>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >>> A PROUD SUPPORTER OF VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WE CARRY A SELECTION OF BOOKS, GIFTS AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> 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.

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

EACH WEEK WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

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

THIS WEEK´S BOOK´S AUTHOR, WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITE.

I´M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT LED YOU TO WRITE "JAMES AND THE FIRE BONN".

>> BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT I HAD WRITTEN FIRE BURN THE SCREEN PLAY, AND THAT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.

I DON´T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO GO INTO HOW THAT CAME TO ME.

BUT AFTER IT BEING SO WELL RECEIVED BY ADULTS AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD GO TO THE SCHOOLS.

I WOULD TALK TO THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS ABOUT IT.

I WOULD SPEAK AT DIFFERENT CLUBS.

I FOUND THAT THEY WERE SO INTERESTED, EVEN IF THEY DIDN´T HAVE CARIBBEAN ROOTS, EVEN IF THEY DIDN´T KNOW WHERE THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WERE BECAUSE THE TALE OF THE FIRE BURN IS RIVETING.

IT´S POWERFUL.

SO I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

I SAID, IT´S SO IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN FROM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

WHY NOT WRITE ONE FROM SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH GRADE LEVEL.

BECAUSE AS AN ACTOR, I HAD BEEN DOING VOLUNTEER WORK AND I WAS READING EVERY WEEK TO THIRD GRADERS.

THAT WAS MY TARGET GROUP.

SO THAT WAS MY INSPIRATION TO WRITE JAMES AND THE FIRE BURN.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU´RE AN ACTRESS.

YOU´RE A WRITER.

AND I WOULD ALSO DESCRIBE YOU AS A HISTORIAN.

SO YOU WROTE A SCREEN PLAY, AND THE SCREEN PLAY LED TO THE BOOK.

IS THAT HOW IT PLAYED OUT?

>> IT SURE DID.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SCREEN PLAY, AS AN ACTRESS, ONE OF MY ACTING COACHES, WE WERE JUST GRIPING IN CLASS, OH, THERE AREN´T ANY ROLES FOR US TO PLAY, YOU KNOW, JUST WHINING EXPECTING TO HAVE SOME SYMPATHY FOR HIM TO SAY, YOU ARE SO RIGHT.

WHAT A HORRIBLE TIME THIS IS.

HE HAD NO SYMPATHY.

AND HE SAYS DON´T WAIT FOR ANYONE TO COME TO YOU.

DON´T WAIT FOR HOLLYWOOD TO COME.

PICK UP YOUR SMARTPHONE AND SMART FILMING.

PICK UP YOUR SMART PEN AND START WRITING.

THAT´S HOW MY BOOK CAME INTO EXISTENCE BECAUSE I SAID, WOW, LET ME WRITE SOMETHING FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS TO WORK IN.

AND FROM THAT CAME "JAMES AND THE FIRE BURN."

IT IS LIKE THE LAW OF MOMENTUM THAT ONCE SOMETHING HAPPENS, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS.

THINGS JUST SPEED UP AND THEY JUST START HAPPENING BECAUSE I HAVE OPENED THAT DOOR FOR THAT CREATIVE PROCESS TO START.

>> AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR ACTING COACH TELLING YOU TO PICK UP YOUR PHONES AND PICK UP YOUR SMARTPHONES AND BASICALLY TELL YOUR OWN STORY.

AND IN CREATING A STORY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SUCH A SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORY, YOU HAVE CREATED SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR CAN SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED ON SCREEN.

AND I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT´S TURNED INTO SOMETHING JUST REALLY WONDERFUL TO BE A PART OF.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN I THINK OF WRITING, THERE ARE MANY REASONS PEOPLE WRITE.

SOME PEOPLE WRITE BECAUSE I AM AN AUTHOR AND I AM A WRITER.

I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT I WANTED TO DO IT.

I WROTE BECAUSE I HAD A PROBLEM AND I NEEDED A SOLUTION.

AND AFTER THAT, I´M LIKE, WOW, THIS WORKS.

NOW THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM.

LET´S HAVE ANOTHER SOLUTION.

AND, SO, THE WHOLE IMPETUS AND THE REASON BEHIND IT JUST STARTED CREATING SOMETHING THAT SNOWBALLED INTO SOMETHING THAT NOW IT´S NOT ABOUT MY PROBLEM BEING SOLVED BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE PICKING IT UP AND THEY´RE BEING BLESSED AND THEY´RE LEARNING ABOUT OUR RICH AND BEAUTIFUL CULTURE BEYOND THE FUN AND SUN AND RUM AND FOOD.

WOW.

THIS IS A RICH HISTORY.

LOOK AT THE STRONG RESILIENT PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND WHAT THEY HAVE CREATED.

>> YOU COME FROM A RICH FAMILY TRADITION OF STORY TELLING.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT MANY BLACK FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, MANY FAMILIES ALSO COME FROM THAT RICH TRADITION OF HISTORY BEING SHARED THROUGH STORY TELLING.

AND THERE IS CERTAINLY A STORY TELLER IN EACH OF US.

WHAT IS YOUR OWN PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE FIRE BURN HISTORIC EVENT.

>> YES.

AT A FAMILY PARTY, MY AUNTS, THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT STORIES.

AND I WAS JUST SITTING THERE LISTENING AND THEN FIRE BURN CAME UP.

IT WAS LIKE, YES!

YOUR GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER MARIAH SHE WAS THERE.

I WAS LIKE, WAIT, I NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

I FOUND OUT THAT MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS THERE WITH HER MOTHER, FATHER, BROTHER AND SISTER, AND IT WAS HER JOB DURING THE FIRE BURN TO TAKE HER YOUNGER BROTHER AND SISTER, HIDE THEM IN A NEARBY DITCH SO THAT THEY WOULD BE SAFE.

SHE COVERED THEM WITH GARBAGE AND LEAVES AND ANYTHING SHE COULD FIND WHILE HER MOTHER AND FATHER PROTESTED AND THEY FOUGHT.

MY GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER, WHICH HER FATHER GOT SHOT IN THE LEG AND HE SURVIVED BUT THEY WERE THERE.

THEY WERE PARTICIPANTS.

AND HER JOB AS A TEENAGER WAS A PROTECTOR.

THAT IS VERY MUCH AN IMPORTANT TYPE OF ANY TYPE OF ACTION IS THE PROTECTOR AND TAKING CARE OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO WHEN I FOUND THAT OUT, IT BECAME A MORE PERSONAL FAMILY STORY, IN ADDITION, YES, THERE IS A CULTURAL SIDE.

BUT NOW IT´S LIKE, WAIT, WE WERE THERE.

THIS IS MY STORY AS WELL.

>> AND IT IS CERTAINLY YOUR STORY, AND IT IS OUR STORY.

BUT WHEN DID YOU -- SO YOU HAVE HAD -- YOU ARE A HISTORIAN AND ACTRESS, YOU ARE A MULTIFACETED CREATIVE PERSON.

WHEN DID YOU STOP INTO THAT SPACE AS A WRITER?

>> AND, FIRST, I APPRECIATE THE -- BEING CALLED A HISTORIAN BECAUSE IT SOUNDS SO GREAT, BUT I HUMBLY SUBMIT, NO.

I WROTE ABOUT THE FIRE BURN, BUT I STILL APPRECIATE IT.

AND WITH REGARDS TO EVEN BEING A WRITER, FOR SO LONG I SAID, OH, NO, I´M NOT A WRITER.

I JUST WROTE A BOOK.

I JUST WROTE TWO BOOKS.

I JUST WROTE TWO BOOKS.

WAIT.

I JUST PUBLISHED A DEVOTIONAL.

THEN I SAID, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE TALKED PREVIOUSLY THIS WHOLE IDEA OF SELF-PERCEPTION.

WHY IS IT THAT RELUCTANCE TO CALL MYSELF A WRITER OR AN AUTHOR.

SO OFTEN WHEN IT COMES TO A NEGATIVE, IF I HAD STOLEN SOMETHING, LET´S JUST SAY, OR IF I HAD LIED, PEOPLE WOULD BE QUICK TO SAY HER TRUE COLORS ARE COMING OUT.

SHE´S A THIEF.

SHE´S A LIAR.

I WOULD SAY, OH, MY GOSH.

I´M A LIAR?

WHAT ABOUT THE CREATIVE SIDE?

SO IT REALLY HAS BEEN A PROCESS FOR ME, AND IT´S BEEN A PROCESS OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND REALLY EMBRACING THAT CREATIVE SIDE OF MYSELF.

AND I THINK FOR SO LONG I HAD BEEN INTO, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL AND THE COUNSELING.

I HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE IN COUNSELING, PSYCHOLOGY AND I WAS SO FOCUSSED ON THAT AND SPEAKING AND ENCOURAGING THAT I HADN´T LET MY CREATIVE SIDE COME OUT TO PLAY, SO THERE WAS A DENIAL OF THAT CREATIVE SIDE AS WELL.

>> SO YOU HAVE WRITTEN DEVOTIONALS.

YOU HAVE WRITTEN A SCREEN PLAY AND YOU HAVE WRITTEN THE BOOK WE WILL BE DISCUSSING TODAY.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN IN ALL.

>> THREE BOOKS IN ALL AND I´M WORKING ON MY FOURTH TO BE RELEASED IN EARLY 2021.

AND, YES, WORKING ON FINISHING UP A DOCUMENTARY ON THE FIRE BURN ALSO, WHICH I AM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF.

>> OKAY.

>> THESE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, INSPIRATIONAL CARD DECKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I´M EMBRACING MY CREATIVE SIDE.

>> SO HOW DO YOU DRAW YOUR HEART OUT ON TO A PIECE OF PAPER?

WHAT IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS?

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> FOR ME IT´S, AS I SAID, THAT MY BOOK HAD STARTED REALLY WITH THAT PROBLEM.

AND, SO, FOR ME BEING A WOMAN OF FAITH THAT IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH PRAYER, YOU KNOW, AND GOING INSIDE.

AND MY TIME IS SO EXTREMELY VALUABLE, I DON´T WANT TO WASTE MY TIME.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THAT IS MY FIRST THING.

IS THIS WORTHWHILE?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT´S GOING TO BENEFIT ME?

IS IT GOING TO BEN NIT OTHERS?

SO FIRST OF ALL DECIDING.

AND BENEFITTING ME CAN BE FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR THERAPY AND I NEVER SHARE IT TO EVERYONE.

>> SO THE PROCESS FOR BOTH BOOKS WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

SINCE WE´RE TALKING PRIMARILY ABOUT "JAMES AND THE FIRE BURN," I´LL TELL YOU THE PROCESS FOR THAT ONE IS I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO BE OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE TO DO THAT BECAUSE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS I WAS A HOMEMAKER.

AND I -- I´M LIKE SUPER MOM.

I MEAN, I´M GRINDING FLOUR FROM SCRATCH AND I´M BAKING THINGS AND CANNING.

IF I´M GOING TO STAY IN MY HOUSE, I´M GOING TO DO SOMETHING AND BE DISTRACTED.

FOR ME, IT WAS TO TAKE MYSELF OUT OF THIS FAMILIAR SPACE WITH SO MANY DISTRACTIONS.

I WENT ON A RETREAT, AND MY SISTER IS A NUNN, AND THEY ALLOWED ME TO STAY THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I SAT DOWN.

WHO IS MY AUDIENCE?

WHO STORY DO I WANT TO TELL?

AND WHAT FORMAT DO I WANT TO TELL IT IN?

SO IT IS THAT PROCESS.

SO FOR THIS, I JUST STARTED WRITING.

AND IT REALLY -- IT SEEMED TO TAKE ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN BECAUSE I STARTED WITH THE FIRE BURN.

AND BEFORE I KNEW IT, I´M -- I´M RHYMING ABOUT A CHILD BEING BULLIED IN SCHOOL.

>> THAT WAS SUCH AN INTERESTING TAKE FOR ME.

AND I KNOW YOU SAID THAT YOUR BOOK IS FOR THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS.

I´M WAY PASSED THAT, BUT IT CERTAINLY RESONATED WITH ME.

AND I LOVE HOW YOU TOOK A STORY THAT WE´RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH AS VIRGIN ISLANDERS, THE FIRE BURN, AND RELATED IT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE.

AND THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I WROTE DOWN AND SAID TO EVERYONE OUT THERE, YOUNG OR OLD, THAT STRUGGLES TO FIT INTO THIS CHALLENGING WORLD.

AND I MADE A NOTE OF THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS BOOK CONNECTS ON SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER AGE YOU ARE.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE WRITING "JAMES AND THE FIRE BURN" AND YOU STARTED TO TAKE THE TRAJECTORY TO NOW BECOME A STORY OF ANTIBULLYING, WHAT MESSAGE DID YOU START OUT WITH AND WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE MESSAGE THAT IT NOW CONVEYS?

>> YES.

AS IT STARTED TAKING A LIFE OF ITS OWN, A VERY WISE PERSON WHO I DON´T EVEN REMEMBER WHO IT WAS SAID, HISTORY DOESN´T NECESSARILY REPEAT ITSELF, BUT IT SURE DOES RHYME.

SO FOR ME -- >> THAT´S COOL.

>> -- RHYME IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN THESE LABORERS BEING BULLIED AND ABUSED TO A CHILD IN SCHOOL BEING BULLIED AND ABUSED.

SO HISTORY DIDN´T REPEAT ITSELF.

IT RHYMES.

BECAUSE, LOOK, YOU HAVE SIMILAR SITUATIONS.

SO THE BIG MESSAGE THAT I WANTED TO PUT OUT WAS, THE SHAME OF SILENCE.

SILENCE HURTS.

SILENCE KILLS.

AND, SO, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE A STRETCH FOR ME TO SAY THAT THE LABORERS -- AND THAT´S -- I´D LOVE TO READ YOU A LITTLE PORTION.

>> SURE.

>> BUT TO ME, IT RESONATES WITH ANY ABUSIVE TYPE OF SITUATION, THAT WHEN THE SILENCE PERSISTS, THAT´S WHEN THAT UNHEALTHY, TOXIC RELATIONSHIP CAN SURVIVE, BECAUSE YOU´RE SILENCED.

PEOPLE WALK AWAY FROM THEIR OWN LIVES.

PEOPLE TALK AWAY BECAUSE THEY DON´T WANT TO BE INVOLVED.

THE PERSON BEING ABUSED IS AFRAID FOR THEIR LIFE.

THAT´S THE MESSAGE I WANT TO BRING ABOUT, IS THERE ARE CORRELATIONS.

THERE ARE RHYMES IN THEIR LIVES THAT MUST BE BROKEN.

THE SILENCE MUST BE BROKEN.

>> DID YOU SET OUT INTENDING TO WRITE A CHILDREN´S BOOK?

>> YES.

I DID INTEND TO WRITE A CHILDREN´S BOOK FOR THE GRADE THREE LEVEL.

AND I DIDN´T KNOW -- BECAUSE I HAD NEVER WRITTEN A CHILDREN´S BOOK BEFORE.

I WENT TO THE BOOKSTORE AND I STARTED LOOKING FOR CHILDREN´S BOOKS AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, GOT TO HAVE SOME PICTURES.

THAT´S IMPORTANT.

I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET ME DO A RHYMING STYLE.

AND I LIKE DR. SEUSS, JUMP ON HOP, BUT LET ME EMULATE HIM.

THAT´S ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD RECOMMEND, THAT IF ONE HAS A FAVORITE AUTHOR, IT´S OKAY TO USE THAT AS A GUIDE BECAUSE IT IS STILL GOING TO BE YOUR OWN WORDS.

SO I WENT WITH THAT RHYMING KIND OF DR. SEUSS THING BECAUSE WHEN I HAD BEEN READING TO THE THIRD GRADERS, THEY SEEMED TO FIND THAT FUN AND ENGAGING.

SO IN A FUN AND ENGAGING WAY, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS VERY DIFFICULT SUBJECT.

>> RIGHT.

SO WHAT AUTHORS?

SO YOU MENTIONED DR. SEUSS.

WHAT OTHER WRITERS INSPIRE YOU IN YOUR WRITING?

>> FOR ME, I MENTIONED BEFORE, I AM A COUNSELOR AT HEART.

AND, SO, AS I READ AT THIS POINT I´M CATCHING UP ON A LOT OF READING AND I LIKE THE SELF-HELP BOOKS.

HOWEVER, FOR ME, ANY SELF-HELP PROGRAM OR BOOK THAT DOESN´T HAVE GOD IN IT IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY.

I LIKE DR. CAROLINE LEAF.

SHE IS A CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST.

SHE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE CHEMISTRY OF THE BRAIN AND THE POWER OF OUR WORDS.

SO THAT´S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I´M WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, IS BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT MY WORDS, BECAUSE WE CREATE OUR LIVES WITH OUR WORDS.

AND THAT´S ONE OF THE REASONS, AND I´LL TELL YOU WITH "JAMES AND THE FIRE BURN," ONE THING I HAVE NOT MENTIONED IS THAT MY SON HAD BEEN THE VICTIM OF BULLYING AND HAD BECOME SO DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT HE ACTUALLY BECAME SUICIDAL.

SO AS I WROTE THIS BOOK IT WAS THERAPEUTIC AND CLEANSING FOR ME, THAT MOTHER GUILT THAT I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THAT MY SON WAS BEING TORTURED AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO ABOUT IT.

SO AS I WROTE THIS STORY, I WAS JUST CRYING.

AND I APOLOGIZED TO MY SON.

I´M LIKE, I´M SO SORRY.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS GOING ON.

BUT WHAT I DID IN THIS STORY IS THE GUIDE WHO COMES OUT IN THE STORY IS MY SON, BUT I FLIP THE SWITCH.

MY SON IS NOT THE VICTIM IN THIS BOOK.

HE IS THE HERO.

HE IS THE ONE THAT INTERVENES BECAUSE I WANTED TO CEMENT THIS AND PUT IT OUT THERE THAT MY SON IS A SURVIVOR.

HE´S MORE THAN A CONQUERER.

HE´S GOING TO BE OKAY, AND HE´S GOING TO BE THE PROTECTOR.

>> IS THAT THE LINE THAT YOU HOPE THERE ARE MORE KENNYS IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, TO ACT WITH COURAGE AND GRACE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A PERSONAL STORY.

AND I THINK THAT THAT´S WHY IT RESONATES WITH SO MANY PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT IS A TRUE STORY.

IT IS A STORY WRITTEN IN PAIN.

IT -- I MEAN, I POURED MY HEART AND MY SOUL INTO THIS BOOK.

AND AT THE END OF IT, I FELT THIS SENSE OF BEING CLEANSED.

AND I GAVE IT TO MY SON.

AND HE STARTED CRYING.

AND I SAID, DO I HAVE YOUR PERMISSION TO SHARE THIS?

AND HE SAYS, YES, YOU DO.

I SAYS, CAN I DEDICATE IT TO YOU?

HE´S LIKE, NO, DON´T DEDICATE IT TO ME.

>> YOU CHOSE, YOU PUT A NEW SPIN ON A TALE OF EMPOWERMENT.

>> YES.

>> AND LIBERATION.

>> YES.

>> IT´S A STORY THAT EACH ONE OF US, WE CAN RE-WRITE IN OUR OWN WAYS REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN.

WE CAN FIND A WAY TO RE-WRITE IT.

YOU KNOW, FIND THE STRENGTH.

IF IT´S NOT COMING FROM WITHIN THAT SPIRITUAL CORE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

MAYBE IT´S THROUGH A FRIEND.

MAYBE IT´S THROUGH READING INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS.

MAYBE IT IS THROUGH BREAKING THE SILENCE AND ALLOWING SOMEONE TO TAKE YOUR HAND AND SAY NO.

NO MORE.

AND THAT´S THE STORY OF THE FIRE BURN, FIRE BUN.

>> LET´S HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.

I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A PASSAGE THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

>> YES.

IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CHOOSE ONE PASSAGE BECAUSE I WILL WITH NO SHAME SAY THAT I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK.

THIS IS MY BABY.

>> AND SO DO I.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT´S BECAUSE IT WAS MY THERAPY AND DEFINITELY I ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE VULNERABLE AS WELL.

A LIFE COACH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT THERE IS POWER FOR TRANSFORMATION WHEN WE ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO GLIMPSE INTO OUR HURT, OUR PAIN, OUR AREAS OF QUOTE, UNQUOTE WEAKNESS, WHICH ALLOWS US THEN -- PEOPLE TO COME AND JOURNEY WITH US.

IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

I HAVE HEARD THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED.

AND FOR ME, IT´S WORTH IT.

IT IS WORTH IT IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE BEING ENCOURAGED.

>> SO LET´S HEAR YOUR FAVORITE PASSAGE.

>> I´D SAY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PASSAGES.

>> OKAY.

>> SO THIS -- I´LL SET THE STAGE HERE.

THIS IS 1848.

LIBERATION, YES!

NO LONGER SLAVES, RIGHT?

EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.

THEY´RE EATING FRIED FISH, JOHNNY CAKE, WHATEVER THEY WERE EATING THEN.

THEY WERE HAVING FUN, RIGHT?

AND THEN, OKAY, BUT SOON THEY CAME TO REALIZE THEY WERE STILL TRAPPED AS IN A CAGE.

THEY WERE RAGGED AND OVER WORKED AND NEVER PAID A FAIR PAGE.

SOME WERE BADLY BEATEN, BRUISED ON TOP OF BRUISE.

THIS WAS SUCH A HORRIBLE LIFE.

ONE THAT NO ONE WOULD CHOOSE.

TAKE THE ABUSE IN SILENCE.

THEY AGREED NOT TO SAY A WORD.

IF WE DARE TO SPEAK UP, WE REALLY WON´T BE HEARD.

WE HAVE TRIED TO BEFORE, AND IT SEEMED LIKE A BIG, FAT CURSE BECAUSE WHEN WE DO SPEAK UP, THINGS JUST GET MUCH WORSE.

DON´T TALK.

DON´T SAY ANYTHING.

BE SILENT AND OBEY.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN POWER WILL SURELY MAKE YOU PAY.

YOU´LL PAY WITH YOUR LIFE.

YOU REALLY COULD DIE.

SO BE SAFE.

BE SILENT.

DON´T YOU EVEN TRY.

AND THAT´S ONE OF MY FAVORITE POINTS BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF HOW ABUSE IS PERPETRATED AND HOW IT´S CONTINUED, BECAUSE THERE IS A REAL GENUINE FEAR THAT I COULD DIE.

I COULD DIE IF I SAY SOMETHING, AND THIS IS FAMILIAR.

SO I´M GOING TO STAY IN THIS COMFORT ZONE.

>> SO IN YOUR BOOK, THE STUDENTS, WHEN THEY HEARD THEIR TEACHER TELLING THEM THE STORY OF FIRE BURN REALLY TOOK THAT MESSAGE TO HEART.

>> YES.

>> THAT MESSAGE OF LIBERATION AND HELPING YOUR FELLOW MAN AND ULTIMATELY SUPPORTED THE HERO WHO WAS BEING BULLIED.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS SUCH A NOVEL AND INSPIRING TAKE ON SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALL HEARD IN OUR HISTORY.

BUT AS A YOUNG GIRL GROWING UP ON SAINT CROIX, WERE YOU EXPOSED TO VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS IN OUR LITERATURE?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE TO SAY THAT AS A CHILD I HEARD MARIO MOOREHEAD, RICHARD SCHROEDER.

I KNEW THE NAME.

BUT I WAS -- I WAS A GREAT STUDENT, BUT I DID WHAT WAS MESS TO GET THE GOOD GRADES.

SO SINCE IT WASN´T A PART OF THE CURRICULUM AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, I HONESTLY DID NOT GO OUT AND READ THOSE BOOKS.

SO NOW IS THE TIME FOR ME TO CATCH UP BECAUSE OUR STORIES, EVERYBODY WHO IS TELLING ME BEAUTIFUL STORIES IS JUST SO, SO RICH.

I HEARD FAMILY STORIES, AND I STARTED WRITING DOWN OUR FAMILY STORIES, WHICH -- I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME GREAT ONES.

AND, SO, WHEN I SAY IT IS RICH IN ORAL TRADITIONS, IT´S OUR PERSONAL FAMILY HISTORY ON BOTH SIDES.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT STORY TELLERS ON EITHER SIDE.

AND I CAN´T WAIT TO PUT THOSE IN THE FORM OF A BOOK OR MOVIE OR SOME TYPE OF DOCUMENTARY TO SHARE OUR FAMILY HISTORY SOME MORE.

>> SO YOU COME FROM A RICH HISTORY OF STORY TELLERS.

BUT WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A PERSON OUT THERE WHO THINKS THAT THEY MAY HAVE A STORY TO TELL BUT THEY´RE NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO GET STARTED?

>> WOW.

DO IT!

DO IT!

SO OFTEN WHEN WE THINK OF A STORY TELLER, WE THINK OF THE DYNAMIC STORY TELLER WHO JUST SEEMS TO COUGH AND A BEAUTIFUL, FLOWING VERSE JUST COMES OUT.

>> WHAT AN ANALOGY.

>> RIGHT?

IT´S LIKE, WHOA, HOW DID THEY DO THAT?

WE MAY LOOK AT THAT AND THINK, I CAN NEVER DO THAT.

SO THE KEY, TOO, IS THE FIRST THING.

DON´T COMPARE.

JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, RICH STORY TO TELL IN YOUR OWN PERSONALITY STYLE.

YOU MIGHT BE A CEREBRAL BRAIN, WHAT PEOPLE CALL, AND IN YOUR STORY YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE MORE FACTS.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE MORE DETAILS.

DO IT.

YOU MIGHT BE THE PERSONALITY THAT YOU ARE -- TO GET IT DONE.

SO MAYBE YOUR STORY WILL BE SHORTER BECAUSE YOU DON´T LIKE A WHOLE LOT OF DETAILS.

DO IT THAT WAY.

MAYBE YOU ARE A SOFTER KIND OF PERSON AND YOU ARE MORE STATUS QUO.

TELL IT THAT WAY.

MAYBE YOU ARE FLAMBOYANT.

TELL IT THAT WAY.

THAT´S MY FIRST ADVICE, IS TO CONSIDER YOUR OWN PERSONALITY STYLE.

LOOK AT AUTHORS WHO RESEMBLE, I´D LIKE TO TELL A STORY LIKE THIS AND THEN DO IT.

ANOTHER PIECE OF ADVICE THAT I WOULD SHARE IS THAT SOME PEOPLE REALLY DON´T LIKE WRITING AND, SO, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU.

THERE IS A PROGRAM.

I HAVE A SMARTPHONE AND THE DICTATION DOES NOT WORK REALLY WELL, BUT THERE IS A DICTATION PROGRAM DOES SPEECH NOTES CO AND IT WORKS VERY WELL AT HOME.

GO AHEAD AND SIT DOWN AND FOR 15 TO 30 MINUTES A DAY TALK YOUR STORY.

AND IT WILL GO EVEN A LOT FASTER.

AND THEN AT THE END OF IT, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK BACK THERE.

THERE PROBABLY WILL BE SOME ERRORS.

GO AHEAD AND FIX THEM, BUT LET THAT DICTATE YOUR STORY AND WRITE IT THERE.

BUT DON´T ALLOW THE FEAR OF MAKING THE MISTAKES OR THE FEAR OF IT NOT BEING PERFECT.

DON´T ALLOW THAT TO STOP YOU BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE A STORY TO TELL.

AND YOU DO HAVE AN AUDIENCE AS WELL.

THERE IS SOMEONE THAT REALLY WANTS TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

>> EVEN IF IT´S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE KEEP FOR FAMILY AND FOR PROSPERITY, WE COULD ALL TRY TO TELL OUR STORIES AND TELL OUR HISTORY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT´S VERY SIMILAR.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY FATHER, HE HAS WRITTEN A BOOK.

AND HIS INTENTION IS TO GIVE IT JUST TO HIS KIDS.

YOU WON´T BE ABLE TO BUY IT ON AMAZON.COM OR UNDERCOVER BOOKS OR ANYWHERE.

BUT HE´S GIVING THIS AS A BOOK OF LOVE, BECAUSE HE WANTS US TO KNOW THE STUFF HE´S MADE UP.

HE WANTS TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT AFTER HE´S GONE, WE HAVE THIS.

YOUR STORY IS A PART OF YOUR LEGACY.

>> AND THAT´S A GREAT WAY TO GET TO MY FINAL QUESTION.

WHAT´S NEXT FOR YOU, ANGELA GOLDEN BRIAN?

WHAT´S NEXT FOR YOU?

>> WOW.

WOW.

WELL, DEFINITELY FINISHING FIRE BURN THE DOCUMENTARY.

WE´RE COMING CLOSE TO THAT.

WE´RE GETTING READY TO ENTER FILM FESTIVAL.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT AS A FEATURE FILM.

BUT MY -- NOW THAT I KNOW THAT I AM AN AUTHOR, MY NEXT BOOK THAT I´M WORKING ON IS CALLED EMBRACING THE SPEAKER WITHIN BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN COACHING A LOT OF PEOPLE ON PUBLIC SPEAKING.

I SAID, WHY NOT HAVE A BOOK TO GO ALONG WITH MY PRIVATE COACHING FOR THAT?

BUT DEFINITELY CONTINUING TO SHARE THE STORIES, CONTINUING TO READ USDI HISTORIANS AS WELL AS THEIR WORKS AND POSSIBLY PUTTING IT ON THE SCREEN AS WELL.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO COME BACK AND DO SOME FILM IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE MORE OF YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANGELA, FOR JOINING US TODAY.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO HEAR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT AND AUTHOR, ANGELA GOLDEN BRIAN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "JAMES AND THE FIRE BURN" OR ANY OF THE BOOKS FEATURED ON THIS PROGRAM, VISIT OUR WEBSITE WTJX.ORG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL AUTHORS.

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

♫♫ >>> THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> UNDERCOVER BOOKS AND GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER.

WE CARRY A SELECTION OF BOOKS, GIFTS AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT UNDERCOVERBOOKS SAINT CROIX.COM.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

♫♫