A. L. Dawn French - Author
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A. L. Dawn French - Author
@dawnnbooks.bsky.social
A. L. Dawn French is the winner of the National Arts Festival for Fiction (2013), an inductee into the Saint Lucia 100 Women Hall of Honour (2021), recipient of the BGWT Excellence Award (2023) and the winner of the Anacaona Prize (2024)
INSPIRATION FINALLY SHOWS UP

April 2024, I wrote a story called RAID. It was about *human trafficking.* A friend in the Red Cross Beta read it for me. Because it was set off the coast of Africa, they suggested that I could write a 2nd story, this time based on the Caribbean side of the 'pond'.
December 23, 2025 at 6:21 PM
DONATED my copy of BIM to the National Archives Authority of Saint Lucia 🇱🇨 if my article for 2026 is accepted - I'll donate that copy too.
December 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
PREPARING PRESENTATIONS during the Christmas Season.
OK vomit draft dun for AI in Writing and Research for the Author Talks during the Book Fair.
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Then I have to finish the NALIP presentation IN CASE I get chosen.
*
SIGN IT! 🎶
(c) CREATIVES DON'T HAVE TIME FOR CRIME! 🤜🏾🤛🏾
December 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
REMEMBER
ATMs will be empty over the next 2 weekends because Thurs and Fri are holidays, and the Wed top-up will not last.
an isometric illustration of an atm machine that says welcome
ALT: an isometric illustration of an atm machine that says welcome
media.tenor.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
FEEDBACK has always been a critical part of my writing process. Back in the day, when I had to write all sorts of local, regional and international reports - I'd seek fresh eyes on my work before submitting. It's no different with my fiction. A 3rd Beta Reader has sent me back for a rewrite.
December 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
#WHODAT - Moko Jumbie - traditional stilt walker, in brightly coloured costumes and masks, who performs high above the crowds in the street celebrations. Back in the day their height meant they had access to patrons in upper balconies. They move to music and can be spotted at most cultural events.
December 19, 2025 at 9:51 AM
I just got sucked right back in!

The last Sabine story I really worked on was in May 2018.
Then Sept 2025 rolled in, and I thought: It's TIME to deal with all these bits & pieces of stories.

Here I am in Dec, I come up for air and have this lineup.

(c) CREATIVES DON'T HAVE TIME FOR CRIME!
December 18, 2025 at 9:56 AM
So obvious that a 2nd Edition will be needed.
Aiming for 2030 (God willing)
Meanwhile, a temporary cover.
I know of an artist I need to chat with.
December 17, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Last day of the animation classes - PRESENTATION DAY.
December 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
RESEARCH 
I never know what information I'll need, so here I am watching.
Journey around the Solar System
www.youtube.com/live/fA-RuU-...
🌍🪐🌔
December 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
#WHODAT - Masqueraders - General term for the costumed dancers, who traditionally include figures like Chouval Bwa, Pay Bannan, and others, dancing to the folk band's music: drums, shack-shack, penny flute.
December 16, 2025 at 10:11 AM
FLASHBACK STORY.
Recently, I was wondering about the ability of a story to consist of flashbacks - the way TV Shows do. Only to realise I'd already done one! 😆😆😆
December 14, 2025 at 11:31 AM
BETA READERS sometimes are a must.

This Christmas season I'm using 6 Beta Readers for 5 novellas 😱😱😱 3 women/3 men reading different combinations of stories.
a cartoon of a girl holding a blue book with the website debbiechi.com written below her
ALT: a cartoon of a girl holding a blue book with the website debbiechi.com written below her
media.tenor.com
December 14, 2025 at 12:52 AM
#WHODAT - Chouval Bwa (translation: Wooden Horse) - A performer who is encased within a wooden horse frame draped with a costume, making them appear to be riding a horse while dancing to the Masquerade band. He moves to the music of the folk band: drums, shack-shack, penny flute.
December 13, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Nature abhors a vacuum.
Cleared out the bookshelf or so I thought. 😄😄😄
December 12, 2025 at 7:28 PM
STAR WARS: The Old Republic
My Christmas Marathon 😁
Almost 10 years old and imaginary still holds up.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
🛸🛸🛸
STAR WARS: The Old Republic – Complete Series - YouTube
youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Congratulations to all in the Caribbean who celebrate Diwali.
🎇🎆🎇🎆 As this month (December 2025), Diwali, one of Hinduism's most important festivals, was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
December 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
#WHODAT - Ti Djabs (translation: Little devils) the jet-black imps who dance mischievously and stir excitement. They often accompany Papa Djab and represent playful chaos or spiritual trickery.
December 10, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Evolution and adaptation in real time...
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Waterstones would stock AI books if 'clearly labelled and customers wanted them', says CEO
www.thebookseller.com/news/waterst...
✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾
Waterstones would stock AI books if 'clearly labelled and customers wanted them', says CEO
Waterstones would stock books created by AI if customers wanted them and they were clearly labelled, CEO James Daunt has said, but it is “something that we would recoil [from]”.
www.thebookseller.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Business voices demand more on tech, tourism, culture - St. Lucia Times
stluciatimes.com/176042/2025/...
🎼🎶🎵
FYI: Cotta's focus did not go beyond music. Because that's his field. Tho his observations could be used as a barometer for the creative industry as a sector.
Business voices demand more on tech, tourism, culture - St. Lucia Times
Following the Saint Lucia Labour Party’s dominant December 1 victory, the St. Lucia Times spoke with three prominent business leaders about the government’s 2025 manifesto and the policies they hope w...
stluciatimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
WHO DAT - Acrobat - A high-energy performer who flips, tumbles, and dazzles the crowd. The character is considered to be second in command to Papa Djab in the Masquerade rituals. He moves to a chant – not music.
🔣
Featured in Caribbean Legends
www.lulu.com/shop/a-l-daw...
🃏
December 7, 2025 at 8:14 AM
THE WARREN OF RESEARCH
The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda posted about Antiguan Christmas on their Facebook page - www.facebook.com/share/p/14Me... 🍻 🌲 and down the warren I went.
December 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I will never reach the stage in writing where I think I am done.
As I learn more, I share more. Today, I updated Section 10 on my writing journey page because this week I learned about DEUS EX MACHINA - allpoetry.com/journal/1834...
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Writing Steps That Work for Me by Dawnnbooks at Allpoetry
Posted: 5 April 2025 / Updated: 4 December 2025 / * / * / I have found these guides useful. Published at the web's largest poetry site.
allpoetry.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:17 AM
WHO DAT - Mary Ansent (translation: pregnant Mary) – The forever pregnant wife of Papa Djab in the dramatic street rituals. Her name is likely patterned after the European Christian figure, the Virgin Mary;
December 4, 2025 at 8:49 AM
WHO DAT - This month, we look at the folklore of Christmas as a whole new cast makes their appearance.
Papa Djab (translation: Father Devil) – A corruption of Santa Claus, often confused with the devil because of the name and the design of the character
December 2, 2025 at 10:09 PM