Psychologist Judith Arndell, Psy.D., will be the "representative author" of the island’s writers at the 7th annual St. Martin Book Fair, June 4 – 6, 2009, said Shujah Reiph, book fair coordinator.
Dr. Arndell is the author of Secret Pains: Identifying and Overcoming Unresolved Inner Pains and Anger from Parental Abandonment (Author House, 2008).
"Each year the Book Fair invites a St. Martin author to be representative of the nation’s authors and writers," said Reiph.
The representative author is usually one whose book was published in the previous year or during the current book fair year. The author would have to attend various book fair activities, including book signings for his or her own title.
According to Reiph, Dr. Arndell’s book fair workshop will be on June 6 at the University of St. Martin (USM). Dr. Arndell will discuss her book, stress and anxiety management, and letting go of past pains, pointed out Reiph.
Dr. Arndell is a clinical psychologist here with over 20 years of experience in psychology.
Dr. Arndell is also the co-founder and president of Ujima Foundation, which operates a residential therapeutic facility for ‘at-risk’ boys.
The part-time USM faculty received a Dutch royal decoration for her community service in 2008.
"This year the Book Fair Committee also plans to invite St. Martin authors who have published a book over the last year to exhibit their book for free at ‘the book fair for the entire family’," said Reiph.
"More and more people in St. Martin are publishing books. The book fair is a perfect place for authors, books, readers, thinkers and lovers of books to meet and exchange," said Reiph.
The St. Martin Book is organized by Conscious Lyrics Foundation and House of Nehesi Publishers in collaboration with the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and the University of St. Martin.