Toronto - Canada
Arts and Culture Jamaica, Inc. (ACJAM) hosted a very enjoyable evening book signing and Toronto launch at the Jamaica Consulate. The event, under the patronage of the Consul General Mr. Lloyd Wilks, was emceed by Cherita Girvan-Campbell, ACJAM President. Ms. Alicia Taylor brought greetings from the Consul General and was followed by Founder and Past President Paula De Ronde who introduced Rosemary Borel, author of Thriving in The Care of Many Mothers.
A large and enthusiastic audience were very appreciative of Rosemary's readings and insights into why she wrote the book, her intimate feelings and the soul searching that was an integral part of the journey. There was a connection with members of the audience, some of whom experienced the same aspects of early village and school life in colonial Jamaica. The overarching theme "it takes a village to raise a child" resonated with the many mothers present. The occasion, catered by Viv's Catering & Eatery, was also the kickoff event for ACJAM's 2017 activities showcasing Jamaica's unique cultural and and artistic heritage and providing scholarships for arts students.
Valuable support was provided by A Different Booklist, bookstore and cultural center with a warm welcome from Itah Sadu, co-owner and fellow author. Thanks to Ron Fanfair and Share newspaper for their coverage and to Ned Blair for photographs of the evening.
A large and enthusiastic audience were very appreciative of Rosemary's readings and insights into why she wrote the book, her intimate feelings and the soul searching that was an integral part of the journey. There was a connection with members of the audience, some of whom experienced the same aspects of early village and school life in colonial Jamaica. The overarching theme "it takes a village to raise a child" resonated with the many mothers present. The occasion, catered by Viv's Catering & Eatery, was also the kickoff event for ACJAM's 2017 activities showcasing Jamaica's unique cultural and and artistic heritage and providing scholarships for arts students.
Valuable support was provided by A Different Booklist, bookstore and cultural center with a warm welcome from Itah Sadu, co-owner and fellow author. Thanks to Ron Fanfair and Share newspaper for their coverage and to Ned Blair for photographs of the evening.
A Photo Journey - Chicago and the Tampa Bay Area
BOOK SIGNING - CHICAGO and the TAMPA BAY AREA
Rosemary Borel traveled to Chicago and its suburb Riverside for book readings and signings in October. It was an intimate setting in Riverside, in the magnificent library of a stately home with new friends seated in deep old leather chairs around the fireplace. In Chicago, Rosemary reached out to the Caribbean Diaspora with a radio interview on WHPK located in the University of Chicago. Thanks to host Randolph Coleman of Caribbean Cavalcade and Denise Billups of Borel Graphics for the great party music and lively discussion.
Rosemary discovered some delicious cocktail patties at a Jamaican bakery for her signing at the M Lounge in downtown Chicago. Despite the heavy competition that Tuesday night – the first game of a historic World Series for the Chicago Cubs, there was a great after work crowd and a writing class. Lots of drinks, good conversation, interest in the book and tasty snacks were the order of the evening.
Back home in early November for the annual Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading. Rosemary was one of several renowned and first time authors presenting their works at the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida. Her audience included editors, fellow authors, members of the media and the general public. The talk included a background to her life and work, the process of writing and her own personal journey as an author. Readings were from her school days as a boarder at St. Hugh’s, Jamaica and a curiously comic incident from early married life in England.
Rosemary learned a lot about herself while writing, “almost therapy” she said; but she also emphasized that the key take away of her memoir was the importance of learning from the past and applying those lessons to the challenges of today.
Rosemary Borel traveled to Chicago and its suburb Riverside for book readings and signings in October. It was an intimate setting in Riverside, in the magnificent library of a stately home with new friends seated in deep old leather chairs around the fireplace. In Chicago, Rosemary reached out to the Caribbean Diaspora with a radio interview on WHPK located in the University of Chicago. Thanks to host Randolph Coleman of Caribbean Cavalcade and Denise Billups of Borel Graphics for the great party music and lively discussion.
Rosemary discovered some delicious cocktail patties at a Jamaican bakery for her signing at the M Lounge in downtown Chicago. Despite the heavy competition that Tuesday night – the first game of a historic World Series for the Chicago Cubs, there was a great after work crowd and a writing class. Lots of drinks, good conversation, interest in the book and tasty snacks were the order of the evening.
Back home in early November for the annual Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading. Rosemary was one of several renowned and first time authors presenting their works at the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida. Her audience included editors, fellow authors, members of the media and the general public. The talk included a background to her life and work, the process of writing and her own personal journey as an author. Readings were from her school days as a boarder at St. Hugh’s, Jamaica and a curiously comic incident from early married life in England.
Rosemary learned a lot about herself while writing, “almost therapy” she said; but she also emphasized that the key take away of her memoir was the importance of learning from the past and applying those lessons to the challenges of today.
ARCHIVES - BOOK LAUNCH and SIGNING
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BOOK SIGNING - TRINIDAD and TOBAGO
Roselle Publishing and Powerful Ladies of Trinidad and Tobago (PLOTT) hosted a very successful book signing on Thursday evening at NALIS, Hart and Abercromby St with nearly 90 in attendance.
Editor Roslyn Carrington viewed the book Thriving in the Care of Many Mothers as a story about an ordinary person. The author Rosemary Borel gave up a career to move to a new land and raise her children. The story provides a link to the past, a quieter time, a time with a sense of community. The tales of growing up in Jamaica bear a striking resemblance to life in Trinidad and throughout the Caribbean. Book designer Denise Borel-Billups spoke of her transition from a child to a young woman, thrust from her home by her mother and sent to college where she majored in Graphics Arts. Her career spanned working for regional newspapers in Florida to Chicago before launching her own graphic design business. She emphasized the importance of professional editing to the book production process. Author Rosemary Borel described her motivation to write stemming from her son's request to tell of her early life in Jamaica. She attended writing courses for senior citizens eventually joining a writing group where her future editor helped to hone her writing skills. Excerpts from her book spoke of her arrival in Trinidad as a young bride meeting her new relatives and mother in law " the dragon" for the first time. The second was a tale of learning to drive in Trinidad and, with her brand new driver's license, taking her mother in law to the market. There she was instructed in the finer arts of buying live chickens and crabs. Emceed by Dr. Anthony Peter Gonzales, the evening was rounded out by a message of thanks from Gillian Wall of PLOTT. The lesson to be learnt from the book was that we need to emulate the past where everyone looked out for each other. It was a simpler life where it took a whole village to raise a child successfully; the book was well worth reading if only to encourage us, as a community, to return to these values. Photographs displayed are courtesy Marlon Billups, Andrew Hackshaw and Albert Hull. |
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BOOK SIGNING - JAMAICA
Roselle Publishing and Bookophilia hosted a very successful book reading and signing on Thursday 11th August at Bookophilia Bookstore, 92 Hope Rd with nearly 60 in attendance.
Featured speaker Arnold 'Scree' Bertram, author and historian, viewed the book Thriving in the Care of Many Mothers as the most complete narrative of life through two decades in Jamaica, United Kingdom, Eastern Caribbean and North America. It’s a story that was very familiar to all Jamaicans, remarkable mothers striving to get the best for their children with primacy given to education and the quality of education. Winner of a scholarship long before Common Entrance, this was a great achievement, celebrated by the entire community, enabling her to be part of an elite and opening up a whole range of career choices. Her experiences, while giving a sense of what difficulties and traumas we all face in our lives also show what a sustained pursuit of excellence can help us achieve. Author Rosemary Borel described her motivation to write stemming from her son's request to tell of her early life in Jamaica. She attended writing courses for senior citizens eventually joining a writing group where her future editor helped to hone her writing skills. Excerpts from her book spoke of life as a student at St. Hugh’s High School and her early childhood, boarding with different families. With her various “mothers” she gained a sense that home is not a building but more about the people she loved and who gave her a sense of love, safety and security. Emceed by Patsy Mair, St Hugh’s High School alumna, the evening was rounded out with music by Ibo Cooper and a message of thanks from Avrill Crawford. Photographs displayed are courtesy Earle W Spencer and Iyana Stewart-Gaynor |
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