ALTA has partnered with the Bocas Lit Fest to launch a new initiative to promote literacy through literature in a special series of readings by local authors.
Some of Trinidad and Tobago’s best writers, all participants of the annual NGC Bocas Lit Fest, are visiting ALTA Reading Circles to read from their books and to talk to students about the books that have inspired them, their love of reading, and what has influenced their own writing.
These visits by local writers aim to encourage new and struggling readers to appreciate reading for pleasure and to better understand and embrace the world of literature and fiction.
This first series of readings was held in November 2014, and included the distinguished literary veteran Michael Anthony, whose work has introduced many to the world of literature, and Barbara Jenkins (representing The PALM Foundation, set up to promote Pat Bishop’s legacy).
Several other local writers, including Lisa Allen-Agostini, Lyndon Baptiste, Vashti Bowlah, Kevin Jared Hosein (winner of the 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize) and Michael Cozier (shortlisted for the 2015 Burt Award for Caribbean Literature), also took part in the initiative.
The second series introduces ALTA students to seven local authors of diverse literary genres, from historical fiction and contemporary short stories, to science fiction/ fantasy novels. The readings will happen throughout the month of June at ALTA Reading Circle venues around the country, including Belmont, Port of Spain, St. James, San Juan, Arima, Sangre Grande and San Fernando.
The 2015 line-up features Vaughn T. Stanford (Tales from Mysteria, 2014), Rhoda Bharath (The Ten Days Executive, 2015), RSA Garcia (Lex Talionis, 2014), Vanessa Salazar (Selima and the Merfolk, 2014), David Robert Gomez (Behind the Narrow Street, 2014), Sharon Millar (The Whale House and Other Stories, 2015) and John O. Stewart (Behryl, 2014).
The ongoing partnership between Bocas and ALTA aims to make reading and writing accessible to literacy students, and allow them to discover the joys of reading for entertainment.
