Drog the Dreggen New picture story book

 

A New Picture storybook from LMH

Drog is the first in a three book series about dreggens in Jamaica. Shannon and Grandma have exciting adventures with them, even though Grandma is terribly afraid of dreggens and the dreggens have an unusual way of talking. What is a dreggen? You gotta read to find out.

Published by LMH Publishing Co. in Jamaica

https://www.lmhpublishing.com/children/drog-dreggen-story-bk-1

 

Naming your character

New book from Carlong Publishers ( Caribbean) Ltd

Having just completed a battle with one of my characters about her name, I am more now keenly interested in the names to chose for characters in my stories.

Names can be a clue to period in a story as names, like other things, go in and out of fashion. You wouldn't (normally) want to give a character in a historical story a modern name.Whenever I hear someone named Hazel, for example, I know  that person is usually near to my age group. I suppose George will be back in fashion after the new English prince was named. If you check a search engine you will see that some names are perennial - bible names for example. Some never go away David, Daniel, Matthew, Mark, John, Samuel. Mary, Martha, Ruth and so on.

If you are writing a contemporary children's or YA story, especially in Jamaica, (maybe elsewhere too) you had better be aware of the names which now exist. I was alerted to this when the proof reader at the company producing my latest book Ash the Flash (co-written with Nattalie Gordon) asked that the name of the secondary character be changed. Both of us writers agreed that to change his name at this late stage would be alarming both for us and the character - as if he would become a different person and change the mood of the story. Nattalie had named him Kenroy and the reader thought that this was too old fashioned for a contemporary twelve year old. I compromised by changing the spelling to Kenroi which made it look more modern, even if the pronunciation was the same.

Photos: Bryan Cummings

The recently concluded Girls and Boys Track and Field Championship in Jamaica was spectacular for broken records, the courage of the children and their compassion for those injured or for those who didn't win a race.

One of the interesting things for me was the names of the competitors. There were a few sprinklings of names like Christopher, Anthony, and Robert. I remember when Travis and Akeem seemed new and daring. I was aware that parents had started uniting parts of their names for their offspring, but some of these names had me sitting up and taking notice. I suspect that it's only the familiarity of the commentators with the stars of track and field that made them able to pronounce some of the names and even then sometimes they had to back track.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with these names. Just be aware if you are writing a contemporary story that you should pay attention to current names.

Here are a few, I wrote down..

GIRLS

Ackeliah, Argyanna, Asaine, Asschani, Avagay,

Cameena, Camira, Codi-Ann

Daejan, Delicesha,

Geneke,

Janeek, Jynell,

Khanoy, Kissi -Ann

Olian, Oweneika

Sanique, Sherdia, Shaneil, Shelica, Santanya, Sheriann, Sashell, Semoy

Tachece, Tulia,

BOYS

Aykeeme

Dejour, Detroy, Devannah,

Chadrick, Chevenne, Chadoye,

Jauvaney, Javon, Jevuaghn, Javad,

Lafranz,

Nathon,

Oquendo,

Rajay, Rakeem

Shamor,

Twayne

Yashawn

Of course, you can always make up a new name for your character or change the spelling of a name you like. I was thinking that if I combined parts of my name I could get something like Hadesim, or Hadecam. Trouble is I wouldn't know if this was a girl or a boy. Many interesting possibilities here.

More on Hi-low readers for the Caribbean

"Students who find reading a challenge are no different from avid readers in their reading tastes. They want exciting stories with memorable characters. They don’t want boring books with condescending stories. They want “real” literature with themes and conflicts that capture the problems and situations in their own lives, and these books deliver."
Debbie Jacob http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2012-11-05/novels-written-verse

 I totally agree, but the problem is, who will publish these stories in the Caribbean? and the obviously related question - who will buy them? The foreign books are cheaper or are sometimes given to schools free of cost, so there continues to be insufficient books for the hi-low readers "with themes and conflicts that capture the problems and situations in their own lives."

These books are sometimes produced as part of projects which often have strict guidelines which limit the author to just another text book kind of story.

In the late 80s I was fortunate enough to link into a local UNESCO project which allowed me the freedom to write interesting fiction. These booklets (a little above the hi-low reading stage) were given away and have long been unavailable. They dealt with AIDS (then a fairly new topic for general discussion) Drug Abuse  (cocaine and alcohol) and the environment.

Only Juice Box and Scandal ( the environment) was rescued, as  a private publisher was allowed to keep it in print. 

https://www.lmhpublishing.com/children/juice-box-and-scandal

I don't yet know of any project or 'funder' (still looking) who would just put up money for the publishing of hi-low readers of general interest, allowing an author free rein to write exciting material. (We have to eat and some of us are writing full time.)

I have a few unpublished stories like this. Also I know a few other authors who do. They are sitting in our computers waiting for . . . . .!!

The Internet is not the answer for us either, as wide distribution to OUR children remains a problem.( Lack of computers, electricity and other challenges).

PERHAPS YOU CAN HELP

I am looking for a group/company/individual to sponsor the purchase of copies of my book Bernie and the Captain's Ghost to give to schools for the handicapped and children's homes here in Jamaica. This adventure story is about a group of orphaned handicapped children getting involved in a mystery/adventure which leads to a better life for them. I believe it is empowering for handicapped children since they are rarely the heroes of story books. Here's a comment from a librarian
"This children's story is well-written.The suspense is captivating and the plot realistic. It is a true-to- life mystery that the reader himself is eager to solve. Thank you for this delightful addition to our special collections."
Scroll down this blog to see a description of the book
contact publisher Carlong Publishers(Caribbean )Ltd.
marketing@carlongpublishers.com
Tel 876-9609366#2
OR email me at shandycan@yahoo.com
The cost is US$9.85
Jamaican link
http://www.jamaicans.com/

Mulitcultural Children's Books from Jamaica

HAZEL D. CAMPBELL'S CHILDREN'S BOOKS
published by LMH Publishing Ltd in Jamaica

All LMH books available from amazon.com