19 March 2018
Saint Lucian Author Releases First Novel
By Ethereal Rose Press
Chronicling life as a journalist in the Caribbean, and journeying to brighter North American shores, Meraki, a new novel by Saint Lucian author Kayra Williams, focuses on the objectives of finding peace, purpose and unconditional love despite the odds. A former reporter and newspaper editor, the author uses experiences and inspiration sourced through friends and strangers alike to convey messages of hope, trust, and perseverance.
Meraki focuses on the intricacies of Saint Lucia, touching on the scourges of crime and corruption, and the race of nationals to foreign shores in the hopes of a “better life”. Putting into perspective all Saint Lucia has to offer, the author meanders her way back home through chapters exploring love, faith, freedom, and the power of connections. Read on to find out more in this exclusive interview with author Kayra Williams!
Q: You worked in the media as a journalist from the time you were 17. Can you share what that was like?
A: I really enjoyed my experience working in the media over the years. I’ve gotten to meet so many different people, and still today I can look back and see just how much my writing has improved over time. To be frank, the entire experience has been like a university degree that I got paid for! Doing something you love never really feels like work, and that’s one of the things I will always be able to appreciate about my years spent working as a reporter / editor.
Q: What is unique about Meraki? What are some of the features this book has that others do not?
A: Meraki has the essence of being a self help, and inspirational piece of literature, without directly telling people what to do, or how to go about living their lives. Instead, the novel focuses on sharing real life experiences. Meraki immerses the reader into vibrant territories and interactions where more learning experiences are gained and shared. Meraki speaks of the struggles and triumphs many are familiar with growing up in this territory, and focuses on overcoming.
Q: What was the thought process that determined the direction you wanted to take for your first novel?
A: Meraki is actually not my first novel, it’s my second. I finished my first fiction romance novel, Mars in December of 2014. Needless to say, I was over the moon excited and couldn't wait to get it published! I wrote about all of this in Meraki, about going to a publishing conference with very high hopes for my first novel. At this conference, some of the presentations revolved around how to write a book in 40 hours. It sounded crazy, even to me at the time, but it has proved to be completely possible! The presenters took us through the planning stages, and it was honestly the first time in my writing career that I’d actually sat and planned a real direction for my work. Most of my writing before that was completely spontaneous, and based on inspiration. Since I was already finished with Mars, I had no choice but to start planning a second novel at this conference. I decided to go for non-fiction this time. It would be melting pot of inspiration, based on my life, and the lives of people I've come to know who have inspired me. The rest, as they say, is history.
Q: Can you share more about the process of completing a book in 40 hours?
A: I sure can. It really was 40 hours spread across various days and it took tremendous focus and determination. I probably lost a few friends along the way due to how unavailable I always was! I was working from 7 am to 6 pm at the time, and I used the only free time I had, which was three hours every evening after work. As you can imagine, I’ve since had to do numerous rewrites. Every time I thought I was done, I realized I was not. But the important thing about being able to complete a piece of literary work in a short space of time is just writing and getting it out. Everything else you can fix once your work is out of your head, and onto paper.
Q: What is your ultimate objective with this project?
A: The ultimate objective of Meraki is to help make a positive difference in the lives of people who are most in need of a little bit of hope. Past the point of writing this novel, it continues to positively influence my life and I hope it can do the same for others.
Q: Where can people find your book?
A: Currently Meraki is available on Amazon for purchase. The novel will soon be available at 758 Books at the Blue Coral Mall in Castries. Anyone who is interested can also contact me via social media (Facebook: Kayra Williams) to get their hands on a copy!
About the author
Author Kayra Williams was born on the island of St Lucia. From the moment she learned to read, she spent every waking moment with her nose buried in whatever literature she could find, choosing often fiction novels, and deciding early on that she wanted to be just like the authors in the pages that mimicked real life. Kayra has worked with publications including the SHE Caribbean Magazine, the Tropical Traveller and the St Lucia Star Newspaper, where she worked closely with former Mr. Universe, and Star Publisher Rick Wayne.
