Defining Paradise on our own terms
Elements of the supernatural come through in all of your short stories, highlighting the absurd, humorous, and heartbreaking experiences of your characters. How does this reflect the historical and contemporary experiences of "Bahamianness"?
Bahamians like to say that The Bahamas isn’t a real place. I think this is a perceptive statement, one which demonstrates how we are describing and defining paradise on our terms. The surreal, the supernatural, the unreal, it’s our everyday. There are plenty of marvelous happenings in my stories, many of which are informed by Bahamian culture, folklore, and history. As a people, we appreciate embellishment — it’s one of the few ways Bahamian writers can truly convey the surrealities of life in The Bahamas.
An award-winning author, you're also very accomplished with a camera, and indeed your prose feels cinematic. How do film and writing intersect in your creative work?
In film school, I was taught to write only what the audience can see or hear on screen. Perhaps because of this, my fiction embraces imagery. I like striking visuals and sounds because they can establish a mood, enrich the setting, or speak to a central theme. For instance, in “The Cay”, a thief is “swallowed up to the wrist by a salt pond”. This image has a cinematic quality to it: the visual and auditory elements are there. It also conveys this sense that the setting is playing an active role in the story, which is a vibe I was going for. I hope to turn this particular story into a film someday, so that the intersection you mention is less like a Venn diagram and more like a circle.
Speaking of visual media and your expertise, your Instagram account is impeccably curated with quintessential "island-core" shots. What is your advice to others for capturing beautiful, carefree, and sophisticated encounters with the natural world while they visit The Bahamas?
Thank you, I appreciate beauty and The Bahamas is a beautiful place. The key to thoughtful image making is understanding who you are and what aspect of your personality the shot will evoke. The formal elements of photography are, in my opinion, secondary to personal touch. One of my favorite images is a simple shot of me in bone-white sand, taken from above by my sister. I’m wearing red swim trunks and I have a red book over my face. Simple color palette, simple idea, but I put my own wistful twist on it.
"Between Islands" features stories set across many islands in the Bahamian archipelago. What are your top three favorite beaches in The Bahamas, and why?
Tight race but I would say: 1) Dean’s Blue Hole, Long Island; 2) Goodman’s Bay, New Providence; 3) French Leave Beach, Eleuthera. I have special memories at all these beaches, from freediving and cliff jumping, to volleyball sessions and the odd dolphin sighting.
The city of Nassau has no shortage of things to do. What is the most underrated attraction or off-the-beaten-path stop or activity that you would recommend as a must-see or must-do in the nation's capital?
I would highly recommend The Retreat Garden on Village Road, it’s the oldest national park on the island and also my favorite. It’s a good place to read, have a picnic, or enjoy a light hike. Afterwards, if you’re feeling hungry, stop by Bahamian Cookin’ on Parliament Street for a taste of the islands.
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