As part of its National Endowment for the Humanities programming, the Hartford Public Library is pleased to present its first annual "Festival of Caribbean Literature" on September 20 and 21. Edwidge Danticat, Colin Channer, Marianela Maldonaldo, and Nelly Rosario are among those writers and culture producers set to read and speak about their writing. Below please find additional information. In addition to a wealth of cultural activities, Hartford's North End is home to some of the most inimitable purveyors of Caribbean/West Indian cuisine. Spread the word!

Hartford Public Library
Festival of Caribbean Literature
September 20 and 21, 2002

All Saturday programs to be held at the Albany Branch Library
1250 Albany Avenue, Hartford CT (860)695-7381.Email: thall@hartfordpl.lib.ct.us

Program Schedule

Friday, September 20
7-10 p.m. An Evening with Edwidge Danticat Location TBA

Saturday, September 21
10-5 p.m. Caribbean Book Fair: Celebrate Caribbean literature in the open air (weather permitting) with storytellers, author readings, crafts demonstrations by Caribbean artisans, and selected works by Caribbean authors made available by Hartford Public Library and local publishers.

10-11:30 Simultaneous Panels:
Panel A: I and I: Caribbean Spiritual Traditions in Literature and Cultural Practice. Readings and discussions by writers and scholars on the influence of Rastafarianism, Santeria and Voodou on literary production in the Caribbean. Featuring Glaisma Pérez-Silva, renowned poet and Iyawo in the practice of Santeria.

Panel B: From Page to Published.
Insight and Advice on Getting Published from an Editor and published writer from Curbstone of Connecticut’s most successful publishing companies.

12:00-1:15 p.m. Satisfying the Soul: A Conversation with Colin Channer.
Born in Jamaica, Channer’s sometimes philosophical, sometimes steamy, but always entertaining novels (Waiting in Vain, Satisfy My Soul) demonstrate "a mastery of language...and an eye for detail that brings to life the Caribbean experience in America."

1:15 p.m. Caribbean Dance Demonstration at the Artist’s Collective: A Demonstration of traditional Caribbean Dance by members of Hartford’s various West Indian dance troupes.

1:45-3:15 p.m. Between Pleasure and Paradox: Readings and Reflections by Caribbean Women Writers.
The Caribbean’s now generation of women writers tell their unique stories. Featuring: Annecy (poet); Vjange Hazle(writer/humorist writing in Jamaican Patois); Marinela Maldonado; Nelly Rosario (author of Song of the Water Saints)and Gina Ulysse.

3:30-5:45 p.m. Exile. Resistance, Home: Conversation with Caribbean Filmmakers and Film Screening. With Filmmakers Andrew Millington (“Guttaperc”) and Clive Davidson (“Rasta”).

6-7:45 p.m. Written in Fire II: Voices of Emerging Caribbean Poets Featuring some of the newest and most urgent voices in Caribbean literature: Leah Prescott, Phebus Etienne, Mark Regis, Derrick Williams, and Marguerite Laurent. Tentative Venue: Albany Ave Library, Community Room

8 p.m. David Williams and Juve (Trinidadian Traditional Music and Jazz)at the Artists’ Collective.