When the holidays roll around, I start a whole stress habit: listing the people I need to buy gifts for, feeling on top of things, then doing nothing else about it, week after week until it's crunch time. But gift giving doesn't have to be a long sweaty nightmare, especially when you have your local indie bookstore as your secret weapon! Below, you'll find reviews of 15 of our gift recommendations, and to start things off, I have a few more suggestions.

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) Creative Writing Competition will launch its newest initiative, an island-wide Writer’s Circle, this Monday, November 4 at the St. Elizabeth Parish library in St. Elizabeth, beginning at 10:00 am.

Want some insights on feminism, religion, politics that will make you laugh, cry, or scream? Well, you’ll find them all in a little book by J.A. Lovelock. Her unique wit and engaging musings that come from her experiences and observations on contemporary life is what we sometimes need to ‘escape’ a life filled with so many distractions. The recently published Let Me Tell You Something is a collection of commentaries published in the UK version of the Jamaica Gleaner over the years.

Halloween is only two days away! Little ones picking up on the treat vibe--but who are nowhere near ready for the tricks--may enjoy some of these spooky board books.

Miami, – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Book Fair (MBF), the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering, will present ReadCaribbean, a series including readings, panel discussions and storytelling for children, that highlights the vibrant and diverse literary culture of the Caribbean.  As noted, some author events will take place in Creole or French with simultaneous translation into English.

"Funny the way music finds you when you're a kid. It sneaks up on you. It's in the air, in the mood of a room, all around. And then, when it happens in just the right way, it can get under your skin and hang with you for just about forever."

Caribbean national Marva McClean is one of two authors chosen as Gladstone’s Library Political Writers in Residence for 2020.

FLORIDA, - The stage is set. Excitement and expectations are building for the 2019 edition of the Jamaican Poets All-island School Tour. Twenty one poets will be taking part in the two-week tour.

MIAMI - The Links, Incorporated Greater Miami (FL) Chapter will hold its Linked in Action Book and Author Luncheon on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at the JW Marriott Marquis in downtown Miami.   

Every now and then there's a TV show that's good enough to inspire background reading. One such program is HBO's Succession, which follows an extremely wealthy family's bitter infighting over the future of their media empire after the patriarch falls ill. The show is clearly inspired by Shakespeare, but also by real-life families like the Murdochs. Unfortunately, there are no recent books about Rupert Murdoch that I can enthusiastically recommend.

Miami,– Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Book Fair launches Speak Up, a teen poetry and performance program supporting the artistic, personal, and professional growth of high school students through poetry and spoken word performance at MDC’s Koubek Center, beginning Sept. 25, on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m.  Registration for this free workshop is open until Sept. 20. Space is limited – sign up today!

From September 15 to October 15, the U.S. observes National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Americans' heritage and culture and recognizing their contributions to the United States. Here are some wonderful children's titles written and/or illustrated by Hispanic or Latinx Americans to start the celebration a little early.