>> Announcer: THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

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 AVID READER.

I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE EXPLORE THE BOOKCASE AND VIRGIN ISLAND WRITERS AND THEIR TALENTS.

EACH WEEK 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 AM SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOME GROWN STORYTELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION FROM THE "THE BOOKCASE" IS BACK, BELLY AND SIDE.

I´M SO EXCITED TO WELCOME -- A AUTHORIZE CELESTE RITA VEGA.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE SHOW AND WHAT YOU DO FOR ALL OF US.

>> AS WE TALK ABOUT "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE," WE ENTER THE WORLD YOU CREATED BASED ON IMAGINATIVE REALISM, SPECULATIVE FICTION.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS COLLECTION AND I HOPE THAT AFTER THIS EPISODE EVERYONE IS MOTIVATED TO GO OUT AND READ IT FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT, YOUR STORY IS VERY MUCH ROOTED IN OUR VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORY AND OUR VIRGIN ISLANDS CULTURE.

BUT BEFORE WE DIVE INTO "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE," I´D LIKE FOR YOU TO TELL OUR AUDIENCE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> I GREW UP ON ST. THOMAS IN 5th GRADE.

PETER AND PAUL.

I FELT LIKE I WAS EXILED TO NEW YORK -- WELL, ALL I REMEMBER IS SAYING, OOH, I´D LIKE TO SEE SNOW.

AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I WAS LIVING IN NEW YORK WITH MY IF THEY ARE.

-- FATHER.

AS MANY VIRGIN ISLANDERS DO, I WORK HERE.

I CAME BACK FROM THE STATES.

I WAS WORKING AS A BOOKKEEPER.

I WANTED TO RETIRE AT HOME.

WHEN YOU´RE IN THE HUSTLE RAISING, YOU KNOW, YOUR FAMILY AND WHATNOT, IT´S STRESSFUL LIKE EVERYWHERE.

BUT TO BE HOME AT PEACE IS SUCH A BLESSING AND I´M JUST GLAD TO BE BACK.

>> SO, YOUR WORK IS VERY INFLUENCED BY OUR VIRGIN ISLANDS CULTURE AND THERE ARE SOME IN YOUR COLLECTION THAT´S ACTUALLY WRITTEN IN DIALECT.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT?

>> I DON´T REALLY KNOW.

THE FIRST STORY THAT I WROTE, THE DREAM PRICE, I WROTE IT IN DIALECT.

I HEARD IT IN DIALECT.

AND IT SEEMED TO FIT.

AND IT WAS PUBLISHED BY THE CARIBBEAN WRITER, OUR VERY OWN, AND SO I WAS EMBOLDENED TO KEEP DOING IT.

BUT SOME STORIES ASK FOR STANDARD ENGLISH, BUT I PREFER DIALECT BECAUSE YOU CAN GET MORE FLAVOR IMMEDIATELY.

YOU CAN PACK A PUNCH.

THEY CAN BE VERY HURT.

WE CAN COMPRESS AND MAKE IT CONCISE WITH FLAVOR.

>> YOU MENTION THAT THE DREAM PIECE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BOOKS FEATURED IN THIS COLLECTION, ALSO APPEARED IN THE CARIBBEAN WRITER.

HAVE YOUR SHORT STORIES BEEN PUBLISHED IN OTHER COLLECTIONS?

>> YES, THEY´VE BEEN INCLUDED IN, YOU KNOW, BLACK SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY, PEOPLE OF COLOR, DISJOY FANTASY, BEST SCI-FI 2021, DIFFERENT ANTHOLOGIES LIKE I HAD NO CONTROL OVER.

IT´S THE ONLY THING, YOU KNOW, THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET DONE.

BUT I WAS PUBLISHED BY MANY OTHER ONLINE MAGAZINES MOSTLY PRINT, A FEW PRINTS, BUT MOSTLY THE SCI-FI WORLD IS VERY ONLINE ORIENTED.

>> WHAT DRAWS YOU TO SCIENCE FICTION?

>> BECAUSE YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE REAL WORLD, BUT STILL BE LIKE, I WASN´T REALLY TALKING ABOUT YOU, YOU KNOW?

BECAUSE YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH SO MANY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS.

THE PLAYGROUND IS JUST BIGGER, YOU KNOW?

IT´S A BIGGER PLAYGROUND.

>> SO YOU TAKE THE BIGGER PLAYGROUND WITH THE DIVERSITY AND THE RICHNESS OF OUR OWN VIRGIN ISLANDS CULTURE AND HAVE CREATED SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING.

BUT MY QUESTION FOR YOU, CELESTE, IS WHEN DID YOU FIRST START CALLING YOURSELF A WRITER?

>> YESTERDAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] LIKE REALLY.

IT´S IMPOSTER SYNDROME IS REAL, OKAY.

I NEVER FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, MY WORK IS REALLY GOOD ENOUGH.

THIS IS JUST LIGHTWEIGHT STUFF.

THIS IS NOT HEAVY.

I DON´T DO SCIENCE FICTION, HARD SCI-FI, YOU KNOW, WITH CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY, AND SO I DOUBT MYSELF, YOU KNOW, AND MY -- NOT REASON, NOT ABILITY -- MY CONFIDENCE TO BE WHERE -- TO BE PLACED NEXT TO THE PEOPLE THAT I AM OFTEN PLACED NEXT TO AND WITH, YOU KNOW.

SO, YEAH, IT´S A CONSTANT THING, LIKE, YOU´RE DOING ALL RIGHT, KEEP GOING, YOU´RE DOING ALL RIGHT.

BUT I KNOW FROM HEARING FROM WRITERS THAT I´M NOT ALONE IN THIS, YOU KNOW.

IT´S A CRAZY THING TO WANT TO DO.

I LITERALLY WANT TO LIKE SHOVE MY HEART AND SOUL AND THOUGHT OUT INTO THE WORLD AND HAVE PEOPLE REACT TO THEM.

LIKE WHY?

YOU KNOW?

SO, YEAH, IT´S NOT THAT BAD.

>> SO, WHAT ARE YOUR EARLIEST EXPERIENCES AT WRITING?

IN READING YOUR BIO, YOU REFERENCED A TEACHER OR SOMEONE GIVING YOU A JOURNAL.

IS THAT WHAT REALLY GOT YOU STARTED?

>> WHAT HAPPENED REALLY, REALLY WHY I STARTED TO TAKE WRITING SERIOUSLY -- I WAS A BIG, GROWN ADULT.

I WAS WELL IN MY MID TO LATE 30s.

I WORKED AS A BOOKKEEPER, AND A BOOKKEEPER IS A VERY KIND OF SOLITARY JOB, YOU KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU´RE OFF IN THE CORNER AND EVERYBODY BRINGS YOU STUFF AND YOU DO IT, OKAY.

AND I ACTUALLY LIKE THAT BECAUSE I DIDN´T LIKE TO GET INVOLVED WITH OFFICE POLITICS AND GOSSIP AND THING SO, AND SO I´M LIKE, WHAT ELSE CAN I DO WHERE I CAN WORK ALONE?

AND THAT´S REALLY WHEN I SAID -- OF COURSE, HAVING LOVED BOOKS AND READING, YOU KNOW, ALL MY LIFE, I WAS LIKE, LET ME SEE IF I COULD TRY A THING, YOU KNOW.

SO I TOOK -- BACK IN THE DAY OF SNAIL MAIL, I TOOK A CORRESPONDENCE COURSE.

>> OH, WAY.

>> I COULD GET IT FROM HERE TO THERE -- I MEAN FROM THERE TO HEAR.

ANYWAY, I TOOK A CORRESPONDENCE COURSE ON HOW TO WRITE CHILDREN´S LITERATURE.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD TEACH ME THE VERY BASICS, WHICH IT DID.

IT TAUGHT ME TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE STRUCTURE -- WELL, STRUCTURE I DON´T UNDERSTAND.

BUT PACING AND INCLUDE THE SENTENCE AND DIALOGUE.

THAT HELPED ME.

THEN I WROTE THE DREAM PRICE.

WHEN IT WAS ACCEPTED BY THE CARIBBEAN WRITER, I WAS SHOCKED, SCARED, HORRIFIED, DELIGHTED AND LIKE, OKAY -- >> ALL OF THE EMOTIONS.

>> YES.

MAYBE I CAN DO THIS, YOU KNOW.

SO I NEVER GREW UP WANTING TO BE A WRITING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> SO WOULD YOU SAY THAT WRITING STARTED AS AN OUTLET FOR YOUR CREATIVITY?

>> YES, YES, BECAUSE -- >> HOW DID YOU BALANCE WRITING WITH THE DEMANDS OF YOUR DAY JOB?

>> I DIDN´T.

I WOULD WRITE A STORY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, YOU KNOW.

AND THEN I WOULD TRY TO GET IT PUBLISHED AND IT WOULD GET PUBLISHED AND I WOULD GET REAL EXCITED.

YOU SHOULD CONCENTRATE MORE ON THIS, YOU SHOULD DEDICATE MORE OF YOUR TIME ON THIS.

BUT THE REAL WORLD GOT IN THE WAY.

AND TO BE A PROLIFIC WRITER, YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN AND DO YOUR WORK CONSISTENTLY.

AND I WASN´T DOING THAT BECAUSE LIFE WAS JUST TOO MUCH, TOO FAST FOR ME AND I COULDN´T DO BOTH, UNLIKE SOME OTHER, MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO CAN DO IT AND DO DO IT.

>> I GUESS EVERYONE IS WRITING WITHIN THEIR OWN, THEIR OWN REALITY.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IS THIS YOUR FIRST BOOK?

>> YES.

>> AND DO YOU PLAN TO WRITE MORE?

>> THIS IS MY ONLY BOOK.

I´VE BEEN WORKING ON A NOVEL SINCE HUMPTY-DUMP.

I KEPT BEING CAPTIVATED BY DIFFERENT SHORT STORIES.

I PUT THE CONTINUATION OF THE NOVEL ASIDE TO GO -- TO FINISH SHORT STORIES.

>> WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO WRITING SHORT STORIES AS OPPOSED TO LONGER FORM NOVELS, ET CETERA?

>> THE LONGEST THING THAT I HAVE WRITTEN IS CALLED A NOVELETTE.

IT´S 7,000 WORDS.

IT DIDN´T FEEL LONG TO ME.

I JUST TOLD THE STORY AND I KNEW WHEN I GOT TO THE END.

THEN WHEN I LOOKED AT THE WORD COUNT, I WAS, OH, MY GOD, THIS IS ALMOST TOO LONG TO SELL.

NOT A LOT OF MARKETS LIKE THAT, THAT LONG A STORY.

I LIKE SHORT STORIES BECAUSE I GET TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN THIS NEW CHARACTER OR WORLD OR SITUATION AND IT´S CONCISE.

I KNOW, I KNOW WHEN IT´S DONE AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONVEY AND HOPING THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONVEY TO MY READERS SOMETHING COMPLETE THAT DOESN´T TAKE UP AS MUCH TIME AS A NOVEL, EVEN THOUGH I PREFER TO READ NOVELS.

>> SO, WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?

>> I´M READING "WHITE SNOW," CALI -- NOT CALI, THAT´S A CHARACTER.

"GIRL WITH THE HAZEL EYES."

AND I´M READING "THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY" WHICH IS BY A BLACK AMERICAN MALE VIOLINIST, SO THAT´S WHAT I´M ON RIGHT NOW.

>> IN YOUR COLLECTION YOU HAVE SO MANY PIECES THAT BRING IN, YOU KNOW, ANIMALS, SHAPE SHIFTING, AND THERE IS A STORY YOU´VE WRITTEN I THINK "FEATHER AND ROCK" OR "ROCK AND FEATHER."

>> YES, "ROCKS, FEATHER, SHELL."

IN A MAGAZINE, SAINT JOHN.

THAT STORY, I WAS APPROACHED BY A MAN AND HE WANTED TO BUILD A COLLECTION -- NO, A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD CREATE A STORY BIBLE, AND THAT EACH OF US FOR WORLD BUILDING, SCI-FI WORLD, EACH OF US WOULD GO OFF AND WRITE AN INDIVIDUAL STORY THAT IS BASED IN THIS WORLD.

SO WHAT WE DECIDED AS A GROUP, THERE WERE THREE OF US, WAS THAT WE BASICALLY THOUGHT WE COULD GET AWAY FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE ISLANDS WOULD JOIN TOGETHER LIKE PUBLIC PIECES AND ELEVATE INTO THE SKY.

>> OH, WOW.

>> TO GET AWAY FROM HURRICANES AND FLOODING AND EVERYTHING.

AND ALSO SOMETIMES WE DID IT JUST FOR FUN, FOR CARNIVALS, WHERE WE COULD JUST WALK FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND OR WHATEVER.

SO -- >> AND THAT WOULD CERTAINLY ELIMINATE ALL OF OUR TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

>> IT´S A GOOD THING, RIGHT?

YES.

SO THAT STORY CAME OUT OF THAT WORLD BUILDING, BUT THAT STORY ENDED UP BEING ABOUT A WOMAN WHOSE SON BECAME A TURTLE BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF SCI-FI, BLAH, BLAH, STORY, STORY.

AND HE BECAME A TURTLE AND WAS ON ANOTHER ISLAND, AND SHE WOULD GO AND VISIT HIM AND WHATNOT, BUT SHE WANTED TO RESTORE HIM TO HIS HUMAN FORM.

>> OKAY.

>> EVENTUALLY SHE REALIZED THAT HE WAS HAPPY THE WAY HE WAS.

>> EVEN IF YOU GO AS FAR BACK AS GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETIMES AN ELEMENT OF TRYING TO RESTORE PEOPLE TO THE SHAPE THEY WERE BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED, AND THEY WERE TURNED INTO THE TURTLE OR TURNED INTO THE SNAKE OR STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO I FIND IT REALLY -- THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF SHAPE SHIFTING REALLY INTERESTING.

BUT YOU HAVE GREAT TITLES.

"ROCK, FEATHER AND SHELL."

HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THESE TITLES?

DO YOU HAVE THE STORY FIRST AND THEN THE TITLE, OR THE REVERSE?

>> I HAVE THE STORY FIRST.

I CANNOT TAKE CREDIT FOR "ROCK, FEATHER SHELL."

I DON´T KNOW.

I WAS NOT IN MY RIGHT MIND AND I JUST KEPT WORKING AT IT AS, YOU KNOW, UNTITLED.

AND I ACTUALLY SUBMITTED IT AS ONE TITLE, AND SO THEY CAME UP WITH THAT TITLE FOR ME.

I WAS VERY GRATEFUL.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME THE TITLE TO ME IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND THE STORY COMES FIRST AND THEN I FIGURE OUT THE TITLE.

>> A LOT OF YOUR WRITING IS BASED ON WORLD BUILDING, ON TAKING SOME OF OUR REALITY AND JUST EXPANDING IT AND CREATING A NEW WORLD.

IS THAT CHALLENGING FOR YOU TO DO?

>> YOU KNOW, NOT INITIALLY.

LIKE I WILL COME UP WITH A CRAZY, STUPID SENTENCE.

YOU KNOW, LIKE, JONATHAN LIKE A SUGAR APPLE.

AND THEN HIS TOE NAIL SEEM TO GROW LIKE ROOTS.

I HAVE A SENTENCE HERE.

THEN IT GETS DIFFICULT.

I´M LIKE, OKAY, SO, WHAT AM I GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN?

IS JONATHAN GOING TO BECOME A SUGAR APPLE TREE?

HOW DO I MAKE THAT PLAUSIBLE?

AND THAT´S WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT.

THAT´S WHEN YOU HAVE TO REALLY THINK AND FIT THE PIECES TOGETHER AS BEST YOU CAN.

BUT THE INITIAL STUPIDNESS IS JUST, YOU JUST GET ON THERE AND KEEP GOING.

>> JUST KIND OF GO WITH THE FLOW?

>> YES.

>> SO DOES THAT DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING PROCESS, JUST GOING WITH THE FLOW?

>> YES.

>> CAN YOU TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS?

>> I HAVE TRIED OUTLINING STORIES.

THE NOVEL IS OUTLINE.

I THINK THAT´S WHY I´M NOT PRESSED TO FINISH IT, BECAUSE I KNOW THE WHOLE STORY ALREADY.

>> UM-HMM.

>> BUT MOST OF THE TIME I DON´T OUTLINE, WHAT THEY CALL A CANCER, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE HAVING FUN, TOO.

>> SO YOUR WRITING PROCESS, YOU SIT DOWN AT THE COMPUTER PERSON?

ARE YOU MEN -- PEN AND PAPER?

ARE YOU DISCIPLINED?

ARE YOU THAT WRITER WHO WEIGHTS FOR THE NEWS TO STRIKE?

>> I HAVE NO DISCIPLINE, NO.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY.

>> NO, NOT GOOD AT DISCIPLINE.

I USED TO BE A PEN AND PAPER WRITER, BUT NOW I THINK I´M MORE OF A -- I TYPE MORE.

I THINK I HAVE TO SHIFT SOMETHING AROUND IN MY LIFE OR IN MY SPACE BECAUSE I´M BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHERE I SIT DOWN TO TYPE, IT´S LIKE I´M WORKING.

I HAVE TO WORK, YOU KNOW.

AND THAT´S NOT AS FUN FOR ME, YOU KNOW.

I REALIZE I´M NOT GOING TO GET RICH OR BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MYSELF WITH WRITING OR WHATEVER, SO IT HAS TO BE ENJOYABLE.

>> SO, YOU HAVE IN YOUR STORIES WHAT I THINK ARE SOME FANTASTICAL PLOT TWISTS, STUFF THAT LITERALLY GRAB ME BY THE THROAT.

AND WHEN I READ IT, I WOULD EITHER LAUGH OUT LOUD OR GASP IN SHOCK AND AWE AND HAVE TO GO BACK AND READ IT AGAIN.

SO WHEN YOU´RE WRITING, DO YOU HAVE THESE PLOT TWISTS ALREADY PLANNED OUT?

OR DOES IT JUST COME TO YOU?

>> IT JUST COMES.

I DON´T PLAN THEM OUT.

I DON´T EVEN THINK OF THEM AS TWISTS REALLY.

I THINK, AND THEN THIS HAPPENED, AND THIS HAPPENED, AND NOBODY EXPECTED THAT.

SO MAYBE IT IS -- IS THAT THE DEFINITION OF A PLOT TWIST?

I DON´T THINK I´M GOOD AT THAT.

I´M DELIGHTED TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT, BUT I THINK THAT´S SOMETHING I NEED TO WORK ON.

>> WELL, I KNOW WHEN I WAS READING "JUMBY AND BORDEAUX," THAT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.

I WAS STRUCK BY WILL THE STORY -- HOW THE STORY ENDED, HOW IT UNFOLDED AND REALLY HAD TO GO BACK AND RETHINK THE IMAGERY AND THE RITUAL THAT YOU´RE CREATING.

AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE REALLY GOES OUT AND TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE" BECAUSE CELESTE, IN MY OPINION, HER WRITING JUST LEAPS OFF THE PAGE, IN MY OPINION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO, FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS EPISODE AND THINKING THAT THEY HAVE A STORY TO TELL, WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE TO THEM BE?

>> I FIRMLY BELIEVE EVERY TONGUE´S GOT A STORY.

YES, NOT EVERYBODY CAN WRITE, YOU KNOW, CAN WRITE IN A WAY THAT CAN ENGAGE OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF VIRGIN ISLANDERS CAN DO IT, THE PEN IS YOUR FRIEND.

DON´T SELF-REJECT.

SEND IT OUT.

SEND IT OUT.

I HAD A TEACHER WHO TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, SHE TOLD ME, SEND IT TO "THE NEW YORKER."

SEND IT TO THE PEOPLE YOU DEFINITELY THINK, THEY´RE NOT GOING TO WANT MY WORK, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHAT´S OUT THERE.

>> HOW LONG WAS IT BEFORE YOU TOOK YOUR OWN ADVICE?

>> YESTERDAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT´S HARD, IT´S HARD.

I STILL, I STILL SQUABBLE ABOUT SUBMISSIONS, YOU KNOW.

MAYBE -- THEY LEAN A LOT TOWARDS PATHOS, AND MINE IS KIND OF HUMOROUS AND QUIRKY.

THEY LIKE THINGS THAT VERGE ON HORROR, AND I DON´T HAVE A HORROR.

SO WHEREAS I KNOW I SHOULD BE MIXING IT UP, YOU KNOW, AND I SHOULD BE SENDING OUT MORE, AND SO THAT´S WHAT I´M ADVISING OTHER WRITERS TO DO.

JUST KEEP SUBMITTING.

KEEP SUBMITTING, AND DON´T HATE TO SUBMIT.

IT´S FREE.

JUST KEEP SUBMITTING.

>> IN YOUR BOOK, "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE" -- AND I LOVE THE TITLE -- WHEN I THINK OF "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE," I THINK OF CATCHING IT FROM ALL DIRECTIONS, YOU CAN´T CATCH A BREAK.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH A TITLE FOR THIS COLLECTION?

>> I REALLY STRUGGLED TO COME UP WITH A CORRECT TITLE FOR THIS COLLECTION.

I WAS GOING THROUGH WORDS AND IDIOMS AND SAYINGS AND WHATNOT.

I KNEW THE PUBLISHER WAS TAKING A CHANCE ON THIS COLLECTION BECAUSE OF THE VERY NATURE OF IT.

FIRST OF ALL, IT´S PRACTICALLY LIKE YOU CAN´T REALLY MARKET IT.

IT´S FANTASY, IT´S MAGICAL REALISM.

IT´S STANDARD ENGLISH AND IT´S DIALECT AND IT´S REALITY.

SO, SO THAT TO ME WAS "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE."

THAT´S EVERYTHING COMING AT YOU FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.

THAT´S HOW I SETTLED ON THAT BOOK TITLE.

>> WELL, I HAD SEVERAL FAVORITE PIECES IN "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE."

I LOVED JIMBY AND BORDEAUX.

THE IMAGERY AND VIVID LANGUAGE AND STUCK AND THE DREAM PRICE, AND IN THIS LITTLE SINS RECOLLECTION, WHICH MADE ME THINK OF THE THINGS THAT I´D HEARD AS A LITTLE GIRL.

BUT DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PASSAGE THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE?

>> I HAVE PICKED OUT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ FOR YOU.

I CAN´T SAY IT´S A FAVORITE.

YOU KNOW HOW IT IS WHEN YOU HAVE 17 CHILDREN, ALL OF THEM -- BUT THIS, WHAT I´M GOING TO READ FOR YOU NOW, IS A LITTLE PIECE, SOMEWHAT VERY CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE, A STORY CALLED "NAME CALLING" WHICH IS -- I´LL READ YOU A LITTLE AND TELL YOU WHAT THE STORY IS ABOUT.

IS THAT OKAY?

>> OF COURSE.

>> OKAY.

I KNOW I AIN´T NOTHING SINCE A DUMB BREAD AND TEA LAST NIGHT.

OR MAYBE IT´S THIS WHOLE THING.

IT´S SO STUPID, SO SAD.

HE JUST SAT THERE LAUGHING.

EVEN THOUGH IRMA BODY STILL SQUARE OFF WITH UNCLE RUE, SHE ROLL EYES FOR ME.

HE TAKE THAT AS A SURRENDER AND PUT HE HAND ON HIS SHOULDER FIRST AND SIT DOWN.

WHEN HE TOUCH SHE, SHE FLINCH A LITTLE BIT, BUT SHE SINK SO GRACEFULLY TO THE LOW CHAIR.

THAT WAS LIKE SEEING A FEATHER FLOAT TO THE OCEAN FLOOR.

THAT SET ME OFF AGAIN.

AND EVEN AS I THINK OF MY BIG LEG IRMA FLOATING LIKE A FEATHER, THE TEARS WELL UP IN MY EYE BECAUSE IRMA IS POWERLESS AND I´M -- FOR TRUE.

UNCLE RUE SAID, YES, IT´S WORK I DOING, BY TAKING PEOPLE THROUGH DEATH´S DOOR WHILE I SLEEPING.

HOW IS A JOB SOME PEOPLE GET AND THEY JUST HAVE TO DO IT.

HOW DO I NAME A PERSON?

ME WANT IT AND I RESIST HIM.

HOW I HAVE TO DO IT.

LET ME SELF DO IT.

I DON´T END UP DOING IT FOR REAL.

WHAT YOU MEAN FOR REAL, I ASK?

AIN´T REAL.

THESE PEOPLE DON´T DIE.

THEY´S REAL ANYWAY.

YOU KNOW, ME NEVER LOOK THEM UP OR NOTHING.

THEY REAL, YES.

THEY COULD PROBABLY FIND THE OBITUARY IN THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER IF YOU HAD THEIR LAST NAMES.

BUT YOU DON´T, DO YOU?

THAT´S PART OF NAME CALLING, WHICH IS A STORY ABOUT THIS WOMAN WHO TAKES PEOPLE THROUGH DEATH´S DOOR WHILE SHE´S SLEEPING.

SHE WAKES UP HEARING A NAME, YOU KNOW.

JULIANA, FRANCESCA, CASTRO, SHE WRITES THE NAME DOWN.

SHE DOESN´T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT´S HAPPENING.

SOMEBODY FALLING OFF A SCAFFOLD, OR YOU KNOW -- >> AND I REALLY HOPE THAT HEARING THIS, PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED TO GO PICK UP "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE" AND READ FOR THEMSELVES THE FANTASTIC WORLD THAT YOU´VE CREATED, AND THE STORIES THAT JUST SPEAK TO US AS VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

I SAW MYSELF IN SO MANY OF THE STORIES AND ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE ONE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SO, WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CELESTE, FOR JOINING US HERE.

ON "THE BOOKCASE."

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT CELESTE RITA BAKER, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "BACK, BELLY AND SIDE" OR ANY BOOKS FEATURED ON OUR SHOW, VISIT WWW.WTJX.ORG.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU ON "THE BOOKCASE," AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM THE BOOKCASE.

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