The Calabash Literary Festival is back! And based on the palpable buzz felt Tuesday last at cultural hub 10A West King’s House Road, the return of the festival that has long been hailed as a beacon of literary excellence, attracting both established and up-and-coming writers from across the globe, is much welcomed.

There was more. Co-founder Justine Henzell not only announced the dates May 26-28 and location, notably, Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, but that the 14-year-old festival had attracted an international sponsor. Henzell announced to thunderous applause that Audible, the Amazon-owned online audiobook and podcast service which allows users to purchase and stream audiobooks, was on-board. “This has come about,” she shared, “because with you we have built a brand that a company like Audible trusts enough that they have asked us to curate a short-story collection of love stories from Jamaica”.

Specially invited guests enjoyed the reading of Black Buck by Rock-blooded Brooklyn-based writer Mateo Askaripour (his mum Sonia is from Cave Valley, St Ann), whose book got the nod from NBC Today co-host and daughter of former US President George W Bush, Jenna Bush Hager, for her ‘Read with Jenna’ book club readers.

“As the festival continues to unfold over the coming days, we can look forward to inspiring readings and an array of thought-provoking discussions. This year’s festival, since its last staging in 2018 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, promises to be a true celebration of the written word, and a testament to the enduring power of literature to move upward, onward and for word’,” concluded Henzell.

Additional Calabash sponsors include Jakes Hotel & Villas, Tourism Enhancement Fund, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Wisynco Trading, the US Embassy and the Canadian High Commission.

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