Category: Books

Jamaica’s Diana McCaulay wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the Caribbean, for the second time

May 23, 2022

Huge congratulations to Jamaican writer and environmentalist Diana McCaulay, who is the Caribbean winner for the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize – her second win (she first won ten years ago). The regional winners were announced on May 23 (London time). Diana’s strong competitors were fellow Jamaican Sharma Taylor and 2019 winner Alexia Tolas from … More Jamaica’s Diana McCaulay wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the Caribbean, for the second time

Two rising stars in Jamaica’s art world go to AFJ Charity Gala through Kingston Creative

May 15, 2022

Kingston Creative “gets it”: Partnerships are key. American Friends of Jamaica is celebrating forty years (and I was happy to share a few of those years in helping to promote their charitable activities, at one time). They are “do gooders” in the best and most genuine sense of the word. This trip was a great … More Two rising stars in Jamaica’s art world go to AFJ Charity Gala through Kingston Creative

Three Caribbean writers shortlisted for 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize

April 27, 2022

There are three woman writers, from The Bahamas and Jamaica, vying for the Regional Prize for the Caribbean in the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. The shortlist, announced on April 25, includes two previous winners, Jamaican Diana McCaulay (2012) – who has just completed her sixth novel, stay tuned! – and the Bahamas’ Alexia Tolas … More Three Caribbean writers shortlisted for 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize

Talking to myself

April 6, 2022

I was reminded by a humorous meme on WhatsApp. It went something like: “I am at a committee meeting. It’s a committee of one, I’m talking to myself.” I talk to myself a great deal, although not necessarily out loud. I do it even more nowadays, since COVID and since, more recently, my husband’s illness. … More Talking to myself

436 Caribbean creatives apply for CATAPULT Grant; 10 creative entrepreneurs learn new skills, thanks to Jamaica’s Kingston Creative

February 12, 2022

Kingston Creative is forging ahead with its initiatives to boost cultural and artistic entrepreneurship in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Why do I think this is important? Because there is tremendous “untapped potential,” to use a well-worn phrase, in our creative community. I interviewed one brilliant young artist, Richard Nattoo, at the beginning of this year. … More 436 Caribbean creatives apply for CATAPULT Grant; 10 creative entrepreneurs learn new skills, thanks to Jamaica’s Kingston Creative

Bloganuary: What advice would I give to my teenage self?

January 1, 2022

Well, Bloganuary has got off to an interesting start with its first prompt, and the blog posts are rolling in, inspired by this question: I have not looked at my Bloganuary colleagues’ posts yet, but we are all planning to comment/like/share of course, in the tradition of social media, and we won’t forget the hashtags … More Bloganuary: What advice would I give to my teenage self?

Jamaican Jewish Cemeteries Preservation Fund launches its database

December 15, 2021

The Jamaican Jewish Cemeteries Preservation Fund (JJCPF) launched its database of Jewish burial grounds in Jamaica today. Volunteers conducted extensive cataloguing of the sites across the island between 2008 and 2017. They recorded 33 burial locations including synagogue-purchased cemeteries, family burial grounds, those that were sold and no longer exist, and plot markers which were … More Jamaican Jewish Cemeteries Preservation Fund launches its database