♫ ♫ >>> THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >>> AS 2021 DRAWS TO CLOSE, WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS A YEAR OF PROMISE, OPPORTUNITY, AND PROSPERITY IN 2022.

♫ ♫ >> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫ ♫ >>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST, SHAWNA RICHARDS, A SOMETIME WRITER AND A LONG-TIME READER.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE EXPLORE "THE BOOKCASE" AND CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS AND THEIR TALENT.

EACH WEEK, WE´LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.

A STORYTELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US, AND I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOMEGROWN STORYTELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION IS "FOOTSTEPS IN THE SUN RISE."

WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> I HAVE BEEN A LONG-TIME READER OF YOUR WORK.

MANY OF OUR AUDIENCE, I BELIEVE, ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR WORK.

AS A LONG-TIME EDUCATOR.

BUT TODAY WE´RE TALKING ABOUT A BOOK THAT WAS FEATURED IN THE GOVERNMENT´S READING PROGRAM IN 2015, "FOOTPRINTS INTO THE SUN RISE."

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THIS STORY?

>> WELL, IT´S ONE OF THOSE STORIES I WAS CHALLENGED TO WRITE.

IN FACT, IT WAS THEN FIRST LADY CECILIA YOUNG WHO ASKED ME TO WRITE A STORY ABOUT ALEXANDER HAMILLTON.

AND I SCRATCHED MY HEAD ABOUT THAT.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE HISTORY.

I DIDN´T HAVE ANY INTEREST, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THAT.

BUT AS A WRITER, I BECAME CURIOUS.

SO I STARTED READING BIOGRAPHIES, READING OTHER PERSPECTIVES ON HAMILTON.

I WENT TO THE NATIONAL PARK AND GOT SOME OF THEIR LITERATURE ON HAMILTON.

AND THEN I DECIDED IF I´M GOING TO WRITE ABOUT THIS, I NEED TO HAVE A HOOK.

I COULD NOT FIND A HOOK.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY INTO THE STORY.

I COULDN´T FIND ANY COMMONALITIES.

>> HAMILTON AND A LITTLE BLACK BOY IN THE CARIBBEAN.

>> OR ME.

FINALLY I DECIDED I´LL CREATE A CHARACTER, WHO CAN PERHAPS NAVIGATE THAT SITUATION.

BECAUSE I THOUGHT HAMILTON WAS AN IMMIGRANT.

HE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME IN HIS CHILDHOOD.

SO THIS LITTLE CHARACTER COMES FROM ANOTHER ISLAND.

HE IS -- HE LOST HIS MOTHER.

HE´S BEEN SENT TO LIVE WITH HIS FATHER´S FAMILY IN ST. CROIX.

HE LIVES WITH A VERY STRICT UNCLE.

HE GOES TO SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THE CHILDREN TEASE HIM BECAUSE HE´S DIFFERENT.

HE HAS A DIFFERENT ACCENT AND SO FORTH.

AND THE TEACHER GAVE HIM AN ASSIGNMENT, AND THE ASSIGNMENT IS TO WRITE ABOUT A VIRGIN ISLANDER, WHOSE LIFE HAS INFLUENCED THE WORLD OR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN SOME WAY.

SO HE CHOSE ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

AND THEN THE DAY COMES WHEN HE HAS TO SAY WHO HE CHOSE, AND ONE OF HIS CLASSMATES REALLY GOT ON HIM ABOUT CHOOSING A WHITE MAN WHO WASN´T EVEN DANISH, AND THERE WAS A BACK AND FORTH.

AND THEN WE GET TO MEET THE CHARACTER, THIS STUDENT WHO CHALLENGES HIM WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS HIS COUSIN, THEY BECAME FAST FRIENDS.

EVENTUALLY THE MAN WHO IS RAISING HIM, WHO IS HIS UNCLE, THEY BECOME GOOD FRIENDS.

THERE WAS NO HUGGING OR NO COMPASSION.

HE WAS JUST IN THE HOUSE.

NOTHING A LITTLE BOY -- WHO IS USED TO SEEING A MOTHER, HERE HE IS WITH THIS MAN WHO IS UNFEELING.

SO HE WRITES HIS GRANDFATHER BACK IN THE ISLAND AND HIS GRANDFATHER ENCOURAGES HIM.

HE THREATENS TO RUN AWAY BECAUSE HE FEELS SO UNHAPPY AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME.

IT ALL COMES TOGETHER VERY NICELY.

AND IN THE COURSE OF, THAT WE LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO ALEXANDER HAMILTON IS, AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE CONNECTED BECAUSE THEY BOTH FELT OTHERIZED.

JEFFERSON CALLED HIM, YOU KNOW, HE WAS -- >> BUT WHAT MAKES THIS STORY A STORY FOR TODAY´S TIME?

>> IT´S BECAUSE IMMIGRATION IS A PART OF THE WHOLE WORLD EXPERIENCE.

IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN THE -- THIS PAST PRESIDENT´S REIGN.

HE USED THAT AS A BASIS FOR DIVIDING AMERICA.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN TERRITORY, COME FROM AN IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE.

IT´S SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO RESONATE WITH US.

I KNOW SOMETIMES BECAUSE IT´S PART OF MY LIFE, BECAUSE I WAS RAISED IN AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY, PEOPLE SAY WHY DO YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT THAT?

BECAUSE IT´S WHAT INFORMS ME, AND I HAD A WONDERFUL CHILDHOOD IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I OBSERVED WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND ME, AND I SAW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED.

SOMETIMES TWO PEOPLE CAN BE IN THE SAME PLACE, THE SAME TIME, THE SAME ROOM AND HAVE TWO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES.

SO SOMETIMES IT´S A MATTER OF EMBRACING OF PEOPLE´S PERSPECTIVES AND NOT FEELING LIKE YOU´RE BEING UNCLOTHED OR SOMEHOW UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE THE EXPERIENCES ARE BEING BROUGHT UP.

SO ALEXANDER HAMILTON HAD THOSE KINDS OF EXPERIENCES.

AND SO HE FOUND SOME COMFORT IN THE OTHERNESS AND THROUGH THAT, HE WAS ABLE TO SORT OF BRING HIS CLASSMATES IN, EVENTUALLY AS THE STORY UNFOLDS.

SO IT WAS A CHALLENGE -- >> HE WAS ABLE TO FIND HIS PLACE -- >> HE FOUND HIS PLACE IN HIMSELF, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DISCOVERY PERIODS.

A DISCOVERY FOR ME, TOO.

BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO WRITE ABOUT ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

SO I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE LIFE OF HAMILTON, AND BECAUSE OF WHAT I LEARNED, THE RESEARCH, I WAS ABLE TO CREATE THIS CHARACTER AND USE THE EXPERIENCE IN A WAY THAT IT REALLY IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT A CHILD CAN READ AND GET A LOT FROM.

>> AND THIS IS A BOOK FOR WHAT AGE GROUP?

>> IT´S A MIDDLE GRADE READER.

SO 6 THROUGH 8th GRADE.

AND I MET A WOMAN ONE DAY, I WENT TO DO A BUSINESS.

SHE SAID, DON´T I KNOW YOU?

SHE SAID I READ ALL YOUR BOOKS.

I SAID TO MYSELF, BUT THEY´RE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.

SHE SAID I LIKE THEM.

MY KIDS READ THEM AND I READ THEM AND ENJOYED THEM.

SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

I´M ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME THEY READ ANY BOOK.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE ON THE OTHER ISLANDS IN THE STATES WOULD WRITE TO ME AND ASK ME WHERE CAN THEY GET THE BOOKS SO PEOPLE WHO -- SO I´VE FOUND THAT THE WHOLE WRITING EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE.

>> WHAT MAKES YOU SO COMFORTABLE WRITING FOR THIS PARTICULAR AGE GROUP?

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN´T SAY THAT WAS MY INTENT.

I REALLY CAN´T SAY THAT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT -- I BELIEVE THAT WRITING IS A WAY THAT YOU EXPLORE THE WORLD, AND THAT YOU SHAPE -- YOU´RE SHAPED BY WHAT YOU READ AND WHAT YOU WRITE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY, WHEN DICTATORS TAKE OVER GOVERNMENT, THEY GET RID OF THE BOOKS, TELEVISION STATIONS, NEWSPAPERS.

AND IN THE CLASSROOMS, THEY GET RID OF EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT OF THEIR WORLD VIEW, AND THEN THEY TRY TO SHAPE THE MINDS OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE BEING TAUGHT, AND THE COMMUNITY BY WHAT THEY READ AND SEE.

SO READING AND WRITING IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP AND SHAPE YOUNG MINDS.

AND I TEACH, AND I LOVE TO TEACH, THAT´S WHERE MY PASSION IS.

AND SO I -- I NATURALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS WRITING FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

RIGHT NOW, I´M WORKING ON A NOVEL.

CERTAINLY IT´S NOT FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

I´M ACTUALLY WORKING ON TWO NOVELS.

THEY´RE NOT INTENDED FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

>> BUT YOU´RE WRITING, AS YOU SAID, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO CERTAINLY ARE NOT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL READING YOUR WORKS.

>> IT TRANSCENDS.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR SERIES THAT I DID, AS WELL AS "FOOT PRINTS OF THE SUN RISE" AND "ETHAN THE MOSQUITO" THEY WERE INTENDED FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHEN I WAS -- WHEN I HAD KIDS, I HAVE TWO CHILDREN, AND WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE, IT WAS MY INTENTION BEFORE I HAD CHILDREN I WOULD ALWAYS WRITE MY STORIES AND READ THEM TO MY CHILDREN.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED, BECAUSE I GOT SO BUSY WITH MY LIFE.

I HAD JOBS THAT TOOK A LOT OUT OF ME.

SO MY KIDS WERE EXPOSED TO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WAS EXPOSED TO, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I WOULD ALWAYS READ AND -- >> LET ME TOUCH ON THAT FOR A SECOND.

WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD GROWING UP HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, WHAT SORT OF LITERATURE WERE YOU EXPOSED TO.

WERE YOU EXPOSED TO VIRGIN ISLAND AUTHORS?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

THE FIRST BOOKS I WAS EXPOSED TO WAS "DICK, JANE, AND SALLY" WHICH IS A BOOK ABOUT A PERFECT AMERICAN FAMILY.

>> RIGHT.

>> A LITTLE BLONDE GIRL, A LITTLE BLONDE BOY, THEIR MOTHER, FATHER, CAR AND LITTLE HOUSE.

THOSE ARE THE CHARACTERS THAT YOU MET.

WHEN I GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL, WE DID ALL OF THE CLASSICS.

SO I WAS NEVER EXPOSED.

MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME HOW TO READ USING THE NELSON READERS.

THOSE ARE SOME BOOKS THAT YOU CAN GET CARIBBEAN THINGS FROM.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I DIDN´T GET ANY OF THAT.

I THINK THAT SORT OF HAD A WAY OF SHAPING WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST FOR US, WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE STANDARD.

EVEN THOUGH SOME OF -- AS A CRITERIA IN HIGH SCHOOL, HELPED TO SHAPE MY WRITING.

ALSO, THERE´S ALSO A NEED TO SEE YOURSELF IN YOUR WRITING.

AND SO THAT WAS A CHALLENGE.

>> CERTAINLY THERE ARE MORE CONVERSATIONS NOW ABOUT REPRESENTATION AND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES NOT ONLY IN LITERATURE, BUT ON THE SCREEN.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS FOR YOUNG READERS AND READERS OF ANY AGE TO SEE THEMSELVES NOW IN VIRGIN ISLANDS LITERATURE?

>> I THINK IT´S MORE IMPORTANT NOW IN THESE TIMES THAN ANY OTHER TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN AMERICA.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE ISSUES WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER, WHITE SUPREMACY, AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME OF THE DIVERSITY ISSUES THAT ARE CROPPING UP THERE.

IT´S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE LIVE IN THIS REALLY BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND WE HAVE A DIVERSE EXPERIENCE HERE.

AND THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT DIVERSITY IN WHAT WE READ.

IN WHAT WE´RE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

SO THAT´S VERY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE IT´S GOING TO BE -- IT´S REALLY WE SHAPE WHO THE NEXT GENERATION WOULD BE, AND WHAT THEY´RE GOING TO VALUE.

RIGHT NOW, IT´S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

>> SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS?

YOU´VE WRITTEN "FOOT PRINTS INTO THE SUN RISE," "ETHAN AND THE MOSQUITO."

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PROCESS, ARE YOU A PEN AND PAPER PERSON OR SIT DOWN AT THE LAPTOP AND CRANK IT OUT?

>> I USED TO BE A PEN AND PAPER PERSON.

THERE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO JUST PASSED, I SAID I CAN´T WRITE ON THE COMPUTER, I HAVE NEED TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY PEN AND MY PAD.

I HAVE TO HAVE THAT.

HE SAID YOU NEED TO GET ON THE COMPUTER.

AND SO THAT RESONATED IN MY HEAD.

AND I STARTED SLOWLY TO DO THAT.

SO NOW I EVEN WRITE ON MY PHONE.

IF I´M SITTING AROUND AND WAITING IN AN OFFICE -- >> I THINK I´M THE WORLD´S SLOWEST TEXTER.

SO ME WRITING ANYTHING -- >> I HAVE A WHOLE TWO CHAPTERS OF MY NOVEL ON MY PHONE.

I JUST HAVE TO GO SOMEPLACE WHERE THINGS WILL SLOW DOWN AND I HAVE TO WAIT AROUND, GET ON MY PHONE AND I START TO WRITE ON MY PHONE.

I HAVE MY POEMS ON THE PHONE.

I HAVE LEARNED TO DO THAT.

BUT IT TOOK A WHILE, BECAUSE I WAS A PEN AND PAPER KIND OF PERSON.

>> I KNOW.

I TEND TO HAVE SCRAPS ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH A FEW WORDS HERE, AND A FEW WORDS THERE.

MAYBE I NEED TO GRADUATE TO USING MORE TECHNOLOGY.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST DEFINE YOURSELF AS A WRITER?

>> I DON´T BELIEVE I´VE EVER DEFINED MYSELF AS A WRITER.

IN FACT, SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT, I KIND OF FEEL A LITTLE BASHFUL ABOUT IT.

IT´S A LOT OF WORK.

I ALWAYS HAVE THIS IDEA THAT IT´S SUPPOSED TO COME EASY, BUT IT NEVER COMES EASY.

I SAT AND HAVE WRITTEN A PARAGRAPH 50 TIMES.

A SENTENCE 100 TIMES.

YOU KNOW?

I´VE NEVER REALLY DEFINED MYSELF.

I THINK I´VE COME OF AGE, AND I´M NOT 110 YEARS OLD.

SO I´VE BEEN WRITING FOR A WHILE, SO PEOPLE REFER TO ME LIKE THAT, BUT I HAVE NEVER REALLY DEFINED MYSELF LIKE THAT AS SUCH.

IT´S SOMETHING I LIKE TO DO.

IT´S SOMETHING I LIKE TO ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

I FIND SOMETIMES I -- PEOPLE CALL ME, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A SON THAT WROTE THIS, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.

I´M AVAILABLE FOR THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT´S IMPORTANT.

THAT´S WHAT IS GOING TO SAVE US, BECAUSE WRITING HAS A WAY OF THINKING, AND YOU CAN SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS THAT WAY.

BY WRITING IT OUT AND SORTING IT OUT AND GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE YOUR NAVIGATE IT ON PAPER OR ON YOUR COMPUTER, WHATEVER.

>> SO WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS?

>> READ.

READ, READ, READ, READ.

>> WHAT SHOULD A WRITER BE READING?

>> BASICALLY, YOU SHOULD READ.

YOU SHOULD READ, YOU SHOULD, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER YOU LIKE TO READ.

WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRITE, READ IT.

READ OTHER MODELS.

READ.

READ AT LEAST -- TAKE AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR, AN HOUR A DAY AND READ.

IF YOU SAY YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER AND YOU HAVEN´T READ, AND YOU´RE NOT READING, IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN YOUR WORK.

YOU HAVE TO READ.

AND WHEN YOU WRITE, WRITE AS IF IT´S YOUR LAST BREATH YOU´RE TAKING.

FORGET ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY.

FORGET ABOUT HOW IT´S GOING TO RESONATE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.

FORGET ABOUT ALL OF THAT.

JUST WRITE LIKE IT´S -- SOMEBODY SAID TO ME, WRITE LIKE YOU´RE SAYING THE "F" WORD.

WRITE LIKE THAT.

AFTER YOU´RE FINISHED -- >> WRITE LIKE YOU DON´T HAVE ANY BOUNDARIES.

>> RIGHT, WRITE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES.

WHEN YOU´RE FINISHED WRITING, YOU CAN GO BACK AND DO YOUR SHAPING.

BUT DON´T LET ANYTHING LIMIT YOU.

YOU´LL NEVER BE ABLE TO PUT OUT WHAT THE -- WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO PUT OUT.

PEOPLE FEEL IT IN THEIR STOMACH THE WAY THEY FEEL IT, BECAUSE YOU´RE HOLDING BACK.

YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN A WRITER IS HOLDING BACK.

YOU HOLD BACK, EVENTUALLY BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU WRITE THINGS AND YOU THINK I CANNOT PUBLISH THAT.

BUT YOU LEARN HOW TO SHAPE THAT, AT THE FIRST ONSET, AT THE FIRST YOU SHOULD JUST WRITE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?

>> RIGHT NOW, I´M READING TWO NONFICTION.

I´M READING SOMETHING CALLED "COME BACK TO ME MY LANGUAGE."

IT´S ABOUT CARIBBEAN POETRY.

AND THEN I´M READING ANOTHER ONE CALLED -- >> WHEN YOU SAY CARIBBEAN POETRY, IS THIS -- >> CARIBBEAN POETRY IN GENERAL.

THE POETRY IN THE WEST INDIES IS THE SUBTITLE.

AND I´M READING SOMETHING CALLED "WIND RUSH" WHICH IS A GENERATION OF WRITERS WHO WENT TO ENGLAND AND FROM THE CARIBBEAN, AND WROTE.

SO IT´S POST WORLD WAR II CARIBBEAN.

>> IT´S YET ANOTHER TALE OF IMMIGRATION.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY IN "WIND RUSH."

MOST OF MY MOTHER´S FAMILY ARE IN ENGLAND.

OR IN AMERICA.

SO IT´S IMPORTANT TO ME, BECAUSE MY UNCLES LEFT, THEY WENT ON THE "SS WIND RUSH."

THAT WAS THE SCHOONER THAT TOOK HIM.

>> I´M GOING TO ASK YOU TO TELL US MORE ABOUT "FOOT PRINTS TO SUN RISE" IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PASSAGE TO SHARE.

>> WELL, NOT A FAVORITE, BUT THERE´S A PASSAGE THAT STICKS TO THE QUESTION THAT WE´RE RAISED BY A VERY ASTUTE CLASS -- THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE COUSINS, AND BECAME FAST FRIENDS.

THE TEACHER ASKED THEM TO -- HE´S GIVEN THEM AN ASSIGNMENT WHICH IS TO WRITE ABOUT SMUN IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SOMEBODY SAID WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO WRITE.

YOU KNOW, ALL THE STUDENTS WERE PICKING VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

AND HE SAID, HIS HAND WENT UP AND HE SAID, ALEXANDER HAM -- HAM -- HAMILTON.

AND LARRY SAID, WHAT´S UP WITH THAT?

HE WAS A SLAVE OWNER.

OUR ANCESTORS WERE TREATED LIKE CATTLE.

NO, NO, THE TEACHER SAID.

KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN.

YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT A PERSON WHOSE LIFE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HELPED HIM OR HER PLACE IN HISTORY.

IT´S NOT YOUR TURN, THE TEACHER CHIDED.

YOU NEED TO BE MORE RESPECTFUL BOY.

LET HIM FINISH.

THE TEACHER TURNED HIS ATTENTION, BUT BY NOW, HE WAS BASHFUL AND PULLED BACK, BECAUSE HE WAS EMBARRASSED.

HE WAS LOSING HIS CONFIDENCE.

DON´T MIND HIM, SON, SAY WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

THE TEACHER NODDED AS IF HE HIMSELF WERE A SPECTATOR.

SO HE HEARS HIS GRANDFATHER´S VOICE IN HIS HEAD, AND HE SAID, STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

HE SAID -- I WANT TO LEARN, NOT JUST ABOUT THE FACT THAT HIS FAMILY OWNED SLAVES OR THAT HE WAS WHITE AND HE WASN´T DANISH, BUT HOW HE CAME FROM ANOTHER ISLAND AND HAD NO MONEY OR PARENTS AND STILL ABLE TO BECOME A FOUNDING FATHER OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND ASSISTANT TO GEORGE WASHINGTON AND FIRST SECRETARY OF TREASURY.

AND HE WAS THE ONE WHO CREATED A COAST GUARD AND BANK OF NEW YORK, AND ONE WROTE THAT FEDERALIST PAPERS.

HIS PROBLEMS HAD TO DO WITH HIS MOTHER´S DEATH, THE TROUBLES IN HER LIFE ABOUT PEOPLE GOSSIPING ABOUT HER, WHICH YUNRUINED ALEXANDER´S REPUTATION.

IT HAD TO DO A LOT WITH HIS COUSIN´S SUICIDE.

HIS COUSIN, PETER, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE COURT TO TAKE CARE OF HIM AFTER HIS MOTHER´S DEATH, HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.

SO THEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS CALLED HIM HAMILTON A BASTARD.

>> SO WOULD THAT BE THE KEY MESSAGE OF THE BOOK?

>> YES, AND EVENTUALLY, THE CLASS UNDERSTANDS, AND IT´S A LESSON THEY ALL LEARN ABOUT THE CHOICES.

SO THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY A PASSAGE THAT I THOUGHT SPOKE TO HOW I BECAME INVOLVED IN WRITING THIS, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN´T PARTICULARLY WANT TO WRITE ABOUT IT.

I BECAME INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS OTHER-IZED, AND THE CHARACTER WAS ALSO OTHER-IZED.

EVEN JEFFERSON NEVER LET HIM FORGET THAT HE WAS FROM THE CARIBBEAN, AND THAT HE WAS NOT REALLY -- YOU KNOW, THAT -- I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE MESSAGE REALLY IN TERMS OF THE BOOK AND HOW EVENTUALLY THIS YOUNG MAN STOOD HIS GROUND, SHOWED HIS STRENGTH AND HIS PRIDE IN HIMSELF, AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE FRIENDS IN THIS NEW PLACE THAT HE HAD COME TO.

AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS -- IN THAT PARTICULAR -- THAT ASPECT, THAT WAS THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK.

>> OKAY.

ARE YOU A FULL-TIME WRITER?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT, YES.

I WRITE FULL-TIME.

>> OKAY.

>> I DO.

I READ EVERY DAY, BECAUSE I´M EDITOR OF THE "CARIBBEAN WRITER."

>> WHICH IS QUITE DEMANDING.

>> WE´VE HAD SO FAR 380 SUBMUGSS.

AND WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE -- >> HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE -- JUST ORGANIZING THAT, AND YOUR OWN WRITINGS?

YOUR OWN WORK?

>> THERE´S THE 11 SEPARATE SPACES IN MY LIFE.

MY LIFE HAS DIFFERENT SHELVES AND COME PARTMENTS.

MY FRIENDS ARE LIKE THAT, SO I´M ALONE A LOT.

SO I HAVE THESE LITTLE COMPARTMENTS.

JUST PLACES WHERE I PLACE THINGS THAT´S HOW MY LIFE IS.

>> SO TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK WITH THE CARIBBEAN WRITER.

>> WELL, CARIBBEAN WRITER IS A JOURNAL THE UNIVERSITY PUTS OUT ONCE A YEAR.

>> THAT WOULD BE THE UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> YES, PUTS OUT ONCE A YEAR.

IT´S A JOURNAL THAT HAS A FOUR-MAN VOID.

I MADE UP THE PROFESSORS, DR. COMEY IS ON THE BOARD.

THIS PARTICULAR EDITION, THE CHOR AND LIBRARIAN AND JOHN ROBERT LEE IS ALSO ON THE BOARD.

AND THEN ANOTHER OFFER FROM I THINK BOTH ARE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK IS ALSO ON THE BOARD.

IT´S ALSO ON THIS PARTICULAR BOARD, AND SO IT´S A DIVERSE BOARD.

THE BOARD MEMBERS READ THE PIECES WITHOUT KNOWING WHO THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE.

I DON´T READ.

IT´S BLIND.

IT´S CALLED A REFEREE PROCESS.

SO WHEN I GET THE CUT, THE FIRST EDITION, I DON´T KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE ARE EITHER.

I NEVER KNOW WHO I´M READING.

BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATOR PERP IN THE OFFICE POSES THE PIECES DOWN FROM THE SUBMISSION PORTAL AND REMOVE THE UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS.

SENT THE FIRST BATCH TO ME.

I READ EVERY SINGLE ONE, AND CHOOSE THE ONE THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOURNAL IN TERMS OF SCHOLARLY APPROACH, THEIR USE OF LANGUAGE, THE WHOLE RUBE RICK WE USE.

AND THE BOARD MAKES A DECISION.

THEY COMMENT ON EACH ONE.

AND THEN THEY COME BACK TO ME, AND AT THAT POINT, WHEN THE SELECTIONS COME BACK TO ME IS WHEN I KNOW WHO SUBMITTED.

SO WHAT I DO IS AFTER THEY COME TO ME IS WHEN MY EDITING BEGINS.

I WOULD MAYBE MAKE SOME CONTACT WITH A PERSON.

I WOULD SAY THIS AREA, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.

PERHAPS YOU NEED TO WORK ONLY MORE ON THIS.

SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY, I DON´T WANT MY STUFF EDITED.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO -- SOMETIMES WE DON´T PUBLISH IT, BECAUSE IF IT DOESN´T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BOARD, WE DON´T PUBLISH IT.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU AS A WRITER AND INTERN?

>> WELL, I´M WORKING ON REESTABLISHING A PUBLISHING COMPANY WITHIN THE CARIBBEAN.

>> AMAZING.

>> THE DEAN HAS APPROVED THAT.

BUT FOR ME, I´M WORKING ON MY -- A NOVEL THAT IS BASICALLY FINISHED.

IT´S LIKE 15 YEARS AGO THAT I WROTE IT, I´M DOING REVISIONS.

BUT I HAVE A TENDENCY TO REVISE, AND REIZE, AND REIZE.

AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT´S ALMOST A YEAR OLD.

SO I HAVE TWO WORKS.

I´M TRYING TO GET ONE OUT BY DECEMBER.

BUT PERHAPS MYSELF NEXT TO NEXT DECEMBER.

YOU >> SO WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK HERE ON "THE BOOKCASE" TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE WORK.

>> AWESOME.

>> IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE.

TO LEARN MORE OF OUR LOCAL TALENT, AND TO HEAR MORE ABOUT "FOOT PRINTS INTO THE SUBRISE" AS WELL AS HER WORK WITH A CARIBBEAN EDITOR.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE BOOKS DISCUSSED TODAY, FIZZ IT OUR WEBSITE, TJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS.

WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER BOOK FROM "THE BOOKCASE."

♫ ♫ >> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITER.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY --