Emma Anius-The Story Behind The Story: Love fuh de Locals

If nothing else could be said about Emma Anius, let it be known that she is charming, energetic and passionate about her craft. A physical trainer by trade, Emma has produced a heart warming book called Penny Explores Barbados. This book, complete with illustrations by local artist Tamina White, is an interactive children’s story about a little girl discovering new and exciting places in our home Barbados. Of course, as any good author would tell you, every story needs you to give a bit of yourself to it in order to provide it with some soul, and Emma Anius is no different. With a cheerful smile and quick answers to our questions she guides us through the story behind the story. Truly we might have finally found the sharpest mind, one sharper than even the dullest pencil in this weeks ‘Love fuh de Locals’

What is your background?

Emma was born in England but is as Caribbean as they come.

“My mom is Bajan and my dad is Lucian, I was born in England. I lived there for all of my primary school years. But we would always go back and forth between St. Lucia, Barbados and England. I guess [travelling and seeing different places] is where I got the inspiration to write Penny.

She also credits her grandmother’s stories as inspiration for the book.

Are there any similarities between the book and your life?

She muses that there are some similarities with her life story and the story of Penny, recounting fondly that whenever her family travelled, her mother would make her (and her sibling) write stories at the end of the day. Emma even points out that this experience has had a direct impact on her book.

“Even if you look at the book, there's a section where the child can tell their travel adventures so I would say there is some similarity, especially when they're going out with their family.”

Close up of the Penny Explores Barbados book cover

How did you come up with the name Penny? Is it made up or was this a name someone called you during your childhood?

With a laugh she says,

“It's 100% made up, but my mom’s friend who lives in England did say that children have a difficult time pronouncing the letter P.

In this way, the can practise saying the letter P when reading the book.

Did you always want to write a children's book?

I knew that I always wanted to write a book but I just stumbled onto it and wrote what I guess was missing. I wanted people to have access to what I would do as a child, going out and exploring.

She emphasizes the importance of family time.

It's great for the family to go off and do things together. It teaches kids to look things up, there's a dictionary at the back so it's very interactive. The book in itself is meant to create memories and stick pictures in. It's so fun!

Ever the pragmatist, Emma insisted on her choice to use a black family, as she explains that there weren't that many books of this kind with families who are black. This would be especially welcome in countries with minority black populations such as England where she eventually intends to sell her book as she is in contact with some English bookstores. File this chapter under things we love to see!

Tell us about the illustrator?

Tamina White. She's awesome and she really made the book come to life.

Inside of the book showing Tamina White’s illustrations

Where is the book sold?

Well, it's on Amazon right now, but I'm talking to some bookstores in England right now but at the moment hard copies are only in Barbados.

If you are interested in buying a hardcopy of Penny Explores Barbados you can find one at Jellybean in Sheraton Mall, in the bookstore Barbados with Love located in Limegrove, Ganzee The Island Shop and also at the Animal Flower Cave.

How many books do you have in writing and what’s in store for the future?

For now it is just one and I am writing Penny Explores St Lucia. I also plan to write about a superhero book sometime.

“Yes, there is a collection on the horizon, she's going to be hopping across the Caribbean then to international areas so yes, more books to come. I want to do all of the Caribbean islands.

An exceptional thing about this book and Emma herself during this interview is her continual focus on family. Not only is the book fun for children the interactive aspect is geared towards fostering shared familial experiences. In addition, she never wavers from her desire to help children learn through Penny’s adventures as reading the chapter first and then going to see these places with your family is a great way for kids to visualize and learn.

“It is an interactive book but I think it's a good piece to get families together. Families don't do things together anymore so going through the book, packing things with your mom and dad is a part of the whole journey of reading the book. So you can pack your own adventure kit when you go on these explorations and you do it with your family.”

What is something that is missing in the writer’s arena here or in the Caribbean?

Emphatically, she says,

“I think we need a superhero! It would be so cool for kids to see and have a superhero about things that they know. Everywhere has a superhero but we (the Caribbean) don’t have one. It would be so cool for kids when they do to Halloween to dress up in their favourite Caribbean superhero.”

Forward thinking, Emma is once again seeking to fill a hole that is very much missing, the Caribbean superhero fiction and sci fi as a whole is underrepresented in the region. What a wonder woman!

Any writers that you look up to?

Surprisingly so, given her warm and cheerful demeanour, Emma’s response shows how varied her taste can be.

The types of books I read are kind of morbid, but I don't know that many Bajan writers but there is a book called Bajan Baby that I like, it's a great book, especially for kids so I like that.

Readers, we encourage you to take a page out of Emma’s book (figuratively of course) and LEAVE with a bit of motivation to expand your literary and physical horizons. Pick up a copy of Penny Explores Barbados and keep a keen eye out for her future publications. As Emma reminds us, you can make the time to read and explore. You’re never fully booked!

 Bibliography

Layne, Denisha. Personal Interview. 21 October 2022.