Belizean folklore and fiction can be easily found in Belize's literary pool, or classroom setting for that matter. What's really hard to come across are modern tales of today's culture, or true stories capturing the modern day lived experience.
That's what inspired Melissa Bradley to release her second book today, that is reflective of her experiences and others as a child. Jomarie Lanza attended the launch of "Mahagni Gyal" and here's what she learned about this unique literary work.
Four years after her first book " La Partera" was released, educator and author, Melissa Bradley brought to life another character and Belizean story which follows the life of 13 year old Melony, nicknamed "Mahagni Gyal".
Set in the early 1990's " Mahgani Gyal" narrates the complexities which Melony faces as a 13 year old girl.
At the book launch today, she shared the inspiration behind her latest creation.
Melissa Bradley, Author
"So today you have witnessed the launch of a beautiful book it's a book with a setting in the early 1990's in Belize and so you will see the characters in this book reflect that setting as well as the rich Creole language that is intertwined in the story as well and how it used between the characters in their dialogues."
"In the book itself the experiences of are the characters are real because they are the ones experiencing it and it's important that with this book the readers interact with the characters, question them, enjoy their experiences and reflect on their own experiences. I hope this will bring a sense of nostalgia to some of our readers as they remember their own experiences growing up as a child especially at that time in the 1990's where certain things were taboo to talk about."
And for her second project she sought to partner along with her former student, Nisa Sanchez, who beautifully illustrated and captured the coming of age scenes within the book
Melissa Bradley, Author
"Now I remember Nisa The illustrator in like this would be perfect for her because she knows how to capture the exact events. She would read something and be like Okay I know exactly what to do with this I know what art to place there and so one of the things I never did to her was ask if she had any ideas. I would be like the only the idea I would have okay, so maybe take a picture of my daughter and then make an imitation of her but the character would be darker."
Nisa Sanchez, Illustrator
"I've been drawing since I was 10 but I guess officially illustrating probably just a few years now."
"I think it was so wonderful when she approached me I felt so happy that she approached me again because I mean it was another opportunity to work with her and the best thing about working with Ms Bradley she really let me just have like this open canvas like icon interpret the story icon interpret the character however I want I can propose to her new ideas and she will interact with them so I think for me I was excited to work with her again."
The 28 page book sells for $25, and was published with the help of "Imagination Factri"
The book is available at the Image Factory.
