Lasana Sekou’s Love Songs 2nd edition at Opening Ceremony of St. Martin Book Fair; economic affairs at Mr. K Cigar Lounge

the book of short stories, Love Songs Make You Cry – Second Edition by Lasana M. Sekou, will be launched at the Opening Ceremony of the St. Martin Book Fair on Thursday, June 5, at 8 PM, Gate 1, Princess Juliana Int’l Airport (SXM).

All of the stories by the St. Martin author “have been tweaked; the grandmother in the jumbie story ‘The Snoring’ is not so one dimensional—and we sort of find out the real reason why the teenager lost her baby; ‘Fatty & The Big House’ is back; and there’s a new introduction by comparative literature professor Michela Calderaro,” said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). Love Songs Make You Cry – Second Edition is already at Van Dorp and Amazon.com bookstores.

Another book that will launch at the spaciously modern airport venue on Thursday, is Marie-Galante Regards by Max Rippon. “Max’s longstanding relationship with us inspired him to publish the book in French and English. And instead of releasing it first in Guadeloupe, he had his publisher hold back the new book for a St. Martin Book Fair launch,” said book fair coordinator Shujah Reiph. Books by Rippon and Sekou have been increasingly used in St. Martin’s schools.

Photo caption2: Newly published Regards Marie-Galante by Max Rippon, in French and English.
Photo caption2: Newly published Regards Marie-Galante by Max Rippon, in French and English.

Pre-Book Fair activities are also increasing. In addition to Tuesday’s free film debut of Womanish Ways by Bahamian Marion Bethel, at Sandy Ground Cultural Center (7:30 PM), there will be a soirée on Wednesday, June 4, at Mr. K Cigar Lounge, said Reiph.

The discussion with Dr. Simon B. Jones-Hendrickson, will look at “Economic opportunities for small island territories and states; survivability of small island states and territories in the Caribbean; life after debt, and more …” said Reiph.

Photo caption3: Simon B. Jones-Hendrickson, PhD, economist, author, ambassador, advisor to the Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, dean at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).
Photo caption3: Simon B. Jones-Hendrickson, PhD, economist, author, ambassador, advisor to the Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, dean at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).

Dr. Jones-Hendrickson is an economics professor, author, advisor to the Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, and dean of liberal arts and social sciences at the University of the Virgin Islands. The discussion is scheduled for 7 PM, at Mr. K Cigar Lounge, Sucker Garden Road, said the Hon. Marcel Gumbs, senior politician and facilitator of the pre-Book Fair activity.

Media, copyright law, parenting and new technologies, creative writing, hair care, and mental health are amomg the workshop subjects that the Book Fair Committee is packing in the Saturday, June 7 program of the “book fair for the entire family.” The general public is invited to all book fair activities, which are free, including the Opening Ceremony, Presidents Forum, and Main Book Party, said Reiph.

For the first time, there will be an admission fee for the Literary Recital/Jazz Evening, and “that will be based on a ‘first-come’ basis,” said Reiph. For more Book Fair activities, see http://www.houseofnehesipublish.com/book_fair2040.html

“Crime&Punishment” is the theme of the 12th edition of the St. Martin Book Fair. Conscious Lyrics Foundation and House of Nehesi Publishers are the organizers of the book festival, in collaboration with St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, University of St. Martin, LCF Foundation, and St. Martin Tourist Office. The SXM Airport and SOS Radio are sponsors of the St. Martin Book Fair 2014.