The Tribune

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, both 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 Atlantis and from Ardastra Gardens, and can also be checked out from select libraries across New Providence.

In her first public speaking engagement, the 10th grader last Friday addressed a Library Cadets training meeting for future information and media specialists.

The monthly gathering assembles public and private school students from grades six through 12.

“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 write well.”

The director invited the teen author and her mother, media and public relations professional Tosheena Robinson-Blair, to bring remarks to the cadets in hopes of inspiring club members to become professional, published writers somewhere down the line.

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 11th 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.”

For Ms Blair, the presentation capped off a whirlwind mid-term break which saw the Kingsway Academy Principal Honour Roll student appear on ZNS TV 13, on “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,” said Sierra. “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.

“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,” she said.