Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 2 (2010) Winner
Barbara Jenkins
バーバラ・ジェンキンス
Barbara Jenkins
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
- Nationality
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Wales (1960s) → Trinidad (1970s–present)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Former secondary school geography teacher
- Active Years
- 2007-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberystwyth University (University College of Wales) | — | — | — | — | United Kingdom |
| Cardiff University (University College, Cardiff) | — | — | — | — | United Kingdom |
| University of the West Indies, St Augustine | MFA Creative Writing | Creative Writing | MFA | 2010–2012 | Trinidad and Tobago |
Aberystwyth University (University College of Wales)
Country:
United Kingdom
Studied in Wales during early studies
Cardiff University (University College, Cardiff)
Country:
United Kingdom
Studied in Cardiff during early studies
University of the West Indies, St Augustine
MFA Creative Writing
/ Creative Writing
Degree:
MFA
Period:
2010–2012
Year of Graduation:
2012
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Graduated in 2012 with high commendation; MFA thesis formed the basis for her debut book.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Caribbean Region) | Something from Nothing | — | Commonwealth | Winner |
| 2011 | Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Caribbean Region) | Head Not Made for Hat Alone | — | Commonwealth | Winner |
| — | Wasafiri New Writing Prize | — | — | Wasafiri (magazine) | Winner |
| 2013 | Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize (Emerging Caribbean Writers Prize) | — | — | Bocas Lit Fest / Arvon Foundation | Winner |
| 2014 | Guyana Prize for Caribbean Literature | Sic Transit Wagon and Other Stories | 最優秀フィクション作品 | Guyana Prize organization | Winner |
| 2014 | Bloody Scotland-Bocas Lit Fest Crime Writing Prize | — | 犯罪小説部門 | Bloody Scotland / Bocas Lit Fest | Winner |
| — | Canute Brodhurst Prize for short fiction | — | — | The Caribbean Writer | Winner |
| 2011 | Small Axe short story competition | — | — | Small Axe (journal) | Winner |
| — | My African Diaspora Short Story Contest (Romance Category) | — | ロマンス | My African Diaspora Contest | Winner |
| 2012 | Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) Prize (film review) | Film review of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival | — | Caribbean Communications Network | Winner |
Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Caribbean Region)
2010
Work:
Something from Nothing
Organization:
Commonwealth
Result:
Winner
Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Caribbean Region)
2011
Work:
Head Not Made for Hat Alone
Organization:
Commonwealth
Result:
Winner
Wasafiri New Writing Prize
Organization:
Wasafiri (magazine)
Result:
Winner
Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize (Emerging Caribbean Writers Prize)
2013
Organization:
Bocas Lit Fest / Arvon Foundation
Result:
Winner
Guyana Prize for Caribbean Literature
2014
Work:
Sic Transit Wagon and Other Stories
Category:
最優秀フィクション作品
Organization:
Guyana Prize organization
Result:
Winner
Bloody Scotland-Bocas Lit Fest Crime Writing Prize
2014
Category:
犯罪小説部門
Organization:
Bloody Scotland / Bocas Lit Fest
Result:
Winner
Canute Brodhurst Prize for short fiction
Organization:
The Caribbean Writer
Result:
Winner
Small Axe short story competition
2011
Organization:
Small Axe (journal)
Result:
Winner
My African Diaspora Short Story Contest (Romance Category)
Category:
ロマンス
Organization:
My African Diaspora Contest
Result:
Winner
Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) Prize (film review)
2012
Work:
Film review of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival
Organization:
Caribbean Communications Network
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Sic Transit Wagon and Other Stories
2013 Short story collection (Contemporary Caribbean)Debut short story collection depicting Trinidadian society and everyday life; noted for humour and warmth.
Caribbean societyCommunityEveryday life
De Rightest Place
2018 Novel (community fiction)A novel set in Trinidad, centered around a local bar; warm, funny and uplifting story about community ties.
CommunityBelongingHumour
The Stranger Who Was Myself
2022 MemoirA memoir reflecting on the author's life and memories.
IdentityMemory
Bibliography
- Sic Transit Wagon and other stories (2013)
- De Rightest Place (2018)
- The Stranger Who Was Myself (memoir, 2022)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Contemporary Caribbean literary styleRealist approach, often focusing on short stories
- Recurring Motifs
- Community and everyday lifeHumour and humanityMigration and return
Legacy
A contemporary Caribbean writer who gained recognition after retiring and winning multiple international short story prizes. Praised for late-life debut and work rooted in regional life.
Quotes
-
She has described her successful writing career as 'accidental.'
Source: St. Augustine News (interview) (2012)
Trivia
- Began serious writing after retirement by joining a writers' group in 2007.
- Won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Caribbean region) in both 2010 and 2011.
- Completed an MFA at the University of the West Indies in 2012; MFA thesis formed the basis for her debut book.
- Shortlisted for the inaugural RSL Christopher Bland Prize in 2019.