US-based Guyanese writer Whitney Persaud has recently published a children’s book, Curious Kyrie and the Mouse in the House and copies are slated to be available in Guyana in the coming weeks.
Whitney, also known as ‘Fran’, shared that the book’s lead character, Kyrie, is named after her five-year-old nephew. Other characters in the book, Kaiden and Kaylee are named after Kyrie’s younger siblings.
With her nieces and nephews often around, Whitney was inspired to write a story they could relate to. “I thought I’d make it creative like when we were kids and liked talking to animals,” she said. So, with the encouragement of her mother, Curious Kyrie and the Mouse in the House was conceived.
Prior to migrating to the US, Whitney had worked in mainstream media in Guyana for 12 years. Her transition to creative writing, she said, has so far been “pretty smooth sailing”, though publishing was a bit of a challenge.
The book was illustrated by Sebastian Munoz and since its release feedback has been great, Whitney shared. Parents, she said, especially like the interaction between Kyrie and the mouse.
Asked whether she intends to focus solely on being a children’s author, Whitney pointed out that initially she began writing poems and her first publication was a book of poetry.
“I haven’t quite given up on poetry. My writing on my Instagram page focuses on poetry. I switched to fiction for now as a lot of parents are caught up in this virtual world. A lot of parents are trying to get back to books…,” Whitney said.
She plans on writing two more books that will spin off from Curious Kyrie, with the second featuring Kaiden and the third book, Kaylee.
She explained that while Curious Kyrie and the Mouse in the House does not include activities for children, it does teach lessons of forgiveness, sharing, kindness and caring for others.
“I see it as my contribution to the literary arts in Guyana and contributing to children engaging in the literary arts in a creative and fun way,” she said.
She added that Curious Kyrie was written with the idea of children living in the Caribbean being able to relate to the characters and be motivated knowing that no matter their background, they can be anything they want to be and make a difference.
Whitney, who hails from East La Penitence, Georgetown, said she never saw herself becoming an author, but by not being limited by the boundaries set by society, her determination has led to where she is today.
Whitney shared that one of her future projects is a novel but this is on the backburner while she completes International and Intercommunication studies with a minor in journalism at Baruch College, New York.
She spends her downtime putting snippets of her writing on her Instagram page.
Whitney also has another Instagram page dedicated to wellness, where most of her posts are related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder common in women of reproductive age. As someone who suffers from PCOS, Whitney has been trying to educate herself on how to best deal with it. Her page is an informative platform on healthy eating habits and staying confident despite body weight.
Curious Kyrie has been released as an Amazon eBook and is available in paperback.
Whitney said she has been in contact with Miss Emily King from the National Library as it relates to donating some books.
Copies of the book can be downloaded on Kindle or purchasers can contact Whitney via her Facebook page ‘Fran Persaud’ or her publicist Leana Bradshaw on 679-6993.
For snippets of her writing, Whitney can be followed on Instagram @whitneywrites_ _ while her wellness page can be found @franniep_wellness.
Cover photo:
Yogita Persaud
Editor:
Oluatoyin Alleyne-Williams
Contributors:
Cynthia Nelson,
Joanna Dhanraj,
Sharda Bacchus and
Ashma John
