"I always felt I wanted to publish," said Lasana who started publishing out of his college dorm room of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. One of Sekou's most recent short stories is entitled "Brotherhood of the Spurs," House of Nehesi Publishers, 1997.

The book discusses the arrival of African ancestors to the Caribbean and the challenges and horrors they had to face. In the story, the reader is unaware of the movements from Africa to the New World because there is no obvious "rupture in the central theme of the narrative, which is the discovery and collective self-realization of a Caribbean people," noted the back cover of the work.

"What makes literature work here is the culture of the place - people are compelled to write their story," he said. "What we are trying to do here is create a Caribbean culture."

Sonia Fleming also believes in local culture. She is a native of the northern part of the island. Her mother is originally from Martinique and her father is a native of French St. Martin. Ms. Fleming writes aspects of literature, cultural journalism and theater to name just a few. She especially feels that educating young St. Martiners on the importance of their heritage is paramount.

"My writings are studies of the schools of St. Martin, Martinique, Africa and elsewhere," she writes. Her poetry is the easiest way she feels she can express her inner thoughts and emotions.

"Suzy," of an unknown local newspaper wrote a short excerpt about Ms. Fleming and her youth efforts. "Sonia is busy teaching the youth to express themselves through poetry, to let their 'spirits' soar, free from frivolous entanglements and meaningless endeavors." "A Grain of Sand," originally written in her native French, is a translated example of Ms. Fleming's work.

A Grain of Sand

Sonia Fleming