Book Lovers Attend Star Studded BVI Literature Festival
BVI book lovers had a chance to meet some of the rock stars of the international literary world, as well as favorite local writers at the BVI Literature Festival. The Festival which was held from November 2nd to 5th featured many globally known speakers including Paul Krugman, Nobel Laureate in Economics and a popular New York Times columnist. The US based economist is also a BVI property owner. Another A-list writer in attendance is Jonathan Escoffery, whose book If I Survive You is short listed for the prestigious Booker Prize. He was born and raised in the US and is of Jamaican heritage.
https://jonathanescoffery.com
The BVI Literary Festival was founded in November 2021 as part of the Department of Culture’s Culture and Tourism Month activities and operates in collaboration with the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Celebrating the power of narratives and the diverse voices that share them, the event is unique among BVI Cultural events. During the course of the four day event, there were workshops, panel discussions, readings, signings and launches.
https://www.nytimes.com/column/paul-krugman
The BVI Lit Fest aims to create a space in which lovers of the literary arts can engage in deeper, more focused discussions on cultural identity through literature. By promoting and marketing the works of literary authors, this multi-pronged festival exposes attendees to a wide variety of international talent, as well as fostering the growth and development of local writers.
Richard Georges is among the event’s organizers and a featured local talent. A writer of essays, fiction, and three collections of poetry, Georges’ most recent book, is Epiphaneia (2019), which won the 2020 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. His first book, Make Us All Islands (2017), was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. His second book, Giant (2018), was highly commended by the Forward Prizes and longlisted for the OCM Bocas Prize. Richard is a recipient of a Fellowship from the Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study and has been listed or nominated for several other prizes, including the Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize, the Wasafiri New Writing Prize, and a Pushcart Prize.
Dr. Patricia Turnbull, an author and adjunct lecturer at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and Dr. L. Sauda Smith, Executive Trustee of Unite BVI Foundation, are among an array of local speakers that includes poets, authors, journalists and members of the business community.
Among the who’s who of international guest speakers is New York Times bestselling novelist Charmaine Wilkerson. She is the author of the New York Times-bestselling debut novel Black Cake, which has been translated into more than fifteen languages and has been adapted into a screen series for Hulu; executive producers include Oprah Winfrey. Charmaine’s award-winning short fiction can be found in various anthologies and magazines. A former journalist, Charmaine is a graduate of Barnard College and Stanford University.
Other award-winning writers and emerging Caribbean voices in attendance include writer and broadcaster, Afua Hirsch; Ayanna Lloyd Banwo; Canisia Lubrin; Shivanee Ramlochan and Amanda Hernandez. Marsha Massiah, Founder and Executive Director of the Brooklyn, NY Literary Festival will also be on hand to share her Caribbean centric family stories.
There were readings, engaging author talks and lectures, writing workshops, book signings, panel discussions, literary agent one-on-ones. No one was left out, including kids who participated in a special children’s program. In a fun lead up to the festival, H.Lavity Stoutt Community College hosted a poetry slam and a writing competition.
Aspiring writers, students, and the public were all encouraged to participate in the BVI Literature Festival events which were free of charge – with the exception of the Writers’ Workshops.
This three-day celebration was presented by premier sponsor Unite BVI Foundation; diamond sponsors VP Bank and DLT Solutions; silver sponsors National Bank of the Virgin Islands, OBM International, and Aleman, Cordero, Galindo & Lee Trust (BVI); sponsoring partner JOMA Properties and other supporters.
For more information on the BVI Literature Festival go to
Here you will learn more about the festival’s featured writers and learn how to register in future events.
