♫♫ >>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>>> THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >>> UNDERCOVER BOOKS AND GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF VIRGIN ISLANDS BROADCASTING.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT UNDERCOVERBOOKSSTCROIX.COM.

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

♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I AM YOUR HOST, SHAWN THAT RICHARDS.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE EXPLORE VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS AND THEIR TALENTS.

EACH WEEK WE 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 EXCITED TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT ARE THE COLLECTED WORKS OF YOKO.

WELCOME TO BOOKCASE.

>> IT´S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT YOU OVER THE YEARS.

YOU ARE A POET.

YOU ARE A TEACHER.

YOU ARE -- YOU KNOW, YOU ARE A WRITER.

YOU ARE SO GROUNDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT LED YOU TO START WRITING?

>> I LIKED THE IDEA OF PUTTING WORDS TOGETHER UNTIL THEY SOUNDED RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY -- THE POET IN ME.

THEN AFTER I RETIRED FROM TEACHING, I WANTED TO WRITE BOOKS THAT HAD -- THAT FEATURED OUR CHILDREN HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS, INSTEAD OF TOM, DICK AND SALLY, WE WOULD HAVE FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND UNITY.

AND MY FIRST BOOK IS CALLED "MY NAME IS FREEDOM."

BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS AND ADULTS PRESENT LITERATURE IN A WAY THAT YOUNG KIDS CAN RELATE TO IT.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU WILL -- YOU WROTE A MASTERS THESIS ON CHILDREN´S LITERATURE AND EXPOSURE TO AUTHORS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY DO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND WHEN YOU´RE LOOKING TO BUY CHILDREN´S BOOKS, RESEARCH WHERE, WHAT ISLAND, WHAT COUNTRY YOUR CHILDREN ARE FROM SO THAT THEY CAN BE CONNECTED TO THE STORY.

YOU DON´T WANT TO TELL A STORY AND NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE STORY IS COMING FROM.

WELL, THEN THEY SEE THEMSELVES IN THE PICTURES AND IN THE ILLUSTRATIONS THAT REMIND THEM OF WHO THEY ARE.

>> SO IT´S LIKE READING ABOUT A MONOGOOSE AS OPPOSED TO READING ABOUT A SQUIRREL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I LIKE THAT.

>> SO WHEN YOU WRITE, WHERE DOES YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM?

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

>> WELL, I DO A LOT OF READING.

AND I LIKE TO READ LOCAL AUTHORS.

AND I EVEN HAVE A POEM HERE, WHICH I´LL READ TO YOU LATER TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE VARIOUS PEOPLE, THE SINGERS, THE PERFORMERS IN MY LIFE THAT MAKE ME WANT TO EXPRESS MYSELF CREATIVELY.

I MAY NOT BE THE BEST DANCER OR THE BEST SINGER, BUT I SURE KNOW PEOPLE WHO DO EXCEL IN THOSE AREAS.

AND I LIKE TO -- AND, SO, BY GOING TO SEE THEM AND PARTICIPATE, I CAN HAVE A FULL LIST IN ME THAT MAKES ME BRING FORTH A POEM OR A STORY.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REPRESENTATION, WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SEEDS THAT ARE PLANTED IN EVERY WRITER, DID YOU SEE A LOT OF BOOKS ABOUT -- THAT YOU COULD RELATE TO WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

>> COMING UP, WE WERE SO GROUNDED IN CHURCH, AND OUR PARENTS LET US KNOW THAT WE COULD DO ANYTHING WE WANTED TO DO.

SO I HAD THE CONFIDENCE FROM MEMORIZING BIBLE SCRIPTURES AND EVEN THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE AND HAVING A LIFE THERE UNDER THAT UMBRELLA, UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE CHURCH.

YOU HAD CHOIR PRACTICE ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

AND ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT YOU HAD CHILDREN´S BIBLE STUDY.

SO I WAS ALWAYS IN SOME WAY PERFORMING, LISTENING TO PERFORMERS, PEOPLE THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, THAT HAD STUFF TO SHARE, YEAH.

SO NOT SO MUCH IN TERMS OF COLOR OR EXPERIENCE OR CULTURE.

SO BUT WHEN I CAME TO SAINT CROIX, OH, MY GOD, THERE WAS SO MUCH TO SEE AND SO MUCH TO WRITE ABOUT.

THAT´S WHY I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 50 YEARS.

>> SO WE´RE HERE WITH YOUR WRITING.

AND I KNOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT OUR YOUNG READERS TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF EXPOSURE NOW IN THIS WORLD WE´RE GROWING UP IN?

>> KIDS ARE LIKE LITTLE SPONGES.

AND I KNOW BECAUSE I TAUGHT SCHOOL HERE FOR 30 YEARS.

AND IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BOOKS AND ASSIGNMENTS TO DO WITH BOOKS LIKE BOOK REPORTS AND LEARN HOW TO MEMORIZE PORTIONS OF BOOKS, HAD PUT TOGETHER PLAYS, MAKE UP THEIR OWN PLAYS, THOSE ARE THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE THAT CREATIVE BENT ALREADY THERE IN PROGRAMS AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT HELP CHILDREN LEARN HOW TO BE IN THIS WORLD.

YOU NEED TO BE GROUNDED.

YOU NEED TO BE CONFIDENT FOREVER.

CONFIDENCE IS BIG, SO THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, YOU ARE PROUD OF YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

>> HOW MANY BOOKS?

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

I SEE WE HAVE OUR LITTLE DISPLAY.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

>> WELL, THE FIRST ONE IS "MY NAME IS FREEDOM."

THAT WAS THE FIRST CHILDREN´S BOOK.

AND THE SECOND CHILDREN´S BOOK I WROTE IS "MY GRANDMOTHER LOVES TO PLAY," WHICH IS A RHYMING STORY ABOUT LOVE THROUGH THE AGES.

IT´S A GREAT STORY.

AND THE LAST ONE CAME ABOUT WHEN I TOOK A TRIP TO MANILA IN THE PHILIPPINES AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.

SO IT HELPS TO TRAVEL WHEN YOU ARE A WRITER BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS JOTTING STUFF DOWN.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THAT´S THE CHILDREN´S BOOK ASPECT.

AND THEN THERE ARE THREE POETRY BOOKS.

THE FIRST ONE I PUBLISHED HERE IN 1974.

AND THEN -- AND THEN I PUBLISHED ANOTHER ONE ENTITLED "SPONTANEOUS."

AND THAT´S HOW I LIKE TO SEE MYSELF.

I´M VERY SPONTANEOUS.

AND THAT´S ABOUT 49 POEMS OF MINE.

A LOT OF LOVE POEMS.

A LOT OF ANGST.

A LOT OF HISTORY.

A LOT OF FUN.

AND THEN THIS LAST BOOK, WHICH IS CALLED "CREATIVE CALILOU" IS A COLLABORATION WITH ONE OF THE FINEST ARTISTS IN THE WORLD, AS FAR AS I´M CONCERNED.

HER NAME IS DANICA DAVID AND SHE ASKED ME, YOU KNOW, IF I SHOW YOU A PICTURE, CAN YOU WRITE A POEM?

AND I SAID YEAH.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU DRAWN TO, CHILDREN´S BOOKS, POETRY?

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE DON´T HAVE ENOUGH.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH.

IF EVERYBODY WROTE A CHILDREN´S STORY WE STILL WOULDN´T HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE WORLD, YOU SEE.

AND THE CHILDREN DESERVE MORE, AND THEY DESERVE BETTER.

AND THEY DESERVE AN ABUNDANCE.

THEY DESERVE A CHOICE OF THIS.

THIS BOOKSTORE HAS SO MANY STORIES, AND THERE IS A LARGE SELECTION OF LOCAL ARTISTS HERE.

AND THAT´S WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

SAINT CROIX AND WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED WITH THE BOOKCASES THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AS A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF THE CREATIVES.

SO ARE YOU SELF-PUBLISHED?

>> YES.

WHEN I STARTED OUT, I STARTED WORKING WITH A PUBLISHER CALLED TRAFFORD PUBLISHING AND THEY DID THE FIRST THREE BOOKS OR FIRST FOUR BOOKS.

AND THIS ONE, DANICA, DID DIFFERENTLY.

BUT IT´S VERY EASY TO GET PUBLISHED NOWADAYS.

IF YOU WANT IT, YOU CAN GO RIGHT OUT AND GET IT.

I´M VERY EXCITED TO GET IT AND LET PEOPLE KNOW, DON´T HOLD IT IN.

PUBLISH A BOOK OF SIDE POEMS, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, GENRE YOU ENJOY.

IF YOU ENJOY HAIKU, WHAT A GREAT WAY FOR KIDS TO PUBLISH.

I TAUGHT ONE YEAR AT ST. MARY´S, AND AT THE END I PUT TOGETHER A POETRY BOOK OF ALL THE CHILDREN´S WORK.

AND THE PARENTS MEET ME TODAY AND SAY, MY KID WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FIRST GRADE.

SO, TEACHERS, YOU CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL ALSO.

PULL THOSE STORIES TOGETHER AND PUT IT IN A CALENDAR OR IN SOME WAY LET THOSE CHILDREN LOOK BACK WHEN THEY´RE GROWN AND SAY, MY GOD.

>> SO THERE IS A STORY TELLER IN EACH OF US?

>> YES.

OH, YES.

>> SO NOW THAT YOU ARE RETIRED, WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE A FULL-TIME WRITER?

HOW DOES YOUR WRITING FIT INTO YOUR VERY BUSY DAY?

>> YOU WOULDN´T BELIEVE IT.

I´M BUSIER NOW THAN WHEN I WAS WORKING.

I OFTEN WONDER HOW DID I HOLD DOWN A JOB AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS?

WE WERE SO INCREDIBLE.

BUT YOUR ENERGY, YOUR ENERGY KEEPS YOU, YOU KNOW, CREATIVELY JUICED, IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I´M SAYING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND YOU AT THE NATURE, YOU KNOW, AND THERE ARE POEMS IN THIS BOOK ABOUT NATURE, ABOUT A TREE FOR INSTANCE, YOU COULD SIT AT THE BEACH AND WRITE.

YOU COULD GO TO THE MALL AND DID DOWN AND WRITE.

YOU CAN FIND THE CORNER, PUT A CHAIR IN THE CORNER ON THE BYPASS AND WRITE, AND YOU WILL SEE THINGS SO DIFFERENTLY THAN IF YOU STAYED HOME AND TRIED TO PROJECT ON TO IT.

>> WHAT IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS?

ARE YOU PEN AND PAPER?

DO YOU SIT DOWN WITH A LAPTOP?

WHAT DOES YOUR PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

>> I HAVE A YELLOW PAD, AND I WRITE AND I SCRIBBLE IT OUT AND I WRITE IT.

AND THEN I TAKE IT TO THE COMPUTER.

AND AFTER THAT, I´LL HAVE MY DAUGHTER REFINE FOR ME AND WE´LL LOOK UP SOMEBODY, A COMPANY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WANT TO GO FOR.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO DO IT ALL ON MY OWN.

SEE IF IT SOUNDS RIGHT.

CHECK WITH YOUR GIRLFRIENDS.

CHECK WITH YOUR HUSBAND, TOO.

ASK PEOPLE, LISTEN TO THIS.

AND -- AND YOU GET AN IDEA HOW YOU WANT TO GO FROM THERE.

FOR INSTANCE, THIS POEM, THAT POEM -- THIS POEM PEOPLE THINK IT´S ALL MY MOTHER, BUT IT´S ALL OF OUR MOTHERS, SO I ASK DIFFERENT WOMEN TO TELL ME ONE WORD ABOUT YOUR MOM THAT MAKES HER UNIQUE, AND THIS IS WHAT I CAME UP WITH.

WHO PRESSED SOFT WORDS, OUR FIRST, INTO OUR HEARTS?

FILLED HER BREAST WITH LOVE, THE WISE COMPASSION OF A SWAT ON THE BACKSIDE WITH ICE CREAM AFTERWARD.

OH, SHE WAS THE PRIMARY WARM MEMORY.

IT WAS MOMMAS, OUR BLIND DATES, OUR CHOICES.

MOM WHO LEFT THE LIGHTS LIT TO ILLUMINATE OUR STUMBLING PATHWAY.

A HAVEN FROM THE DATE GONE WRONG, A KEY UNDER THE MATT, DOLLARS SECRETLY SLIPPED FOR THE GETAWAY.

THE BILL SUDDENLY PAID IN FULL.

MOM WHO ORGANIZED BAKE SALES TO SEND HER BROOD TO GOOD SCHOOLS.

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

PLEADING WITH ALL HER MIGHT, ASTONISHED AT HER OWN STRENGTH.

ON HER JOB AT THE DOCTOR FOR HER LIFE.

ON HER KNEES TO THE LORD FOR HER WAYWARD CHILDREN AND FOR THE WORLD ON ITS AXIS.

OH, MOM STAYED CONSTANT AND FOCUSSED AND IMPOSSIBLE AND FORGIVING AND HEROIC AND VALUED AND PRAYERFUL AND ANGUISHED UNTIL THE VERY END.

AND SHE NEVER SAID, I TOLD YOU SO.

SHE TESTED HER OWN LIMITS DAILY, ROCK SOLID SHE MORPHED INTO US, TEACHERS, DOCTORS, VENDERS, HOMEOWNERS, SOLDIERS, ALL OF THAT SO WE CAN BE SAFE IN OUR OWN SKIN, SAFE ON THIS EARTH WITH OUR PRIDE INTACT.

NOW THAT´S WHAT I´M TALKING ABOUT.

>> WOW.

>> BACKBONE.

>> BACKBONE.

DO YOU FIND THERE ARE ANY COMMON THEMES IN YOUR WRITING.

>> OH, YEAH.

YEAH.

THERE ARE.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF POEMS WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND YOU SAY, OH, SHE -- SHE COMES FROM STRENGTH, SO I TRY TO WRITE STRENGTH OR POEMS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO BE STRONG IN THEIR PRESENT.

>> SO THE COMMON THEMES ARE -- >> WHAT I KNOW.

WHAT I KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> I WRITE WHAT I KNOW.

AND THE GRANDMOTHER IN ME NOW WRITES LOVE FOR KIDS.

>> LOVE FOR CHILDREN.

LOVE FOR THIS EARTH, FOR THE PLANET.

I WANT SOMETHING LEFT FOR MY LITTLE ONES AND YOURS, YOU KNOW.

LET´S CLEAN UP THE AIR AND THE SOIL AND KEEP OUR BEACHES CLEAN HERE IN SAINT CROIX.

YOU KNOW EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST -- EVERY SINCE I CAN THINK HOW MANY YEARS, I PICK UP ONE PIECE OF GARBAGE AND PUT IT IN ITS PLACE.

SO I KEEP MY ISLAND BEAUTIFUL, MY STREET GORGEOUS, MY -- >> AND IN PREPARING FOR THIS INTERVIEW I READ WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT SAINT CROIX BEING SO INSPIRING FOR YOU, AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ YOUR POEM SMITTEN, WHICH IS REALLY A LOVE LETTER SO SAINT CROIX.

>> SAINT CROIX IS NO VIRGIN.

SHE IS A WOMAN OF WAYS, A FULL-BLOWN TEMPEST FROM THE BLOODY DAYS.

A SHOW OF DREAMY SUN STRUCK BREASTS, SHELTERING AND SWEATY AND SWOLLEN WITH NESTS OF HUMMING BIRDS IN HER AIR.

A MUSEUM OF STRUGGLE, REBELLION, PRAYER.

A HONEY DESERT BROUGHT TO A BOIL AND THE PAIN SHE SURVIVED MAKES YOUR BLOOD CRAWL.

FORGED IN HIGH HEAT, REAL HONEY COMB SWEET.

SHE´S DRIPPING ALL GOLDEN, STORMY CALLUSED FEET.

OH, SHE´S A BLOSSOM OF RUIN.

ELEGANT, PROUD.

AND HER GREAT HOUSES SHIMMER OUTLOUD.

AS YOU GRAZE UNDER THE NECK OF THE PRETTY SOUTH SHORE, TEAMING WITH LIFTING, SIFTING CLOUDS, DAYLIGHT GIVING WAY TO LURKING NIGHT FALLS AROUND HER WAIST AND HIPS AND YOU SEE HER DIMPLED AND ROUND AND COMPLETELY YOURS.

WHERE ELSE A BETSY WITH HER FABULOUS JEWEL, AN ENTIRE QUEEN´S QUARTER.

A WHOLE ESTATE DEDICATED TO AND NAMED FOR HARD LABOR.

I´M TELLING YOU, AS A WOMAN, A WOMAN, LYRICAL AND GENEROUS TO A FAULT.

SHE´S TOUGH AND OUTRAGEOUS AND REPUTED TO BE GIVEN TO ID YOU SIN KRASYS BECAUSE SHE AMAZES AND CONFUSEs HER SUITORS AND THEN FORGIVES AND FORGETS YOU ALL OVER AGAIN.

WHILE ARTISTS AND POETS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FEAST ON THE DANCERS SWIRL.

SWAY IN THE SHADE OF HER CONTOURS, A HAVEN OF REST HERE, BOUNTIFUL CURES.

YOU WILL NEVER KNOW HER MIRACLE UNTIL YOU FEEL MUSIC AROUND HER.

UNTIL YOU PIERCE HER HEART WITH PROSE.

UNLESS YOU STROKE HER PLANTED TREES, SUNKEN ROOTS.

UNDRESS HER NOW AND SEE A TEACHER OF PRIDE AND HISTORY.

STEADY WELL HER CHAPTERS, EACH PAGE, EACH RHYME.

FEEL YOURSELF STANDING DEEP AT THE SHORELINE.

SQUINTING AT THE SUNSET, DIPPING DOWN SILENTLY IN REVERENT OBEDIENCE, SMITTEN LIKE ME.

>> AND THAT IS A LOVE LETTER.

>> THANK YOU.

IT REALLY IS.

FOR THE PERSON WHO READS THIS, I AM SURE THAT THEY WOULD SAY I HAVE TO TRAVEL TO SAINT CROIX.

AND I KNOW AS A WRITER, THAT YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN INSPIRED BY YOUR TRAVELS.

>> I HAVE.

AND I WENT TO WEST AFRICA A COUPLE OF TIMES.

THAT´S WHERE I GOT THE NAME OYOKO.

IT MEANS MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND I LIKE THAT.

SO NO ONE CAN SHAKE MY LOVE FOR THIS PLACE, NO MATTER WHAT IS SAID OR WHAT IS DONE.

I´M GROUNDED HERE, AND I´M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY HERE.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A PLACE IN SPITE OF ALL MY TRAVELS WHERE THERE IS SO MANY POETS AND SO MANY DANCERS AND SO MANY SINGERS AND GROUPS AND JUST AMAZING PERFORMERS, YOU KNOW.

IF YOU´RE LOOKING FOR A BOOK CLUB, YOU´RE SURE TO FIND IT.

AND I BELONG TO A BOOK CLUB, AND THAT HELPS ME ALSO.

I´M IN A BOOK CLUB WITH THREE OTHER LADIES, AND WE MEET AND ENJOY ONE OTHER´S COMPANY.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE STUDYING BOOKS, AND WE´RE ENJOYING EACH OTHER´S COMPANY, BUT IT´S GOOD TO KNOW.

>> WHICH IS ALSO INSPIRING AS WELL.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> THERE IS A NIGERIAN AUTHOR THAT I LIKE BECAUSE SHE TOO WRITES BASED ON HER TRAVELS AND WHERE SHE LIVES AND WHO SHE LOVES SO I FIND THAT EXCITING.

THERE IS A WHOLE VARIETY OF TOPICS YOU CAN CHOOSE WHEN YOU ARE DOING YOUR OWN POETRY.

BUT I NOTICE A LOT OF OLDER WRITERS NOW DOING CHILDREN´S BOOKS.

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT?

>> I HAVE NOTICED THAT AFTER THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REPRESENTATION EXPANDS THAT.

AND I DON´T KNOW IF IT´S BECAUSE CHILDREN´S STORIES ARE -- I WOULDN´T SAY THAT THEY´RE EASIER TO TELL BUT THAT THERE IS SUCH A RANGE OF TOPICS TO EXPLORE BECAUSE YOU CAN APPROACH IT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF INNOCENCE ALMOST.

>> YES.

WELL, I WILL SAY THIS MUCH ABOUT "CREATIVE CALILOU."

THERE IS ART IN HERE, RECIPES IN HERE, CHILDREN´S RECIPES ARE POPULAR NOW.

SO IF YOU ARE RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS, THERE IS SO MANY THINGS TO -- THERE IS FOOD WITH CHILDREN AND, YOU KNOW, HOUSEWORK WITH CHILDREN BECAUSE MOST CHILDREN RIGHT NOW ARE IN THEIR HOMES.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO IT´S NOT A PLACE WHERE YOU GO WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM SCHOOL.

YOU DO SCHOOL IN YOUR HOMES RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT.

BUT HAVING EXCESS TO LITERATURE, LITERATURE THAT REPRESENTS THEM, OPENS THE IMAGINATION.

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

>> WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I WOULD TURN THE GLOBE AND POINT TO A PLACE THAT I WOULD WANT.

I WOULD CLOSE MY EYES AND POINT TO WHERE A PLACE WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL.

AND I HAVE DONE ALMOST ALL OF IT EXCEPT FOR AUSTRALIA.

SO AUSTRALIA, WATCH OUT.

HERE I COME.

AS SOON AS TRAVELING BECOMES EASY AGAIN, I WILL BE TRAVELING MORE.

I´M ALSO SO GRATEFUL, GRATEFUL THAT I TOOK THE TIME WHEN I COULD WITH THOSE SUMMER VACATIONS AS A TEACHER TO PACK MY KIDS UP AND GO ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> UH-HUH.

>> ALL OVER.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO GET UP AND GO SOMEPLACE, TO WRITE.

EVEN IF IT´S FIVE MILES DOWN THE ROAD OR ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN OR ANOTHER ISLAND, TO SPEND SOME TIME QUESTIONING, FINDING OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WRITING SOMETHING, RIGHT?

YOU MAY NOT WANT TO PUBLIC THAT PARTICULAR PIECE.

BUT EVENTUALLY IF YOU HOLD ON TO YOUR WORK, YOU WOULD SAY, I CAN PUBLISH.

>> IS THAT A TIP YOU HAVE FOR OUR ASPIRES CREATIVES OUT THERE?

>> NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, ALWAYS WRITE.

ALWAYS HAVE A PEN WITH YOU, A PAD OF PAPER OR A JOURNAL.

MAKE SURE YOU JOURNAL.

AND JOURNALING EXPRESSES YOUR FEELINGS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO PUT A NOVEL TOGETHER?

I HAVE THE LINE TO THIS POEM THAT SAYS, READ TO KEEP YOURSELF GOING WHILE YOUR BROKEN HEART MENDS AND THE TERROR OF YOUR FEARS DISAPPEAR.

THIS CRUEL, HUNGRY, LONELY WORLD WILL BE SAVED BY THE GLISTENING THOUGHTS YOU PUT IN MOTION.

THAT SECRET YOU´RE HOLDING, LET IT FLY INTO LYRICS.

THE HEART FELT NEED AND THE UNANSWERED PRAYERS, TRANSFORM THEM INTO THEATER, A BLOG, A FRIEND, A SUCCESS.

THROW OUT DARKNESS IN THE WINDOW AND WRITE.

FLEE YOUR FINGERS INTO GOD´S AIR AND DANCE UNTIL YOUR DARK IS STOMPED INTO DUST AND YOUR LIGHT BECOMES YOUR WALK.

WE CAN WRITE.

WE CAN WRITE ABOUT EVERYTHING.

>> I THINK THAT EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS PEOPLE JUST DON´T KNOW WHERE TO START.

AND YOU MAKE IT SOUND AMAZINGLY EASY.

JUST PICK UP A PEN AND WRITE.

>> AND LET THAT BE YOUR WAY.

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

SOMEWHERE HALFWAY THROUGH THE DAY, WAS IT OKAY TO FEEL THAT WAY?

AND BEFORE BEDTIME.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CAN´T SLEEP, THAT´S THE PERFECT TIME TO WRITE.

IMAGINE WRITING A BOOK OF "THE MIDNIGHT HOUR."

I COULDN´T DO ANYTHING AFTER.

I COULDN´T SLEEP, I COULD WRITE.

THAT´S WHAT YOU CAN DO.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN INSPIRATION.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER KEY MESSAGES THAT YOU TRY TO CONVEY IN YOUR WRITING?

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LEAD?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PROJECT FROM YOUR HEART TO THIS WORLD?

WHAT DO YOU WANT LEFT BEHIND YOU?

WHAT LITTLE PIECES CAN SOMEBODY PICK UP TO EVEN THREAD TOGETHER SOMETHING, A FABRIC OF THEMSELVES TO LIVE BY.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU´RE GOING TO BE GREAT THROUGH YOUR LITERATURE OR YOUR WRITINGS.

OR YOU CAN BE SMALL.

MAYBE IT´S FOR YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU WANT TO WRITE.

IT´S OKAY.

IT DEPENDS, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU ARE.

YOU MAY NOT WANT TO SAY EVERYTHING THIS YEAR, BUT WHEN YOU PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER AND ALL THE PAGES FALL IN PLACE, YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING WORTHWHILE THAT YOU LEFT BEHIND FOR THE WORLD.

>> SO READ, WRITE AND TELL YOUR STORY.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND TELLING US MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY IN WRITING AND INSPIRING US TO PICK UP PEN AND PAPER AND TELL OUR OWN STORY.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT.

AND FOR MORE DETAILS ON WHERE TO FIND HER WORK OR ANY OF THE BOOKS FEATURED ON THIS PROGRAM, VISIT OUR WEBSITE WTJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS, AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK OFF OF "THE BOOKCASE."

THANK YOU.

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

THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> UNDERCOVER BOOKS AND GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTERS OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT UNDERCOVERBOOKSSAINTCROIX.COM.

♫♫