in Glasgow, in the west of Scotland. He attended the High School of Glasgow and the University of St. Andrew (yes, where William and Kate met.) He has been working with Macmillan Caribbean \"longer than he cares to remember.\" He began as a Commissioning Editor at Macmillan and is now the company's Head Publisher. Although Gillard feels that it is best left to others to name his accomplishments, he admits that building up the Macmillan Caribbean list over the past decade is a source of pride for him. Often asked by people which is his favourite Caribbean island, he usually replies \"The one I'm in right now\" (If pressed however, he will confess it's Jamaica.)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EAlthough not an author himself, Gillard admits that he has thought about writing books. His favourite children's books are \u003C\/i\u003EThe Hobbit\u003Ci\u003E by J. R. R. Tolkien, \u003C\/i\u003EAsterix the Gaul\u003Ci\u003E by René Goscinny and the \u003C\/i\u003EWilliam\u003Ci\u003E Stories by Richmal Crompton. His favorite \u003C\/i\u003ECaribbean\u003Ci\u003E children's books? All the ones his company has published, \"with special mention to Everard Palmer.\" \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBooks published by Macmillan Caribbean have been shortlisted for  major regional and international literary prizes, including the Ondaatge  Prize and the Commonwealth Writer's Prize.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EIn April 2011, \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAnansesem's Managing Editor interviewed Gillard via email about his company's approach to publishing Caribbean children's and young adult literature.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E*\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EOver the years, you have been closely involved in scouting regional literary talent and working on the ground to help your authors promote their books. How closely are you yourself involved in promoting Caribbean children’s or young adult literature in the region? Is it something that is close to your heart or are there other individuals in your company who handle the “juvenile” side of things?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EWe have a separate Sales \u0026amp; Marketing department for all our books. It’s actually bigger than the Editorial Department. But of course when travelling around the region one is constantly promoting – “off-line” as it were. The lines between editorial and marketing blur when you are travelling. I want all our books to be successful so, yes, I would say they are very close to my heart if not always under my control.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EI imagine you are a busy man, but have you had the chance to meet or perhaps sit down and chat with any of the children’s authors published by your company? In terms of personal and professional qualities, what are some of the things you look for in the authors that you publish?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EI’ve met virtually everyone we’ve ever published. I think it’s hard to judge things properly without meeting someone face to face – that goes for the author too.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI look for someone who is serious and realistic about what they are doing and not looking at the glamorous end product or asking about book launches etc before the book has even been written. The rewards will come but through hard work and perseverance but they should never be a goal in themselves.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFundamentally though, we are looking for talent. Talent + Hard Work + Luck = Success. Although sometimes you might get away with just hard work and the luck - those are key.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.macmillan-caribbean.com\/images\/logo.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.macmillan-caribbean.com\/images\/logo.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EYou live in the UK and you’re actually Scottish, am I right? So that leaves me with the inevitable question― how did you get interested in publishing and promoting Caribbean literature anyway?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EYes I was born in Scotland and now live in London. I applied for the job from an advert in the Bookseller. I had no previous Caribbean experience or much knowledge of the Region when I started. I got interested in publishing really by chance. An English degree has no real vocational element so I just got a entry job with Blackwell’s in Edinburgh when I left University and one thing led to another.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI’m interested in all forms of literature and personally I don’t differentiate as to where the author is from in my own reading. A good book is a good book. And in my experience, most writers from the Caribbean want to be considered a Writer first and foremost and not pigeon-holed as a “Caribbean writer”.  I suppose Macmillan Caribbean rather distorts that in what we do but Caribbean is our publishing ground. Also remember we are a “jack of all trades” publisher. We do most types of books and genres (including school books) for the Caribbean. So we would never claim to be a specialist publisher in the literature for children much as we like doing it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward:\u003C\/b\u003ETwo of my all-time favourite Caribbean children’s books are \u003Ci\u003EEars \u0026amp; Tails \u0026amp; Common Sense\u003C\/i\u003E by the Sherlocks and \u003Ci\u003EBackfire: A Collection of Caribbean Short Stories\u003C\/i\u003E, edited by the Giuseppes, both of which I loved as a child. These classics of Caribbean children's literature were published by Macmillan Caribbean back in the 70’s, along with several groundbreaking juvenile novels by the likes of C. Everard Palmer of Jamaica and Michael Anthony of Trinidad. Do you remember what children’s publishing was like in the region at time?  How would you describe Macmillan Caribbean’s contribution to regional children’s literature during that post-Independence era?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EYes I love those ones too. I was still at school in the 70’s but I’ve heard stories about Andre Deutsch travelling the Caribbean with a cheque-book and signing people up on the spot. That’s certainly true of Michael Anthony and Everard Palmer who are from that generation. I think it was much more informal in those days and more publishing led than sales and accountancy led – probably a very good thing too!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI think we’ve contributed by providing a forum for children’s literature where very few other options were open. So I’m pleased about that.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EMacmillan Caribbean is a household name in the Caribbean yet there are some who have criticized your company’s alleged role as a gatekeeper of regional literary production. I’m thinking of one Trinidadian writer and cultural critic in particular, who takes issue not only with the quality of Macmillan Caribbean publications, but also with the fact that your company allegedly seems to favour authors who are expats or Afro-Caribbean people. How would you respond to this?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EI certainly wouldn’t see us a “gatekeeper”. Far from it. We are just one of many publishers in the world who could, if they wanted to, focus on the Caribbean. It just so happens they don’t right now. Personally, I would welcome more players in the field.  Competition is the key to literary strength.  But remember, most publishers specialize in genres not regions. Plus we are a multiple genre publisher. So I think this is where that perception might come from. It’s quite an unusual approach.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe vast majority of our authors are of Caribbean origin or live in the Caribbean so I don’t accept that point. In fact, we actively look for Caribbean writers at all times for all our books. That’s really what we are all about.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI do think some blogging can be rather self-indulgent and often says more about the person writing it than the object of the discontent. However, everyone has a right to their opinion and to express it as they see fit. As we know from the Middle East and China in recent times, freedom of speech is one of our most valuable human rights and I’m glad we are able to take it for granted where we all live. Plus if someone doesn’t feel Macmillan is doing a good job then don’t buy the book. There are plenty of other publishers to choose from. Competition improves quality, lowers price and encourages innovation and progress so if Macmillan isn’t performing as a publisher ultimately it will affect our strength as a business and our ability to publish more books. The market will decide in the end. And that’s all of us.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EDo you feel like Macmillan Caribbean has played a role in changing the face of Caribbean children’s literature and if so, how?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EI don’t think we’ve changed the face. Nothing changes that much aside from the technology and distribution of content. But we’ve created some household names and perhaps without Macmillan they might never have reached a wider audience. I think it’s Apple and Amazon that have and will truly change the face of publishing. And that process has only just begun.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EI really like the Macmillan Caribbean website but one thing I’ve noticed about the site is that that it contains very little information about the children’s authors that you’ve published in terms of bios, photos, links to interviews etc. Curwen Best has said as much about your site in his book, \u003Ci\u003EThe Politics of Caribbean Cyberculture\u003C\/i\u003E, stating that “Macmillan Caribbean […] does not display its authors […] intimately, so upfront, on its main pages.” Does Macmillan Caribbean place importance on leveraging the publicity of its children’s authors?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EThank you, I think it’s just the house-style not a deliberate omission or policy. They aren’t personality driven websites but I agree with you and it’s something we should look at. Many authors now have their own Facebook and Twitter sites and they link those to ours. So the marketing website is not the only forum anymore. Even one of our more eminent authors Edward Seaga has his on Facebook site now which I thought was a sign of the times!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EWhat types of children’s and young adult books does the Macmillan Caribbean catalogue offer?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EPretty much everything. Please take a look: www.macmillan-caribbean.com\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWe are also now developing a brand new Early Childhood Series for the 3-5 year olds that will develop the reading habit from the earliest possible stage. And the BookStart scheme in Jamaica is actually developing books for 0-12 months range which is also something we are looking at. Future is bright for literacy I think.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EI’d like to see Macmillan Caribbean publish more trade books for teens. Are there any young adult publications in the works? What about the \u003Ci\u003EIsland Fiction\u003C\/i\u003E series? Is it still open for series writers?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EMe too. We’ve published six books for teenagers in the “Island Fiction” Series. And these are now all in eBook format which we hope will let them travel even further. Joanne Johnson from Trinidad is the Series Editor. If they are a success we would certainly like to do more. Have you read the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.penguin.co.uk\/nf\/Book\/BookDisplay\/0,,9781843531388,00.html\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Rough Guide to Books for Teenagers\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E by Nicholas Tucker (Penguin)? Worth a look. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EI am an aspiring Caribbean children’s or young adult author and I want to submit my finished manuscript to Macmillan Caribbean? What steps should I take?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EEmail us via our editorial in-box listed on the site. Describe your book and what stage it’s at and tell us something about yourself. Or simply email us the manuscript with a covering letter. Many of our email enquiries say “I have a book what’s your submission policy?” And in fact we don’t have a formal submission policy and don’t usually work through literary agents. So we take every proposal on its own merits. Just be very clear and detailed as to what you are proposing. If you can’t write a good proposal letter then most publishers will assume you can’t write anything else.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003EWhat are some of the qualities you look for in the Caribbean children’s and young adult stories you choose to publish?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EAuthentic Caribbean flavour or authentic to the island and\/ or country in question (not forgetting Belize and Guyana).  This includes illustrations which are critical to our children’s publishing and an essential requirement for our list. The other qualities are exactly the same as for any other book regardless of where it’s set: a good story, well told, with good characters. All you need really but easier said than done.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward: \u003C\/b\u003ELet's talk about the business\/industry side of things. As an insider in the publishing trades, what do you think explains the slowness --some would say the failure-- of Caribbean publishing to develop a strong track record for producing best-selling Caribbean children's books?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENicholas Gillard: \u003C\/b\u003EI think the lack of competition and demand is the main problem. The Caribbean needs a trade publishing industry and more readers and writers. It also needs literary agents who can connect their authors with the main publishing centres of New York \u0026amp; London and the Book fairs of Frankfurt, London and Bologna where rights can be bought and sold. However, the eBook revolution represents the biggest and best ever opportunity to change that. Printing, distribution and warehousing are some of main obstacles to starting up a publishing business. They are a major and constant overhead in terms of cost. That’s where big multi-national publishers like Macmillan can always be strong. But with eBooks these boundaries fall away.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt does require a shift in the culture of reading though. But this generation of children worldwide will be the first true digital eBook natives so the time is now.  And with free viral marketing now an option for everyone, opportunity knocks.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBut above all, the Caribbean needs more young readers. And technology can’t change that alone. So I congratulate you on your work in promoting children’s literature. They are the writers of the future so you are making a difference. Thank you.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top: 3px solid #FF7D00; font-size: 0; height: 0; width: 562px;\"\u003E-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is from Trinidad and Tobago. She is the Founder, Managing Editor and Nonfiction Editor of \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. She blogs about Caribbean children's literature at \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.summeredward.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EThe Pickney Project\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E Her poems and art have been published in \u003Ci\u003Etongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ESt. Somewhere\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EFirst Reads\u003C\/i\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/6109847554438426898\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2011\/11\/caribbean-needs-more-young-readers.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6109847554438426898"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6109847554438426898"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2011\/11\/caribbean-needs-more-young-readers.html","title":"[Meet the Author] \"The Caribbean needs more young readers\": Interview with Macmillan Caribbean Publisher, Nicholas Gillard"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-VS3vLfAuQRs\/TciEBL60eOI\/AAAAAAAAAQ8\/aR-n7yhMVpk\/s72-c\/Nicholas+Gillard.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485710724771356301.post-6096677199464552712"},"published":{"$t":"2012-03-04T10:29:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-09-08T23:45:33.275-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"[Meet the Author] Jamaican Illustration Student Takes Innovative Approach to Publishing: Interview with Peta-Ann Smit"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EJamaican illustration student Peta-Ann Smith talks to Summer Edward about her\u0026nbsp;prospective\u0026nbsp;children's book, \u003Ci\u003ECharlene's Quest\u003C\/i\u003E (working title) and her unique crowd-sourcing approach to funding her\u0026nbsp;children's book project.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-cz_geNEegw0\/T1J3Cecl9lI\/AAAAAAAAAwQ\/juj4ed2q1eY\/s1600\/Peta-Ann+Smith_characters.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-cz_geNEegw0\/T1J3Cecl9lI\/AAAAAAAAAwQ\/juj4ed2q1eY\/s1600\/Peta-Ann+Smith_characters.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECharacters from Smith's prospective children's book\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EPeta-Ann Smith is a Jamaican illustration student, currently in her final year at Edna Manley College School of Visual Arts. She is the founder of the\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eillustration studio\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;Langi Lala Studios. \u003Ci\u003EShe is currently running an online\u0026nbsp;fundraising\u0026nbsp;campaign to cover the costs of producing her children's book.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EWith \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.indiegogo.com\/finalyearquest\"\u003Ejust 20 days\u003C\/a\u003E of the\u0026nbsp;campaign\u0026nbsp;left, Smith spoke to Summer Edward about her vision for her book and her innovative project.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E•\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESummer Edward:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cb\u003ESo tell us a little about yourself. What makes Peta-Ann Smith interesting?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPeta-Ann Smith:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E Since early childhood, I've loved reading, drawing, and Saturday morning cartoons, and I've always been creative in some way or form throughout the years. Langi Lala Studios, my illustration studio, was christened during a lunch break years ago (when inspiration strikes, it strikes in the weirdest places!). The name stems from one of the many nicknames I had as a very tall and skinny child, and it was a natural fit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESE:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cb\u003EYou are raising funds for your Jamaican children's book project. What's the book about?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPS:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E I'm currently using a working title, \u003Ci\u003ECharlene's Quest\u003C\/i\u003E, which may change as the story is fine-tuned. It's about a young Jamaican schoolgirl, named Charlene, with a powerful imagination and the animal friends she creates during her tumultuous transition from a country girl living with her parents and grandparents, to a new life in Kingston with her reluctant aunt\/guardian and her mean-spirited cousin.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI initially envisioned \u003Ci\u003ECharlene's Quest\u003C\/i\u003E for the 8-10 age group, but I want it to appeal to both child and adult readers. While it will have illustrations, Charlene's Quest will be a multi-chaptered (middle grade) novel rather than a picture book- a transition from picture books to pre-teen novels, so to speak.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESE:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cb\u003EYou're trying to raise USD $2000 using the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.indiegogo.com\/finalyearquest\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIndieGoGo\u003C\/a\u003E online funding platform. What costs are you hoping to cover with this money?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPS:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E Since I'm doing this book project for my Independent Study at EMC, I'm hoping to cover both printing and construction costs related to displaying my work for the final examination. Each student is required to design their exhibition space to complement their project's theme, which often includes painting, flooring, and wiring considerations. Depending on their project, they may also need to have items specially constructed - as is the case with me. While I have received some corporate sponsorship, that alone isn't enough to cover everything. Hence, I've decided to go the crowd-sourcing route via IndieGoGo.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESE:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cb\u003EUltimately, what are your goals for your children's book? Any plans to publish maybe? \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPS:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E After the final exams, my goal is to formulate a proper outline for the book (possibly a series) over the summer, and use November to produce a first draft for Book 1. November has been designated National Novel Writers Month, and has been used by many Caribbean writers to create that important first draft of their stories. Aside from book publishing, I wish to explore licensing and merchandising for my characters, similar to \u003Ci\u003EThe Bernstein Bears\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EDora the Explorer\u003C\/i\u003E. It's a step-by-step process, though, one I look forward to executing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESE:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cb\u003EThis is a fundraising campaign with a twist. Contributors to your campaign can claim some interesting perks. Tell us more about that. \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPS:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E Based on the amount donated, contributors will receive merchandise items from my project in return for their generosity: $5- character bookmark of the contributor's choice; $10- character bookmark and a postcard; $15- a bookmark; postcard and a pin-back button; $50- a signed black and white interior illustration print; $75- a signed black and white print as well as a signed coloured cover illustration print; and $100- both print types and a 12-month 2013 calender. As developing these items will be a process extending past June 2012, I will keep contributors updated via IndieGogo, as well as my art blog, my Facebook page, and Twitter.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESE:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cb\u003ESomeone is reading this and they want to find out more about your fundraising campaign and perhaps donate. How can they?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPS:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E Interested persons can visit my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.indiegogo.com\/finalyearquest\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIndieGogo campaign\u003C\/a\u003E directly, my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.langisketches.blogspot.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELangiSketches art blog\u003C\/a\u003E ), Langi Lala Studios' \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/langilalastudios\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFacebook page\u003C\/a\u003E, or they can \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/#!\/langistudios\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esend me a tweet\u003C\/a\u003E if they wish to communicate personally. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESE:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cb\u003EThanks Peta-Ann and good luck with your campaign. I hope you surpass your goal!\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: orange;\"\u003EPS:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E Thank you very much, and I hope so as well!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ccenter\u003E•••\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border-top: 3px solid #FF7D00; font-size: 0; height: 0; width: 562px;\"\u003E-\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAbout the Interviewer\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESummer Edward\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E was born in Trinidad and Tobago. She is the Managing Editor and Kids Editor here at \u003Ci\u003EAnansesem\u003C\/i\u003E. She holds an M.S.Ed degree in Reading, Writing, Literacy from the University of Pennsylvania. Her poems and art have been published in \u003Ci\u003Etongues of the ocean\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EBIM: Arts for the 21st Century\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EThe Columbia Review\u003C\/i\u003E,\u003Ci\u003E First Reads\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EPhiladelphia Stories\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ESt. Somewhere Journal\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003Esx salo\u003C\/i\u003En (forthcoming). She is a 2012\u0026nbsp;Writer-in-Residence with the\u0026nbsp;Cropper Foundation Caribbean Creative Writers Workshop. She divides her time between Trinidad and Philadelphia, USA.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/feeds\/6096677199464552712\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/03\/jamaican-illustration-student-takes.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6096677199464552712"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/2485710724771356301\/posts\/default\/6096677199464552712"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.anansesem.com\/2012\/03\/jamaican-illustration-student-takes.html","title":"[Meet the Author] Jamaican Illustration Student Takes Innovative Approach to Publishing: Interview with Peta-Ann Smit"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-cz_geNEegw0\/T1J3Cecl9lI\/AAAAAAAAAwQ\/juj4ed2q1eY\/s72-c\/Peta-Ann+Smith_characters.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}}]}});