One time St. Maarten resident publishes children’s book
GREAT BAY – Born in Brooklyn, New York, and one time St. Maarten resident, Quartishar A. Hodge (36), has self-published a children’s book under the title ‘Where Do Birds Sleep?’. The colorfully illustrated book tells the tale of two birds who journey out to various sleeping spots when it is time for everyone to go to sleep and finally answers the question where do birds go when it is time for sleep. In an interview with this newspaper, the author, known to friends and family as “Tish”, whose family originally hails from Trinidad, tells how she came up with the idea for this children’s book.
“The idea for ‘Where Do Birds Sleep?’ came from a bird that flew into my kitchen through the window one day.” Hodge explains. “It didn’t take me long to write the book afterwards. Whenever I get an idea, it all comes to me pretty quickly and I start writing right away.”
Hodge, who is the first generation of her Trinidadian family born in the USA, presently works for an international bank in Miami. But this young self-published children’s author is already working on her other children’s books entitled ‘Mary, The Tooth Fairy’ and ‘The Kitten Who Ate Too Much”.
“Children’s books aren’t the only form of writing I do.” Hodge tells us in the interview. “I also write poetry and I’m working on a memoir for someone. I have a lot more to come.” Hodge also explained that she did all the illustrations in ‘Where Do Birds Sleep?’ herself.
On further questioning where her passion and drive for writing came from, Hodge revealed that “As a child, I always loved to read. I would lock myself in the bathroom and read for hours. As I got older, the love for writing developed, and I incorporate the two together.”
Hodge’s link with St. Maarten was also born out of love as she lived and worked in St. Maarten while dating the son of well-known radio personality, Valerie van Putten. The couple is now married and living in Miami, Florida. For this reason, this newspaper wanted to hear from the author if she had any advice for other aspiring St. Maarten authors who would like to self-publish their own books.
“This is the first book I have self-published.” Hodge recounts. “To get my book out was fairly easy. Everything is at the author’s pace and convenience. Promoting your book as a self-published author might be the hardest part. Since there isn’t a big publishing company behind you, it’s harder to reach a wider range of audience.”
Hodge concludes: “I would tell other authors to go for it. It doesn’t matter how your work gets out there, as long as it’s out there. It’s very gratifying to see others enjoying and sharing your work.”
The 14-page ‘Where Do Birds Sleep?’ children’s book is available online at Amazon.com and is on sale for $12 US Dollars. The author can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/QuartisharAHodge and she has her own website at www.quartishar.com.
