>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>> Announcer: 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 LONG-TIME WRITER AND READER.

I WANT TO JOIN YOU AS WE EXPLORE THE AUTHORS AND THEIR TALENT.

EACH WEEK ON "THE BOOKCASE," WE´LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORY TELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US AND I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOME GROWN STORY TELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION FROM "THE BOOKCASE" IS ANANCY AND TURTLE.

I´M SO EXCITED TO WELCOME ITS AUTHOR.

YOHANSE HANDLY.

WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I´M A HUGE ANANCY FAN.

I´VE BEEN READING ANANCY STORIES SINCE I WAS A KID.

BEFORE WE DIVE INTO "ANANCY AND TURTLE," INTRODUCE IT.

>> I STARTED TELLING STORIES, SO, YES, I´M A STORY TELLER.

I USED TO GO AROUND TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, CAMPS, CLASSES, WEDDINGS, BABY SHOWERS, TELLING STORIES, ANANCY STORIES AND KEEPING THE CULTURE ALIVE AND THE TRADITION.

SO I´VE DONE THAT FROM, I BELIEVE I WAS AT THE AGE OF 18 WHEN I BEGAN.

>> WOW.

>> YEAH.

IT´S A PRETTY LONG TIME.

GLEN COVINA DAVIS CAME IN, MY HIGH SCHOOL THAT I WENT TO, AND OF COURSE I WAS A CLASS CLOWN, SO IT WAS AN EASY FIT.

WASN´T TOO LONG TO REALIZE, HEY, THIS GUY MAY HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED.

AND HE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL STORIES IN THE ISLANDS, TOLD ME I´LL MAKE A LITTLE MONEY FROM IT.

SO I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY AND STARTED TELLING STORIES.

AFTER TELLING STORIES A FEW YEARS, I GOT TO PUBLISH A BOOK WITH A GENTLEMAN NAMED MARIO PICALLO WHERE I PUBLISHED MY FIRST BOOK "ANANCY" AND I WON AN AWARD, THE GOVERNOR´S READING CHALLENGE.

AND AFTER THAT I LEFT THE ISLAND, AND THEN IN 2020 -- IN 2020, YEAH, IN 2020 I PUBLISHED MYSELF SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK WHICH WAS ANANCY AND THE GOOSE.

I PUBLISHED THE THIRD ONE, ANANCY AND THE TURTLE.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO COME.

>> YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A BODY OF WORK FOR SOMEONE WHO JUST STARTED IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO, YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A STORY TELLER.

YOU SAY YOU STARTED AS A STORY TELLER, NOW YOU DELVE INTO WRITING.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START CALLING YOURSELF A WRITER?

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START SAYING, I´M AN AUTHOR AND DEFINING YOURSELF IN THAT SPACE?

>> I WOULD SAY WHEN I PUBLISHED MY FIRST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK.

EVEN AFTER I PUBLISHED WITH MR. PICALLO, I STILL DIDN´T FEEL LIKE AN AUTHOR AS YET.

IT WAS JUST A JOURNEY IN ITSELF.

WHEN I DID IT WITH MR. PICALLO, HE WAS A PUBLISHER.

HE DID EVERYTHING, HANDLED EVERYTHING.

IT WAS A GREAT INTERACTION, GREAT LEARNING TIME FOR ME AS WELL.

AND I PRETTY MUCH JUST FELT LIKE I KIND OF WALKED IN.

I TOLD A STORY.

EVERYTHING KIND OF GOT WRITTEN OUT, PUT INTO WORDS AND IT WAS DONE.

SO THAT BOOK WAS OFF OF ME TELLING THE STORY AND THEN WRITING IT AND PUTTING IT TO WORDS.

WHEN I ACTUALLY HAD TO DIVE DEEP INTO HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH, RESEARCH, LEARN HOW I WANT TO RUN EVERYTHING AND HOW I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING AND HOW THINGS HAVE TO BE, IT TOOK ME ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO TO KIND OF LEARN ALL THE INS AND OUT ABOUT HOW I WANT TO SELF-PUBLISH AND I WANT TO DO.

>> WHAT WAS THE GAP BETWEEN YOUR -- YOU´VE WRITTEN THREE BOOKS, ANANCY AND TURTLE IS YOUR THIRD BOOK.

SO HOW MANY YEARS HAD THERE BEEN BETWEEN YOUR FIRST BOOK AND ANANCY AND TURTLE?

>> THAT´S A VERY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE I HAVE A VERY GOOD FRIEND THAT ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS KAJANI, HE ALWAYS TELLS ME, YOU´RE TAKING TOO LONG TO PUBLISH YOUR BOOKS.

YOU´RE TAKING TOO LONG TO PUBLISH YOUR BOOKS.

THERE´S A BIT OF A GAP BECAUSE THERE´S A LOT THAT I HAVE TO DO AND I DO A LOT OF THE FORMATTING AND STUFF BY MYSELF.

SO, THE FIRST BOOK CAME OUT PROBABLY LIKE 2019, ´17-ISH.

AND THE NEXT ONE CAME OUT 2020.

THIS ONE CAME OUT NOW, 2022.

SO IT´S ABOUT A YEAR, TWO-YEAR, WHICH IS HORRIBLE NOW THAT I´M THINKING ABOUT IT.

>> YOU´VE GOT GOOD MOMENTUM.

YOU´VE GOT GOOD MOMENTUM.

SO, WHEN DID YOU -- WHY CHILDREN´S BOOKS?

WHY, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THE STORIES THAT CAN BE TOLD, WHAT DREW YOU TO CHILDREN´S, CHILDREN´S FICTION?

>> OKAY, THAT´S PRETTY EASY.

ONE, FROM TELLING STORIES, THAT´S THE TYPE OF STORIES I TOLD.

AND KIDS WERE WHO REALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS ME AND MOTIVATED ME TO CONTINUE TO TELL STORIES.

AND TWO, I TRY TO NEVER LIE TO YOU.

IF YOUR BOOK STINKS, I TELL YOU IT STINKS.

I ACTUALLY HAD A VERY PAINFUL SITUATION THAT TOOK PLACE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, LAST NIGHT WHERE I ASKED MY DAUGHTER, I ASKED HER WHICH BOOK WAS BETTER, IF MY BOOK ANANCY AND TURTLE OR PETER CAT?

SHE TOLD ME STRAIGHT UP, PETER CAT.

>> OH, OH.

>> I WAS PRETTY DEVASTATED FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

IT´S ALL GOOD.

IT´S JUST -- YEAH.

>> WHAT TYPE -- SO, YOU GRADUATED.

WHAT TYPE OF CARIBBEAN LITERATURE WERE YOU EXPOSED TO GROWING UP?

YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR INFLUENCE, YOU KNOW, COVINA DAVIS.

WHAT TIMES OF LITERATURE OR BOOKS WERE YOU EXPOSED TO AS A STUDENT?

>> AS A STUDENT?

I COULD SAY THAT -- WHEW, MOST OF THE STORIES I WERE EXPOSED TO CAME FROM THE ELDERS.

THEY CAME FROM MY GRANDFATHER.

OF COURSE, GLEN COVINA DAVIS.

MY TEACHERS AT SCHOOL.

MY MOTHER, MY -- >> IN THE ORAL TRADITION AND NOT NECESSARILY WRITTEN?

>> YEAH, MORE IN THE ORAL TRADITION BECAUSE THE WRITTEN FORM, LIKE -- I WAS AN ATHLETE.

I WASN´T EVEN REALLY LIKE AN AVID READER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

SO IT CAME MORE FROM JUST SITTING AROUND OLDER PEOPLE AND THEY TELLING YOU STORIES AND GIVING YOU TESTIMONIES ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND HOW NOT TO END UP IN BAD SITUATIONS AND WHAT TO DO, WHEN TO DO, STUFF LIKE THAT, SO YEAH.

>> SO, IS THAT WHY YOU WERE, YOU KNOW, DRAWN TO ANANCY BECAUSE THERE IS USUALLY A MORAL TO THE STORY?

>> YEAH, 100%.

I THINK EVERY VIRGIN ISLANDER, EVERY CARIBBEAN -- EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD CAN RELATE TO ANANCY.

AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER YOU FIND YOURSELF BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

IT´S COMMON TO SEE HOW HE GETS HIMSELF EITHER OUT OF SITUATIONS OR INTO SITUATIONS AND YOU CAN RELATE TO IT.

>> AND WITH ANANCY, YOU´RE EITHER WAITING FOR HIM OR WAITING FOR HIM TO GET EXACTLY WHAT HE DESERVES.

AND MOST TIMES HE NEEDS TO GET EXACTLY WHAT HE DESERVES.

>> YEAH, MOST TIMES, YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT´S HOW I END MY BOOKS.

I READ A FEW ARTICLE BEFORE I STARTED, THIS WHOLE ENDEAVOR, PURSUING BEING AN AUTHOR AND I DEFINITELY WANTED TO MAKE SURE ON A PSYCHOLOGICAL LEVEL LIKE TEACHING THE KIDS THAT WHEN YOU GET IN BAD SITUATIONS, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT´S GOING TO END UP INTO A BAD SITUATION.

IT´S NOT LIKE BECAUSE THE OLD TRADITIONAL, TRADITIONAL ROOTED STORIES ALWAYS HAVE WHERE ANANCY GETS AWAY, HE GETS HIMSELF IN A BAD SITUATION AND HE ESCAPES.

WITH THIS BUNNY SHOW WHERE HE DOESN´T ESCAPE.

HE FACES CONSEQUENCES AND PRETTY MUCH THAT´S HOW YOU LEARN.

YOU DO BAD, BAD HAPPENS.

YOU DO GOOD, GOOD HAPPENS, SIMPLE.

>> SO, WHAT CONSEQUENCES -- ARE THERE ANY OF YOUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE CARRIED OVER INTO YOUR ANANCY STORIES?

>> OH, MAN, YOU´RE MAKING THIS AREA PERSONAL, MAN.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU´RE A STORY TELLER.

>> YOU´RE RIGHT, RIGHT.

OKAY, SO, PUT IT THIS WAY.

MY FIRST BOOK WITH ANANCY AND MONGOOSE, THAT WAS A VERY PERSONAL STORY THAT HAPPENED WITH ME.

IT KIND OF -- THE STORY ALONG THE LINE GOES WHERE PRETTY MUCH ANANCY TEACHES MONGOOSE TO PICK FRUITS.

THERE´S A DEAL THAT HAS BEEN STRUCK.

ANANCY DOESN´T STICK TO THE DEAL.

HE TRICKS HIM.

FOR EVERY FIVE FRUITS ANANCY IS SUPPOSED TO BRING MONGOOSE ONE.

HE COULD NEVER GET A FRUIT.

SO THAT WAS A STORY THAT HAPPENED WITH ME AND A FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE.

SO THAT ONE -- THAT´S WHAT REALLY SPARKED ME AND I JUST FELT LIKE IT CAME OUT IN MY ART FORM.

WITH ANANCY AND TURTLE, JUST BEING AT WORK SOMETIMES YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT TRY TO BE SMART, TRY TO BE SLY AND SOMETIMES BEING VERY PATIENT AND VERY CALM, AND BEING VERY PREPARED TO GET YOU AHEAD OF THE PERSON THAT´S TRYING TO TRAP YOU.

I DIDN´T WANT TO RUIN THE BOOK TOO MUCH, BUT YEAH.

>> SO WHEN YOU TOLD THE STORY OF ANANCY AND MONGOOSE, DID THAT FAMILY MEMBER EVER READ -- EVER SEE THEMSELVES IN THE STORY?

>> NO, I WOULDN´T SAY SO.

I DON´T EVEN THINK THE PERSON REALIZED THE STORY IS ABOUT THEM.

I DON´T EXPECT THEM TO.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, I DON´T WANT THEM TO.

IT WAS JUST MY WAY OF BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS HOW I FEEL AND WHICH I THINK HOW BLACK YOUNG MEN SHOULD FIND WAYS TO EXPRESS HOW THEY FEEL IN DIFFERENT WAYS, ART FORM, IF IT´S HAVING A CONVERSATION, IF YOU CAN´T HAVE A CONVERSATION, FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.

IT MIGHT BE SPORTS, IT MIGHT BE PAINTING, IT MIGHT BE WRITING, SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT FIND A WAY TO EXPRESS IT AND GET IT OFF YOU SO YOU DON´T HARBOR IT TOO MUCH.

I DON´T THINK THE PERSON EVEN -- >> YOU SAID GROWING UP YOU WERE THE CLASS CLOWN.

>> YES.

>> WHEN YOU MET CABINA, DID YOU SEE THAT STORY TELLER IN YOURSELF BEFORE HE SAW IT IN YOU?

>> OH, NO, MAN, NOT AT ALL.

I DIDN´T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

WHEN HE TELL ME THAT YOU COULD COME WITH ME, WE´RE GOING TO GO AROUND TELLING STORIES, AND YOU´RE GOING TO MAKE SOME MONEY.

I SAID, WHO GOING TO SIT AND LISTEN TO SOMEBODY TELL THEM STORIES?

THAT DON´T MAKE NO SENSE.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS DOING IT FOR US AND WE WOULD ACTUALLY SIT AND LISTEN.

I COULDN´T SEE IT.

HE PAVED THE WAY FOR ME AND MADE THAT PATH.

SO DEFINITELY HE IS PRETTY MUCH ALL PRAISES TO HIM FOR THAT BECAUSE I COULDN´T SEE MYSELF DOING THAT, NO.

>> SO WHAT OTHER WAYS DO YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF?

YOU KNOW, ANANCY HAS A RICH TRADITION IN AFRICAN, IN THE CARIBBEAN ANANCY STORIES.

SO WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE OTHER WAYS YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF, POETRY, ART?

OR IS IT JUST WHERE ALL OF YOUR CREATIVITY IS POURED INTO ANANCY?

>> NO, I THINK ALL I DO RIGHT NOW IS WRITE.

I PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BIT, PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BIT OF SPORTS NOW.

I SLOWED DOWN A LOT.

I WAS A BIG SPORTS PERSON PLAYING MULTIPLE SPORTS GROWING UP.

REAL GOOD AT IT, BUT SINCE THEN, NO, I THINK ALL I DO REALLY IS WRITE.

OH, THINK OF DIFFERENT STORIES, TELL DIFFERENT STORIES, DO THAT.

THAT´S WHERE I REALLY FIND MY MEDITATION AND MY THERAPY, LIKE WHENEVER I GET TO SIT DOWN AND WRITE A STORY.

I FEEL REAL GOOD.

>> SO, WHEN YOU SIT DOWN TO WRITE, WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

>> THE PLOT TWIST.

THAT´S THE ONLY THING THAT INSPIRE ME.

THAT´S THE ONLY THING I LOOKING FOR.

I LOOK FOR THE RICH, RICH, RICH PLOT TWIST OF EVERY ANANCY STORY THAT YOU COULD EVER READ IF IT´S A GOOD ANANCY STORY, TRUE ANANCY STORY TO TRADITION.

IT ALWAYS HAVE A PLOT TWIST YOU NEVER SEE COMING.

>> THAT´S TRUE, THAT´S TRUE, BECAUSE ANANCY, YOU KNOW, HE´S A TRICKSTER.

>> YES.

>> HE´S ALWAYS TRYING TO GET OVER ON SOMEONE.

EVEN AS THE STORY MAKES HIM SEEM LIKE A VICTIM, HE´S NEVER THE VICTIM.

>> NO, NO, NO, HE´S A TRICKSTER BY TRADE, NOT BY HEART.

>> EXPLAIN THAT, HE´S A TRICKSTER BY TRADE, NOT BY HEART.

DOES THAT MEAN ANANCY AT THE CORE OF IT IS A DECENT CHARACTER?

>> YES, AT THE CORE OF IT HE IS A DECENT CHARACTER.

SECOND CHANCES AND THRIVE IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN NOW.

HE NEVER WANT TO CHUCK SOMEBODY UP TO BE FULLY BLOWN EVIL.

SOMEBODY COULD -- SOME GOOD COULD BE BAD AND BAD COULD BE GOOD.

IT´S KIND OF A GRAY AREA.

WHEN I SAY HE TRICK PEOPLE, ONLY TO SUSTAIN OR DO WHAT HE NEED TO DO FOR HIMSELF, TO WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE TO EAT OR TO GET SOMETHING OR TO BE AHEAD OF SOMEBODY.

HE´S A TRICKSTER BY TRADE.

IF HE REALLY AIN´T HUNGRY OR IF HE REALLY DON´T FEEL LIKE HE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE HE NEED ANYTHING, I´M PRETTY SURE HE WOULDN´T TRICK YOU IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE STORIES.

EVERYTHING WAS BECAUSE HE EITHER WAS HUNGRY, HE HAD -- FEEL LIKE HE NEEDED IT MORE THAN THE NEXT PERSON, OR HE FELT LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SMARTER THAN THE NEXT PERSON SO HE -- IT´S BY TRADE.

>> SO THERE´S ALWAYS A MOTIVATION TO WHAT HE DOES.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

>> EVEN IF WE DON´T UNDERSTAND IT?

>> EVEN IF WE DON´T UNDERSTAND IT.

LIKE LIFE AND FRIENDS.

THERE´S ALWAYS SOMEBODY PUSHING SOMEBODY.

>> SO WHEN YOU TELL AN ANANCY STORY, IS THERE ALWAYS A KEY MESSAGE TO YOUR STORY?

>> OH, YES.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY, PRETTY MUCH -- WHATEVER YOU LEARN, THAT´S WHAT YOU LEARN.

TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER BECAUSE I DON´T WANT YOU TO GET IT MIX UP.

I DON´T WANT YOU TO GET IT DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN HAVE OTHER THINGS YOU LEARN IN THE STORY.

I´M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU´RE SUPPOSED TO LEARN.

YOU´RE GOING TO LEAVE WITH A MESSAGE.

>> YOU SAID WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER YOU WEREN´T AN AVID READER.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR AUTHORS ARE READING.

SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT´S REALLY INSPIRING YOU RIGHT NOW THAT YOU´RE READING?

>> YEAH, I´VE BEEN READING ONE OF MY FRIEND´S ACTUALLY, AND I WANT TO RECOMMEND HIM TO "THE BOOKCASE."

ONE OF MY FRIEND´S BOOK, HE SELF-PUBLISHED A BOOK JUST RECENTLY -- TWO ACTUALLY, FROM MY HELP, BUT THAT´S NOT IMPORTANT.

BUT HE PUSHED OUT A BOOK NAMED "CAM, THE SHADOW WITHIN."

NOWADAYS, ANIME, THAT IS BIG IN OUR GENERATION.

>> BOOMING.

>> YEAH, IT´S BOOMING.

HE PRACTICALLY MADE ANIME WITH WHAT HE DID, BUT HE MADE IT IN A STORY FORM.

THE BOOK IS SO AMAZING, SO DEEP, SO WIDE, AND THE PERFECT THING ABOUT IT IS IT´S CARIBBEAN-BASED.

IT´S MYTHICAL CREATURES STEM FROM CARIBBEAN ISLANDS AND DIFFERENT PLACES.

THE STORY TAKE PLACE IN AN ISLAND, ISLE OF DUMAS.

IT´S TRULY AN AMAZING BOOK.

HIS POWERS, HE GETS IT FROM A JUNDU.

IT´S A PERFECT WAY -- >> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU´RE REALLY, REALLY INSPIRED BY THAT.

SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CARIBBEAN AUTHORS, AND YOU´VE NOW JOINED THE CANNON OF CARIBBEAN AUTHORS, HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS FOR OUR -- FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE EXPOSED TO CARIBBEAN AUTHORS?

>> IT´S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

GROWING UP, I DIDN´T SEE NO -- I REALLY DIDN´T USED TO SEE ANY CARIBBEAN AUTHORS THAT USED TO BE IN THE SCHOOLS OR TELLING US WE SHOULD WRITE OR READ.

I MEAN, YOU´D SEE THE POLITICS COME BY AND READ A BOOK AND TELL US TO READ, BUT IT WAS LIKE, OH, YOU COULD BE AN AUTHOR, TOO.

OH, I DON´T KNOW THE FIRST STEP TO BE AN AUTHOR.

SO YOU´RE TELLING ME I COULD BE AN AUTHOR, TOO.

I DON´T KNOW ABOUT THAT, BUT I COULD READ, TOO, SO IT USED TO BE IN THAT SENSE.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, YEAH.

>> SO YOU´VE BEEN ON YOUR OWN JOURNEY AS AN AUTHOR.

FIRST YOU WORKED WITH A PUBLISHER, NOW YOU´RE DOING SELF-PUBLISHING.

WHEN I READ ANANCY AND TURTLE, I WAS STRUCK BY THE ILLUSTRATIONS AND THE COLORS THAT WERE SO VIBRANT AND REALLY JUST JUMP OFF THE PAGE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, CAPTURED MY ATTENTION AND CAPTURED MY EYE.

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR ILLUSTRATOR?

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR ARTIST?

>> FOUND MY ILLUSTRATOR THE WAY EVERYBODY FIND SOMETHING, ON FACEBOOK.

I WENT ON FACEBOOK.

I SAW THE POST.

A GUY I WENT TO COLLEGE WITH DIRECTED ME TO A YOUNG MAN NAMED SHAQUILLE HAILING FROM THE ISLAND OF GUYANA.

IT WAS PERFECT.

HE UNDERSTOOD THE VISION.

HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT I NEEDED.

HE UNDERSTOOD THE STORIES.

HE UNDERSTOOD HOW, PRACTICALLY HOW A SHED LOOK IN THE ISLAND AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HIS ILLUSTRATIONS WERE SPOT ON AND PERFECT.

SO, YEAH, THAT´S KIND OF HOW I FOUND HIM, THROUGH FACEBOOK.

>> THROUGH FACEBOOK, THAT IS FUNNY.

SO, WHEN YOU ARE WRITING YOUR STORY, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROCESS.

FIRST, DO YOU START WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH A PLOT TWIST?

DO YOU START WITH AN ENDING?

DO YOU WRITE WITH PEN AND PAPER OR A LAPTOP?

TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR PROCESS.

>> MY PROCESS VARIES BASED ON WHERE I AM MENTALLY, OF COURSE, IN THE HEAD SPACE.

I NORMALLY DO ALL MY WRITING ON JUST TYPING IT UP.

I USE GOOGLE DOCS.

MY STORIES NORMALLY START WITH A TITLE.

I GET A TITLE AND THEN I SIT AROUND FOR A FEW DAYS, AND I JUST KEEP STITCHING IT TOGETHER, STITCHING IT TOGETHER, STITCHING IT TOGETHER.

SOMETIMES I EVEN TELL A STORY TO MY WIFE OR MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.

AND THEN THAT WAY I GET A REACTION BECAUSE THEY´VE HEARD ME TELL STORIES A LOT OF TIME.

THE REACTION AIN´T ON THE EDGE OF AWE, THEN IT´S NOT GOOD.

>> OR IF YOUR DAUGHTER DOESN´T GIVE HER VOTE OF APPROVAL -- >> SHE DON´T NEVER GIVE ME NO VALIDATION, MAN.

HUH-UH, DADDY, YOU SO SILLY, SIT DOWN, DADDY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

SO YEAH.

>> SO, SO, I KNOW OUR AUDIENCE IS REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT ANANCY AND TURTLE.

IS THERE A SMALL SECTION THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE?

>> IF I TELL YOU MY FAVORITE PART THEN YOU´RE GOING TO ALREADY KNOW IT´S A PLOT TWIST.

YOU´RE GOING TO KNOW WHAP IN THE BOOK.

-- WHAT HAPPEN IN THE BOOK.

MY SECOND FAVORITE IS TURTLE SAID, YOU WON´T WIN THE GAME LIKE THAT.

YOU MUST BE MISTAKEN.

SUDDENLY TURTLE FELT A NICE TUG ON HIS LINE AND HE BEGAN SHAKING.

TURTLE REELED IN A FISH, AND HE PULLED IT UP TO THE DOCK.

SNATCH!

ANANCY GRABBED THE FITCH FROM THE LINE SO FAST.

TURTLE WAS IN SHOCK.

THAT´S MY FAVORITE PART.

>> OF COURSE, WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT BECAUSE ANANCY THE TRICKSTER MUST BE UP TO SOME KIND OF TRICK.

BUT YOHANCY, ARE YOU A FULL-TIME WRITER?

>> NO, NO.

NO.

>> SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING CREATIVE WITH YOUR DAY JOB?

>> THAT´S WHY THE BOOK THEM TAKE A YEAR.

A LOT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACT THAT I´M LIKE A MANAGER ON MY JOB, SO I HAVE -- I WEAR A LOT OF HATS.

I HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

SO PRETTY MUCH TIME MANAGEMENT IS HOW I´M ABLE TO SQUEEZE IN A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

TAKE HOUR OR TWO, THREE HOURS HERE AND THERE AND JUST ACCOMPLISH THE TASK UNTIL IT´S FINISHED.

NO RUSHING, DON´T RUSH THE PROCESS.

I MOVE ON MY OWN TIME.

THIS IS MY PRODUCT, THIS IS MY LOVE, MY THERAPY, SO I MOVE ON MY OWN TIME.

I JUST TAKE MY TIME AND PUT IT TOGETHER.

AND WHEN I REACH AT MY FINISH LINE, I REACH AND IT´S TIME TO GO.

>> SO THAT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE A TIP FOR WRITERS.

SO, WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS?

SO YOU´RE BASICALLY JUST TOLD US KIND OF TRUST THE PROCESS, TAKE YOUR TIME.

WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING, I HAVE A STORY TO TELL AND I´D LIKE TO TELL IT?

>> FINE -- >> FIND ME, I COULD HELP YOU OUT.

>> OKAY, OTHER TIPS?

>> OTHER TIPS WOULD BE TAKE YOUR TIME, TRY TO COLLABORATE MORE WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, AND DIFFERENT AVENUES AS TO HOW TO EITHER PUT YOUR BOOK TOGETHER OR GET YOUR BOOK OUT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY EITHER THERE OR ALREADY ON THEIR WAY THERE.

IT´S ALWAYS GOOD TO COLLABORATE.

AND SPEND TIME IN YOUR CONTENT AND SPEND TIME THINKING ABOUT HOW IT COMES TOGETHER AND WHAT YOU´RE SUPPOSED -- WHAT THE INITIAL OUTCOME OF IT THAT YOU WANT FROM IT BECAUSE CREATING BOOKS IS NOT THE MOST LUCRATIVE INDUSTRY.

SO IT´S A LOVE, SO YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT ARE YOU DOING THIS FOR LOVE OR FOR MONEY?

IF IT´S FOR MONEY IT´S A LONG JOURNEY.

IF IT´S FOR LOVE, YOU WILL SEE IT QUICKLY.

>> THAT IS EXCELLENT ADVICE.

I´M HONORED TO WELCOME YOUNG MALE CREATIVES TO "THE BOOKCASE."

YOU´RE STARTING AS A YOUNG ATHLETE, A SELF-DESCRIBED CLASS CLOWN.

AND YOUR JOURNEY TO AUTHOR.

SO, WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR, YOU KNOW, A YOUNG BLACK MAN LIKE YOURSELF WHO MAY FEEL THEY HAVE A STORY TO TELL, BUT JUST DON´T THINK THAT THERE´S ROOM FOR THEM IN THIS SPACE?

>> IT´S, THAT´S -- WHEW, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR DIFFERENT THOUGHTS OR DIFFERENT ADVICES THAT THEY THINK YOUNG BLACK MEN COULD TAKE AND IT´S SUPPOSED TO BE JUST AT THE SNAP OF A FINGER LIKE IT WORKS THAT WAY.

BUT WE ALL GO THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS, AND SOME OF US GO THROUGH EVEN MORE HARSHER SITUATIONS THAN THE OTHER.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS FIND A MENTOR.

FIND SOMEONE THAT CAN GUIDE YOU AND THAT YOU CAN TRUST.

FIND SOMEONE YOU CAN ELABORATE WITH, CAN TALK WITH, AND TAKE THE ADVICE THAT YOUR MENTOR IS GIVING YOU AND APPLY IT TO EVERYDAY, EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU GET.

>> HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU?

WHAT IF THEY´RE LISTENING TO THIS SHOW AND THEY THINK, WOW, I´D REALLY LIKE TO CONNECT WITH YONCY AND CONNECT WITH HIM, HOW DO THEY FIND YOU?

DO THEY GO TO FACEBOOK?

>> YEAH, YOU CAN GO TO FACEBOOK.

YOU CAN TYPE IN MY NAME, YOHANCY.

YOU CAN TYPE IN AND LEAVE A COME.

ANYWHERE POSSIBLE TO CONTACT ME, DO IT.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON ISLAND THAT KNOW ME.

ASK AROUND.

SEND MESSAGES TO PEOPLE AND THEY MIGHT HAVE MY NUMBER.

THEY GIVE IT TO YOU, YOU REACH OUT TO ME.

I HAVE HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME THAT I DIDN´T KNOW BEFORE, AND THEN WE PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR THEM, THEY COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND DO SOMETHING AMAZING.

I´M AN OPEN PERSON.

FIND A WAY.

YOU CAN GET ME ON FACEBOOK.

>> AND NOW THAT YOU HAVE ANANCY AND TURTLE UNDER YOUR BELT AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER TALES ARE YOU INSPIRED TO TELL ABOUT ANANCY?

WHAT´S NEXT FOR YOU?

>> ALL RIGHT, I HAVE ANANCY SPIDER, ANANCY -- DOWN THE ROAD IT´S COMING.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANANCY AND THE TIME SHELL.

>> THAT´S MY FAVORITE.

THAT´S STILL IN THE WORKS.

THAT´S A LOT MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE I WANT TO ADD A MAGICAL COMPONENT TO THAT STORY.

>> OKAY.

>> IT´S STILL ON THE DRAWING BOARD AND IT´S STILL BEING PROCESSED PRETTY MUCH, BUT IT´S COMING AND, YES, IT´S GOING TO BE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER ONES, CANNOT SAY BEST AS YET.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, WHAT ARE THE WORDS THAT YOU WANT TO LEAVE WITH OUR AUDIENCE, WITH OUR BOOKCASE AUDIENCE?

>> TRY NOT TO GET TOO CAUGHT UP IN YOUR PURPOSE AND TRY TO LIVE, JUST LIVE, JUST ENJOY LIFE, ENJOY PEOPLE, ENJOY THE THINGS AROUND YOU.

TRY NOT TO GET TOO FOCUSED IN TANGIBLE THINGS, YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO CHASE SOMETHING THAT´S SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING.

REALLY, JUST LIVE.

JUST ENJOY LIFE.

JUST LIVE.

>> AND THAT IS AWESOME.

THAT IS AWESOME.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT WITH OUR BOOKCASE.

AS YOU SAY IN YOUR ANANCY STORIES, WE BEND -- >> STORY END, EXACTLY.

>> WHAT ELSE DO YOU SAY?

TAKE A PEN.

>> UM-HMM.

YOU KNOW THE REST?

>> I WROTE IT DOWN.

>> TAKE A PEN AND WRITE AN END.

THAT´S THE MORAL OF THE STORY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOHANCY, FOR JOINING US.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT YOHANCY HENLY, ANANCY AND TURTLE.

FOR ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOOKS FEATURED IN THIS PROGRAM VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WWW.WTJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS.

AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM "THE BOOKCASE."