A reception is planned for 15 authors at the Radisson luxury resort on June 3, said Shujah Reiph, St. Martin Book Fair coordinator.
On Tuesday, Reiph discussed the reception with Jeffrey A. Lesker, general manager of Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa at the secluded Anse Marcel.
"It was a very friendly meeting. We all seem to share the enthusiasm for the 7th annual St. Martin Book Fair as an original cultural and visitor experience," said Reiph.
Minerva Dormoy, Collectivity Culture Department head, attended the meeting. "The hard working Culture Department, with the strong support of Collectivity President Gumbs, is a significant sponsor for the book fair this year," said Reiph.
"As a world-class resort, the generosity of Radisson is also an investment in cultural and intellectual activities and exchanges between St. Martin’s people and our visitors. And as far as I know these are two very old pillars of tourism," said Reiph.
Most of the authors, a number of which are well celebrated throughout the Caribbean, the USA, Canada, and Europe, will be visiting St. Martin for the first time.
At the Radisson reception the authors, workshop leaders, organizers and sponsors will "meet and greet in a relaxed atmosphere the day before the book fair starts. After that it’s three hectic days of lectures, discussions, workshops, and school visits," said Reiph.
"At the reception we plan to make a special presentation to four longstanding contributors and sponsors of the St. Martin Book Fair," said Reiph.
Among the confirmed poets, novelists, scholars, artists, and workshop leaders for the St. Martin Book Fair 2009 – up to 15 people from about 10 a few days ago, are: George Lamming (Barbados), Dr. Molefi K. Asante, Jr. (USA), Sir Roland Richardson (St. Martin), Dr. Afua Cooper (Canada/Jamaica), Dr. Judith Arndell (St. Martin), Nicole Cage (Martinique), Dr. Danabang Kuwabong (Ghana/Puerto Rico), Caridad Tamayo Fernández (Cuba), Dr. Sandra Paquet (USA), Ernest Pépin (Guadeloupe), Lochard Noel (USA/Haiti), Nicholas Laughlin (Trinidad & Tobago), Max Rippon (Guadeloupe), Mustafa Stitou (Netherlands/Morocco), Lucia Nankoe (Netherlands/Suriname), and Prof. Carole Mauge-Lewis (USA). All book fair workshops are free to the general public.
The St. Martin Book Fair, June 4-6, is organized annually by Conscious Lyrics Foundation and House of Nehesi Publishers in collaboration with the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and the University of St. Martin (USM).
The 2009 venues for "the book fair for the entire family" are the Chamber of Commerce Building, USM, Marigot Public Library, Belair Community Center and schools throughout the island. http://www.houseofnehesipublish.com/archive/bookfair2009.html