Fan mail!
After I posted to my blog yesterday, Dear Author … thank you for writing!, with the recommendation that readers take this time of self-isolation to write to their favourite authors, 
I received the following letter via email:
This was written by Nzarah Trimminham, my young NYC friend as I call her, who visits her grandparents on Bequia every year. Nzarah is a great reader and lover of books and no stranger to my blogs, having appeared in two posts previously … She was the first reader to answer the question “What are you reading?” on my blog of the same name, and Nzarah also appeared as a “guest reader” (swinging in that same hammock, or “hanmik” she mentions in my fan letter!) when I promoted Hazel Hutchins as part of the Authors-Readers International series.
And, as if that wasn’t enough of a connection, Nzarah’s “Granny in Bequia” is my friend and fellow author, Felicity Harley, who I have promoted a number of times on my blogs, and most recently on the Authors-Readers International series, as well!
It was Felicity who sent me Nzarah’s letter, since the entire family is currently self-isolating together OUTSIDE OF New York City where Nzarah usually lives with her mother. I have been sharing various sites and podcasts with them about books and reading so that Nzarah can continue with her studies during this time. As Felicity wrote when she sent the letter:
She was required to write a letter to someone. I suggested her Granny in Mustique, but she picked you and thought it up herself and wrote it. She’s in kindergarten and just learning to read and write – she’s a great reader. So glad you love it – I do too. Isn’t the tiny hammock so sweet!
So THANK YOU, NZARAH!!! My reading buddy, you have made me so very happy with your kind thoughts and words! I like to think you mean I am an amazing reader/writer! (“ridte”) I’ll take that compliment! The rat and cat book – “Strat and Chatto” – will be here for you on Bequia to read again when you next come back to visit. The hammock will still be hanging and, I hope, the cats and I will still be here, too! Until next time, My Friend!
But, in the meantime, I just have to ask … WHAT ARE YOU READING?
Your Bequia Friend,
Sosin
From one woman’s island to another …
Carin Makuz and I “met” when we both enrolled in the online Humber School for Writers Creative Writing Programme, offered by Humber College in Toronto. That was 2006 and I was living on Bequia at the time, so I was able to study online from a great distance. Carin was living just outside of Toronto. We kept in touch with each other, as many students did, and have since continued to do, in that particular class, and I eventually met Carin in person, a number of times, in fact, and even made a “whistle stop” once while taking the train back from Kingston to Toronto. Carin met me at the train station and waited with me for the connecting GO Train to arrive so I could then continue on my way. What fun that visit was! Carin also made the trip north to Minden when we held a literary salon at the home of Michael Fay. At that salon, there were several other authors in attendance: Bruce Hunter, Frank Beltrano, Timothy Phillips. I’ve promoted all of them, and Michael, as part of the Authors-Readers International series on my blog. And Carin accompanied me (drove me there, actually, after dining together in a local restaurant) to a talk and reading that was being given at the local library by none other than Gail Bowen! (Also promoted on A-RI!)
Carin as well had the absolutely brilliant idea of beginning The Litter I See Project, which I promoted on my Reading Recommendations blog. She had invited me to take part in this project and I was very pleased to be included, especially since it was all in aid of Frontier College and literacy instruction.
So we continue to chat (by email) every now and again, although we haven’t seen one another in person in a few years now. (I’m too ensconced in the trailer while in Canada during the summer months!) But what started out as a quick email conversation at the beginning of the new year – Carin had finished reading my second novel and sent me a link to the “not-a-review” she posted to her blog – turned into a discussion about island life. Then … the back and forth questions and answers began, and comparisons of our both having lived on small Caribbean islands, and comparisons of my story to other books, and, and, and … we ended up with the following piece that Carin offered to write up for me to post here; not so much a review of the novel as an explanation of what struck her as significant about her reading of my book, and why my experiences on Bequia resonated with her own living on a different small Caribbean island. (And yes, Carin, that was definitely you I was thinking about when, in the story, Tex talks about a Canadian woman whose name is spelled the same way as yours!)
Carin’s view from her Caribbean island …
I so enjoyed the book, Susan, not the least for how it tapped into my own memories of living in the Caribbean in ’91/’92. I don’t recall too much of the expat lifestyle when we were there, but I may have missed it, or maybe it wasn’t as ‘rife’ yet. P was working with one of the hotels so we got to know many of the locals (most of whom came to our wedding). We didn’t make friends with many of the other ‘imports’… I remember thinking how odd most of them seemed, like they were just there for the money and the privileged Jimmy Buffet lifestyle; they seemed to be missing the point that this opportunity could give them, to understand local customs, rather than impose their own. But no one seemed very interested in island culture, food, or getting to know the local residents. Given that, it’s easy to see how divisions would be created. Not to mention the residents resenting the fact that the best jobs were often given to (white) ‘imports’. That was one of the difficulties for me when we lived there… being seen as ‘one of those’. Once we got to know the local residents, it was better, and that stigma fell away, but not with everyone. Still a certain amount of animosity from locals, for which I don’t blame them.
You captured so well that attitude of newbies trying to change the very thing that brought them to the island in the first place. Can imagine it’s even worse now with gentrification and displacement of people’s culture as if it’s just another commodity. How can this create anything but animosity? How wonderful that you’ve been there long enough to be known for who you are, as someone who respects the island way of life.
We went back to the island a few years ago for our anniversary. I was reluctant because I had a feeling it would have changed due to gentrification, etc., and I didn’t want to see it. Turns out much was still charming and familiar, but there was a lot different too … more villas where there were none before and a totally different vibe ‘in town’, ie. the harbour shops (selling very different items than before; before being mostly basic necessities for locals and only a very few things like postcards or souvenirs). Restaurants that were casual had been renovated and were now upscale … that was a big change. Very different feeling. Can imagine there was a lot more behind the scenes that I didn’t notice, given that I was there only a week and seeing with the eyes of a visitor.
One memory from when we lived there … P was working late on xmas eve and I was sitting outside on our patio in the pitch dark, under the stars when, from the valley below, came the sound of a single trumpet playing “Silent Night” and then a few other carols. A simple strain of music, not from a party, but likely just someone sitting outside (who would have a trumpet?). Then they stopped. Not another sound all night. I thought of that when we were there a few years ago and couldn’t imagine it happening now. Too many other sounds have taken over. The energy feels different.
Anyway, all of that to say One Woman’s Island was an absolutely lovely trip back to the Caribbean in the 90’s and to how I remember it. The story is compelling on many levels, but that was certainly an added dimension for me.
I think it’s brilliant that you’re writing about all this in your novels, Susan. As you say, for people who think it’s all paradise … an eye-opener. And so much more respectful to fully embrace reality while still finding the charm within, which of course I know you do.
Thank you again, Carin! Both for understanding what I’m trying to do with this Bequia Perspectives series and for the effect that I now know my writing has had on at least one reader! This is, after all, the main reason we write … to have an effect on readers and possibly even elicit a response.
My view of Bequia from The View
A-R International: Felicity Harley
Felicity Harley
Authors-Readers International
Felicity Harley has been a published writer all her life. She has also pursued a professional career as a non-profit administrator. In order to supplement her interest in publishing and writing, she served for twenty years on the board of Curbstone Press, an internationally recognized indie publishing house, where she was part of a team that made decisions on manuscript development and publication.
In 2013 her work was published in the anthology, Gathered Light – On the Poetry of Joni Mitchell, alongside writers such as Wally Lamb, Kim Addonizio, Fred Wah (Poet Laureate of Canada), Larry Klein, Susan Deer Cloud, Cornelius Eady, and others.
In celebration of the 65th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and on behalf of Poets for Human Rights, Felicity was the winner of the 2013 Anita McAndrews Award.
In 2014 she was commissioned by HartBeat Ensemble to write the play “Transplant”. This was directed in June, 2014 by one of the nation’s 25 premier young directors, Steven Raider Ginsberg.
In 2015 Felicity’s book of short stories Portraits and Landscapes was published.
Currently Felicity is working on a five part science fiction series. The first in the Until This Last series, The Burning Years, was published by Double Dragon Publishing in February 2017.
Felicity lives in Connecticut for 9.5 months of the year, during the remaining 2.5 months, the winter, she lives on Bequia, a small island in the Grenadines.
~
And there you have exactly how I met Felicity Harley … we share the same island in the Caribbean! Even though Felicity has had a much longer (life-long, in fact!) association with Bequia, in my nearly 3 decades of visiting and living here, it wasn’t until Felicity contacted me by email that I actually knew she existed. Felicity had very kindly read and reviewed my novel, Island in the Clouds, from the perspective of someone who knows the setting of Bequia very well, and she gave the book an excellent endorsement, for which I am grateful. The very next time Felicity was visiting Bequia we finally met in person and have been great friends ever since! We’ve supported each other in our writing and publishing and have helped to promote each other’s efforts. Felicity even encouraged one of her granddaughters to get into the act, and I was able to ask Nzarah Trimmingham “What are you reading?”, so she could be the first guest on a new blog I had begun writing. (Nzarah and her grandmother were also mentioned in my promotion of Hazel Hutchins for this series!) Felicity Harley and her husband, Chris Hall, will be here soon on Bequia for their annual visit, and I can’t wait! I’m looking forward to time spent talking about books, reading, writing … and perhaps a little political discussion (!) … all while enjoying delicious food in the company of good friends.
~
The Burning Years
In the year, 2060, Sophie, a top female scientist, dismantles the government weather modification program and steals the male and female trans-humans who hold the promise of extended life.
While the remaining inhabitants of Earth are forced to design new underground habitats in order to survive a harsh, overheated world, Captain Rachel Chen, takes the worldship Persephone to Proxima Centauri, hoping this new star system will provide a refuge for the survivors of the human race.
Comments From Advance Readers:
I LOVED this book. Even more than my just “loving it,” though, I feel very strongly that it critically bridges and transcends audiences and the timing is beyond perfect. I believe what you’ve written is incredibly important.
Your science, both current and future, is sound and far-reaching. You tap into so many levels of what’s going on, and what can possibly go on (travel beyond our planet). I really like the “voice” throughout the book, regardless of which scenario you’ve dropped the reader into. All are equally engaging and the character development is even and (almost) clinically objective. I think this will really (also) appeal to a sci-fi audience, which is awesome and very “in line” with today’s readers.
Additionally, I have to admit that I was haunted by your descriptions of the plutocracy and their reckless disregard for the vast majority of living things on Earth. What OTHER possible explanation can there even BE than yours (that they consider everyone but themselves to be “takers”)? Your descriptions of the political elite align perfectly with real-time scenes playing out across America right now.
The mix and “balance” of gloom and despair vs. incredible scientific achievements removed what might have become an almost claustrophobic effect. Example: The US population goes from 318 million to 10 million VS Rachel’s living, breathing personal space on Persephone which made me think of the vividness and aching beauty of the forests in the movie, “Avatar.” Very hard to achieve this effect.
“Here’s a fiction that’s not afraid to tackle some of the biggest topics of our time.”
~ Bill McKibben, author, The End of Nature and numerous environmental books, and founder of 350.org
Felicity Harley is currently preparing the second novel in the Until This Last series for publication. Two of Felicity’s publications are available to be purchased in print and as eBooks from Amazon.
Felicity maintains a blog titled The Shammuramat (and has faithfully been reblogging every single author promotion I’ve already published in this series!). She is also a contributor to Medium.
Felicity Harley has been a guest on my blog, Reading Recommendations, in Mar. 2015, before we met, then again in Feb. 2017, after we had met. She also wrote a guest blog post for this blog.
The Places She Goes … Why We Love Bequia, SVG, Caribbean
Dorothy Adele has published a very comprehensive article on her blog, The Places She Goes, about a recent visit to Bequia … and she mentions my novels at the end! Dorothy sent me a further comment by tweet: “I enjoyed your book, and I mentioned it in my post because, though it’s fiction, I felt that people would enjoy the story and would get a good feel for the Island.”
Following is an excerpt and link to the entire blog post.
Thanks again, Dorothy, for the shout-out!
Photo by Dorothy Adele
Why We Love Bequia, SVG, Caribbean
Bequia St.Vincent and the Grenadines
Uncrowded Bequia
The beauty of Bequia (BECK-way), SVG, or St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is the peaceful pace and the beautiful beaches like Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay Beach. The island is colorfully uncommercialized, and some of the best things to do on Bequia is in Port Elizabeth and along the Belmont Walkway.
You won’t find a highrise, casino, high-end designer shop, or jewelry store chain. Instead, you can select from Caribbean artwork, brightly colored clothing, handmade jewelry, handcrafted wooden boats, and scrimshaw. Most importantly, no one peddles their wares on the beach.
In addition to shopping, you have your choice among several seaside restaurants that serve excellent food.
(Continue reading here.)
And here are my links to the two Bequia Perspectives Novels …
The Places She Goes … a travel blog
Yesterday I discovered a new-to-me travel blog, because the recent post that drew my attention was about Bequia and Moonhole. With Dorothy Adele’s kind permission, I am posting the intro, the cover photo, and a link here to the post. Other visitors to Bequia and readers of my novels will be very interested to learn more about this island. Please follow the link through to Dorothy’s blog, “like” the post after you read it, make a comment (tell Dorothy you found her through my blog!) and consider following her blog for more informative posts on her travels. Thanks, Dorothy!
You Can Still Stay in Moonhole Bequia, SVG
Johnston Moonhole Home – photo posted with permission, D. Adele
Moonhole Bequia
When Tom Johnston drew his plans in the sand to build his home in Moonhole on Bequia (Beck-way), did he know that magazines and newspapers from afar would send journalists for the story? Did he know that his decision to build his unstructured home in a dangerous location would have a lasting impact on the people of Bequia and those who visited?
In the early 1960’s, untrained in architecture or design, Tom Johnston had used what was available to build his home on the undeveloped island of Bequia in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It was and still is, an icon that represents the Johnston’s tie to nature. Unfortunately, today the house is condemned due to falling rocks and other hazards, and the only way for you to see it is by boat.
(Read the rest of the post by clicking here.)
A Bequia Old Year’s Night …
An Excerpt From:
One Woman’s Island, a Bequia Perspectives novel
Dudley picked us up from the beach at the prearranged time. I was
glad to have him there, too, as both children were exhausted from the
excitement, the sun, and the swimming and were fast asleep. Dudley
had to carry them to the taxi for us.
On the trip home, Verity said, “I lets dem sleep now den wakes
dem for later.” When I asked what she planned to do to celebrate,
she replied, “What everybody does do on Bequia—we goes to de
Frangipani.”
It suddenly struck me that, other than a mention in passing when
I spoke with the Litt sisters and Tex, I hadn’t made any plans myself for
the biggest night of the year. “Do you mind if I join you?” I asked. She
grinned in agreement, so when Dudley pulled up to Verity’s house, we
arranged for him to pick us up at around eleven.
He helped carry the still-sleeping children into the house. When
Dudley and I were alone outside again, I asked him about Verity’s
mother—his mother, too. “Dey don’ talk.” And that was all I could get
out of him.
He assured me, saying, “Verity be looked after. You no worrys ’bout
her.” His expression had become a scowl. It was obvious this was a closed
subject as far as Dudley was concerned, so I didn’t push any further.
By the time he returned later that night, Dudley was back to his
old jovial self again. The children were wide-eyed, if not yet wide awake,
and Verity had changed into a slinky leopard-skin-pattern dress I had
never seen before. That and the awkward high-heeled sandals she wore
made me look even frumpier than I already felt.
Dudley dropped us off in the Harbour then quickly drove away
to pick up his next fare—he’d be working throughout the night. For
Bequia taxi drivers, Old Year’s Night is the busiest of the year, their
time to make a lot of money, if they really hustle.
Verity, the children, and I walked through the crowds in the Harbour
to the walkway along the shore that would take us to the Frangipani
Hotel, the centre of the action at midnight on Bequia. It was a sea
of people we had to wade through, too; some already drunk but most
in good spirits and out to enjoy themselves with friends and family. It
did look too as though all of Bequia, and then some, had come out to
celebrate, and everybody wanted to be as close as possible to the Frangipani
bar when the clock struck midnight. A steel band performed
on a low stage between the bar and the walkway, and their pitch and
pandemonium increased with every passing minute, the pan players
physically exhausting themselves with their drumming.
The four of us chose instead to grab a seat on the low wall by the
shoreline and watch the promenade of people as we waited for midnight.
Melanie, Dave, Al, and Suzie passed by together.
Melanie and Suzie stopped while Al and Doc pushed on ahead.
“Mariana, hello!” said Melanie. “Would you like to join us? We’re going
to try and get a drink at the bar.”
“Hello, Mel and Suzie. Happy New Year. I’m here to celebrate
with Verity and her children”—I pointed at my neighbours—“but
thanks anyway.”
“Okay then. Happy New Year to you!” The two women disappeared
into the crowd.
Suddenly, a moment or two before midnight according to my
watch, sailboats in the harbour began tooting their horns, and then
the ferry boats and other large working ships sounded theirs as well.
Boat flares shot off in every direction over the water and the steel band
increased its volume as it played a decidedly Caribbean version of “Auld
Lang Syne.” Everyone was happy, greeting one another, wishing Happy
New Year to all around them. It really was a joyous and festive occasion,
possibly the best New Year’s Eve I’d ever celebrated because it was so
simple and heartfelt.
After about fifteen minutes we decided it was time to get the
children back to the house and into bed for the rest of the night. The
two of them, even Ayayla with her limited sight, had sat wonder-eyed
throughout the midnight festivities, but they were beginning to yawn.
And causing me to yawn, as well.
We were making our way back along the waterfront to the place
where we’d arranged to meet Dudley when I heard a voice call out to
Verity from the dark of the bushes. She turned her head to the sound
and immediately sucked her teeth loudly—a gesture commonly used on
this island to indicate displeasure or disgust. She picked up her pace as
best she could in those awkward sandals and pulled the children after
her. The one voice became several as I realized there were others hiding
in the shadows calling after Verity with words I couldn’t understand.
Whatever they said seemed to be derogatory.
Melanie, Dave, Al, and Suzie passed me again before I could catch
up with the children.
“We’re on our way to the New York Bar for a drink now,” Melanie
said. “You sure you won’t join us?”
Al sneered. “Yeah, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and all that shit!”
The others laughed. But Melanie said, “Don’t mind him, Mariana.
Do join us. After we finish that drink we’re heading, along with the rest
of the people of Bequia, to De Reef in Lower Bay, where we’re going
to dance until dawn.”
“Come on, Mariana,” Al chided. “You’re only young once. I’ll bet
Verity would love to dance all night.”
Verity had stopped to wait for me and heard Al’s comment. She
looked over at me, asking with eager eyes if she could do just that. She
had certainly dressed appropriately if she’d been hoping for willing
partners.
“But we’ve got to put these children to bed,” I pointed out. Verity
was looking disappointed when the four expats left.
Dudley caught up with us on the main road in front of the Anglican
Church, and I realized as we were driving away that we hadn’t met up
with Tex or the Litt sisters.
We were soon home again, the sights and sounds of the Harbour
far behind us.
As I was getting into bed, I thought about how enjoyable it had
been: no phoney celebrations with strangers, no false wishes for the
coming year, no expensive fireworks displays or decorations, no desperate
attempts to have a good time at any cost. Everyone celebrated the beginning
of the new year together—young, old, tourists, foreigners, expats,
locals, everyone enjoying the moment. That’s what Bequia is all about.
I lay awake in bed that night for a while and considered what
might be in store for me in the coming year. Whatever it was, I hoped
it would be better than a year that involved losing my husband both
physically and emotionally and being forced to redesign my whole life.
Anyway, I knew it couldn’t possibly get any worse. I reached out and
pulled Jerry closer to me and fell asleep to the sound of purring in my ear.
From Bequia … All the Best for 2018!!!
So reads the Chinese curse that seems to have been operative during this past year we’ve all just endured. Let’s hope that, rather than continuing to be “interesting”, 2018 is instead a year full of hope and health and joy for everyone around the world, and that the good feelings at midnight tonight last far longer than simply the first 24-hours of the new year ahead of us.
Personally, I wish to thank all readers of this blog, and everyone who has read and enjoyed my publications! No author can write without readers … so suffice it to say that – YOU READERS KEEP ME WRITING!!! Thank you for all your support!
From our verandah on Bequia, Dennis and I wish everyone all the best for 2018!
Now … LET’S DANCE!!!
Print copies of my books … the NEW way!
Both my Bequia Perspectives Novels are now available
worldwide from Amazon in print editions!
All links to purchase both titles in print or in eBook formats
(or to borrow from libraries) can be found here:
Bequia Perspectives Novels
Here’s the background as to how all this came about …
In Feb. 2012 I published the first eBook edition of Island in the Clouds. It had been my idea at the time that we should ePublish first, work out any bugs in the files, create a market for the writing and for a print edition, and then go to print once a demand was established. So I didn’t print Island in the Clouds until June 2012, and at that time I went with a traditional publishing company to do so. This cost me a considerable amount of money up front, leaving me in proud possession of 800 copies of the book – which I then had to store, distribute, and sell myself. Five-and-a-half-years later, I still have about 200 copies left in various locations. I have not been paid at all by several places that took copies on consignment to sell for me, and I have no reliable means of selling those remaining copies. Fortunately, I sold enough of the original 800 to cover my expenses of having the books printed, but I’m nowhere near having made enough money from this enterprise to pay myself back for everything I put into writing, promoting and selling the book by myself.
But then we do it for the love of it, right? This was never intended to be a money-making enterprise. But it was also never intended to be a money-LOSING enterprise …
When it came time to think about printing One Woman’s Island, I had to consider long and hard whether I wanted to travel down that same road. First of all, I did not have the several thousand dollars I knew a traditional printing was going to cost. Plus, I really didn’t want to have to store copies anywhere, or find a new distributor for this new book.
Fortunately for me, I received a blog post from Calgary author, Brian Brennan (who I have promoted on Reading Recommendations), in which he explained how he went about reprinting books of his that had been declared out of print by the original publisher. He worked with our mutual eBook formatter, Human Powered Design (Gina McCreary), to create the print files, and then went to a self-publishing service to have copies printed POD (print-on-demand). I reblogged Brian’s explanation of all this here: Brian Brennan – 3 reprints now available
So, I decided to look into this myself for my own print books. In the meantime, Gina had heard of a new service being offered by Amazon – Kindle Direct Publishing Paperback Beta Program – that we could sign into through our existing eBook accounts (which Gina has always maintained for me) and it seemed as though it was exactly what I was looking for. I didn’t need to pay anything upfront to Amazon, Gina was able to create the necessary print files and cover designs from my original eBook files and look after the listings for me, and I will receive payment from Human Powered Design for sales made, along with any sales of eBooks, every month, as I have done all along since first listing my eBooks in Feb. 2012.
Plus … I now have the benefit of WORLDWIDE distribution of my print books!! That, to me, is the biggest benefit of printing books in this way.
Here’s another article I discovered about this new service that ran on The Digital Reader site.
Ads in “Bequia This Week” throughout the winter!
These are the two ads Wilfred created and Nicola will be running for me in their weekly flyer.
And here’s the link to the magazine flip version of
Bequia This Week
Everything you need to know that’s going on in and around the island of Bequia!
New editions available every Friday.
Cloud Island Media
Patrick Hutchins is a Bequia photographer who owns the business Cloud Island Media. He’s been producing some great videos of Bequia lately and just posted this new one of Princess Margaret Beach …
And our house is in there – Twice!
Here’s the link to Cloud Island’s YouTube channel. Check out some of the other great videos posted here, and maybe even subscribe, if you like what you see! That way, you’ll receive a notice whenever Patrick posts a new video.
And you’ll be able to see for yourself this little island I’ve been writing about in my novels!
Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing 