Nesta's new adventures

I've been really busy lately, doing a million and one things and hoping to do them well too. Just in case you've missed me and wondering what i've been up to, i'm going to update you as I appreciate the people who read my blog, leave comments or just visit from time to time.

So what have I been up to? For starters i've been busy promoting my new book, the One Room Shack and i'm very happy by the positive responses that it has attracted. It's always good to get feedback and so I appreciate it and i'm very happy when persons tell me that they have enjoyed my work. Don't worry, One Room Shack will be followed up by a second book, Moods and Attitudes, i'm already putting the finishing touches on that one. I am thinking of including a few more poems in it before publishing in the summer of next year, just in time for the Nature Island Literary Festival. Be sure to look out for the book and off course, the festival as well.

I have also started a facebook page, to promote myself as an artist instead of simply having a facebook account. Someone mentioned that it would be a more professional approach to my writing and promotion of my work if i created a page. It's been created for just over a week now and I have just over thirty (30) likes, i.e. people following it's content. I am hoping to have it up to fifty (50) before the new year, baby steps I keep reminding myself. If you would like to follow the page, just click Nesta

In the midst of all that, I have also started a column for an online magazine, Da-Finest, do check it out. The column, The Chronicles of Nesta gives me a chance to broaden my readership and also tackle issues and ideas that I haven't done or didn't think of doing through my blog. I won't abandon my blog, not at all, this is my fir... well second love, behind my poetry off course. If you want to check out the column's latest entry and leave comments or suggestions, then click here: The Chronicles of Nesta.

There are a few more things that i'm working on but once they are concretized you can be certain that i will post an update here.

Thanks again,

Nesta.

Keegan Maharaj erupts with Issues and Ideas

This is just a video clipping that I took of Keegan Maharaj during the Issues and Ideas (InI) session/workshop at the Nature Island Literary Festival...

No need for too much talk or anything, just listen to the young man and you are bound to feel the vibe that was emanating throughout the three days at the "little" festival of WORD, SOUND and POWER...

For photos of the events at the Nature Island Literary Festival or to contact Keegan Maharaj

Poetry meet Roseau Market, Roseau Market meet Poetry

The Roseau Market is always a bustling environment of onlookers, buyers and sellers looking for the freshest of quality fruits and vegetables on a Saturday morning in the small city of Roseau.

However on that particular Saturday, there was something "new" at the market place, as the smooth sounds of pan music and poetry elevated above all the hustling and bustling. The Poetry and Book Exchange had been organized as an outreach activity of the Nature Island Literary Festival to expand the audience of the festival in the hopes of drawing larger crowds to the University Centre in Dominica.

The reason I am babbling about the activity on my blog is because I actually performed/read poems from my upcoming book at the market. I did three poems from my first and soon to be released poetry book One Room Shack: The Dominican Gift, These Words and one of my favourites Can I, a piece centered on attracting the opposite sex...

It had been almost a year since my last poetry reading and although I was a bit nervous I did my best and followed that up with a reading at the Literary Festival of The Kalinago Girl... Expect more readings from me soon as I am getting the hang of it... who knows maybe one day you may just catch a video clip of one of my readings on my site...

Be one the look out! Remember you were cautioned, lol... oh and I did walk away with a number of books, had to take part in the book exchange too, but off course!

Images (c) NI Lit Fest

my first haiku

It's always good to try something new... sometimes just for the experience, to find out if you would be good at it or for constructive feedback.

I like to dabble into new things especially when it concerns writing. I did that a few years ago with performance-type poetry and although I haven't mastered the craft I and others (my fans, colleagues, friends, readers) have noticed a vast improvement in my work.

Every year, the Nature Island Literary Festival holds a number of competitions during the weekend activity and every year I let it slip by without participating. I wanted this year to be different so I attempted a haiku, which is a type of Japanese poetry. I had been exposed to it during my time in Japan a few years ago. I can't recall the actual year though.... which may be a sign that i'm getting old but let's get back to the point at hand now.

This is my attempt at a haiku:

Perched in the tree top
sweet songs of nature's hymn book
Song birds, sweetly sing!

Comments and criticisms are welcomed but be nice, remember this is my first attempt and I do not want it to be my last... lol.

Poetry Offering: Colours

The Dominica Writers Guild is currently organizing a call for poems under the theme Colours in preparation for the Nature Island Literary Festival.

Below is the poem that I have submitted, wish me luck... It is also in my upcoming book One Room Shack which should be out just before the Festival.

My Dominica

by Delroy Nesta Williams

Shades of green and everything in between

Encircled by seas of translucent blue,

Displaying wonders above and below

A beauty for all to behold,

Peaks that touch the sky

Stars that bless the night,

While the clear rivers quench the thirst

Of the land that grows it all.

Flowers of red, yellow, orange and blue

Birds of all sizes and colours sweetly sing,

The wind greets the hills and valleys

As the swaying palms speak to the flamboyant

Giving shade to the people below,

As they busily go about their day,

Each and everything mixed in.

For in Dominica they are well pleased

For here, Nature carefully prepares the way,

A path though full of bumps and bruises,

Potholes and ditches,

An experience second to none.

This is where all this is found,

Undisturbed it stands

Dominica,

shining jewel among other islands.