Some say St. Lucians don’t read. And indeed Dr. Reynolds confessed that at his book signings some St. Lucians do proudly proclaim, “I don’t read,” as if there was a great reward for refusing to read or not reading carried a badge of honor. But lucky for us readers, St. Lucian writers either never heard the saying, or refuse to believe it, or are just being defiant and rebellious, for they are writing and publishing books as never before.
Two such St. Lucian authors—Marguerite Joseph and Mathurine Emmanuel—recently announced the launching of their debut novels.
Lady Under The Stairs
Marguerite Joseph, a mental health consultant and advocate, requests that we join her for a book reading, donation, and signing ceremony of her debut novel, Lady Under The Stairs, at 4 pm Thursday 12 May 2022, at Blue Coral Mall, Bridge Street, Castries.
Lady Under The Stairs, is a psychological and historical thriller. According to the cover copy: “Two families connected through centuries of slavery and life after slavery in the Caribbean. The McKenzie’s were the plantation owners and the Charles’ their loyal house servants. Lilianne Charles, a mere teenager, had her life pulled apart after one brief encounter with a McKenzie. She ends up in a mental asylum, where she remained for almost a quarter of a century, abandoned by the people who she thought had loved her. Follow this heart-wrenching story as Lily and her family journey through the tropical plantation to the asylum in the Caribbean and then to the British countryside and back to the Caribbean, where Lily is finally reunited with all the people she had lost.”
Ms. Joseph revealed that “as a child growing up in Saint Lucia and attending primary school in the heart of the city, I loved the central library and the helpful staff. Very fond memories of reading all the childhood classics and getting reference materials in preparation for exams. In those days there was no internet only encyclopedias. It will therefore be my honor to make gift presentations (of my book) to the library and other important national organizations.”
Shantaye’s World
The award-winning actress and movie producer, Mathurine Emmanuel, who with five movies is pioneering the film industry in St. Lucia, has upped the ante. In partnership with the Consulate General of St. Lucia in New York and in observance of Caribbean Heritage Month, she will conduct the first official launch of her debut novel, Shantaye’s World, in the Big Apple on Sunday 26 June 2022 at a time and place to be decided.
Based on Ms. Emmanuel’s fifth movie by the same name, Shantaye’s World is an interracial love story set in the UK and 1950s rural St. Lucia. The novel is a time period narrative that captures the post-World War II emigration experiences of the Windrush Generation, a term given to the West Indians who emigrated to the UK between 1948 and 1971, in reference to one of the ships—MV Empire Windrush—that brought them to their new home. The novel is timely because recently the UK government was mired in scandal when it erroneously deemed members of the Windrush Generation illegal immigrants and threatened them with deportation.
Dr. Reynolds’ World is Populated with Readers
Dr. Reynolds said he pays no mind to the people with their papyshow that they don’t read. Because if, as a mature adult, you don’t read or you don’t have time to read, surely you can ensure your children and your grandchildren don’t turn out like you and buy them books to encourage them to read. After all, isn’t reading a good thing?
Furthermore, Dr. Reynolds said he is very encouraged and energized by the number of St. Lucians at home and in the diaspora who is so very proud, supportive, and appreciative of the fact that he is writing books about their country. He said he is also energized by the many budding writers who come up to him seeking advice on writing and publishing.
For example, last week at his JQ Rodney Bay Mall book signing, several young readers inquired of him about books on St. Lucian history, which prompted him to post a recommended list of St. Lucia history books.
And how about the several St. Lucians (both at home and abroad) who have recently purchased all five of Dr. Reynolds’ books and who are impatiently waiting for his next book to come out? Don’t they read? And how about the St. Lucian mother of two living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who since discovering Dr. Reynolds last year, bought the full set of his books on Amazon and since then sent us $700.00 to purchase autographed books by St. Lucian authors and ship it to her. Doesn’t she read?
To read Dr. Reynolds full thoughts on the notion St. Lucian’s don’t read, visit his article St. Lucians Don’t Read: Fact or Myth?
Like Dr. Reynolds, Ms. Joseph, Ms. Emmanuel, and our Sioux Falls reading fan, please don’t pay any mind to those who say St. Lucians don’t read, come out and support and encourage our writers to give voice to our voices and make a lie of those who say we don’t read.
And please do us two more favors. Share our postings as widely as you can, and send us your feedback, keep us energized to continue sharing Jako News with you.
Regards
From the Jako Productions Team
Together we can change the world for the better
