A Book-Filled Week Begins! The Kingston Book Festival, March 1 – 7, 2015

Today is March 1, the beginning of a full week of books, writers, readings and discussions. Yes, Kingston Book Festival begins today.

Jamaican writer Roland Watson-Grant at a book session last summer. (My photo)

In fact, it started today – but due to domestic issues I was unable to attend what I understand was a wonderfully lively Sunday morning session at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Poet Tanya Shirley (her published works are She Who Sleeps With Bones, Merchant of Feathers) is one of the main organizers of the event. She was  joined by Roland Watson-Grant (author of Skid and Sketcher), Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner Sharon Millar (The Whale House) and Mervyn Morris, Jamaica’s Poet Laureate. 

Da da da da da da… You know how the music goes! This is the Jamaica Writers’ Society, better known as JAWS!

But there is more, so much more to come… In fact, you could say without exaggeration that the Kingston Book Festival has “grown like Topsy” (an expression I don’t quite understand, but I like it). Can you believe there will be more than two dozen events on offer, over seven days? Here goes, with what I hope will be a comprehensive overview:

Monday, March 2: A high school tour by writers and publishers, talking about writing and careers in books.  Coordinated by the Book Industry Association of Jamaica. ** Carlong readings at select primary schools across Jamaica ** Jackmandora Rhyme Time Challenge in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday ** Industry Mondays at Ribbiz: Book industry networking session – win books, gift certificates and free entry to Digital Day 2015 (BIAJ coordinators) @ Ribbiz, Loshusan Centre.

Tuesday, March 3: 10:00 am to 12 noon: Meet the Poet Laureate – young poets have an interactive session with Poet Laureate Mervyn Morris, hosted by the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) ** Carlong readings at select primary schools across Jamaica  ** 12 noon to 2 pm: Tuesday Talk at Bookophilia with Denise Laidley, Roland Watson-Grant, Melanie Schwapp and the Jamaica Writers Society (JAWS) ** 12 noon to 2 pm: Readings at the Women’s Correctional Facility and the General Penitentiary (Coordinated by Pelican Publishers) ** 12 noon to 6 pm: UK Higher Education and Skills Fair, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel ** 7 – 9 pm: Launch of Owen “Blakka” Ellis’ new book “Riddim and Riddles” (featuring performances by Tony Hendricks, Fae Ellington, Leonie Forbes, Oku Onuora, Donald “Iceman” Anderson, Dr. Sonijah Stanley Niaah (hosted by Blouse and Skirt Books), Red Bones Blues Café.

Actor, writer and all-round cool person Owen “Blakka” Ellis (right) has a good laugh with Roslyn Ellison (centre), Director and my husband (left) at the 20th anniversary party of the Trench Town Reading Centre in 2013. (My photo)

Wednesday, March 4: 10 am to 2 pm: Primary School Children’s Tour – Look Behind the Book, an exciting intro to the world of books incl. breakfast with a publisher/illustrator and visits to a publishing house, printery, bookstore, library (coordinated by BIAJ, Jamaica Cultural Enterprises, National Parent Teachers’ Association of Jamaica) ** Carlong Publishing Tour: students tour of Carlong ** 1- 2 pm: Susumba’s Book Bag Presents: A Literary Lunch – brown bag lunch with authors Mel Cooke, Mbala, Ad-ziko Simba Gegele, Mezan Ayoka, Tricia Allen, Owen “Blakka” Ellis, Peta-Gaye Williams (supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sagicor, at 64 Knutsford Boulevard) ** 4 – 6 pm: Google Hangout on Caribbean Book Festivals (hosted by the BIAJ/Caribbean Literature Action Group) ** 6 – 8 pm: Open Mic/Open Bottle: Readings at various Kingston bars coordinated by the BIAJ.

Susumba’s Book Bag is a quarterly digital literary magazine.

Thursday, March 5 (WORLD BOOK DAY): 10 am to 12 noon: International Standards for the Publishing Industry (hosted by the NLJ) ** 10 am to 12 noon: Opening Doors to New Ideas – panel discussion on literature, gender and identity (coordinated by JAWS, Next GENDERation Initiative) ** 12 noon: BIAJ Books on Wheels donation to the UWI Pediatric Ward AND Carlong donation to Bustamante Hospital for Children ** 12:30 to 1:30: Special Reading of “No Boy Like Amanda” with Hope Barnett and children from selected primary schools at Sangster’s, Mall Plaza ** 12 noon to 2 pm: Media and Building a Literary Culture – panel discussion with journalists, producers, media personalities with guest speaker Dr. Michael Bucknor, Head, Department of Literature, UWI ** 6 to 8 pm: Magazine Bookjam – networking party and panel discussion for freelance writers, magazine publishers (coordinated by BIAJ) at The Deck, Trafalgar Road ** 9 to 11 pm: Late Night Lit – a raunchy night of literature with Sharon Leach, Kelly Magnus, Tanya Shirley, Owen “Blakka” Ellis (hosted by JAWS) at Peppers Lounge, Waterloo Road.

Friday, March 6: 10 am to 4 pm: Digital Day – a digital publishing boot camp for authors and publishers, including the launch of iPublish Jamaica and its literary web series (hosted by iPublish Jamaica) at New Faculty of Medical Science, UWI

Kingston Book Festival 2015

Saturday, March 7: 10 am to 6 pm: Kingston Book Fair – 50 plus exhibitors, readings, fun for children, book signings, young adult hangout…at Devon House ** 4 pm: Sell Me a Story – pitch to a publisher (registration required); email bookindustryja@gmail.com ** Seminar: Primary Sources for SBA and IA for CSEC and CAPE (hosted by the National Library of Jamaica).

Phew! Well, there must be something there to interest everyone – whether you are a writer, aspiring writer, publisher, or simply a book lover! Do come out – and bring your children to the child-friendly events, too! Encourage the love of books.

See you some time during Kingston Book Week!

You can find Kingston Book Festival on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/KingstonBookFestival and on Twitter and Instagram @kgnbookfest  Festival hashtag #KBF2015 #OpeningDoors

Blouse and Skirt Books