Request for more local writers to chronicle stories

Writer, Ronald Williams, would like to see more local authors chronicling Barbados’ story through their work.

 

He expressed this view during an interview with The Barbados Advocate yesterday at his book signing held at Pages Bookstore in Cave Shepherd.

 

“Too often we are simply described as a tourist destination, which is fine because it brings in money and all that stuff, but there is a powerful story here or a powerful set of stories here, that are beyond simply the beauty of the beach and the sun, that I think more of us need to be writing and more of us need to be reading when people actually write them.”

 

Williams, who is the author of five books –  his latest novel is entitled, “The Dark Land”, also called on locals to read more texts published by Barbadian writers.

 

“I have been fortunate because people have bought my books but I know there are a lot of people out there who are writing and they don’t have either the funding to make their work visible, or the mechanism by which that exposure comes. 

 

“I am hoping that more people will take a look around and see what people are writing. 

 

There is actually a really wonderful rebirth of Barbadian writing going on right now.”

 

Turning his attention to speak about The Dark Land, he stated that the text grew out of an idea he had about writing to Bussa. It is set in the present and in it, “someone has claimed in running for office that they are a direct descendant of Bussa, and the memoir in the book actually 

tells about that relationship, whether it is real or not.” 

 

He added that the novel comes at this time to mark two moments in this nation’s history. “It is not only the 50th anniversary. It is also the 200th anniversary of the Bussa Rebellion; 1816 was the last rebellion year, so I wanted the book to coincide with that anniversary even though that anniversary is covered up by the 50th anniversary. 

 

“I think some of the themes of this book play well within the context of the 50th anniversary. The issues around politics and sociology; the issues around poverty that still exist and the relationship between that poverty, crime and so on.”