Montage Domnik is a collection of new stories and poems by both published and unpublished authors from Dominica.

Learn more about the authors on their Facebook Page: Waitukubuli Writers.

Proudly published by River Ridge Press, Dominica, “Montage Domnik” is now available as an ebook on Amazon at https://amzn.to/39LN0Zw

Before the electronic age, do you remember gathering under the breadfruit tree at night, listening to Granny tell tales about the soukouyan and lougawou?

Roy Sanford and Jeno Jacob sure do… and they want to share these stories with you!

The traditional Dominica Folk Tales taught life lessons, gave moral guidance, and explained mysterious circumstances like creaks in the roof and the glow of fire flies in the distance.

Two local authors have recently released their interpretations of these delightful (and sometimes fear-inspiring) tales. So share some Dominica Tradition this holiday season and read a story or two when you’re gathered around the table for Christmas Dinner.

The books are available at local bookstores, online on Visit-Dominica.com and at the Roseau Market this Saturday (December 17th, 2016). Enjoy!

Three Nights Later, The Soukouyan on the Roof and Other Stories

by Roy Sanford

EC $50 (US $18) includes shipping to the Caribbean, US, UK, Canada.
Buy the Book (Paperback)

How the Agouti Lost His Tail

by Jeno J. Jacob

• EC $40 (US $14) includes shipping to the Caribbean, US, UK, Canada.
• Buy the Book (Paperback)

Stop by the Waitukubuli Writes Christmas Book Sale at the market this Saturday, December 17th to buy these books and see a whole lot more.

Want more?

See more products from Dominica that are available for online purchase at Visit-Dominica.com

The festival showcases a number of artists from around the Caribbean, US and the UK – with a Caribbean focus. Through lectures, workshops, music, readings and plays, NILF is for anyone interested in revealing, or tapping into their creative side.  This year will feature:

• Author Oonya Kempadoo from Guyanya/Grenada;
• Writer/Actor/Critic Vladimir Lucien from St Lucia;
• Scriptwriter/Director Christopher DeRiggs from Grenada;
• Author Alick Lazare from Dominica;
• Poet, Researcher/Consultant Jean Barfleur from Guadeloupe;
• Author/Editor Polly Pattullo from UK/Dominica;
• Author Kristine Simelda from US/Dominica;
• Actor, Poet, Playwright, Director and Cultural Critic Travis Weekes St Lucia;
• Poet, Teacher and Blogger Faizah Tabasamu from St. Maarten; and
• Delroy Williams, Tamara Lowe and Yakima Cuffy from Dominica.

For more information about the festival, see their calendar of events here, or visit their website www.dominicalitfest.com, and see you there!

Having emerged during the time of slavery as a means of communication between the culturally varied group of enslaved people, Dominica’s creole is a combination of French and West African dialect. Although spoken in some parts around the Caribbean region like Haiti and St. Lucia, each place is distinct in their own way.

Kwéyòl Donmnik: Dominican Kwéyòl for Beginners, by Sylvia Henderson Mitchell, is an great book to learn the language basics and is easy to follow. With useful glossaries, proverbs and conversations, it also includes exercises at the end of each chapter.

For more information visit the official website here

Simelda admits that some readers may recognize Dominica in her story, but says that the novel could be set anywhere where cross-cultural confusion exists. “I wanted to address the high price of enchantment; the danger of going out on a limb in search of romance and adventure, and the difficult lessons learned while dangling there.”

The author has initially decided to try her luck in publishing an e-book, but a paperback version will soon follow. “A Face in the River is a tale of tenacity, bravery, and foolishness set against a backdrop of spectacular beauty,” she says. “I am pleased with the feedback I have gotten so far: Those who have read the book have called it a rollicking good story that keeps them engaged from start to finish with never a dull moment in between.”

This is Simelda’s first published full-length work, but her stories have already appeared in online journals. In 2014, one of her pieces of short fiction, “Brother”, was published in “Jewels of the Caribbean”, an anthology of 15 stories by writers from around the region which also included Dominican Delroy Williams. “I was proud to have my story selected for this collection,” she says, “especially as it was cited as one of the three outstanding entries of over eighty submitted.” You can read excerpts from the book and order on Amazon and follow Kristine’s literary progress on her website: www.kristinesimelda.com

For further information please contact: Kristine Simelda, Tel: 767-449-2669 or E-mail: krystals@cwdom.dm

Dominican author Alick Lazare takes us by the hand and helps us understand the emotions and perspectives from a time long gone.

Through his historical fiction he weaves together a story through the eyes of a voice lost in time and place. In such a  retelling of events,  history is made so much more personal and Mr. Lazare does the genre of Historical fiction justice.

Dive into his latest book, Kalingo Blood, and see for yourself!

Read more about Alick Lazare here

Dominica became the last island in the Caribbean to be colonized. Unlike her neighbors, Dominica’s terrain worked in her favor. With the world’s highest concentration of dormant volcanoes, packed into a 754 sqkm sea of  mountains, such an incredible landscape worked to the advantage of the Kalinago people who fiercely defended her. This influenced the island’s neutral status for many years, and was instead used as a stopping off and trading point for ships travelling to and from the Caribbean.

For those fortunate to escape here, Dominica became home to a number of escaped slaves or ‘Maroons’ many years before the island was officially settled by the European powers. Referred to as the “Negre Mawon”, these Maroons molded Dominica’s path in history and greatly impacted the European settlers who eventually claimed the island for themselves.  It is said that “Dominica displays not so much the effects of a Plantation Society but that of a Maroon Society”.

In Negre Mawon, The fighting Maroons of Dominica, readers are carried through a timescape of Dominica’s unique and turbulent history. This is not just an account of the worst reaches of human nature but also of the remarkable strength and will power of survival.

Click here for more information on this fascinating book.

I Am Dominica is a beautiful book to read, covering cultural traditions as well as the island’s wildlife in and out of the water.

Each segment is written with a lovely, easy flowing rhythm and such simplicity. Paired with the delicate art work of Aaron Hamilton, Mara Etienne-Manley has captured the essence of Dominica and filled every page with it.

The energy, vibrance, sounds, scents, flavours and life of the island are shown in such a way that the reader cannot help but get lost in the words and artwork.

With Dominica being an island that speaks both English and Creole, this unique book embraces this on each page; keeping the Dominican culture alive with a beautiful translation.

I Am Dominica will give readers a fantastic insight into the heart and soul of the people on the island. Each page so wonderfully written reminding children not to forget how marvelous their heritage is.

• To order your copy please go to Visit-Dominica.com

The Nature Island Literary Festival and Book Fair will be holding a book exchange at Portsmouth market this Saturday, 16 July, from 6.00 am to 10.00 am. This outreach programme on behalf of the Literary Festival will give an opportunity to people outside Roseau to hear about the festival, to exchange books and buy new and second-hand books. There will also be live poetry performances to hear while browsing the book selection.

With the slogan, “Bring a Book and Take a Book”, the organisers hope that people will enjoy this innovative book exchange. Sponsor of the event Papillote Press says: “We want people to bring books that they no longer want and find something new that they do want to read. If you bring one book, you take one book; bring five books, you take five books. It’s as simple as that.”

There will also be new and used books for sale, including those from Papillote Press. A special offer on the day: buy a Papillote Press book and get the children’s book, The Snake King of the Kalinago, absolutely free.

Local poets will be there, among them Kamesha Sylvester of Paix Bouche, Ameka Cognet and Gregory Rabess, performing their dynamic poems. There will also be an open mic for anyone who would like to bring a poem and perform their own work. Everyone is welcome.

www.dominicalitfest.com

For further information please contact:
Polly Pattullo of Papillote Press at www.papillotepress.co.uk
(767) 295-1563 or (767) 440-0329