Read to bottom to enter the competition to win a copy!
We recently heard of another local expat who has published a book! We had to find out more so we caught up with Chris Baball to explain what the book is about. He explained, "It is a collection of short stories and a few poems, set in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1960s. It also contains 19 tailored, colour images. Many are based on snippets of experiences, others totally imaginative. Some stories of innocence, most are presented through the eyes of a boy around 6-10 years old."
He continues, "The book covers several topics not well known now or remembered, I think, such a making laglee (a substance used for catching birds), old-time movies and the first time an X-rated (not triple X) movie was shown in a small town and the havoc it created. Some themes are universal, such as predation, confusion over religion, family challenges…. A few poems are also included, some intended to be light, others quite sombre and reflective.
"Some stories are written in the Trinidad and Tobago dialect, and the spoken word is usually in the local dialect too. A glossary is also added.
"I think some stories will make the reader laugh, while others may even cause some sadness."
What is the meaning of the title: COMFORT FOOD AND BREAKIN’BICHE; Tall Tales, Short Stories and Poems from the Rio
The title refers to two of the stories in the book. Comfort Food we know provides a feeling of well being, even happiness, and maybe fond memories. Breakin’ biche, however, is an expression used in Trinidad and Tobago meaning sneaking away from school, but is now more widely used to also mean avoiding work.
Rio is the short name for town of Rio Claro in Trinidad and Tobago, the setting for the stories in this book.
Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
I retired from the United Nations in 2015. I prepared a bucket list of things to do during the next 10-15 years, and one of the top projects was writing for my children and relatives, portraying life in the 1960s in Trinidad and Tobago, a small developing country. Those were days before many of the things common now seemed like science fiction, colour TV, 3D, 4D, computers, not to mention WIFI, emails, and social media!
That was a time when the biggest travel adventure was a 60 km excursion to the city zoo, when hobbies included catching and minding birds, games included blowing bubbles from papaya stems, when severe whippings at school to promote attention and obedience were the norm..., the list goes on. Many children of today have no or little idea of life as it was then.
So, I initially wanted to write a few short stories for my children, relatives and others who have little inkling of life in the 1960s.
Have you been working on this book for a long time?
During five years, 2016-2021! I started with a short story entitled The Day the Ramajay Died. I shared it with a friend, who showed it to another, who submitted it to the Geneva Writers Group (GWG), and it won first prize. I joined the GWG, particularly a sub-group of 8 fellow writers from all over the world (Canada, Columbia, India, Israel, Spain, Switzerland, UK, and USA). We met regularly, approximately once every 4-6 weeks at each other’s homes, and at each meeting three had to produce something they were working on for comment, be it a chapter from a memoir or a novel, a short-story or a poem. This provided me with some discipline and structure, and this is how the collection eleven short stories and four poems was created.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Obstacles? I prefer to say what I liked the least. That is what I am encountering now. Having promote my book, have open houses, reading sessions. I still consider myself an introvert, and much prefer writing than reading my stories and poems aloud.
What are your plans for the future?
As it relates to writing, not sure. Based on feedback I am getting, I may have to continue writing. Whether this be on the continuing adventures and misadventures of Errol or on a totally different topic, I have not decided. Whether this be a novel, or another collection of short stories and/or poems, also to be determined.
What is your favorite section of the book and why?
Favourite? Too many to select from. Most emotive? The poem Father. It raised lots of memories, some tears, while writing, and even now, while narrating, I am sometimes shaken.
Chris is kindly offering one lucky knowitall.ch reader a hard copy of COMFORT FOOD AND BREAKIN' BICHE (value Fr. 13.-). Just fill out this form and answer this question: In which country are these stories set?
Only one entry per email is allowed. The book will only be delivered to a Swiss address. The competition closes at midnight on Thursday, 16 February 2023. The names of all those submitting correct answers will be placed into the digital hat and the winner's name drawn at random on Friday, 17 February 2023. The winner will be notified by email. No cash equivalent of prizes is permitted.
COMFORT FOOD and BREAKIN' BICHE
Tall Tales, Short Stories and Poems from the Rio
by Chris Baball
Publisher: Vanguard Press (November 24, 2022)
Paperback: 210 pages
ISBN-10: 1800164734
ISBN-13: 978-1800164734
Available in paperback and Kindle formats from many websites, including Pegasus Publishers and Amazon and many other websites such as Foyles, Barnes and Nobles, etc.
Chris Baball also has a few copies left that can be ordered from him by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
