TWO SEASONS TALKING TREES LITERARY FIESTA
Literary
Festival in Treasure Beach – May 23, 2015
Lovers of Literature
and writing will gather again on Saturday, May 23 for the Two Seasons Talking
Trees Literary Fiesta at the Two Seasons Guest House in relaxed Treasure Beach.
This year’s Fiesta is
staged in partnership with the UWI, Mona Department of Literatures in English
and the Gloria Lyn Memorial Fund (GLMF), which supports students of literature
at The UWI, Mona, promoting the value chain of studying literature through
mentoring and the award of an annual cash prize. During the Fiesta, donations
will be accepted for the GLMF.
Through the works of
established and emerging poets and writers of books, blogs and a play, under
the theme Those Who Came, Two Seasons Talking Trees Literary Fiesta
will recognize the contribution of the various peoples who enrich the cultural
fabric of Jamaica.
The Readers
Renowned writer and
poet, Lorna Goodison, headlines the stellar line-up, which includes
Jamaica’s Poet Laureate Mervyn Morris; UWI Professor Emeritus of English
Eddie Baugh; lecturer and poet Tanya Shirley; poet and playwright
Easton Lee; storyteller and actress Amina
Blackwood Meeks; performance poets Cherry Natural and Peta Gaye
Williams, and blogger and researcher at UWI, Mona Annie Paul.
Novelists include
Musgrave medalist and Observer Bookends editor, Sharon Leach; retired
UWI lecturer, writer and editing professional (Journal of West Indian Literature; Pathways, a
journal of creative writing), Victor Chang; author of the award
winning Mountain of Inheritance, Carol Dunn; author of Young Heroes of the Caribbean and writer
for young adults, Gwyneth Harold Davidson; twin teen novelists of the
fantasy fiction, The Fallen Empire, Jhada
and Jonadee Martin; and author of the romance novel, The Boy Next
Door,Mandisa Parnell. Theatre practitioner Fabian Thomas restages
his ten-minute play, Devon, and also serves as the day’s host. The
programme includes an Open Mic segment.
Xavienne Roma
Richardson, the first recipient of a GMLF scholarship, will read an excerpt of
Gloria Lyn’s piece, Memories from a Jamaican Village, published in Ray Chen’s book, The
Shopkeepers. Mr. Chen will be on site to sign copies of his books.
The UWI Bookshop will
have books by the writers for sale and the Treasure Beach Women’s Group will
have second hand books available. There will be booths with produce, craft and
other items for browsing and purchase and tasteful food and drink will be on
sale throughout the day.
In recognition of
Labour Day and to promote the planting of trees to feed people,
create jobs and benefit the environment, the Trees that Feed Foundation will
symbolically present two fruit trees to the proprietor of Two
Seasons Guest House.
Same Day
Round Trip Bus
Same day return transportation from Kingston to the Fiesta has
been arranged, departing from Knutsford Express, 18 Dominica Drive, New
Kingston at 6:30 a.m. and from Treasure Beach at 5 p.m. Tickets are $3,500 and
$3,000 for seniors 65 years and over and are available from the UWI Bookshop,
Mona Campus and from Smart Woman, Palm Plaza, 9 Red Hills Road, Kingston 10, or
call 876-340-6068.
The Fiesta is endorsed by the
Jamaica Tourist Board, with sponsorship from Jamcopy, the Jamaica copyright and
licensing agency, Jamaica National, Taino Cove Guest House and the Treasure
Beach Hotel.
This is the fourth
staging of the Two Seasons Talking Trees Literary Fiesta, which presents a
family atmosphere, with a children’s programme running concurrently with the
activities on the main stage. Secondary schools in surrounding parishes are
being encouraged to make arrangements for students of the upper grades to
attend. The soundscape includes recorded talk, and a live drumming display by
young, local drummers.
There is no cover
charge for The Two Seasons Talking Trees Literary Fiesta, which is a highlight
of a holiday weekend of activities in Treasure Beach.
For more on the
writers and the Fiesta, visit the blog: http://2seasonsguesthouse.com/blog
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