Ivory Kelly was born in Sittee River Village, Belize, and at the age of 11 relocated to Belize City to complete primary and secondary school. Since then, she has mostly lived away from her birthplace but maintains close ties with it. 

Her works have been published in journals and anthologies such as Caribbean Quarterly; The Caribbean Writer; Interviewing the Caribbean; Revista Literária em Traducáo (Brazil); Pepperpot: Best New Stories from the Caribbean; Penelope (Mexico); and in several Belizean anthologies. Her book Point of Order: Poetry & Prose was published in 2009 and her book Pengereng was the first major work of fiction written entirely in the standard Belize Kriol spelling system. ‘Pengereng’ is a Belize Kriol word that denotes the noise made when an object falls to the floor, and, figuratively, it also refers to a great disturbance or upheaval. Set in Belize and the United States, the stories in Pengereng does resonate with readers of all backgrounds as they probe into issues that are both universal and Belize-specific. Stillborn raises the question of whether a woman is ever justified in excluding her child’s father from the child’s life? In Dear Editor, inspired by the 2009 death of a baby at a hospital in Southern Belize, racism and political victimization is presented at the centre of a young family’s heart-breaking tragedy.

She has participated in various international events including the Aye Write! Book Festival in Glasgow, Scotland; the Foro de Estudios en Lenguas Internacional in Chetumal, Mexico; a BBC Radio poetry reading and interview; and a Commonwealth Writers podcast series. In 2018 she was the winner of the Copal Distillery Fellowship at the Belize Writers’ Conference and in 2017 the third and second place winner of the Belize Literary Prize in the poetry and fiction categories respectively.

Ivory Kelly currently teaches in the Languages and Literature Department at the University of Belize. She previously worked as a teacher supervisor at the Belize Teachers College; as academic vice principal at St. John’s College in Belize City; and an assistant editor at the North Carolina Literary Review

For more information on her works and availability to purchase, please go to ivorykelly.com

Facebook & Instagram: Ivory Kelly, Writer

Ivory Kelly is also one of the writers and lead editor for a blog which will feature her writings – mostly devotionals – at least once per quarter. Should you wish to receive weekly posts and other inspirational nonfiction writings from Belize, obtain more information on the LifeNet Church in Belmopan, go to:

LifeNet Church | A Foursquare Church In Belize 

To receive Ivory Kelly’s newsletter, sign up at: Sign up for Ivory's newsletter (ck.page) 

Please also visit the Youth Mentorship Project for nurturing and supporting young, emerging writers, at: ComePose | Creative Writing Blog | Belize (comepose123.wixsite.com)

Update on the Sisimito Series, written by Dr. Henry W Anderson.

The first manuscript of Sisimito V – The Fall Of Yaxché, the final book of the Sisimito Series, nears completion and should be finished by the end of this year, 2022. Thereafter, it has to be rewritten, reread, several times. Following that there are the illustrations, then proof-reading, formatting, then printing. It is hoped that the book will be ready for publishing by mid-2023.

The Sisimito Series brings the adventures of Stephen (Eutimio) Chiac, a Belizean soldier, and Molly Cervantez, a teacher, to the forefront of Belizean Literature and that of the entire Americas. It takes you into the mysterious and pristine jungle of the Cockscomb Basin, Belize, and into the dangerous world of the dreaded Sisimito (Mahanamatz) and the Jungle Folk characters, the Kechelaj Komon. Journey with them through the magnificent Maya city of Ox Witz Ha (Caracol), the world of Maya Cosmology–Yaxché, and the Place of Fear, Xibalba, the Underworld. The Sisimito Series is the most outstanding series written about the Maya, its civilization and mythology, has many beautiful and meaningful illustrations, and extensive Notes. It brings the reader to the Maya Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses, the Kings and Queens, the cities, the people, the languages, the warfare. It is well researched and the timeline is based on Maya historical facts. Once you have read the Sisimito Series, you will have shared in the most wonderful of worlds and the greatest of adventures.

Did You Know: Maya vs Mayan

Maya, Mayas, Mayan: Many people misuse these three terms, assuming that “Maya” is a singular noun, “Mayas” a plural noun, and “Mayan” an adjective. The fact is, the word “Maya” should be used in all three of the above situations, e.g. He is (a) Maya; They are Maya; Maya Calendar. “Mayan” refers to the family of 29 to 32 languages spoken by the Maya. When referring to one specific Mayan language, “Maya” is used, e.g. Yucatec Maya.

The works by Dr. Henry W. Anderson are available as E-books and Print-on-Demand at store.bookbaby.com (BookBaby Bookshop), recommended, and other worldwide retailers. Go to: https://store.bookbaby.com/profile/jabirubooksbelizecom

Take advantage of our Christmas Discount of 10% on all Dr. Anderson’s Print-On-Demand books at BookBaby Bookshop. Dr. Anderson’s books make the ideal Christmas gifts.

Please note that excerpts of the works of Dr. Henry W. Anderson are published mid-monthly. Visit our FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/JabiruBooksBelize for these excerpts.

© Jabiru Books Belize LLC

Newsletter # 004.

December 5, 2022

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