GREAT BAY/MARIGOT:--- Bestselling author Judith Uyterlinde, one the Netherlands' most translated new generation writers, is headed for the St. Martin Book Fair, May 30 - June 1, 2013, said Shujah Reiph, book fair coordinator.
Uyterlinde's novel, Cette femme qui dit être ma mere, the French edition of The Woman Who Says She is My Mother, was published just in time for the May 30 book fair opening at the Chamber of Commerce Building, Spring Concordia, Marigot.
The first book by Uyterlinde, The Baby Void – My Quest for Motherhood, was an international bestseller, with translation rights sold in 20 countries. Her Dutch and English language titles will be available at the three-day St. Martin literary festival.
"The engineer-turned novelist Garfield Ellis, is also one of our important guest authors and he's coming in from Canada," said Reiph, who is also president of Conscious Lyrics Foundation (CLF).
A two-time winner of the Una Marson prize for adult literature, Ellis is the author of five novels and short story collections: Flaming Hearts, Wake Rasta, Such As I Have, For Nothing at All, and Till I'm Laid To Rest.
Both writers will be among the visiting and St. Martin authors touring schools throughout the island. They will read from their new books at the Literary Evening in Grand Case at Blue Martini Restaurant; and conduct free workshops on Saturday, June 1, the main book fair day at the University of St. Martin campus, said Reiph.
Uyterlinde is packing something else in her literary luggage. The Woman Who Says She is My Mother has been made into a documentary for Dutch TV. A graphic novel of the book will be published in Dutch and English in 2013, said the author. "This is the reason why we asked Ms. Uyterlinde to conduct the multimedia workshop called 'The life of a book after it's a book'," said Jacqueline Sample of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP), co-organizer of the book fair.
People at the 'life of a book' workshop will receive expert, hands-on product and marketing ideas and practices of how "translations; film or video documentary; and producing a graphic novel" can be "creative ways to reach new audiences," said Uyterlinde.
Garfiled Ellis will conduct the Creative Writing Workshop, a practical workshop for writers, aspiring writers, young writers, and people thinking about writing poetry, a play, a novel, short stories, children's books, or their life's story, said Reiph.
Ellis, originally from Jamaica, is also a recipient of the University of Miami's prestigious James Michener Fellow and the Heinemann/Lifestyle short story award.
The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and the University of St. Martin are partners in the 11th annual St. Martin Book Fair, organized by CLF and HNP.
