Newly published authors Michael Holgate (left), who wrote 'Night of the Indigo', and Billy Elm (pen name for Helen Williams), writer of 'Delroy in the Marog Kingdom', at the dual launch for their books last Wednesday night. - Photos by Mel Cooke
When Brian Heap welcomed the large audience at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, UWI, on Wednesday evening, he quipped, "should I say the force be with you?"
For they had gathered to see the science fiction fantasies of Billy Elm (pen name for Helen Williams) and Michael Holgate, launched into the stratosphere of new books by new authors in a new series. The significance was not lost on Joanne Gail Johnson, editor of the six-book MacMillan Island Fiction series of which Elm's Delroy in the Marog Kingdom and Holgate's Night of the Indigo are a part.
The series is geared towards teens and young adults.
First time
Johnson, in her message (she mentioned beaming herself over or taking an amphibious solar-powered vehicle among the fantasy options to actually be at the launch), said it was the first time so many new authors have made it into print in one series. Holgate (Jamaican by birth) and Elm (Jamaican by choice) are among the five who have earned their publication stripes.
The double launch was in itself the first of another double, as on June 26 the books will also be launched in Montego Bay, where Elm lives.
Elm's book was the first to be presented, preceded by a video trailer that was a hint of fantastic things to come as the performing arts were woven into the launch. Elm made it clear, though, that she would not be delving into the performing arts herself by reading from Delroy in the Marog Kingdom, because "I am the wrong voice".
She pointed out that her book "is also meant for silent reading, for a child to escape to an imaginary place and world that his mind can conjure up". Elm specified that she used 'him' because she wants boys especially to read. She traced her interest in writing for children and young adults to teaching at Green Island Secondary when she just came to Jamaica, where the students would eagerly read the books in the library. However, the fare was all Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys.
Numerous rejections
After retiring in 2000 and concentrating fully on writing, Elm found out "my story had no protagonist and no plot and I knew nothing about writing". She read, joined a writers' circle, worked on her craft, got numerous rejections and submitted to MacMillan in 2007.
The voice that delivered an excerpt from Delroy in the Marog Kingdom was Nadine Rawlins', a frog speaking to Delroy, but his brother, Mario, was unable to hear and understand. The two eventually ended up looking for and finding River Mumma. On another day, Delroy was sucked into a whirlpool in a lake and found himself transformed into a Marog, King Nimrod of the Marogs having chosen Delroy as his successor.
Although it was a dual launch, the night was definitely Holgate's, who is assistant staff tutor at the Philip Sherlock Centre, most of the 'fantastic' around the dual fantasy launch centred around Night of the Indigo.
Holgate's extensive involvement in the arts was shown in the participation of Ashe and students from the School of Dance, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, as well as singers Roslyn Williams and Chevaughn Clayton who did Answered Prayer, written by Holgate.
And other voices also did an excerpt from Night of the Indigo in a dramatised excerpt by Sharee McDonald-Russell and Shayne Powell before Holgate read.
He chose a section about dance, moving his arms and torso gracefully as he described the Old Man's sinewy movements, a foot stomp adding emphasis.
And at the end of the launch, Heap tossed out the notion of another 'new' - the possibility of the start of a 'Pickney Calabash', dedicated to stories for children and teenagers.
Nadine Rawlins reads from Billy Elm's 'Delroy in the Marog Kingdom' at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, UWI, Mona, on Wednesday night.
Michael Holgate signs a copy of 'Night of the Indigo'.
Sharee McDonald-Russell (left) and Shayne Powell dramatise an excerpt from Michael Holgate's 'Night of the Indigo' last Wednesday night.