The Caribbean Writer (TCW) in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) together with the Virgin Islands Literary Festival and Book Fair, LLC (VI Lit Fest) will host the 10th iteration of the VI Lit Fest, April 11 through 14, under the community-focused theme: “Legacies: Reckoning and Resilience.” This year’s event will share its theme with Volume 38 of TCW, currently being prepped for publication.
“The VI Lit Fest and Book Fair is a celebration of the imagination and a toast to compelling ideas,” said Alscess Lewis Brown, co-chair of the VI Lit Fest and editor in chief of TCW. “The VI Lit Fest is premier destination for bibliophiles, literary aficionados, readers, musical and visual artists, aspiring filmmakers, photography buffs as well as new, established and emerging writers. We are pleased to welcome new and returning authors to celebrate the VI Lit Fest’s Tenth Anniversary.”
Headlining this year’s festival on Friday, April 12, is Eleanor Sheara author of “River Sing Me Home,” a Good Morning America, Book Club Pick and one of Time Magazine’s must-read books of 2023. Powerful, moving, and redemptive, this novel tells of a mother's desperate search to find her stolen children and her freedom. Shearer is a mixed-race writer and the granddaughter of Windrush generation immigrants. Her fieldwork in St. Lucia and Barbados helped inspire her first novel.
Cyril Dabydeen, is a Guyana-born Canadian writer of Indian descent, will also bring his talents to the VI Lit Fest in 2024. Dabydeen grew up in Rose Hall sugar plantation with the sense of Indian indenture rooted in his family background. He teaches Creative Writing at the University of Ottawa and is a former Poet Laureate of Ottawa (1984-87). His work has appeared in over 60 literary magazines and anthologies world-wide. He has done more than 300 readings internationally and was selected to judge the Governor General's Award (Poetry) and the USA Neustadt International Prize for Literature (UOklahoma) in 2000.
The Lit Fest has discussions, readings, workshops and receptions planned. Dr. Carlyle Corbin, United Nation representative, Professor Aaron Ramos, and the BVI’s Special Envoy to the United Nations, Benito Wheatly will participate in a discussion entitled “The Legacy of Self -Determination and Contemporary Challenges.” Jamaica Kincaid has returned for a conversation and a writing workshop.
A Virgin Islands Writers Writing Circle will also be featured which will include writers from across the territory. Attendees can expect workshops on writing plot, character building, weaving setting, writing about community, writing poetry, writing for children, the implications of artificial intelligence for writers, and more.
On the evening of April 12, from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., come meet the authors at our now world-famous Book Bacchanal Reception at Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts which will be spearheaded once again by Dr. Janis Valmond. New and established writers are required to sign up to present at this annual event on our website: www.usvilitfest.com.
Schools are invited to bring classes to the Friday morning session in the Great Hall of the University. The Children’s corner will feature nationally acclaimed children’s book author Breanna McDaniel. This author will also conduct a workshop on “Writing for Children.”
The VI Lit Fest poster features artwork by Virgin Islands artist Lucien Downes. Once again, the festival is chaired by Alscess Lewis-Brown
This year’s festival will pay tribute to Dr. David Hall who will retire in July after 15 years as President of the University of the Virgin Islands. Dr. Hall has been supportive of the VI Lit Fest from its inception in 2013 when the first festival kicked off on the Albert Sheen Campus.
On Saturday morning, on April 13, our world-famous Bush Tea Morning Social event will be held in the UVI Great Hall starting at 7 a.m. with a full Caribbean breakfast, live entertainment, and open mic poetry. Then, beginning at 9 a.m., Tiphanie Yanique, award winning Virgin Islands author will lead off the morning with a lecture/workshop entitled: “Decolonial Realisms: Making Full Characters in Fiction.” Come with your spirit of creation engaged. Bring your notebooks.
On Saturday afternoon, writers will also make an appearance at Under Cover Books in Gallows Bay and from 4 to 6 p.m., Our Roots Writing Circle at Cane Roots Art Gallery in Christiansted will feature a poetry competition based on currently displayed artwork in the gallery. Winners and prizes will be announced. Participants must be present to win. Poets can submit via usvilitfest@gmail.com.
On the afternoon of Sunday, the 14, from 2 to 5 p.m., the festival will be hosted via Zoom, in the Writers Roogoodoo, a take on our Book Bacchanal. Not only will there be readings from The Caribbean Writer, but authors from around the world, the region and locally will briefly introduce and read excerpts from their work to the online audience. Sign up at Eventbrite.com.
This year, festival planners have cast a wide net for full community participation; no one will be turned away: however, we are asking for a $20 donation for workshops. Participants are required to register at www.usvilitfest.com or www.eventbrite.com
Persons interested in supporting the aims of the VI Lit Fest may make checks payable to the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, the third-party fiduciary, on behalf of the VI Lit Fest. For more information visit: www.usvilitfest.com or email usvilitfest@gmail.com