Last month I went to a book launch at the National Library of Port of Spain. It was the first book of new author Vanessa Salazar, Selima and the Merfolk.
I hadn’t planned to go. I actually came to the capital to see a man about a computer. It went something like this.
-_- Well, something like that.
And ended up in the library’s audio-visual room for the small book launch. But I was glad that I stayed (they had snacks! 😀 ) and I made some good contacts. But let’s get back to the book launch. I have not read Selima and the Merfolk. I believe it is in the children / young adult age range and I can’t promise yet if I will be reading it or doing any reviews.
However, many a book was given away that day to the excited youngsters who I am sure will read it or at least leave it lying around in the proximity of someone who will. I will give descriptions for the pics I took but if you see your self or realised that I captioned something wrong please feel free to highlight it in the comments.
Author, Vanesssa Salazar (far left) gave out by random selection about 20 books to the school children who attended the book launch.
The author (far left), one of the lucky winners (center front), Candice Clarke-Salloum, a representative from BG T&T who sponsored the raffle (center back) and a young woman whose name I did not get who portrayed one of the merfolk characters in the book (far right)
Another happy winner!
Kasi Sengor, friend of the author and PRO for local group Circle of Poets T&T spoke at the launch
Author of Selima and the Merfolk, Vanessa Salazar addressed the audience.
Those stories her grandfather told her when she was six about mermaids in Las Cuevas rivers sure came in handy!
A representative from Marios Pizza (far left) gave out three vouchers as door prizes. Free pizza!
Each class from the attending schools lined up with their teacher at the end to take a picture with the author and the mermaid!
Sophia Lezama (far left) from Bishops Anstey High School came especially on request by the author to read Chapter three from the book to the audience. She was a very good reader too!
Author Vanessa Salazar was in even higher spirits as it was also her birthday. She declared the book launch to be the best birthday present she could have.
And if you were wondering who the backs of the two heads are that were in so many of my photos, they belonged to these two, Jason Jarvis (far left) the book’s cover illustrator who also spoke at the launch and Derick G. Smith (far right) who did the cover’s layout and graphic design. They joined the author and the mermaid on the stage for a quick photo!
So for my first book launch, attending that is and albeit an unexpected one, it was good! I was fed, so I was happy. 😀 And maybe I will read Selima and the Merfolk someday when I am not writing my own fantasy stuff.
Written by – True Nicks
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