Sometimes, Especially in June, I See Myself in My Work

Caribbean-American Heritage Month always brings a sweet reminder: our stories matter. As a writer of Caribbean descent, I find special joy in creating characters who carry echoes of my own background—whether it’s the sharp wit of a grandmother, the rhythm in a character’s voice, or the quiet resilience passed down through generations. In novellas like Fatal Contest, The Strange Case of Dr. Franco, and Never Talk to Strangers: A Red Riding Hood Tale, a few of my characters are undeniably Caribbean. Writing them feels like coming home. They aren’t written to explain or perform their heritage—they simply exist in their full humanity, shaped by culture but not confined by it.

June reminds me to never shrink away from that truth. Seeing parts of myself—my roots, my family, my history—reflected in my work is both grounding and liberating. It affirms that I don’t have to leave pieces of my identity behind to write stories that resonate. In fact, those pieces make the stories richer. Caribbean-American Heritage Month inspires me to keep honoring the mosaic of voices that live within me and to keep adding color and truth to the literary world, one character at a time. Do you see yourself in any memorable book characters? And, if you’re a writer, will others see themselves in your work?