>>> 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 ISLAND´S AUTHORS AND TALENT.

WE WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORYTELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US.

I´M SO EXCITED TO GET OUR HOMEGROWN STORY TELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION FROM THE BOOKCASE IS HOW WE CURE DRINKING.

I´M SO HONORED TO WELCOME LORI WATTS.

WELCOME TO THE BOOKCASE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> IT´S LOVELY TO BE HERE, SHAWNA.

>> THE TITLE YOUR BOOK IMMEDIATELY GETS MY ATTENTION.

WHY THAT TITLE?

>> WELL, FOR THE MOST PART THAT LIVED THROUGH HURRICANES, ESPECIALLY CATEGORY 5 ONES UNDERSTAND YOU MIGHT NEED A LITTLE EXTRA COURAGE TO TRY AND MAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH IT.

>> TRUE.

>> GIVEN THE FACT WE HAD TWO MAJOR RUM PRODUCERS ON THE ISLAND AND ACCESSIBILITY IS EASY, THE DRINKING I THINK FLOWS A LITTLE BIT MORE FREELY WHEN YOU´RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE DAY TO DAY TRAUMA OF GETTING THROUGH HURRICANES.

IT ROLL OFF THE TONGUE THAT WAY.

>> GREAT.

SO WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

IS IT JUST ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES?

>> WHEN I WAS WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE HURRICANES, I REFER TO THE BOOK AS IN TWO HURRICANES.

SO HURRICANE IRMA WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A MAJOR EVENT HERE TURNED OUT NOT TO BE SO MUCH ON ST. CROIX.

MUCH MORE ON ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN.

THAT STORY JUST SPILLED OUT OF ME.

THE SHORT STORY PART OF HURRICANE IRMA.

CAME HOME, WROTE IT DOWN IN ONE FELL SWOOP AND IT WAS DONE.

WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH MARIA, TEN DAYS LATER, WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING AND GOING AND LIVING IN OUR HOUSE.

EVERYBODY WAS GOING THROUGH THE TRAUMA.

SO IT SEEMED PETTY TO SORT OF COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SO I TURPD TO KEEPING A JOURNAL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE DATE TODAY VEXATIONS OR ANYTHING THAT JUST MADE YOUR LIFE A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT, I DIDN´T WANT TO ADD TO SOMEONE ELSE´S BURDEN.

I KEPT A JOURNAL.

THAT IS KIND OF WHERE ALL OF THE REALLY DETAIL COMES THROUGH.

THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT I WOULDN´T HAVE REMEMBERED IF I DIDN´T COMMIT IT TO PAPER.

>> IS THIS YOUR FIRST BOOK?

>> IT IS NOT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FIFTH BOOK IF YOU COUNTY HAVE A SELECTION OF COLLECTIVE WORKS OF POETRY THAT IS PUBLISHED.

BUT I HAVE A YOUNG ADULT SERIES CALLED THE KING OF COOL.

AND THAT WAS MY VERY FIRST BOOK.

>> SO WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR INTRO HOW EVERYBODY HAS A STORY TO TELL.

I BELIEVE THAT.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO TRY AND COMMIT THEIR EXPERIENCES TO PAPER IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT IS JUST JOURNALLING.

WHICH I´VE DONE SINCE I WAS A VERY YOUNG CHILD.

BUT I THINK IF YOU HAVE A STORY THAT YOU JUST FEEL LIKE YOU REALLY GOT TO SHARE, THIS IS THE WAY TO GET IT OUT.

GET IT OUT TO YOUR BROADER AUDIENCE AND DO IT.

I FOUND AFTER A WROTE HURRICANE DRINKING, I HAD A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WENT THROUGH IT.

AS WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, IT´S THE AFTERMATH AS MUCH AS ANYTHING THAT WAS THE TRAUMATIC EVENT.

NOT TO SAY THE HURRICANE WASN´T.

IT IS THE AFTERMATH THAT IS MUCH WORSE.

I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME THIS BOOK IS VERY CATHARTIC FOR THEM.

THEY FELT LIKE HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE ANGST THEY WERE GOING THROUGH.

>> SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND IT.

>> THEY SAI HERE, JUST READ THIS.

>> RIGHT.

>> I READ YOUR BOOK COVER TO COVER.

AND IT MADE ME CHUCKLE.

AND IT MADE ME PAUSE.

BECAUSE EVEN ON OUR LITTLE ISLAND, EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT HURRICANE EXPERIENCES.

BUT WITHIN IT, THERE IS, YOU KNOW, COMMONALITY.

AND I REALLY, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE THAT YOU TALK SO FREELY AND HONESTLY ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK, AGAIN, WHEN YOU AND I WERE VISITING, A LOT OF THESE EXPERIENCES AT THE TIME THEY WERE HAPPENING WERE NOT FUNNY HINDSIGHT IS A BLESSING IN THAT RESPECT.

THERE WERE MANY PARTS AS I WAS READING THE JOURNAL ENTRIES THAT WERE NOT NECESSARILY HUMOROUS, BUT I ALSO WAS ABLE TO REALIZE AZ PUT IT OUT TO PAPER SOME OF THE FUNNY PARTS OF IT.

AND I THINK THAT´S PROBABLY THE OTHER THING THAT HELPED PEOPLE SO MUCH IS THEY REALIZE, AS YOU SAID, WE ALL HAD DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

THERE WAS THAT COMMON THREAD OF EVENTS THAT WE ALL HAD TO GO THROUGH.

AND IF YOU CAN FIND A LITTLE HUMOR IT IN.

I THINK THAT MAKES LIFE A LITTLE BIT EASIER AND MORE GENTLE.

>> I ALSO JOURNALED SINCE I WAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY YOUNG.

AND IN LOOKING BACK AT MY, YOU KNOW, HURRICANE ERA JOURNAL, I HAVE AN ENTRY ABOUT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE HUNT FOR ICE.

AND WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT IN TO LOOKING FOR ICE -- I´M NOT EVEN AN ICE PERSON.

>> UNTIL YOU ARE.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT WE ALWAYS LIKE TO ASK WHEN OUR GUESTS HERE, WHAT ARE YOU READING?

>> SO, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC, I´M NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE, BUT I´M A VORACIOUS READER.

I READ TWO OR THREE BOOKS AT A TIME.

RIGHT NOW WHAT I AM -- I LITERALLY JUST FINISHED EDUCATED.

IT´S A BOOK BY TARA.

>> I LIKE THAT.

>> EXCELLENT BOOK.

NICE MEMOIR.

I TRY TO BALANCE REALLY DIFFICULT READING, SOMETIMES WITH JUST SORT OF LIGHT READING.

AND FORTUNATELY, RIGHT NOW IN MY BOOKCASE I JUST HAVE A SOLID GROUP OF SERIOUS ONES.

THE OTHER ONE I´M READING IS WHITE FRAGILITY.

AGAIN, BECAUSE OF SO MUCH THAT´S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, IT´S A GREAT KIND OF MIRROR TO HOLD UP AND REALLY SORT OF UNDERSTAND THINGS.

SO I TRY AND TREAT MY READING NOT ONLY AS SOMETHING THAT IS ENTERTAINING BUT HOPEFULLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS EDUCATING ME AND BROADENING MY HORIZONS IN WHATEVER WAY I CAN.

>> HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN WRITING?

SO YOU´VE BEEN JOURNALLING SINCE YOU WERE YOUNG.

TELL US THE PROCESS TO YOU SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WANT TO SHARE MY WORK WITH THE WORLD AND BECOME PUBLISHED?

>> I WAS A POET BEFORE I WAS ANYTHING ELSE.

I´M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE CALLED MYSELF THAT.

BUT I CERTAINLY STARTED WRITING POETRY AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.

I WAS VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL LITERATURE TEACHER WHO JUST KIND OF GOT AHOLD OF ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW THIS IS GOOD BUT I THINK YOU CAN BE BETTER.

AND SHE KNEW HOW TO SORT OF CHALLENGE ME AND REALLY HELP ME FIND MY OWN VOICE.

I THINK IT´S SO IMPORTANT -- YOU KNOW, TEACHERS, AS I KNOW MANY PARENTS ARE BEGINNING TO REALIZE ARE WAY UNDERVALUED.

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT HER AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD WITH HER WAS THAT SHE REALLY -- SHE DIDN´T TRY TO IMPOSE WHAT SHE THOUGHT I SHOULD BE SAYING.

IT WAS WHERE IS YOUR VOICE?

WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?

AND THAT WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I JUST HAD POETRY PUBLISHED SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THROUGH COLLEGE AND THEN ON INTO ADULTHOOD.

WHEN I MOVED DOWN HERE, MY HUSBAND AND I MET.

I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF MY POEMS PUBLISHED IN THE CARIBBEAN WRITER WHICH IS SUCH AN HONOR.

I STARTED WRITING SHORT STORIES IN COLLEGE.

AND THEN THAT´S SORT OF MORPHED INTO LATER YEARS STARTING TO WRITE THE BOOKS.

>> YOU HAVE PREFERRED GENRE?

POETRY, LONG STORM, YOU KNOW, NOVELS?

DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED STYLE?

>> ANYBODY THAT TELLS YOU WRITING A BOOK IS EASY IS LYING.

SO WRITING A SBOOK A WHOLE LOT MORE WORK.

EVEN, YOU KNOW, HURRICANE DRINKING I REFER TO AS A NOVEL.

IT´S A SHORTER, YOU KNOW, EASY TO READ BOOK.

BUT IT DOES TAKE A WHOLE LOT MORE EFFORT.

AND YOU HAVE TO ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS ON A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.

POETRY HAS ALWAYS SORT OF WALKED AROUND MY HEAD.

I MEAN, I WRITE POEMS NOT BECAUSE I NECESSARILY WANT TO BUT BECAUSE THEY JUST COME OUT.

AND I HAVE BEEN THAT WAY FOR AS LONG AS I´VE KNOWN -- YOU KNOW, BEEN TIBL DO IT.

SO POETRY, I THINK, IS EASY.

I´M NOT SUGGESTING IT´S AN EASIER FORM.

BUT FOR ME, IT IS.

BUT LIKE THEM BOTH.

THEY GIVE YOU DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.

>> AND CULTURE CAN BE ALMOST A GATEWAY ONCE YOU SEE HOW THE WORDS START COMING TOGETHER.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO ARE YOU SELF PUBLISHED?

>> THESE BOOKS ARE ALL SELF PUBLISHED.

MY POETRY HAS BEEN IN -- I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER THIS WHEN SETTING UP THIS, I´M GOING TO SAY ABOUT 10 TO 12 DIFFERENT LITERARY JOURNALS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO THOSE WERE NEVER.

BUT I HAVE DONE THAT WITH THESE.

I HAD SOMEONE WHO APPROACHED ME ABOUT DOING SOME PUBLICATION WITH HURRICANE DRINKING AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS REALLY KIND OF A HUNGER TO GET THIS BOOK FROM FRIENDS AND FOLKS ON THE ISLAND.

SO I REALLY JUST WENT AHEAD AND PUSHED THROUGH TO PUBLISH IT MYSELF.

I MIGHT CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT DOWN THE ROAD.

THAT´S WHAT I DID.

>> RIGHT.

SO TELL US ABOUT THE PATH TO GETTING YOUR BOOKS OUT THERE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND.

THEY HAVE A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

I THINK SOMETIMES THE PROCESS OF BECOMING PUBLISHED CAN SEEM RATHER INTIMIDATING.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROCESS.

>> OKAY.

>> THE KING OF COOL SERIES WAS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT TOLD A STORY ABOUT ST. CROIX AND YOUNG FOLKS HERE ON THE ISLAND.

AND REALLY GAVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROFILE IT IN A WAY THAT NOT NECESSARILY EVERYBODY WOULD.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TOO YOUNG TO KNOW THE HARDY BOY SERIES AND THINGS LIKE.

THAT BUT THAT IS THE GENESIS OF KING OF COOL.

A GROUP OF YOUNG FOLKS DOING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE ISLAND.

THAT ONE I JUST -- WHEN I MADE THAT DECISION TO PUBLISH IT, I WENT AHEAD AND DID IT.

RIGHT?

I FOUND OUT ABOUT AMAZON.

THEY DO THIS SELF PUBLISHING.

THERE IS LOTS OF WAYS YOU CAN SELF PUBLISH.

UNDERCOVER BOOKS HERE WHICH ARE JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL GEM ON THE ISLAND, WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT IT, THEY ASKED ME TO DO A READING.

AND THAT REALLY HELPED SPREAD WORD OF MOUTH MORE THAN ANYTHING.

BECAUSE PEOPLE CAME HERE AND HEARD THE READING AND BOUGHT IT AND THEN IT SORT OF TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN ON THE ISLAND.

IT´S BEEN -- IT´S DONE FAIRLY WELL ON AM DONE.

IT´S DONE VERY WELL ON AMAZON.

AND, AGAIN, I THINK THE TITLE INTRIGUED PEOPLE.

SO -- >> IT DOES.

BUT IF I HAD TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT MY HURRICANE EXPERIENCES, IT WOULD BE CALLED HURRICANE COOKIES.

>> JOIN UP.

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN POISON.

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

ARE YOU A PEN AND PAPER PERSON, LAPTOP?

>> I DO EVERYTHING LONG HAND AND I ALWAYS HAVE.

I CARRY AROUND A JOURNAL IN MY PURSE.

INSPIRATION CAN COME IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.

SOMETIMES WITH THE POETRY, SOMETIMES IT´S JUST A LINE.

A LINE WILL COME INTO MY HEAD.

I´LL WRITE THAT DOWN.

AND THAT MAY OR MAY NOT TURN INTO A POEM.

BUT THAT WILL BE KIND OF THE CENTRAL, YOU KNOW, THEME FOR WHATEVER IT IS I´M DOING.

"HURRICANE DRINKING" IS BASED TOTALLY ON JOURNAL ENTRIES.

SO THIS WAS -- I KNEW WHERE THE STORY LINE WAS GOING TO TAKE ME.

DAILY I WOULD SIT DOWN AND WRITE CHAPTERS AND DO ALL OF THAT.

I HAVE FIVE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

ALL READERS.

A FEW OF THEM WOULD BE REVIEWERS FOR ME.

WILL YOU READ THIS AND TELL MANY HE WHAT YOU THINK?

AND GENERALLY SPEAKING MY HUSBAND WOULD BE THE LAST PERSON BEFORE I STARTED DOING MY OWN EDITING.

WHAT DOORS HAVE BEING A READER AND A WRITER OPENED FOR YOU?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST GIFT THAT´S "HURRICANE DRINKING" GAVE ME IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ON THIS ISLAND AND HAVE SOME SHARED EXPERIENCES.

I HAD EVERY SINGLE PERSON AT THE BOOK READING CAME UP TO ME AFTERWARDS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE.

GOOD AND BAD.

THIS BOOK -- I WAS A LITTLE CAUGHT OFF GUARD AS TO HOW MUCH IT RESONATED WITH HEM.

YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE IN THAT TOGETHER.

>> THE SECTION WHERE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR PROPANE.

AND THE LINE IN THE PERSON SAID, YOU KNOW, IT WON´T TAKE LONG.

IT´S INTERESTING WHEN YOU´RE STANDING IN LINE AND READING PATIENTLY OR NOT SO PATIENTLY FOR SOMETHING.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO FOR THE PERSON READING "HURRICANE DRINKING," WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MESSAGE FROM YOUR BOOK?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST MESSAGES IS THAT THERE IS A BOND THAT FORMS FROM PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH HORRIFIC EXPERIENCES AND THE CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE CAN´T BE CALLED ANYTHING BUT A HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE.

AND I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY BRINGS TO THE TABLE WITH THAT IS THAT SORT OF SHARED HUMANITY.

I HAD -- I REMEMBER BEING AT ONE PLANTATION PROBABLY A YEAR AFTER THE HURRICANE AND I WAS TALKING WITH A WOMAN WHO DOES SOME OF THE ARTS AND CRAFTS THERE.

VERY, VERY ELDERLY WOMAN.

AND WE WERE JUST, YOU KNOW, SHOOTING THE BREEZE AND TALKING ABOUT THINGS.

AND SHE SAID WELL WERE YOU HERE DURING -- SHE WAS EXPLAINING A STORY TO ME.

SHE SAID WERE YOU HERE DURING MARIA?

I SAID I WAS.

THEN SHE SAID, I DON´T HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND, AND SOMETIMES I GET SAD WHEN I REALIZE THAT WE´RE NOT AS CONNECTED AS WE SHOULD BE.

IT WAS ALL ABOUT HELPING EACH OTHER, LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER, IF I DON´T VISIT, MAYBE YOU HAVE IT.

AND NOBODY EVER THOUGHT TWICE ABOUT IT.

WE COLLECTIVELY KNEW WE HAD TO PULL OURSELVES TOGETHER.

WE KNEW WE WERE NOT GOING GET A LOT OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE MAINLAND.

IT HAD TO COME FROM US.

THAT IS THE CENTRAL THEME AND THAT´S WHAT RESONATES SO MUCH IS THAT YOU CAN GET THROUGH ANYTHING IF YOU REALLY REACH OUT AND HELP EACH OTHER.

>> AND THAT´S A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT I THINK APPLIES NOT JUST TO TIMES OF CRISIS BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, ANY TIME.

BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR WRITING, ARE YOU A FULL TIME WRITER?

>> NO, I´M NOT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SAY I COULD MAKE A LIVING JUST BEING A WRITER THAT WOULD MAKE VERY HAPPY.

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN FOUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

A BOUTIQUE IN DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANTON, A DESIGNER AND OWNER FOR A BUSINESS CALL ISLAND CONTESSA WHICH DOES WOMEN´S RESORT WEAR.

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

>> YOU HAVE TO MAKE TIME FOR IT.

IT´S A CLICHE TO SIT THERE AND SAY THAT YOU CAN JUST LET INSPIRATION TAKE YOU WHENEVER YOU WANT TO.

THE PRACTICAL REALITY IS YOU HAVE MORTGAGES TO PAY AND CAR PAYMENTS.

UNLESS YOU´RE SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN DO THIS.

I HAVE VERY RIGHT AND LEFT BRAINED.

I WORK IN MY MOMENTS TO BE AS CREATIVE AS I CAN WHEN I WANT TO BE.

>> WE HAVE LARGE COMMUNITY OF WOULD BE STORY TELLERS OUT THERE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO TELL THEIR STORY?

>> JUST DO IT.

JUST START.

ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS -- I FORGOT ABOUT THIS WHEN WE WERE TALKING EARLIER.

ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THING I EVER WROTE WAS A SHORT STORY THAT HAD NO DIALOGUE.

I DIDN´T KNOW HOW TO WRITE DIALOGUE.

I DIDN´T WORK ON THAT PART ENOUGH.

I JUST WANTED TO GET IT OUT.

I JUST, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK.

I JUST WANTED TO GET IT DOWN ON PAPER AND SAY, OKAY, I´M DONE.

I´VE DONE IT.

I DON´T HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING TO ANYBODY.

THAT IS ALWAYS THE FIRST STEP THAT I THINK WRITERS STRUGGLE W BECAUSE EVERYBODY THINKS IT HAS TO BE THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL.

IT DOESN´T.

IT JUST HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO SHARE.

AND THAT´S USUALLY WHAT KIND OF HOLDS PEOPLE BACK, I THINK, FOR THE MOST PART.

>> SO THE FIRST WORK DOESN´T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BECAUSE THAT´S WHAT EDITORS ARE FOR.

DO YOU EDIT YOUR OWN WORK OR WORK FOR SOMEONE?

>> I´M MY OWN EDITOR.

I DO HAVE -- MY SIBLINGS ARE VERY WELL EDUCATED.

I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THEM WHEN I SHOW IT TO THEM AND SAY PLEASE CHECK AND PLEASE LOOK AND SEE WHAT IF ANYTHING YOU CAN IN TERMS OF THE MISTAKES OR EVEN JUST, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE SAY BETTER WAY I SHOULD BE SHARING IT.

YOU KNOW, IF MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT COMING THROUGH CLEARLY.

BUT, YEAH, EVERYBODY NEEDS EDITORS.

>> SO WOULD BE WRITERS OR ASPIRING WRITERS NEED TO READ.

>> YES.

>> BUT THEY NEED TO WRITE.

>> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND IN NO ORDER?

>> NO.

>> JUST DO IT.

>> YEAH, JUST DO IT.

>> SO WE WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM YOUR BOOK.

IS THERE A FAVORITE PASSAGE OR ANYTHING CAN YOU SHARE WITH US?

>> I AM GOING TO READ SOMETHING TO YOU.

I ASKED A FEW FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SORT OF THE DIFFERENT PIECES THAT RESONATED.

THE SECTION I´M GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT OF IS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO MADE THE DECISIONS TO LEAVE THE ISLAND VERSUS THOSE WHO DECIDED TO STAY.

BECAUSE THAT WAS AN INTENSELY PERSONAL DECISION.

I THINK RIGHT AFTER THE HURRICANE I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED AT SORT OF THE SPEED WITH WHICH PEOPLE STARTED SAYING I CAN´T STAY.

I GOT TO GO.

SO THIS CHAPTER IS CALLED AM I COMING OR AM I GOING?

I´M JUST GOING TO READ PROBABLY THE FIRST COUPLE OF PARAGRAPHS HERE.

FIRST OF THE FRIENDS TO LEAVE ANNOUNCED IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

SHE SURPRISED ME.

A SENIOR CITIZEN WITH A SUNNY DISPOSITION, SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD ENDURED WHAT I CAN DESCRIBE AS A HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE.

THEY HAD A RUN OF BAD LUCK WITH LANDLORDS.

BUT THIS ONE DID HER IN.

AND IN HER OWN WORDS.

I KNEW THERE WOULD BE MORE TO COME.

EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAD TO DETERMINE THEIR LIFE SITUATION.

I KNEW THAT.

SHE HAD COME TO COME AND TAKE PLANTS SHE WASN´T TAKING WITH HER.

WE NEGOTIATED ON OTHER ITEMS SHE WAS LEAVING BEHIND.

I WANTED TO TAKE THEM.

I FELT LIKE A VULTURE PICKING ON SOMEONE´S BONES.

I´M AMAZED AT THE BREATH TAKING SPEED WITH WHICH SHE WAS MOVING.

SHE HAD LINED UP HOUSING, MOVING AUTOMOBILES, ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THEY WERE TAKING, FLIGHTS, ALL WITHIN A FEW WEEKS AFTER MARIA.

WHEN THE LADY DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GO, IT WAS TIME TO GO.

I GOT A FACEBOOK MESSAGE FROM A COUSIN OF ONE OF MY KANSAS CITY FRIENDS THAT MOVED TO THE ISLAND TO HELP OPEN A RESTAURANT.

HER PLACE WAS DEMOLISHED, HER EMPLOYER WAS GONE AND MONEY RUNNING OUT.

SHE ASKED ME IF I KNEW OF ANYPLACE SHE COULD GET EMPLOYMENT AND, OF COURSE, THE ANSWER IS NO.

THEN SHE ASKED, HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE MERCY SHIPS?

AND HOW THAT WORKS.

THIS WAS AN ODDITY AND ALL I KNEW ABOUT HURRICANES I NEVER HEARD OF THIS.

THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTED WITH A CRUISE LINE TO COME TO ST. CROIX AND TRANSPORT AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY COULD OFF THE ISLAND FREE OF CHARGE.

YOU HAD TO BE IN DIRE STRAITS, WASN´T THAT EVERYONE?

AND YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO PROVE IT.

NOT SURE HOW THAT WORKS.

>> IT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE MERCY SHIPS.

>> WORD SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE.

WHEN THE FIRST ONE ARRIVED.

AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO REAL WAY TO RECEIVE COMMUNICATIONS, MOST OF THE DETAILS WERE CARRIED WORD OF MOUTH.

MY HUSBAND AND I KNEW WE WERE NOT GOING TO LEAVE.

WE WERE TRYING TO PUT OUR HOUSE AND LIVES BACK TOGETHER AND DOING IT FROM THE MAINLAND JUST DIDN´T MAKE SENSE.

THEY SAID WE UNDERSTOOD THE TRAUMA.

THAT SAID, WE UNDERSTAND THE TRAUMA AND SENSE OF LOSS MANY PEOPLE WERE FEELING.

I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THAT SENSE OF BEING UNTETHERED DURING THAT PERIOD THAT STILL HAUNTS ME.

NOTHING BEFORE MARIA WAS THE SAME.

THE MERCY SHIPS WERE DOCKING IN FREDERICSSTEAD AND WERE SUPPOSED TO COME SEVERAL TIMES.

THE FIRST SHIP CAUSED UNINTENTIONAL PANIC AS PEOPLE ARRIVED IN DROVES AND SOME TURNED AWAY.

THERE WASN´T A GREAT DEAL OF RHYME OR REASON AS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SELECTED.

IT ALSO AN ISSUE IF YOU WANTED TO TRAVEL WITH A PET.

PEOPLE WERE MADE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR LIVES AND LIVES OF THEIR PETS.

MOST TRIED TO FIND FRIENDS OR FAMILY TO KEEP THEM UNTIL THEY CAME BACK.

BUT MOST WOULD NEVER RETURN.

THE MERCY SHIPS CONTINUED UNTIL LIMITED FLIGHTS COULD RESUME AT THE AIRPORT WHICH WAS ALSO CRIPPLED BY MARIE YACHLT WE HELPED FRIENDS WITH ANIMALS AND TRANSPORTATION.

EACH FRIEND AND FAMILY SAID THEY WERE LEAVING WOULD PAUSE AND LOOK AT THEM AND WONDER IF THEY KNEW SOMETHING WE DIDN´T.

MAKING THE CHO IS TO GO OR STAY WAS COMPLICATED FOR EVERYONE.

BUT OUR ENTIRE LIVES WAS TIED UP IN OUR CHOICE TO LIVE ON ST. CROIX.

WITH EACH PASSING DAY, WHEN WE HAD A MOMENT TO REFLECT, I KNOW WE BOTH DID.

I WAS OFTEN ASKED WHY WE DIDN´T PACK UP AND LEAVE AND COME BACK LATER.

THERE IS NO REAL ANSWER TO THAT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE STAYING IN THE FACE OF WILDFIRES OR MUDSLIDES OR FLOODING THAT CAN HAPPEN IN SO MANY WAYS OF THE U.S., I THINK CAN YOU FIND YOUR ANSWER.

ST. CROIX IS OUR HOME AND WHATEVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WE KNEW WE WANTED TO BE PART OF THE REBUILDING.

IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT ONCE EVERYTHING STARTED HAPPENING AND WORKING ON THE DAY TO DAY, WE DIDN´T HAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

I ALSO CONSIDER OURSELVES LUCKY.

WE HAD MULTIPLE PLACES TO STAY.

I HAD SOMEONE REFER TO US ONE TIME AS BRAVE.

I DON´T THINK WE WERE BRAVE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT SURVIVES A NATURAL DISASTER.

STAMINA, MAYBE, BRAVE, NOT SO MUCH.

I HAD TIME TO REFLECT OVER THE FRIENDS I LOST OVER MARIE YACHLT I TREASURE EVERY MEMORY I HAVE OF THEM.

MARIA TOOK MANY THINGS FROM ME BUT NOT MY FRIENDS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU´RE WELCOME.

>> AND JUST IN THAT PHRASE -- WHAT YOU JUST READ, AFTER THE HURRICANES, EVEN WITH VERY -- WITH POOR COMMUNICATION, THERE IS NO WAY TO DESCRIBE.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

I TRY TO DISCERN WHAT IS GOOD INFORMATION.

WHAT IS GOSSIP.

WHAT SOMEBODY SAW ON FACEBOOK.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THEN THERE IS CERTAINLY LOTS OF -- LOTS OF LITTLE NUGGETS THERE FOR STORY TELLERS.

BECAUSE JUST IN CONVERSATION, THERE ARE SO MUCH RANDOM THINGS.

>> TRUE.

>> SO WHAT ARE THINGS THAT ARE INSPIRING YOU RIGHT NOW TO WRITE?

>> I HAVE GOTTEN MORE THAN ONE E-MAIL SAYING PLEASE TELL US YOU´RE WRITING A BOOK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

AND I SAID I´M PRETTY SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE DOING IT.

THAT´S NOT SO ST. CROIX SPECIFIC.

I HAD A FOURTH BOOK IN THE WORKS IN THE KING OF COOL SERIES.

SO IT GOT SORT OF SHELLED.

I WAS WORKING ON.

THAT I PICKED THAT BACK UP TO TRY AND CONTINUE FINISHING THAT.

I HAD A FEW MORE POEMS PUBLISHED RECENTLY F YOU´RE A WRITER, YOU´RE WRITING ALL THE TIME WHETHER IT´S FOR PUBLICATION OR YUN OWN SELF INTEREST.

>> RIGHT.

SO FOR THE PERSON READING HURRICANE DRINKING, IT´S A STORY ABOUT OPTIMISM, I THINK.

>> I THINK SO.

>> I THINK VERY MUCH SO.

>> YEAH.

>> I DON´T KNOW.

I THINK EVEN THE MOST PESSIMISTIC PERSON WILL COME OUT OF AN EVENT LIKE A HURRICANE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, DOING ALL RIGHT.

>> HOPEFULLY WE ALL DO.

>> SO ANY LAST WORDS BEFORE WE CLOSE?

ANY LAST WORDS FOR OUR ASPIRING WRITERS OUT THERE?

>> JUST DO IT.

I SOUND LIKE A NIKE COMMERCIAL BUT IT´S TRUE.

IF YOU WANT TO WRITE, THAT PASSION, THAT MOOD TO GET OUT YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS AND VISIONS, JUST DO IT.

WHETHER ANYBODY EVER SEES IT, IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER FOR HAVING BEEN ABLE TO COMMIT IT TO PAPER AND IT´S SOMETHING PERSONAL FOR YOU.

>> I ALWAYS THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WRITING IS THERAPEUTIC.

BEST THERAPY YOU CAN HAVE.

>> I AGREE.

>> I AGREE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR JOINING US ON "THE BOOKCASE" AND SHARING YOUR STORY, "HURRICANE DRINKING" WITH US.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL AUTHOR LORI WATTS.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON WHERE TO FIND "HURRICANE DRINKING" AND ANY OF THE OTHER TITLES MENTIONED ON THIS PROGRAM, VISIT US AT WWW.WTJX.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON "THE BOOKCASE."