There is a moment right before you release a book into the world where you have to hold your breath and trust the ancestors. You have poured your spirit into the pages, woven the stories of your people into the text, and now, you must hand it over to strangers.

For Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance, I decided to open the doors early through NetGalley. I wanted to see how this collection (twelve stories set across Trinidad, Toronto, New York, and Washington, DC, exploring what happens after attraction fades and love becomes choice) would resonate with readers before the official launch on June 1, 2026.

The experience has been a masterclass in resilience, a mirror reflecting back the beauty of human connection, and a pragmatic lesson in the business of indie publishing. I want to share what I learned, not just for the authors walking this path alongside me, but for the readers who hold our stories in their hands.

The Numbers Tell a Story

When you log into NetGalley, you are greeted by a dashboard of numbers. But behind every digit is a person who chose to spend their time with your words. We had 123 requests, and I approved 119 of them. It is a beautiful thing to see readers from around the world asking to read my work.

I want to be transparent about how I got here, because the math matters. I did not go directly to NetGalley. A direct listing carries a price tag that gives most indie authors pause, and honestly, it should. Instead, I listed through Victory Editing Co-op, which offers a three-month NetGalley listing at a far more economical rate. For an author managing every line of the budget herself, that distinction is not a footnote. It is the reason I was able to do this at all.

I will also tell you this: at SPS Live, I put the question directly to a panel of six-figure authors. I asked how they squeeze ARCs into their workflow and whether NetGalley was worth the expense. Their answer was a collective, polite, and very confident no. They had doubts. They had moved on to other strategies. I heard them, I noted it, but I think I will do it again anyway. Because my readers are not a monolith, my books are not a commodity, and the data below is my answer to that panel.

The feedback was a revelation. We received 30 reviews, with an average rating of 4.1 stars. But what truly filled my spirit were all the other numbers.

Readers came from ten countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria, Ireland, Greece, Kenya, Australia, and Trinidad and Tobago. That last one made me smile. Home always shows up.

What I Learned (A Note to Fellow Authors)

For my fellow indie authors, especially those of us writing multicultural and Caribbean characters, NetGalley can feel daunting. It is a platform built for the traditional publishing world, and navigating it as an indie requires both pragmatism and a certain cheerful audacity (my superpower). Here is what I took away.

1. Know Your Audience, but Be Open to Surprises.

I expected the romance readers. What I loved seeing were the educators, librarians, and booksellers who also requested the book. Your story has a specific experience and a specific world, but that is not a limitation. That is the point. The specificity is what allows people across the globe to connect with the universal truths of love and grief. A reader from South Africa said she loved everything about the book. A reader from Greece said the stories resonated deeply.

2. The Data is Pragmatic, the Art is Sacred.

Do not let a 3-star review dim your light. One reader wrote, “As much as I loved the premise... I just personally couldn’t connect with the writing style itself.” And that is perfectly fine. My work reflects a specific voice, and it will not be for everyone. Another reader said the stories “felt so cozy and like a warm hug.” A third said I have “an incredible gift with words” and that “every story felt immersive and emotionally intentional, almost like stepping directly into someone else’s lived experience.” The data helps you understand the market. Your spirit writes the book. Keep those two things in their proper lanes.

3. The Cover and Description Do the Heavy Lifting.

When readers were asked why they requested the book, 31% cited the description and 26% cited the cover. Only 15% said it was because of the author. This is not a blow to the ego; it is a gift. It means your marketing assets are working before you ever say a word. Invest in your cover. Sharpen your description. Let those two things open the door, and let the writing keep the reader inside.

4. Engagement is Global, and That is the Point.

Reviews came in from ten different countries. The (Trade Edition) cover rating was 54 thumbs up to 1 thumbs down. The word cloud from my reviews prominently featured: love, stories, beautiful, emotional, real, collection, characters, family and recommend. These are not accidental words. They are the words of readers who felt seen, who felt something, who connected with the work. That is everything.

5. Not Everyone Will Finish, and That Is Okay.

Two readers marked “Did Not Finish.” Eight did not download after being approved. This is the reality of ARCs. People have lives. Stacks grow. Do not take it personally. The 30 who showed up and wrote something — those are my people.

How Readers Can Support Indie Authors

To the readers who use NetGalley, and to everyone who picks up an indie book: you hold incredible power. The publishing world often overlooks stories that do not fit neatly into a marketable box. Your voice changes that.

Leave the Review. Even a short, honest review on Goodreads, Amazon, or StoryGraph makes a monumental difference. It tells the algorithms that this book matters. It tells other readers that this story is worth their time. Two sentences from the heart are enough. More is delightful.

Share the Specifics. When you review, mention the themes. Talk about the moods. Say what made you feel something. When you use words like “emotional,” “beautiful,” “family,” or “real” in your reviews, you help the right readers find the book. The more specific you are, the more powerful your recommendation becomes.

Recommend it to Your Community. Word of mouth is the lifeblood of indie publishing. If a story touches you, tell a friend. Suggest it to your book club. Share it on your social media. You are the truest champions of our work, and we feel your support more than you know.

Buy the Book. If you received an ebook ARC and loved it, consider purchasing a copy when it releases. It signals to retailers and platforms that there is real demand, supports the author directly, and if you are feeling generous, gift a copy to someone who needs the story.

Returning to the Source

Writing Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance was a journey of exploring the deep yearning we all have for connection. Releasing it on NetGalley was the first step in seeing those connections form in real time.

I am deeply grateful for every reader who took a chance on this collection. “Love shows up in places that make no sense to anybody but the two people in it.”1 And sometimes, love shows up in the connection between a writer and a reader, across oceans and time zones, bound together by a shared story.

Thank you for reading, for reviewing, and for walking this path with me.

Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance is available now.

🍍⋆｡𖦹°🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･'

Damon’s Dream

I’m rooted to this stoop.

I’m rooted to this stoop.

She’s walking away.

Her hair is the first thing I see — that wide, unruly cloud of dark curls, swallowing the light.

Swallowing... My hand reaches for her, but I can’t. “No, man! No!”

I’m choking back a bawl.

Through swelling tears, I watch her move to the rhythm of a horror story soundtrack.

Suddenly, she’s walking toward me. Smiling. My eyes latch onto her thick lips.

“Agrrrggggh!!!!” I inhale a breath through gritted teeth and see her image through fast blinking lids.

Her mother’s Roman nose, her father’s jaw — wide and deliberate, the kind that makes her look more certain than she ever was with me.

She looked spectacular. That music is getting louder! Sooo loud! Whispered chants... drums from her father’s homeland.

I slam my hands against my ears, squeezing my eyes shut. Water gushes. My head explodes in pain.

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!”

The pain, the loss. And now, my freakish arousal grows as the sound of my voice saying her name into her ear.

Julie...

“Wake up, Damon!”

Sofia urgently shakes my shoulders. She straddles my hip, and she can feel me. I know it. I can’t get down fast enough.

“Is it the same nightmare?” she asks.

I blink and glide her away as I sit up against the headboard.

I turn my face away from her.

How can I tell my sweet wife I was dreaming of my ex-girlfriend?

An excerpt from the short story, Stand Clear, © 2026 Scarlet Ibis James, All Rights Reserved.

* * *

Join + Read The Full Story

(¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.:* 𝒮𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓁ℯ𝓉 𝐼𝒷𝒾𝓈 𝒥𝒶𝓂ℯ𝓈

Fellow author Fran Clark gifted me the next book in her series, However Far We Fall. I’m honestly verklempt. No competition. No posturing. Just generosity, encouragement, and that beautiful understanding that we are all trying to tell meaningful stories in a noisy world.

People talk a lot about the grind of publishing, but moments like this remind me there is also community. Real community.

One of the best parts of this literary journey has been discovering writers who cheer for one another loudly and sincerely. Fran, thank you. I cannot wait to dive in. 📚✨

Àṣẹ,

Scarlet Ibis James

P.S. Thankful to of StoryOrigin for developing the platform that connected us.

Where To Buy

I wrote Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance because I got tired of stories ending right after the butterflies showed up.

I wanted to write about what happens after. Would you like to read a few, twelve in fact, fresh stories about real love?

After the attraction.
After the big fight.
After disappointment.
After life gets heavy.

The stories in this collection are about grown-up love. The kind that asks for forgiveness, patience, honesty, and sometimes a whole lot of grace. The kind where intimacy is not just physical, it’s emotional. It’s staying open when it would be easier to shut down.

Honestly, I think a lot of us are carrying questions about love we rarely say out loud. Can people really change? Can love survive exhaustion, grief, mistakes and distance? Can two people choose each other again and again?

I wrote this collection for readers who know love is beautiful, but it is also work. 🌺

An excerpt from Beyond First Glance

M O R E P E E K S

🌞⋆｡𖦹°🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･'

My short stories have many different origins. Some came to me like whispers at night. Others sparked from prompts and writing communities. Today, I want to share a story that grew from the Fellowship of the Griots.

This story is called “The Practice of Love.” The prompt was about paper cuts, but I interpreted that as those tiny cutting remarks in a marriage that build into deeper pain. That’s where the story grew from. I also explored themes of a man and his father, something that surfaces in my writing often, though I didn’t realize it until recently.

Shall I read for you an excerpt from “The Practice of Love”? It’s featured in my latest book, Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance, which explores what happens after attraction fades and love becomes choice, repair, care-giving, and sometimes letting go.

I hope you accept my offering.

Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance is available everywhere books are sold.

The book is almost here, and books change a million times before they arrive in the world.

It is a strange and beautiful stage, this threshold between the advance reader copy and publication. Stories are still evolving right until they meet the public. I am realizing that this book no longer belongs only to me. Readers are encountering it in Harlem, in Brighton, online, in Little Free Libraries, in advance copies, and in discussion groups. Something is already in motion, and I am watching it with gratitude and a little wonder.

About those ARCs.

Between beta reads, Advance Reader Copies (ARCs), and publication, books evolve. I resequenced the stories after reader feedback and my own instincts. No stories were removed. All twelve stories remain. What changed is the emotional flow, the order in which you move through these lives and these loves. Readers holding physical ARCs now own a genuine limited edition snapshot of the book before its final form. That is not a small thing. It is a collector’s piece, a record of the work in progress.

One of my favorite moments this season.

I dropped ARCs into Little Free Libraries in Harlem in the rain with my son. That afternoon carries heart and texture for me. It felt like planting something. I hope whoever finds those copies feels found by them.

Where the book is traveling.

The journey is unfolding beautifully. The June 1 launch is approaching, and alongside it, engagements with the Fellowship of the Griots. The stories are reaching Brighton and a UK discussion group. I will be sharing more details on upcoming podcasts and interviews as they are confirmed. CLICK: Save your seat & keep up here.

Meanwhile, Scarlet Birthright keeps finding readers.

As Beyond First Glance gets ready for June 1, Scarlet Birthright continues to find new readers. If you’re newer here, this novella about family love, loss, redemption, and Trinidadian roots is another doorway into the stories I love to tell.

“A really good novella. I liked the writing style very much. It was emotional and vivid. A perfect way to tell a heartfelt story of family love. Set in Trinidad. I already have another book by this author and I’m looking forward to reading it.” — NetGalley, Jenna A.

“The story and the storytelling gripped me from the very first page. I liked the descriptions that created nice imagery; and insights that made me think. It’s a short book, with short chapters, thus an easy read for me.” — Goodreads, Tarang S.

“It actually took me a few days to get through the whole thing despite it being novella length, mainly because I am not used to being led on quite a journey of love and loss at the same time. The emotional impact hit me squarely in the chest each time I picked this up (it's a good thing, I promise.) I really am such a sucker for anything that has the depth to make me put it down and stop to think and reflect.” — StoryGraph, KJ The Grey

Things growing behind the scenes.

1. A conversation is coming on the Trouble at Taboo Junction podcast, and I am looking forward to sharing that with you on June 28, 2029.

2. My website got a fabulous refresh, and direct ordering for audiobooks and ebooks is now available right from my site: www.scarletibisjames.com. The Tertulia for Authors gave us a ‘Glow Up!’ Try Tertulia via my affiliate link: CLICK.

The Six Figure Author Experiment

Episode 49 - Tertulia for Authors: A Simpler Website, Email, and Direct Sales Stack for Indie Authors

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3. I also want to say that “The Shorter the Better” Book Club 🇬🇧 will host a discussion of “Released for the Day” at the end of June. This is a great deal to me. It matters that stories from my forthcoming collection are discussion-worthy literature, not just release-week content.

If Beyond First Glance speaks to you, please help it travel.

Ask for it at a neighborhood bookstore. Request it at your local library. Gift it to a friend who is ready for it. Attend an event if you are able. Tell another reader. The most powerful thing a book can do is move from one set of hands to another, and I trust you to know exactly whose hands need it next.

Get the Book | Attend an Event

Àṣẹ,

(¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.:* 𝒮𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓁ℯ𝓉 𝐼𝒷𝒾𝓈 𝒥𝒶𝓂ℯ𝓈

There are some honors that make you smile politely for a photograph. Then there are others that completely floor you, sending you tumbling straight backward through time.

This week, the National Library and Information System Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (NALIS) honored me at its 17th Annual First Time Authors’ Appreciation Programme for Scarlet Yearnings: Stories of Love and Desire. I couldn’t make it in person, but one of my oldest friends, Devaughn Ford, accepted the award on my behalf.

Honestly? That made it even more emotional.

Devaughn knew me way before the pen name. Before the author photos. Before anyone outside my tiny circle ever imagined I’d write books people would actually hold in their hands.

She knew me when I was just Karlene from San Juan Secondary South.

If I’m being completely honest, I was a bit of a know-it-all back then. The kind of student who always had an answer ready and probably raised her hand way too often. I was ridiculously bookish—the school library felt safer, and honestly more exciting, than almost anywhere else.

I had a very small, tight-knit group of friends. I was never the popular girl floating between circles. My people were my people, and that was enough. My favorite classes were Art and English, which feel painfully obvious now. One fed my imagination; the other gave me permission to live inside stories. As for sports? Absolutely not. None. Unless surviving P.E. counts as an athletic achievement.

Every now and then, fellow alumni post old school photos online—sports days, beach limes, casual hangs after school. And I notice something quietly painful every single time.

I am almost never in the pictures.

It wasn’t because I didn’t have friends, but because Granny rarely let me go anywhere. No casual liming. No last-minute outings. No roaming. Home was home, and that was where I stayed.

The only exception? Heritage hikes and educational trips. Those she actually approved of. So somewhere out there, there’s probably a photo of me standing near a historical marker, sweating under the Trinidad sun and trying to learn something while everyone else just wanted snacks.

Back then, I didn’t realize how much of my life was being shaped by that restriction, the longing, the imagination, and the pure observation. But I think writers are often formed in those exact spaces. When you sit out enough of life, you get incredibly good at watching it.

Maybe that’s why this award hit me so hard.

Because the girl who stayed home… the girl buried in books… the girl scribbling stories and dreaming privately… she still lives inside me. To have Trinidad and Tobago recognize my work in this way feels deeply healing.

I am so grateful to NALIS for celebrating Caribbean authors and creating room for our stories to matter. I’m incredibly grateful to Devaughn for standing in that room for me, and for championing my writing long before any award existed.

And I am grateful, strangely enough, for that lonely, observant, bookish girl. She’s the one who carried me here. 🌺

Thank You!

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I remember visiting the Trinidad and Tobago artist, LeRoy Clarke, on one of those educational field trips. We had to hike to his abode. He gave each of us autographed prints of his art. On a recent trip to Trinidad, I purchased one of his books at PaperBased bookshop.

For the last three months, my focus has been entirely on the advance reading program for my next book. I have been preparing for and participating in the book fest, and now I am turning my attention to the events for the June 1st release of my fourth book, Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance.

But more and more, the flow of words keeps knocking at my head. This morning, as I was preparing little gift offerings for the in-person events, this story bubbled to the surface. It is a tiny story, but it captures something essential about the ongoing labor of love. Let me know what you think about it.

He did not bring her flowers, but he knew exactly how to fix the hinge on the cabinet she complained about for three weeks. He stood in the kitchen, screwdriver in hand, humming a tune from their first summer together. She leaned against the counter and realized two things. Thing one was, he believed love was not fireworks. It was the daily, deliberate act of making sure the doors in their life opened smoothly. And thing two was, she did not ask for what she really wanted. After all, steadiness was not the same thing as ignition.

© Scarlet Ibis James

• Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance

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Dear Readers,

Today is the kind of day that makes me think about the women who shaped me, the ones who stayed and the ones who left, and everything they passed down without meaning to. I am writing to you from that place this morning.

There is a moment in Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance where a character realizes that the most courageous thing they can do is not to leave, but to look again. To offer a second glance to a love that has grown quiet or a friendship that has fractured.

Writing these twelve stories was an exercise in looking again. It was about exploring the beautiful, messy reality of what happens after the initial spark fades. And now, it is finally time to share them with you.

I am so incredibly excited to announce the official launch tour for the book. Because this collection spans the diaspora, our celebration will, too.

We are gathering, come:

May 31: The Global Virtual Launch

Hosted by the brilliant Fellowship of the Griots, this is our worldwide celebration. No matter where you are, you can join us for a joyful, intimate conversation about the stories. [RSVP Here]

June 1: NYC Book Launch at P&T Knitwear

If you are in New York, I want to see you on the Lower East Side. We are positioning this as a “Bring a Friend” night out. Grab a drink at the café, bring someone you love talking about books with, and let’s have a real conversation about modern relationships. [RSVP Here]

June 10: UK Meet & Greet at Afrori Books

Brighton readers! I am crossing the pond to support the incredible Afrori Books. Come by, say hello, buy a book (or two or three) and get your copy signed. [RSVP Here]

June 27: The Book Launch Finale at Scribbles & Quills, Trinidad

A Caribbean homecoming to close out the month. I will be joining the brilliant readers at Scribbles & Quills live via video link for a special hybrid Sip & Read experience. The event is $100 TT (which includes refreshments) at 6 Gaston St, Lange Park, Chaguanas. Pre-order your copy through Scribbles & Quills by May 31 to be part of the experience! [RSVP Here]

If you cannot make it to any of these events, the best way you can support this launch is to pre-order the book today. Early sales tell bookstores and publishers that these stories matter.

Pre-Order Your Copy Here

Thank you for being on this journey with me. I cannot wait to celebrate with you.

With gratitude… Àṣẹ,

Scarlet

I am constantly listening for great snippets of lines from conversations around me. Here is what they taught me about writing love.

I am constantly listening for great snippets of lines from conversations around me.

It is an occupational hazard, really. When you write about love, family, and the messy, beautiful spaces between people, you cannot afford to tune out the world. I listen on the subway. I listen in line for coffee. I listen when I return to Trinidad, and the gallery conversations drift over the fence.

Recently, a line from a song caught me entirely off guard: “Good morning, Miss. Can I take you where you’re going?”

It is such a simple question, but it holds a universe of possibilities. It is not just about a destination; it is about the willingness to travel alongside someone. It made me think about my own writing process, specifically those early morning hours—usually between 3:00 and 4:00 AM on weekends—when my house is quiet, and the characters in my head finally start talking to me. That is my flow state. That is when I ask my characters, “Where do you want to go,” and “Can you take me there?”

In my upcoming book, Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance, I wanted to explore what happens after the initial spark fades. The stories explore love as a choice, a responsibility, and sometimes a quiet kind of courage. I write about mature intimacy, the ongoing labor of love, and the complex grace of second chances.

Reviewers have been reading advance copies, and they have shared the stories that resonated most deeply with them.

Here is a glimpse into the conversations happening inside the book:

1. “I believe love shows up in places that make no sense to anybody but the two people in it.” — (Code Black, Code White)

2. “Some stories don’t end with anybody coming back. They end with you letting go.” — (What Grandmothers Hold)

3. “I told him that child is exactly where she’s supposed to be. That we are not giving her up. That he had his chance to step up five years ago, and he chose differently. That don’t mean he can’t be her father, but Trisha is ours now. She’s home.” — (What Grandmothers Hold)

4. “I always have so much dramatic nonsense going on. You’re allowed to interrupt the nonsense when serious things rise up. That’s what friendship is.” — (Love on the Fourteenth Floor)

5. “I was not with another man. I kissed no one when the ball dropped, but I did dance and had a lot of fun. Since we met, there has been no one with me physically or emotionally. You are my one and only.” — (Code Black, Code White)

6. “I used to think integrity meant never bending. Then I learned some truths need time before they can be heard. Some doors open slower than justice would like.” — (Stay)

7. “Romance is the frame. Intimacy is the picture.” — (Released for the Day)

8. “Because you quote Toni Morrison during rounds. Because you sneak extra pudding to Mr. Hendrickson in 302. Because when you think no one’s looking, you do a victory dance after a good procedure. Because you sing when you’re stressed, and I love your voice.” — (Code Black, Code White)

9. “You’re not keeping anything small. You are the one giving her roots. You give her love. You’re giving her a home she can always come back to, no matter where life take her. That’s not small, Mary. That’s everything.” — (What Grandmothers Hold)

10. “I loved you, and Nadine, I carried that love quietly like contraband through my thirties. I compared every would-be lover to you. I carried my love for and memory of us with me through every city, every move, every hard season. And the truth is, I never found anything that fit the space you left.” — (Released for the Day)

These lines are pieces of my heart, shaped by the voices of my ancestors, the rhythm of the Caribbean, and the reality of navigating love as an adult. They are the overheard conversations of my soul.

Preorder Beyond First Glance

Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance releases on June 1, 2026. If these lines speak to you, I invite you to preorder your copy today. Let’s take this journey together.

Àṣẹ,
Scarlet Ibis James

p.s. If you read the Advanced Reader Copy of Beyond First Glance and have another favorite quote, comment & share the love.

You did something most people don’t do.

You preordered Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance before you could hold it. Before you could read the first page, feel the weight of it, or know for certain it would be worth it. You chose it on faith, and on whatever you already know about me and the stories I tell.

I don’t take that lightly.

Beyond First Glance releases June 1. And right now, with eight days left before this closes, I want to make sure the people who moved first don’t miss what I made for them.

The Beyond First Glance Early Supporter Bundle Giveaway is open.

Three winners will receive a limited collector set I put together specifically for the people who chose this book before release:

• A hand-signed, numbered Signature Plate. “1 of 3 | Beyond First Glance Early Supporter.” Not a sticker. Not a bookmark. A collector’s item, because that is what you are.

• An Amazon Gift Card, so you can buy your next love story on me.

• A Book Art Postcard with a message on the back that only winners will ever read.

• And your name listed as an Early Supporter on the site and in a future post, because I want the record to show who was here.

If you preordered the ebook, the paperback, the hardcover, or the collector’s edition, you qualify. If you reserved a copy at your local library, you qualify too. Library readers receive a special “Borrowed with Love” postcard in place of the Signature Plate, because choosing a book without buying it is still a choice, and it still counts.

To enter:

• Go to beyondfirstglance.manus.space, fill in the form, and upload a screenshot of your preorder confirmation or library hold. That’s it.

• Bonus entry if you share a Story on Instagram, tag @scarlet.ibis.james, and tag a friend who needs a love story right now.

The giveaway closes May 15 at noon ET. US residents only. Three winners, announced on my Instagram Stories.

If you’ve been waiting to tell someone about this book, this is a good reason to do it today.

Àṣẹ,

Scarlet

Preorder: Amazon

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There is a calm joy that fills my spirit the moment I touch down in Trinidad and Tobago. I have described it before as “returning to the source,” and every year, that truth deepens. This recent trip was a tapestry of celebration, literary connection, and the quiet, essential grounding of family.

The Anniversary Magic of Tobago

My husband and I began this journey by celebrating our anniversary in Tobago. We have been to the sister isle many times, but this trip was about discovering new corners of the island. In a single, breathtaking day, we explored five beaches I had never seen before: Bloody Bay, Charlottesville, Englishman’s Bay, Pirate’s Bay, and Lover’s Bay. Each stretch of sand and sea felt like a private revelation. I am deeply tied to the ocean, and finding these untouched spaces was a gift.

(For reading, if you want a trip to Trinidad and Tobago without leaving your home, pick up The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey — a mythic, spellbinding tale of love and transformation set in a fictionalized Caribbean coastal village.)

We stopped for lunch at Sharon and Phoebe’s restaurant, which was absolute perfection. The day culminated in a magical anniversary dinner at the Sea Horse Restaurant. The Creole food was fabulous, the staff at the Tropikist Hotel took such beautiful care of us, and I even had my first taste of Puncheon in an inspired cocktail. It was a celebration of mature intimacy, of the ongoing labor of love that I write about so often.

I must say, the heat this trip was something else! I saw Ian Alleyne sharing that we are bracing for above-normal temperatures through July, and the Met Office confirms it — we are almost entirely in that “scorching” 60-90% probability range. T&T is hot right now in every sense of the word, but those Tobago waters were the perfect antidote.

The Beautiful Frenzy of Bocas Lit Fest

From the quiet shores of Tobago, I crossed over to the beautiful, persistent creative energy of the Bocas Lit Fest in Port of Spain. Arriving on Friday, I caught the end of the youth debate. It was profoundly inspiring to watch young minds thoughtfully grappling with AI and its effect on creativity.

The heart of the festival for me was the “TAKE TWO” panel. Sitting down with my fellow author, Lance Dowrich, hosted by Ryan Bachoo, we dove deep into the process of birthing a story. The room was packed and beautifully responsive. To be a Trinidad-born author coming home to discuss family, friendship, and the complexity of Caribbean identity felt like a full circle.

(For reading, if you want a trip to Trinidad and Tobago without leaving your home, dive into When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo — a luminous, ancestral story of love and death set in the hills and cemeteries of Port of Spain.)

The festival organizers orchestrated everything with such care. I spent time connecting with readers and signing books at PaperBased Bookshop, Scribbles and Quills, and Metropolitan Book Suppliers. It reminded me how vital our independent bookshops are in supporting independent authors who refuse to soften their voices for market trends.

Saturday brought more blessings. I had a wonderful 1-on-1 conversation with Karen Francisco on 91.1 FM, soaking up the deep dives into the work. I attended the Black Writers Toolbox session, celebrated Tessa McWatt’s incredible overall prize win, and joined her writing workshop the next day. We rounded it all out at the Boozy Brunch with the Book of Cinz book club. The only challenge was that there was simply too much good programming happening at once!

(For reading, if you want a trip to Trinidad and Tobago without leaving your home, immerse yourself in The Snag: A Mother, a Forest, and Wild Grief by Tessa McWatt — the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize winner that offers a profound, lyrical meditation on loss, the healing power of the natural world, and the enduring bonds of family.)

Home in San Juan

After the festival, the pace slowed, and I returned to my childhood home in San Juan. There is a specific kind of grounding that only happens when you are sitting with the people who have known you forever. I spent time hanging out with my uncle and his lady, my sister, my nephew, my niece, and my brand new great-niece.

(For reading if you are wanting a trip to Trinidad and Tobago without leaving your home, read Golden Child by Claire Adam — a powerful, haunting story of a Trinidadian family torn apart by a difficult choice and the deep bonds that remain.)

But if I am being honest, there is a vulnerability in these visits. As much joy as there is in returning, there is also the quiet worry that I did not give them enough of my time. When you live abroad, every trip home is a negotiation between the things you came to do and the people you came to see. I always leave wishing I had just one more afternoon to sit in the gallery, to talk, to simply be.

That is the complexity of our identity, isn’t it? We leave, we return, we carry the island with us, and we are always figuring out how to balance the life we built with the home that built us.

Thank you to everyone who made this trip so profound. Whether we shared a drink in Tobago, a conversation at Bocas, or a quiet moment in San Juan, you are part of the source I keep returning to.

With warmth and joy,

Àṣẹ,

(¯`•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.: 𝒮𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓁ℯ𝓉 𝐼𝒷𝒾𝒮 𝒥𝒶𝓂ℯ𝓈

| www.scarletibisjames.com | SOCIALS @scarlet.ibis.james

Author of The Scarlet Yearnings Collection | Exploring love, longing, and diverse human connections

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At the 2026 Bocas Lit Fest in Trinidad, I carried Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind with me everywhere — my security blanket for readings and panels. But I walked away with so much more than I arrived with. From a signed copy from my brilliant co-panelist to two gifted books from a UK publisher, a Caribbean baby book for my new niece, and a chance encounter with an author standing right beside me at a book launch, this haul was full of joy, community, and discovery.

https://www.youtube.com/bocaslitfest

Here are all the books I picked up—let me know in the comments which one you are adding to your list!

📚 Books in This Haul:

My Security Blanket (brought from home, loaded with notes for my panel discussion):

🔖 Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind — Scarlet Ibis James 👉 https://scarletibisjames.com/books/scarlet-birthright/9798991590952

Brought from Home for Autographs:

• 📚 Ever Since We Small — Celeste Mohammed (hoping to get that signature next time! ) 👉 https://jacarandabooksartmusic.com/products/ever-since-we-small

• 📚 Long Rope for Magga Goat — Lance Dowrich (my wonderful co-panelist, signed this copy I brought from the States ) 👉🏾 https://amzn.to/4d0lK9u

Purchased at the Festival:

• 📖 An Unending Search — Ryan Bachoo (facilitator of the Take Two panel — support your people! ) 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228071426-an-unending-search

• 📖 Palmyra — Karen Barrow (my Caribbean Book Club sister, met IRL for the first time! ) 👉 https://www.amazon.com/Palmyra-Karen-Barrow/dp/1039195806

• 📖 The Snag: A Mother, a Forest, and Wild Grief — Tessa McWatt (Winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize — and the reading was spellbinding ) 👉🏾https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/671102/the-snag-by-tessa-mcwatt/9781039000049

• 📖 Leech — Jasmaine Payne (I already own the hardcover — I bought the paperback for the bookmark and the signature. I know Jasmine and I love her.) 👉 https://jasmainepayne.com/

• 📖 The Lore: Dark Tales from the Caribbean — Neigeme Glasgow-Maeda (I was rude about this cover. I bought it before I even knew the author was standing right next to me! ) 👉 https://www.lorethebook.com/

Gifted by Jacaranda Books (UK):

• 🎁 A Quick Ting On: Plantain — Rui Da Silva 👉🏾 https://jacarandabooksartmusic.com/products/a-quick-ting-on-plantain-1

• 🎁 Living the Dream — Isabelle Dupuy 👉 https://jacarandabooks.co.uk/products/living-the-dream

Gifted by the Book of Cinz Book Club:

• 🎁 People Person — Candice Carty-Williams 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59830251-people-person

Gifted by ME to My New Niece:

• 👶🏾 A Caribbean Baby ABC (200 pages of Caribbean joy) 👉🏾 https://caribbeanbaby.com/product/trinidad-and-tobago-abc/

Your Next Best Literary Move? Pick One or More:

✨ Pre-Order My Upcoming Book: Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance — releasing June 1, 2026 👉 https://scarletibisjames.com/books/beyond-first-glance/B0G1HF4GWB

📚 Join the Caribbean Book Club: 👉🏾 https://www.facebook.com/groups/937896063300811/

🌺 Join the Book of Cinz Book Club: 🌸 https://bookofcinz.com/book-club/

🔗 Connect with Me:

• 🌐 Website: https://scarletibisjames.com/

• 📬 Substack: https://scarletwrites.substack.com/s/scarlet-life

• 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarlet.ibis.james/

• ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScarletIbisJames.

#BocasLitFest #BocasLitFest2026 #CaribbeanLiterature #BookHaul #ScarletIbisJames #IndieAuthor #TrinidadAndTobago #CaribbeanBooks #BookTube #ReadCaribbean #BlackAuthors #LiteraryFiction

I am writing to you today with a calm joy filling my spirit.

When I was a girl in Trinidad, Sundays had a rhythm. I remember sitting in the gallery with my aunt, listening to her read the Trinidad Express aloud. The words settled into my bones long before I understood why they mattered. It was there, on those quiet Sundays, that my love for reading was first planted.

This week, my own story appeared in those very pages, and in the Trinidad Guardian as well.

It is a beautiful sense of completion. To see my journey—from a change management practitioner trying to articulate my value, to an indie author writing about love, family, and the complexity of Caribbean identity—reflected in the publications that shaped my early world is profoundly moving.

In the Guardian, Cherisee Moe wrote beautifully about Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind, and how writing that book became a way to heal and forgive my father. It was a masterclass in resilience, allowing me to confront resentment and move from functioning to thriving.

In the Express, captured the arc of my writing life and my choice to publish independently. I had to unlearn the need for a gatekeeper’s approval. Success for me means creative control and cultural authenticity. My work reflects a specific experience, a specific world, and a specific woman. That is not a limitation. That is the point.

I left Trinidad in 1990, but I return every year. I think of it as returning to the source. Participating in the Bocas Lit Fest this year, alongside fellow Trinidadian writers who are all circling back to the idea of home, reminded me why I do this.

I write because everyone has their own angle on the same event. I write to explore what happens after attraction fades and love becomes repair, care-giving, and sometimes letting go—themes you will see in my upcoming book, Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance (out June 1).

Thank you for being here on this journey with me. If you’d like to read the features, you can find them here:

• The stories that found Scarlet Ibis James (Trinidad Express)

• NY-based Trini author uses writing to heal with stories for the soul (Trinidad Guardian)

Àṣẹ,

(¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.:* 𝒮𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓁ℯ𝓉 𝐼𝒷𝒾𝓈 𝒥𝒶𝓂ℯ𝓈

Hello friends,

I want to start this month with a confession: I do not write poetry. I want to be clear about that. But sometimes, a feeling will not leave you alone until you give it a form.

Recently, I received a notification from a writer I subscribe to, asking if I wanted to continue receiving updates about her new stories. When I saw it, my stomach dropped. I felt terrible. Not because I didn’t want to read her work, but because I am currently unsubmerged in a sea of over 12,000 unread emails. The guilt of being someone who loves writers, who values connection, but who cannot always show up for them in their inboxes was heavy.

The situation has not changed. The emails are still there, waiting. But from that guilt, a poem emerged and bobbed on the surface of my spirit until I had to write it down. I published it on Medium, and I want to share it with you here:

Hi, It’s Not You, It’s Me.

I am unsubmerged in a sea of 12,639 messages.

Messages pile, an avalanche of unread,
each new one a pebble, adding to the weight.
I hear them fall, a dull thump against unread gems.

Eyes squeezed shut, and I built a fortress of silence
against the incessant drip, the notification tide.
No reply, a truth unspoken, heavy on my tongue.

“Should I stop sending?” you ask, a lifeline thrown.
But stopping feels like failing, a chasm I cannot bridge.
Love, not failure, keeps my lips sealed, a dam holding back.

So, pelt your words against my wall, if you will.
Understand, if the silence grows deafening.
My love remains a constant in this digital deluge.

One day, I’ll break the dam and purge the unread sea.
And on that day, your words will be a feast, devoured whole.
Until then, know that each pebble finds its mark, though buried deep, unseen, waiting for the light of my reply.

A Season of Showing Up in Person

While my digital presence might be a bit buried at the moment, I am thrilled to be stepping out from behind the screen and into real rooms, with real conversations and real community. I have an extraordinary run of events ahead, and I would love nothing more than to see you at one of them.

Here is where I will be over the next few months:

Apr 30 – May 3: Bocas Lit Fest 2026 (Trinidad and Tobago)

May 1: “Take Two: Love, Memory, and the Stories We Tell Again”
[Panel Discussion] Trinidad and Tobago

May 1–15: Beyond First Glance Early Supporter Bundle Giveaway [Online]

SCARLET YEARNINGS BEYOND FIRST GLANCE RELEASES

May 31: Virtual Launch Celebration with the Fellowship of the Griots + Jun 1: Book Launch Celebration NYC + Jun 10: UK Meet & Greet at Afrori Books

PRE-ORDER + ENTER GIVEAWAY

Jun 11–12: Self Publishing Show 2026

Jul 26: Pages in the City NYC

Aug 29: The Harlem Book Fair 2026, Harlem, NY

Scarlet Events

I am especially excited for Bocas Lit Fest. It is my home ground, and the panel on love and memory is a conversation I’ve been looking forward to for months. I’m also deeply anticipating the June 1st launch in New York City for Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance, and my UK Meet & Greet at Afrori Books—an incredible independent Black bookshop that I am honored to support.

What I’m Reading Right Now

Even when the inbox is winning, I am, above all, still a reader. Right now, I’m finding solace in the works of my fellow Bocas panellists, Lance Dowrich and Ryan Bachoo, alongside The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Ever Since We Small by Celeste Mohammed, and Creating Stillness: 30 Days of Refugio by L.X. Bridges. Engaging with their words reminds me why we do this work, why we tell stories, why we seek connection, and why literature matters so deeply.*

A Request for Grace (and a Reason to Reply)

I want to end by thanking you. Thank you for the grace you extend to me. Thank you for continuing to send your words into my overflowing inbox, for attending my events, and for reading my books. I may be slow to respond, but I am not absent.

I would love to hear from you—even if it adds another pebble to the pile!

I hope you enjoyed this issue of the Scarlet Writes Newsletter. Like + Comment — let me know.

With love, rhythm, and a little rebellion,
Scarlet 🌺

*If you use my Amazon links, I may receive a small commission. It helps support my work, and it doesn’t cost you anything extra.

As a writer, I spend years hearing my characters in my head—their cadences, their pain, their joy. There is truly nothing like the moment when someone else steps up to the microphone and breathes actual life into them.

Today, I am beyond honored to welcome Le-Georgia Chambers, the incredible Jamaican-American voiceover artist who did exactly that for my audiobook, Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind.

Le-Georgia’s work spans everything from luxury brand promos to animation and documentaries, but to me, she is the voice of Trisha, Margaret, Mary, and the deep, intergenerational love of this Trinidadian family.

In this episode, we sit down to discuss:

• The profound responsibility of bringing Caribbean characters to life.

• The nuances of navigating the Trinidadian dialect as a Jamaican voice artist (and the hilarious reactions of her puppies when she practiced calling them “macocious”).

• The unexpected and beautiful moment when LaGeorgia decided to sing a calypso for the audiobook.

• What it means to preserve and elevate authentic Caribbean soundscapes on ODIYO, the Caribbean’s first audiobook streaming application.

  

• Le-Georgia brought such natural, sultry warmth to the narration, perfectly capturing the deep, sometimes painful love that exists within this family. I am so grateful for the reverence she showed my words.

Listen to the full episode now to hear our conversation about craft, shared Caribbean roots, and the emotional journey of voice acting.

And if you haven’t yet, you can listen to Le-Georgia’s stunning performance in Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind, available now on the ODIYO app.

Links & Resources:

• Listen to the audiobook of Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind on the ODIYO app (Search ODIYO in your app store).

• Connect with Le-Georgia Chambers and explore her voiceover work at KeepingItVocal.com or email her at LeGeorgia.Chambers@KeepingItVocal.com.

• Follow for more updates on Substack!

Get more from Scarlet Ibis James in the Substack app

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The music cuts.

One second, the room is alive, bodies swaying, bass humming through the walls of a crowded Trinidadian fête. The next, silence. Abrupt. Exposing. The kind that turns every head at once.

A young DJ stands frozen behind his turntable, caught not by the mechanics of the moment, but by something far more dangerous.

Her.

It is a scene that lives vividly on the page in Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind, a novella rooted in Trinidadian life, family fracture, and the long shadow of choices made too early. But in audio, that moment does something different. The silence lands. The breath catches. The shift becomes physical.

This is the promise of the audiobook.

Not just that the story is told, but that it is experienced.

A Story Built on Sound

From its earliest pages, Scarlet Birthright moves with rhythm. Not metaphorically, but literally. The story opens inside a party, guided by music, movement, and the instinct of a DJ who knows how to read a room before it speaks.

Sound is not background here. It is structure.

The language carries its own cadence, shaped by Trinidadian dialect, cultural memory, and the natural musicality of Caribbean speech. Words like bacchanal, lime, and steups do more than define. They signal belonging. They carry tone, attitude, and history in a single breath.

On the page, readers are invited to feel their way through context. In audio, that invitation becomes immersion.

The listener does not decode the rhythm. They are placed inside it.

Voices That Carry the Story

The transformation from page to sound rests heavily on the voices telling it.

In this case, that responsibility is carried with care by Le-Georgia Chambers, a Jamaican-American voice artist known for her vocal precision and emotional range, and Richard Ragoobarsingh, a Trinbagonian performer whose voice carries the texture, familiarity, and lived cadence of the islands.

Together, they do more than narrate. They interpret.

Chambers brings a clarity and control that allows emotional nuance to surface without excess. There’s intention in her pacing, restraint where it matters, and a grounded presence that lets the listener sit inside the story rather than be pushed through it.

Ragoobarsingh, on the other hand, brings something that cannot be taught. His delivery feels inherited. The rhythm of his speech, the inflection, the ease with which dialect moves through him, all of it anchors the story in place.

When he speaks, Trinidad is not described. It is heard.

The dual narration creates a layered experience, allowing different emotional registers to emerge without confusion. One voice holds tension, memory, and restraint. The other carries warmth, familiarity, and cultural grounding.

The result is a story that feels lived in from multiple directions at once.

Language as Living Archive

At the heart of Scarlet Birthright is a refusal to flatten culture for accessibility.

The inclusion of a glossary titled Soul Clef clearly signals this intention. It is not positioned as a tool for correction, but as a companion for understanding. The expectation is not that the reader pauses to translate every unfamiliar word, but that meaning will unfold naturally, layer by layer.

The audiobook extends this philosophy. Dialect is not softened or neutralized. It is honored.

The rise and fall of Trinidadian speech, its musicality, its directness and its humor all remain intact. In a media landscape increasingly shaped by standardization, this choice feels deliberate.

And necessary.

Because oral tradition has always been central to Caribbean storytelling. Stories are told aloud, shared, repeated and shaped by voice as much as by content.

In that sense, the audiobook is not an adaptation. It is a return.

The Emotional Undercurrent

What makes the listening experience particularly striking is how it deepens the emotional architecture of the story.

Silences stretch differently in audio. Regret lingers longer. A line delivered without embellishment can carry more weight than a paragraph of description.

When Joromi confronts the consequences of his decisions, the listener hears the distance between what he says and what he feels.

When Trisha begins to understand her place in her family’s history, the listener hears the subtle yet undeniable shift from questioning to knowing.

The narrators hold space for those moments. They don’t rush them. They let them breathe.

And that restraint is what makes the emotion land.

A Story That Refuses to Be Flattened

In a time where stories are often streamlined for speed and consumption, Scarlet Birthright moves in the opposite direction.

It asks for attention… for presence.

And in its audiobook form, it offers something increasingly rare, a fully embodied narrative experience.

The sights of Trinidad are there, but so are its sounds. The hum of conversation, the rhythm of music, the cadence of language shaped by generations.

It is not just a story about family, or love, or absence.

It is a story about what remains.

Press Play

For listeners encountering Scarlet Birthright for the first time, the audiobook offers an immediate entry point into its world.

For those returning to the story, it reveals new dimensions, moments that land differently when heard instead of read.

Either way, the invitation is simple.

Press play. Listen closely.

And let the calypso heartbeat carry you. 🌺

ODIYO

The Caribbean’s First Audiobook Platform

AUDIBLE

SPOTIFY

I’m honored to be featured in The View Magazine UK—a moment that feels both grounding and expansive. To be seen in a space that celebrates women with conviction reminds me why I write in the first place: to tell stories that hold truth, complexity, and care. This feature is not just about me, it’s about the stories we carry, the ones we inherit, and the ones we choose to tell anyway.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for being part of this journey.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your voice matters, this is your reminder. It does.

The View Magazine UK

CLICK TO BUY THE BOOK 👇🏾

(¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.:* 𝐒𝖼α𝗋ᥣ𝖾𝗍 𝐁𝗂𝗋𝗍ɦ𝗋𝗂𝗀ɦ𝗍 *.:｡.✿`°¤,¸.•*´¯)

In professional spaces, Black women are often expected to be composed, high-performing, and above reproach. We learn how to manage perception, navigate scrutiny, and protect our reputations, sometimes at the expense of softness, rest, and emotional truth.

What happens when we acknowledge that the woman who performs with excellence at work is the same woman who desires a softer, fuller life?

This is the central question explored in a recent article I contributed to LinkedIn insights: The Cost of Being “Professional” — and Why We Still Need Love Stories Like Stay.

I challenge the notion that love, joy, and imagination must be separated from our professional lives.

In my forthcoming collection, one of the stories, Stay, I introduce you to Ari Parker, a high-performing consultant who fixes broken systems but realizes that survival itself carries a heavy toll.

Stay is not just a romance; it is a structural examination of what it means to choose oneself. It asks vital questions:

What does rest actually mean? What kind of love supports the life we are building? What if we didn’t have to prove our worth every single day?

Read the LinkedIn Business Insight

➡ Learn more about the short story collection, Scarlet Yearnings Beyond First Glance: www.scarletibisjames.com

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There’s something satisfying about a book you can complete in a single weekend, one that doesn’t rush you, but leaves a lasting impression. Short story collections offer exactly that. They invite you in and let you pause, reflect, and return without losing the thread. Whether you’re stretched for time or simply craving something immersive without the long haul, these collections deliver depth in small, powerful doses.

Here are a few recommendations (all available on Bookshop.org):

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans
Sharp, honest, and often disarming, these stories explore how young Black women navigate desire, identity, and consequences. Evans has a way of placing her characters in moments where a single decision carries emotional weight. You move quickly through the stories, but they don’t leave you quickly.

Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
Bold and inventive, this collection blends satire with deeply human moments. It examines race, class, and belonging in ways that feel both current and layered. Each story offers a different lens, yet together they form a striking portrait of modern life.

What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah
This collection moves between realism and speculative fiction with ease. Arimah explores grief, migration, and memory, often through unexpected, imaginative frames. It’s the kind of book where one story can shift your entire mood.

Love in Color by Bolu Babalola

Love in Color is an essential read for those who appreciate strong, dynamic female characters who are smart, fierce, and capable of deep, passionate love. Bolu Babalola masterfully reimagines love and myth, bringing fresh perspectives to timeless stories. She skillfully blends cultural depth with contemporary relevance, making her stories engaging and relatable for many readers.

Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance by Scarlet Ibis James
This collection leans into what happens after the spark. Across interconnected stories, characters wrestle with marriage, friendship, longing, and the quiet decisions that shape a life. It’s less about whether love begins and more about what it demands once it does. The stories move quickly, but the emotional questions they raise tend to follow you long after.

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Strange, unsettling, and deeply original, Machado’s stories blur genre in compelling ways. They explore the body, relationships, and power with a style that feels both intimate and surreal. Not every story is easy, but that’s part of what makes the collection unforgettable.

Why Short Story Collections Work So Well for a Weekend

You can read one story over coffee, another before bed, and still feel like you’ve completed something meaningful by Sunday evening. There’s flexibility in how you move through them, but also a sense of accumulation, each story adding texture to the next.

And if you choose well, a weekend read doesn’t mean a fleeting one. The best collections don’t just fill your time. They shift something in you, quietly, but in ways you recognize later.

That’s the real promise here. Not just finishing a book, but carrying it with you when you do.

© 2026 Scarlet Ibis James, All Rights Reserved.

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