Adele Newson introduces the CWSI. She then introduces Mervyn Solomon, who introduces the program and introduces Puerto Rico-born New Yorker Dalma Llanos as the first writer. Llanos, a member of the John Oliver Killens Writers Workshop, reads a love story, "Cucharitas." Mervyn Solomon introduces California writer Sarah Strong, who reads from her novel Burning the Sea. The narrator, Tollomi, a man from Saint Croix, meets an American woman in the airport; she has lost her luggage and her memory. They become friends. Part of the narrative concerns the historical reasons why many Jews who fled the Holocaust wound up in the Dominican Republic and what happened under the dictatorship of Rafael L. Trujillo Molina. Mervyn Solomon introduces Trinidadian author Lelawattee Manoo-Rahming, who reads poetry: "Love up de Culture," "Woman Love," "Full Moon Healing," "Earth Momma's Necklace," and "Do Trees Ever Dream?" Mervyn Solomon introduces Trinidadian poet Vincent Neptune, who reads poems from his self-published collection Treatos: "Two Words in New Mythology," "Crying from the Hills," "A Love Story," and others. Mervyn Solomon introduces Jamaican writer Faye Harrison, who reads from a children's story in progress called "Visitors." Some Jamaican children discover friendly extraterrestrial visitors who believe they have landed in America. Comedy results when the aliens are surprised by the Afro-Jamaican patois. Mervyn Solomon introduces American-born Puerto Rico resident Elena Lawton de Torruella, who reads poetry: "The Gong," "In Response to 'The Light of the World' by Derek Walcott," "Flamboyan," "Regarding Love," "Today is the Day," and "Abuela Matilde." Mervyn Solomon introduces Jamaican poet Jean Goulbourne, who reads her poetry: "A Plea for the Children," "Rivers," "Big City," "Heart of a Woman," "Postcard from Jamaica," "Let the Dreams Speak," and "Marley Man." Mervyn Solomon introduces Jamaican writer Donna Weir-Soley, who reads an excerpt from a short story, "Purple Blindness." An African-American sorority sister and a Jamaican dreadlocks man have been together for three years, when he finally discovers he is in love with her. Mervyn Solomon introduces Jamaican writer/actor/musician Malachi Smith, who reads poetry: "Ads," "Prisoner," "Peter Wailer," "Time Keeper," "Eros," "Queen of Spades," "Sometimes," "Eulogy," "Must I Not," and begins to read "Lion Mouth" but it is cut off on the original video recording.
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