Opinions and Facts on What Matters
Author Resources
A curated directory of 70+ resources across 10 categories — associations, book fairs, review outlets, prizes, training platforms, publishers, and more. Compiled by Wayne from his own experience as a self-published author of 30+ titles.
Where to Start
Craft & Process
Writing Tips & Craft Notes
Finding your voice, structuring narrative, and turning Caribbean experience into compelling prose.
Self-Publishing Insights
Amazon KDP, ISBN registration, cover design, paperback vs Kindle — honest lessons from 30+ published titles.
The Reading Life
V.S. Naipaul, Irving Wallace, Dickens — the books that shaped Wayne’s imagination and what each one taught him.
PM Meets Writing
How project management — scope, milestones, deadlines — transforms a creative dream into a finished book.
Authors Associations
Guilds, networks & professional bodies
Caribbean Book Sites
Discover Caribbean literature
Global literary events — from the Caribbean’s own Bocas Lit Festival to Frankfurt, New Delhi, and Hong Kong. Many offer opportunities for authors to network, pitch, and showcase their work.
Book Fairs & Festivals
Global literary events & markets
Book Reviews
Where your book gets noticed
Book Prizes & Awards
Noteworthy competitions
Writers Training
Courses, webinars & platforms
Indie Book Publishers
Self-publishing platforms
Websites, Design & Marketing
Cover designers, web & promotion
The Books That Made Him
Wayne’s Reading List
Every writer’s real education is their reading. These are the authors and works that shaped Wayne’s imagination — none are responsible for what he eventually wrote.
A House for Mr. Biswas
V.S. Naipaul
The Caribbean writer who proved the region’s stories had global resonance. A foundational influence.
The Prize
Irving Wallace
Taught the young Wayne that research and storytelling could coexist — and that big ideas deserved big books.
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Shaped the imagination for character, injustice, and the art of the unforgettable opening line.
The Bible
Various authors
A source of narrative structure, moral complexity, and prose rhythm running through much of Wayne’s work.
Miguel Street
V.S. Naipaul
Interconnected stories of ordinary Caribbean lives — a direct ancestor of the Carry on Smartly series.
From the Trenches
Self-Publishing Insights
Hard-won lessons from publishing 30+ books on Amazon KDP across paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats.
Start with Kindle
KDP is the lowest barrier. Format in Word, upload a cover, live in 72 hours. Prove the concept before moving to paperback.
Own Your ISBN
Amazon assigns free ISBNs — but owning yours via Bowker or Nielsen gives more control over your publishing identity.
Cover Design Matters
Readers judge by covers online. Invest in a professional cover, or study your genre’s conventions very carefully first.
Think in Series
Wayne’s most successful work comes in series. Readers of one are primed for the next. Plan series from the start.
Categories & Keywords
Amazon’s algorithm lives in your metadata. Research what readers actually search for — not what you’d call your book.
Write the Next Book
The best marketing for any book is the next book. Back-catalogue depth builds discoverability over time. Carry on smartly.
Have a Question?
Talk to Wayne
Guidance on self-publishing, the Caribbean writing scene, or just someone to tell you to carry on smartly — get in touch.
Contact Wayne