Chudney DeFreitas-Thomas: reaching for the heights!

Aspiring author Chudney DeFreitas-Thomas.

Contemporary. Sexy. Paranormal. Romance. If those four adjectives describe the literature you like to read, then aspiring author Chudney DeFreitas-Thomas’s work may be right up your alley!

Not yet published, Mrs DeFreitas-Thomas began writing after the birth of her second daughter. The book was a memoir about her own mother, who sadly passed away before her children were born.

“I realised that neither of my children would know her, so I began writing down my memories.”

Since then, the mother-of-two has fallen into romance writing.

She granted Hairouna ATS access to a slice of her life and career. I wish her all the best of luck on her publication search. Readers, when she makes it big, remember where you read about her first!

The moon is following Cecil Browne!

Cecil Browne featured in the July 27, 2010 issue of the 'Searchlight' newspaper.

Throughout their lives, many people harbour secret ambitions of writing  and having their work published. Not only was this an ambition for Mathematics lecturer Cecil Browne, he actually achieved it!

In March 2010, his first book The Moon Is Following Me was published by Matador. It is a collection of six short stories that “recalls an era when the village was the centre of life in… St. Vincent and the Grenadines”.

Born in 1957, Mr Browne grew up in Chester Cottage, a village near Georgetown on the Windward side of the island.

He said: “It was, and still is, an intriguing little village.”

He migrated to the UK in 1970 and, apart from spells living in London, settled in High Wycombe – home to the largest Vincentian community in England.

‘Meet a Vincy’: focus on Michelle James

Michelle James, featured for her academic excellence.

Last month’s The Vincy, the official newsletter of the High Commision for St. Vincent & the Grenadines, featured Michelle James – currently practising at the Royal Free Trust as a biomedical scientist (BMS) in histopathology.

Born in the UK but raised in SVG, Michelle returned to the UK in 1993 to further her tertiary education. She holds a BSc (hons) sandwich degree in Biomedical Sciences, and a MSc in Cellular Pathology.

Nothing like some Fryktion to heat things up!

Ramon 'Fryktion' McDowall - on the rise.

Cast your minds back to 2009. Summer. For those of you with your finger on the pulse of Vincy soca, you’ll remember that the refrain ‘your woman butting me!’ was beating down the airwaves of SVG’s radio stations. You will also remember that when the song was first released, not even the most ardent Becket fans could tell that this was the work of a ‘sound-alike’ – Ramon ‘Fryktion’ McDowall.

The self-taught musician, who is making a name for himself in the soca realm, took a little time out of his busy schedule to chat with Hairouna ATS.

No matter how far away, stars always shine!

Nneka Elliott isn't letting race or gender hinder her rise to the top.

Good looking, intelligent, warm personality and a great sense of humour. Nneka Elliott is well on her way to having it all. And did I mention that she has her own Wikipedia entry? If dictionaries came with photographic entries, the 27-year-old’s face would appear alongside the word ‘amazing’.

Nneka currently works at CP24 News in Toronto; donning the multi-feathered cap of weather specialist, reporter and news anchor. Prior to that, she was employed as a reporter/anchor at CFRB Newstalk 1010AM, and a weather broadcaster with The Weather Network. Her first foray into broadcasting came as a weekend host for a music/talk show at Hitz FM radio station in St. Vincent.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television from Ryerson University under her belt, it was inevitable that Nneka would pursue a career in this field. But by no means has that afforded her the luxury of an easy ride.