PHILIPSBURG:--- “Have book will travel!” is a Facebook saying by House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). And news of Faizah’s new book has already landed her a lit fest invitation, said HNP’s Lasana M. Sekou.
Faizah Tabasamu (Rochelle Ward) is a guest poet at New York’s Pace University Butterfly Clips Festival on October 11, 2021.
The St. Maarten Academy teacher and the island’s newest published writer will open the literary festival at 7 pm, reading poems from Tangle, her debut book. The lit fest runs until October 15, in virtual and venue formats.
Faizah will also be interviewed, and she will engage with the writing exercise hosted by Dr. Jane Collins, Tinuade McClish, and Shea Teague, said the Butterfly Clips Festival organization.
Collins wrote the introduction for Tangle. The Pace University literature professor said that in the collection Faizah “tangles history, place, memory and a deeply sensual vision of human experience.”
Not only is Collins acquainted with the quality of Faizah’s work but the poet opened September with the launch of the Tangle e-book, published here by HNP and making her travel-ready for recitals and book tours at home and abroad, said Sekou.
While eager beaver-poetry lovers have been downloading the Tangle e-book from Don’t Break the Comb (https://bit.ly/38NGhh2), the print edition of Tangle will be in bookstores by the end of October, said Sekou.
At the Pace University Butterfly Clips Festival, Faizah will join a list of 13 guest writers, award-winning poets, and editors that includes Alysa Hantgan, Charles North, Khadijah Queen, and Jake Bauer. Faizah’s Tangle e-book will be available for download.
Folks looking to check out Faizah Tabasamu (Rochelle Ward) and the exciting list of guest writers and programs offered at Pace are encouraged to register online.
“We’ve already seen a lot of traction on Instagram and butterflyclips.pace.edu and creativewriting.pace.edu with registrations for workshops, readings, interviews, and our static content,” said Dana Jaye of the lit fest.
