The Author
Writing, for me, has always been such a creative and exhilarating experience, shaping and breathing life to fantastical thoughts and ideas…
Reading is a wonderful gift; a transformative experience that transcends seemingly defined realities! It takes us on journeys our feet have never walked and our eyes have never seen, but writing?! Writing, for me, has always been such a creative and exhilarating experience, shaping and breathing life to fantastical and comical worlds that I hope will bring a piece of joy to every reader that takes this journey with me!
That I am a biological scientist today comes as no surprise to long-standing friends and family. From as far back as I can remember, my childhood was always abound with curiosity and wonder. I quickly developed a passion to discover everything about the science of life and living organisms. But there were also books, and cartoons, and stories – the best of those told by my parents. They often captivated me, fuelling a vivid imagination that was encouraged to run unhindered – a true appreciation and respect for creativity and art. Growing up in the Caribbean, it’s not hard to understand why either. With a vibrant storytelling culture and a rich history of colourful artistic expression to back it up, to live in Trinidad & Tobago is simply to live art; to breathe creativity. I’m thankful that I never had to choose!
This particular journey however, was painstakingly long and not without heartbreak. But it was also definitely worth the overwhelmingly cathartic experience of holding the final printed book in my hands. From conception over a decade ago when faced with the demands of 4-year old cousins for new bedtime stories through to 2017, it would be the loss of my father that provided the impetus to take these next final brave steps to share with the world. It is only when experiencing profound loss that we appreciate how transient life is. My one regret is that I won’t see his face light up, the look of pride in his eyes or hear his laughter as he reads my books.
In 2020 the world as we know has been shaken by a pandemic that continues to devastate lives globally - even as I write this. My hope is that the worlds and characters I bring to life through my stories will bring some bit of joy, relaxation and escape amid such trying times. May these books create a memorable bonding and reading-time experience with the children in your lives. I would also love to hear from you so feel free to connect through social media to share your story-time feedback.
With lots of love
- Shandel