Dear Editor,

I note David Dacosta’s concern about what he considers is the need for “more Jamaican writers”. As an author of four books (one of which has had six editions), I must say it’s a pity that one only becomes recognised as a “Jamaican author” if or when one lives abroad with access to publishers, reviewers and distribution, while in Jamaica authors have to self-publish at their own cost to get their work in print, then promote it themselves.

We home-based authors thought a break had come with the Calabash Literary Festival, which we thought would give us access to international publicity and distribution opportunities. But over the years we have seen that the scores of home-based authors do not get invited to read from our work at Calabash unless we line up in the sun for a “rush-the-mike” moment. The only “Jamaican authors” privileged to be promoted at Calabash each year are those who live abroad. Instead, the event gives headline and microphone space to a plethora of international authors, some of whom we have never heard of. The 2010 line-up announced authors Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), Geoff Dyer (UK), Colson Whitehead (USA), Nami Mun (South Korea), Sharon Olds (USA), Sudeep Sen (India), Feryal Ali Guaher (Pakistan), Helen Oyeyemi (Nigeria) and Russell Banks (USA).

One bright light for Jamaican authors was the staging in November of the first Independent VoYces Literary Festival, devoted exclusively to Jamaican authors and books. The day-long event featured scores of authors participating and reading from a variety of books – most self-published. We look forward to the growth and development of this event, as it is a welcome window for local authors and books.

One problem local authors have is distribution. The solitary distributor, Novelty Trading Company, specialises in distributing foreign magazines at pharmacies and supermarkets where shelf space and shelf life for books

seem limited.

It’s a pity that the Observer’s weekly Bookends magazine is not published online, as it is the only publication that honours Jamaican authors and gives us deserved publicity. (The co-ordinator, Sharon Leach, is herself a brilliant author who deserves to be a Calabash headliner.) Bookends is full of information to satisfy Mr Dacosta that Jamaican literature is alive and well, and shows that we are producing our own answers to Earl Lovelace and Oonya Kempadoo as we write and document all the cultural nuances of this land we love. I’d be happy to recommend some titles.

Barbara Blake Hannah

PO Box 727

Kingston 6