Marielle Forbes
Marielle Forbes is the Hospitality and General Manager at Bocas Lit Fest. She is a Project Developer and Arts Administrator, with experience in the fields of hospitality, event and project management, carnival arts production and creative industry support. She has held creative stewardships under well-established Trinidadian arts practitioners, including fashion designers, dance choreographers and film and theatre directors.Â
Mary Cuffy
Mary Cuffy is the author of the ladybug book series, Lola and the Dancing Ladybugs, Lola and the Magic Sticks, Lola and the Fascinating Cocoa Bean, a recipe book Bake the Cocoa Cookie with Lola and Road Trip Adventure With Lola & Lola. Her latest book is Lola and The Animal Orchestra. She is a storyteller whose work focuses on literacy and music in early childhood and she lectures at the UWI Open Campus, in the Certificate and Bachelor in Education in Early Childhood Development and Family Studies programme.
Michael Anthony
Michael Anthony is an eminent Caribbean author and historian from Mayaro. He has had over 30 titles published in the form of novels, short stories and travelogues, including The Year in San Fernando, which was assigned as an English Literature text book in the Trinidad and Tobago curriculum. In 1979 he was awarded the Hummingbird Gold Medal for his contribution to literature, in 2003 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, and in 2012 was awarded a NALIS Lifetime Literary Award. His latest book is The Lamplighter.
Michelle Govia
Michelle Govia has over twenty (20) years’ experience working with children from ages one to teenage years. She has worked at Disney Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises and Beaches Resort in their Children’s Camps, a private school in Ontario, Canada and was the owner of a children’s playgroup in Trinidad. At both Disney Cruise Lines and Beaches, she trained new crew and staff. Safety is a very important aspect of any job. Michelle’s work experience with children has helped her incorporate her knowledge into this Safety Awareness for Children book. Her aim is to keep this safety book simple and hands-on for children to understand and remain engaged.
Milan Romany
Milan Romany started up her business Zo-Mi Crafts TT at the age of 7 with 5 years old co-writer Zola Clarke. They’re all about fun and funds! From handmade jewellery and colourful accessories to their exciting children’s book series The Mermaidiorn Adventures – they’re turning their active imaginations into business sense. They have expanded their initiative to support and include a growing community of young creators – via Kidpreneur Island – a platform for children to explore entrepreneurship and launch their own ventures. With their Kids Business Club, they empower the next generation of mini-CEOs — creating community, connections, and confidence with can-do Caribbean charm.
Miranda Dookran
Miranda Dookran is the holder of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Human Resource Management (Hons) from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Psychology from Andrews University, Michigan. She has been writing since the age of eight when she used to jot down short verses of poetry. She continues to write poetry and short stories on various themes. She is the author of the poetry collection, ‘Breeze of Hope’, ‘Bobby and the Beehive,’ ‘Bobby and the Beehive Colouring and Activity Book’ and ‘Tommy the Shark.’
Oprah Francis
Oprah Francis is the author and illustrator behind the children’s storybook and workbook titled The Adventures of Marvin the Mischievous Manicou. She is also a corporate communicator and the holder of a Master’s Degree in Media, Communications and Public Relations. Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, this up-and-coming author is working to foster a greater sense of cultural pride and appreciation for local content through fun and creative learning. It is hoped that through this and future publications, Oprah will continue her efforts as an advocate for culturally-driven children’s literature.
Phillip Simon
Phillip Simon was fascinated by many things as a child, but one of his main interests was Japan. This fascination remained with him until his adult years, causing him to move to Japan for two years as an Assistant Language Teacher teaching English in high schools. His experiences while there and his appreciation for Japan and his home country of T&T have led him to create the Petra series, which currently includes two books; Petra and the Poui and Petra and the Panman’s Daughter. The latter was long-listed for the 2022 Bocas Children’s Book Prize.
Portia Subran
Portia Subran is a Trinidadian artist and writer. She is the winner of the 2019 Cecile de Jongh Literary Prize from The Caribbean Writer, and the 2016 Small Axe LitÂerÂary Short Story Competition. She was a finalist for the 2022 BCLF Short Fiction Story Contest, and longlisted for the 2019 Johnson and Amoy Achong Caribbean Writers Prize (JAAWP) for prose fiction. Her publications include Pree Lit Magazine; Jewels of the Caribbean; Akashic Books’ Duppy Thursday Online Flash Fiction Series; Small Axe: A Caribbean Journal of Criticism; New Worlds, Old Ways: Speculative Tales from the Caribbean, and The Caribbean Writer.
Salim Rampersad
Salim Rampersad is a young creative whose interests in storytelling and visual art developed from an early age. His artistic journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he used his free time to explore painting, eventually expanding into digital art. Since then, he has continued to refine his skills through online courses and consistent practice, building a growing portfolio that reflects both his technical development and creative exploration.
Shalon Kasha Joseph
Shalon Kasha Joseph, a mother of two, is a Trinidad and Tobago author who is passionate about helping children discover the power of imagination and creative storytelling. Inspired by her own children’s struggles with finding ideas for their school essays, she wrote The Adventures of Caribbean Girl, where the young protagonist Melina turns everyday experiences into exciting fantasy adventures through her journal. In addition to writing, Shalon serves as a Sunday School teacher and youth leader at her church. She has also hosted youth-focused events and initiatives that support children’s growth in areas such as educational study practices, career awareness, character development, and creativity.
Speed 49 Carolina Rhythm Section
The Speed 49 Carolina Rhythm Section is a dynamic live percussion band known for their live energetic and electrifying performances. Originating in Carolina/California, the band has been in existence for over 20 years. With Mr. Anthony Marchan as the arranger and Nicholas De Silva currently as the lead drummer, this group has performed across Trinidad and Tobago in various types of events including; weddings, cultural shows, sporting events and commercial openings just to name a few. The band prides itself on also having performed for the President her Excellency Christine Kangaloo in recent times and can boast of being the only rhythm section in Trinidad and Tobago to include vocals in their performances. This group is also community oriented and understands the importance of giving back as they have also performed at many charitable events.
Suzette Cadiz
Suzette Cadiz has been an educator for 38 years. She opened and operated a Montessori school in the 1970s after graduating from the Association Montessori Internationale London, and then went on to teach for over two decades at a primary school. In 2010, she co-founded Let’s Read, and continues to advocate for increased literacy throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
Tracy Assing
Tracy Assing is a storyteller. During her career she has written extensively about her indigenous heritage and has edited annual reports, business, entertainment and travel magazines; written on a variety of subjects for every media format, conducted in-depth interviews with politicians, business leaders, activists, artists and everyday people; and worked with filmmakers to produce short films and create meaningful and impactful campaigns. Through her stories, she makes connections.
Tricia Chin
Tricia Chin is an attorney-at-law who started writing short stories during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Her writing is based on the folklore of Trinidad and Tobago, and she places her characters in local settings across Trinidad and during time periods that vary from the 1800s to present day. For the Dead is her third collection, released in 2022. She also released Tabanca and Other Stories and Parang the Wrong House in 2021.
Vashti Bowlah
Vashti Bowlah is a writer from Trinidad and Tobago. Her stories have been published in Caribbean and international journals and have also gained her literary awards and nominations. She is the author of Under The Peepal Tree and Sugarcane Valley.
Zaire Williams
Zaire Williams is an extraordinary ten-year-old with a passion for soaring to new heights, both in the sky and in the literary world. A student at Lucia’s Private School, Zaire’s dreams of becoming a pilot are grounded in a vibrant imagination and an unyielding determination. Teaming up with his talented mother, Nneka Figaro, he has already co-authored his debut book, My Dream Is to Become a Pilot. Beyond writing, Zaire is passionate about music and football. His natural charisma and entrepreneurial spirit show that he’s not just a budding author but a young force destined for greatness.
Zelly
Dragonzelda (fondly known as Zelly) is one of the youngest members of the Bocas Lit Fest family.
In 2024, Zelly was found as an egg, along the Valencia riverbed, on the way back from the Storytelling Caravan visits to Toco and Matura. Dragonzilla, a beloved member of the Children’s Bocas Lit Fest team (and a dragon!), recognized the green egg right away as a dragon egg!
But, we all know dragons don’t look after their eggs, so the team brought the beautiful egg to The Writers Centre, home of Bocas Lit Fest. There, for many days, the Bocas team took care of and read stories to the egg until it hatched! And Zelly was born!
Zelly loved hearing stories so much she knew she had to learn to read too. Now, she travels across T&T, sharing her love of reading with children of all ages.
The next time you meet Zelly, ask her to read you a story.
Zola Clarke
Milan Romany started up her business Zo-Mi Crafts TT at the age of 7 with 5 years old co-writer Zola Clarke. They’re all about fun and funds! From handmade jewellery and colourful accessories to their exciting children’s book series The Mermaidiorn Adventures – they’re turning their active imaginations into business sense. They have expanded their initiative to support and include a growing community of young creators – via Kidpreneur Island – a platform for children to explore entrepreneurship and launch their own ventures. With their Kids Business Club, they empower the next generation of mini-CEOs — creating community, connections, and confidence with can-do Caribbean charm.