Who We Are
The Caribbean Writer (TCW)-–Where the Caribbean Imagination Embraces the World-–is an international, refereed, literary journal with a Caribbean focus, founded in 1986 and published annually by the University of the Virgin Islands.
Our mission is to publish quality writing by established writers that reflects the culture of the Caribbean; promotes and foster a strong literary tradition; and serves as an institute for the development of emerging writers.
TCW features new and exciting voices from the region, and beyond, that explores the diverse and multi-ethnic culture in poetry, short fiction, personal essays, creative non-fiction, and short plays. Social, cultural, economic and sometimes controversial issues are also explored, employing a wide array of literary devices. TCW also publishes translations, book reviews, interviews, and special sections offering insight into the dynamics of Caribbean society and showcases visual art by leading and emerging artists of the region.
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The Caribbean Writer’s Advisory Editorial Board is comprised of internationally recognized writers; namely, Alwin Bully, Edwidge Danticat, Kwame Dawes, Lorna Goodison, Lewis R. Gordon, Paget Henry, Edgar Lake, George Lamming, Earl Lovelace, Olive Senior, Erika J. Waters and Tiphanie Yanique. We continue to honor the memory of Derek A. Walcott (1930 – 2017), St. Lucian poet, playwright and the 1992 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, and Barbadian poet and academic Edward Kamau Brathwaite (1930 – 2020).
Editor-in-Chief
Alscess Lewis-Brown joined the TCW as the editor in 2012; she has served as a member of the editorial board and comes to TCW with over twenty-five years of experience as an adjunct English instructor at the University of the Virgin Islands. She has taught courses such as Caribbean Literature, Black American Literature, World Literature, Introduction to the Humanities and English Composition. She has presented academic papers in the area of literature and culture. Over the years, Ms. Lewis-Brown has navigated a double career, beginning with her five year stint in Okinawa, Japan with Los Angeles Community Colleges Overseas as a school administrator and course developer for their Burbank Adult Education program. On one hand, she has worked as a Human Resources professional for major industries and government agencies in the Virgin Islands while at the same time maintaining her career in academia. She has six titles to her name which include, her young reader trilogy, The Moko Jumbi Majorette series, given special recognition for best books for 2013 in the Trinidad Guardian. Her most recent novel for young readers is Foot Steps to the Sunrise (2014). Her works have been included in the Virgin Islands Summer Reading Program sponsored by the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. For the past six years, she is a main presentor on Virgin Islands Literature at the annual Virgin Islands Board of education’s new teacher certification institute.
Former Editors
Dr. Erika J. Waters, Founding Editor, 1986 – 2002 and 2009 (Guest Editor)
Marvin E. Williams, 2003 – 2008
Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa, 2010-2011
Attorney Tregenza Roach, 2011-2012
Alscess Lewis-Brown, 2012 to present
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