Sunday Ice Cream and BOOKENDS - The Lit Life Line

The worst thing about Sunday is that it sits right beside the dread of an early Monday morning and the freedom of Saturday just gone. But Sundays also have an up side – ice cream and of course, BOOKENDS.

BOOKENDS - a literary arts magazine carried in the weekly Sunday Observer - is an outlet in our own backyard that allows the literary artist to showcase their work to an appreciative audience outside of the conventions of scoring a publishing deal. It is also a bite of heaven for those passionate about the stories in poetry, short stories, photography, books and words in whatever form or place they may be found.

I am particularly thrilled about the access it has given poets who of all the literary artists will find it the hardest to score a publishing deal since most publishers are quicker to forge a deal with a prose writer than a poet. In fact, some publishers make it crystal clear that it's best for poets to sponsor their own works. But thankfully, BOOKENDS has made space on the pages for them too. Lucky are those who make the grade for editor Sharon Leach, they get to share the limited but treasured space alongside some outstanding, distinguished, award-winning Caribbean fellows such as Mervyn Morris, Alma Mock Yen, Earl Mckenzie and Jean Small who just might-might just give the works of the less established some consideration. And to be considered, isn't that the purpose of it all?

Above all, this access (and weekly call for submissions) is a real expression of confidence in the potential of amateurs, professionals, the hopefuls and the passionate. It is a confidence that the experience of the simple local/Jamaican/West Indian/Caribbean is worth being penned, and that the stories of their hearts and perspectives of their unique, even cast-eyes is worth being shared and can make the paper. Not to mention too, the Jamaica Observer backs up its weekly invitation with a promise to pay thereby inking and pledging their recognition of the value of the works as art.

And I believe more quiet writers are now inclined to put themselves up for public flogging knowing that the criticisms will make advances of improvement. In fact, BOOKENDS is often the first visible move for the literary artist, the first arrow pointing to the stage . Whilst primary and high schoolers are prodded to exercise their imagination and build some creative powers, there is hardly any motivation outside of passing the CXC exams that could inspire a production of a new generation of writers as a profession. Certainly, there are several openings for essay competitions but when do they get to indulge in creating works of imagination. This is where BOOKENDS steps up to the plate of possibility and gives good directions on further possible courses of action: writing workshops, literary competitions, submission possibiliities, CALABASH (19 days to go) ...

Well, for this one, BOOKENDS got me to return to a love for books and yes, the rush of blood to head that comes with reading (hence the blog). And I really do like to have it with ice cream. To be honest, I even have it in portions to ensure that there are some leftovers for sore days like Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the weekend seems like such a stretch.

But more specifically, I must say that when reading BOOKENDS I feel strangely connected to kindred book/word/artist/story lovers - it's like a Lit Life Line, a weekly link-up.

S.S.