Kingston Edition, Lillian's Restaurant, UTech, Jamaica, Sunday, February 16, 2014,11a.m.-4p.m.
The Two Seasons Talking Trees Literary Fiesta will host its first Kingston Edition on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at Lillian’s Restaurant, University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech). The programme of readings features new and emerging local authors and international writers across several genres The event, which is free to the public, will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and food and drink will be on sale.
The international writer in the short story genre is Nigerian, Igoni Barrett, who made his first appearance in Jamaica at the 2012 staging of the Two Seasons Talking Trees Literary Fiesta in Treasure Beach. He will be reading from his newest book, Love is Power or Something Like That. Barrett is a former winner of the BBC short story prize.
The other international writer is Femke Van Zeijl, Dutch freelance journalist based in Lagos. Vam Zeijl has written two non-fiction books in Dutch: Een nacht in een vijzel (A Night in a Mortar) on women in Africa; and Gin-tonic & Cholera on everyday urban life in Africa.
Novelist and short story writer, Roland Watson-Grant, returns to the Two Seasons Talking Trees stage to read from his novel Sketchers, which recently debuted in New York City. Other short story writers include creative writer and marketing professional Ruddy Wallace; Head of PR and Marketing at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Carroll Edwards; and Head of the Department of Liberal Studies at Utech, Nova Gordon-Bell, all gold medal awardees of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), and are featured in either the Festival Literary Anthology 1987 or the Gold Anthology 2012.
Featured poets are Ann Margaret Lim, The Festival of Wild Orchid, which in 2013 received a UK Guardian First Book nomination and an Honourable Mention at the Bocas Lit Fest in Trinidad and Tobago; Mel Cooke, who has two anthologies: 11/9, published in 2008 that touches on race, capitalism, migration, terrorism, the media and politics and CD released in 2013, Seh Sup’m: Live From Kingston; Jean Lowrie-Chin reflects on events that uplift, as well as burden, Jamaican society in Souldance: Poems and Writings; Trench Town poet and life philosopher, Marlon Thompson whose anthology is Words from Mamma’s Son; and Lilieth Nelson, who shares pieces from her poetic journey through life in Angles of Reflection.
Patrons will be treated to the first public reading of an excerpt of the play, Brotherly Love, written by prolific playwright and one of the principals of Jambiz International Ltd, Patrick Brown, and directed by Scarlett Beharie.
Personal journals will be explored through the writing of missionary and ethnomusicologist, Jo Ann Richards. She has published her experiences in Godincidences and her musical album is Kom Mek Wi Worship.
Emerging writers are invited to attend and read during the Open Mic segment. Playback of recorded talk will further enhance the literary atmosphere of the event.
Presented by Two Seasons Guest House, Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, The Two Seasons Talking Trees Kingston Edition follows two successful stagings of the Fiesta in Treasure Beach in 2011 and 2012. You can view a review of them at http://2seasonsguesthouse.com/blog/?p=754.
The electronic media partner is Newstalk 93FM. Jamaica National is a part-sponsor.
Enjoy the celebration of the written word with family and friends at Two Seasons Talking Trees-Kingston Edition, at Lillian’s Restaurant, UTech, Jamaica on Sunday, February 16, 2014.
To help the organisers make adequate arrangements, if you are planning on attending, please send an email to info@2seasonsguesthouse.com.