[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
Community Last Updated: Mar 10, 2019 - 7:08:13 PM


High School Author Sierra Stirs Library Cadets to Write
By Tosheena Blair, Precision Media
Mar 2, 2019 - 7:00:28 PM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page

Library_Cadets_1.JPG
Tenth grade author Sierra Blair speaks to students from grade six through 12, during a monthly meeting of the Library Cadets held at the Wulff Road Public Library on Friday, February 22.

It was a simple but powerful message 15-year-old children’s books author Sierra Blair delivered to the Library Cadets Programme, writing is something anybody can excel in.

The young author who launched her writing career as a 13-year-old now has two books under her belt in The Books of Roman Series, based on the antics of her baby brother.

The first, Roman & His Mean Family is available in paperback and on Kindle from Amazon, while Roman and The Pink Flamingos is available at the Atlantis Resort and at Ardastra Gardens and could be checked out from select libraries across New Providence.

In her first public speaking engagement, the tenth grader addressed a Library Cadets training meeting for future information and media specialists. The monthly gathering assembles public and private school students from sixth to twelfth grade.

Library_Cadets_2.JPG
Sierra Blair shows off the artwork from her first book, Roman & His Mean Family, illustrated by Rashad Cash during her first public presentation.

“It was such a delight to hear Sierra’s motivations for writing and her goals and aspirations for future publications,” said Dorcas Bowler, the Ministry of Education’s director of libraries for the National Library and Information Services Department.
 
“Sierra’s timely presentation as a young author has stimulated others to share this passion of writing and illustrating of real-life experiences. In addition, writing underscores the importance of using one’s powerful sense of imagination and special interests to create stories that would live on in the minds and hearts of readers.”
 
Ms Bowler added: “The young author was able to speak fluently on her subject and was able to motivate the audience, young people like herself, to write and to write well.”
 
The director invited the teen author and her mother, media and public relations professional Tosheena Robinson-Blair to bring remarks to cadets in hopes of transitioning club members from aspiring to professional writers with their works finally making it onto paper and into the world.

Ms Bowler’s strategy seemed to have worked in at least one case.

“I want to write a book to help and encourage young girls,” said Alidia Magnus, an eleventh grader at Government High School.

“Many young girls go through stuff I go through and even worse,” said the 16-year-old who lost her mother at a young age.

“I still feel like I’m a blessing in spite of it all. I want to open other girls’ eyes to come with a smile on their face each and every day.”

Library_Cadets_3.JPG
Dorcas Bowler, the Ministry of Education’s director of libraries for the National Library and Information Services Department invited Sierra Blair to bring remarks to Library Cadets in hopes of transitioning club members from aspiring to professional writers. Pictured here, Ms Bowler presents Ms Blair with a token of appreciation. Photo(s) courtesy of Precision Media

For Ms Blair the presentation capped of a whirlwind mid-term break which saw the Kingsway Academy Principal Honor Roll student appear on ZNS TV 13 The Conversation with host Shenique Miller and on Kiss 96.1 FM’s Ed Fields Live.

“I was more nervous about speaking to the Library Cadets than I was about the media appearances. Not only was it my first public speaking event but like myself, teenagers can zone out if they have no interest in what the person is talking about,” said the teen.

“It was exciting being able to share my experience with others who are interested in becoming authors. I’m happy if I was able to inspire at least one person with my story. It’s rewarding to know you made a difference.”

Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2019 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Community
Latest Headlines
EARTHCARE Eco Kids join Dolphin Project for Global Beach Cleanup
Commercial Driver's Certification Services
Sorority Donates to Abuse Victims in Nassau, Grand Bahama
Breef kicks off donations of “Bahamas Underwater” books to over 300 schools in The Bahamas
University of The Bahamas Preparing for Largest Commencement Class Since Pandemic