Explorations of Saint Lucian identity in Derek Walcott’s poetry are steeped in colonial tension. His rise as a poet unfolded alongside the island’s own post-independence evolution, which took shape against a technologically advancing world. That convergence has helped define our present reality, where Walcott’s success continues to inspire cultural stakeholders to carve out space for local writers, who, no longer bound by physical limitations, are seizing the access technology has provided to publish their own work.
During last month’s Writers in the Spotlight, part of the Nobel Laureate Festival activities, St. Lucia Times caught up with 10 published authors to discuss their work, much of which reflects a generation of storytellers wrestling with themes of love, spirituality, self-discovery, growth and escapism.
Valyn Eugene
“My poetry reflects a journey. Life happens in bursts, sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, but the important thing is to take each one and just sit with it, be with it and allow it to be what it is.”
Poet, writer and environmental officer Valyn Eugene has been writing for years, exploring themes of self-discovery, love and a deep connection to nature and the divine. She has published two poetry collections, I Almost Loved You to Hate and Sacred Waters.
Angella O’Brien
“Opportunities I’ve gotten through writing have been really good eye-openers. They’ve helped me to do more to assist more people, guide young people and get them interested in writing, doing poetry, stories and whatever way they can be creative.”
Performance poet and author Angella O’Brien captures life as it happens. Her first chapbook, Poetic Keepsake, was launched in Paris after she received an opportunity from UNESCO in 2023 to participate in the Poetry Market. Her work largely explores the art of living and Saint Lucia. She was named the Outstanding Literary Arts Awardee at the 2024 National Youth Awards and participated in Barbados’ Bridgetown International Arts Festival in 2025.
Tevin Isaac
“I have a love for reading and writing, and also want to inspire other children to grow a love for it as well.”
Fourteen-year-old Tevin Isaac, a student of the Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School, launched his first children’s storybook, In the Nick of Time, in November 2025. Inspired by his love of travelling, Isaac enjoys writing stories and poems and encourages other children to believe in their ideas and pursue their dreams despite obstacles. He plans to publish more books in the future.
Shawill Flavius
“Writing was a coping mechanism. I had a lot of issues I was dealing with, and to deal with the pain, I started to write. So by the time I was ready to publish, I had written over 100 poems.”
A three-time published writer, Shawill Flavius began writing as a teenager, using poetry to confront deeply personal experiences. She is the author of the Tears of My Heart trilogy – Unabashed & Barefaced, Gwo Pwel, and Eros and Storge Kind of Love. The series traces the many dimensions of love, from its most bountiful expressions to heartbreak, familial bonds, friendship, loss and grief.
Johnathan Johannes
“I keep saying to everyone, ‘you can’t expect exceptional results by doing the same thing that everybody else is doing, so you have to be prepared to be the exception’ and that’s why I wrote this book, to teach all that I’ve lived, all that I’ve learned, my mistakes, the journey to the leadership that I hope to get to.”
Caribbean executive and leadership strategist Jonathan Johannes is managing director of Unicomer OECS. His first book, The Exception Code, centres on unlocking the leader within and challenges readers to embrace what sets them apart.
Albert Fevrier
“It’s about catering for children with all kinds of difficulties, not just medical impairments, and how the system should cater for them by having tailored interventions tailored for each group rather than one-size-fits-all.”
Educator, researcher and first-time author Albert Fevrier is a retired teacher with 40 years of experience, including advanced study in inclusive education. A technical teacher of industrial arts, he has long written on universal secondary education and reforming the secondary school selection model. His book, School-Focused Compensation: Towards a Compensation Model for Educational Transitioning, advocates for tailored educational interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Cura Fedee
“I picked up again on regular writing now that I’m back at school… drawing from personal experiences and people around me, friends and family, I came up with a book. I’ve always liked poems and telling stories.”
Business Management major Cura Fedee, who studies at Monroe University, has channelled a love for poetry and short stories – first nurtured in secondary school – into a manuscript now ready for publication. She is drawn to understanding how people think, feel and connect, themes that shape her writing.
Sherma Thomas
“[Hopes] that readers of her poetry and books will be able to understand her world through her own words and be inspired.”
Writer Sherma Thomas, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, has been crafting short stories since her teenage years. Her work focuses largely on children’s fiction. She released her first novella in 2004 and has since published nine books. Recently, Thomas also published a well-received poem.
Nadege Valcent
“Ever since I was 16, I wanted to publish some of my books but could not find sponsors to help with the process, so I decided to learn how to do it myself. It took a few years but I began independently publishing in 2020. The journey hasn’t been easy but the patience I had helped me get through.”
Nadege Valcent, who began writing at age 11, is the founder of DarkRoyalty Books, an independent publishing brand catering to readers of all ages. Writing primarily psychological thrillers under the pen name Kia Valcent, she explores emotionally charged dark romance and crime fiction, while publishing imaginative children’s books as Kellie V. Meri.
Samson Wilson
“I love psychology and philosophy. Certain books I’ve read have inspired me to write, especially people like Frederick Mitchell and Carl Jung. I realised I wanted to follow a similar path and decided to write too.”
Specialising in motivational and self-help writing with Christian influences, Samson Wilson published his first book in 2022, Seeing Yourself as Joseph, which draws on the biblical story of Joseph to explore resilience and growth through struggle. His second book is set to enter the editing phase, and a third is already in progress.
