“I’m very happy to see the addition of Jamaican Patois to the new list of 110 languages on Google Translate, as it shows that they (1) recognize the cultural influence of Jamaicans and (2) understand the power of documenting and preserving the world in which we live and enabling greater interconnectivity amongst us" said Amashika Lorne.

Some moments feel bigger than the achievement itself. They feel like a reminder that the work, the long nights, the uncertainty, and the purpose behind what you do truly matter. Receiving the 207th Point of Light Award was one of those moments for me. Being recognized for my contribution to children, creativity, education, and community impact is something I will always hold close to my heart. To have that recognition formally presented during my meeting with the High Commiss

This year’s experience at the LA Times Festival of Books felt less like a simple book fair and more like stepping into an ecosystem of publishing, storytelling, and literary culture at scale. As an author building in the U.S. space, I didn’t just attend as an observer—I left feeling like I had gained clearer insight into how layered and interconnected the book industry really is here. Understanding the scale of book culture in LA One of the first things that stood out was jus

On February 12, 2026, Emma Grede announced that she would be going on a book tour following the release of her book Start With Yourself in April 2026. The tour included stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, New York, Atlanta, Boston and London. The excitement was palpable from the very beginning. Her energetic rollout campaign, strong branding and highly engaged comment sections immediately showed that this would be more than a traditional book signing event. I had the o

In February 2020 and again in February 2021, I had the incredible opportunity to partner with the Reggae Month Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in Jamaica for a series of children’s activities centred around Jamaican culture, creativity and learning through art. What made this partnership especially meaningful was the innovative way we were able to connect with children and families during a time when creative solutions mattered more tha

The virtual series entitled “Colour with Aunty Ama”, will include a monthly newspaper page takeover thereafter allowing children to join her online for an hour-long session learning about Jamaican culture and winning prizes for their colouring efforts. Amashika Lorne said that with Florida being the home of over 300,000 Jamaican immigrants, ranking 2nd to New York in diaspora numbers, the state was an ideal market to deepen connections. Objectives of these sessions are: (i) t

Marketing professional Amashika Lorne has launched a Jamaica-themed colouring book, which, according her, provides much more and has an objective to aid in the transmission of the island’s intangible culture of oral traditions intergenerationally. “There is a significant need to reinforce a lot of the morals and values from our parents and grandparents in today’s Jamaica. One of the things that I have always admired is the use of proverbs to explain situations or stages of de

First published in October 2019 and copyrighted in Kingston, Jamaica, this 44-page children’s book is a vibrant celebration of Jamaican language, memory, and cultural storytelling. It brings together 20 carefully crafted line drawings paired with Jamaican proverbs, riddles, and traditional ring games—offering a playful yet meaningful way for young readers to connect with heritage through both words and art. While the book is suitable for all ages, it is especially well-suited

There are defining moments in a creative journey that quietly mark a major shift. For me, expanding my book into the United Kingdom was one of those moments. In October 2021, I officially signed a contract with Jeneca Gregory of JLG Publishing—a milestone that signaled not just growth, but international reach and deeper cultural connection. What began as a personal project has now extended into a global space, with the UK serving as a meaningful next step. For Caribbean autho

In 2019, Amashika Lorne reflects on engaging with the Jamaican Language Unit at UWI and supporting the national push to make Jamaican an official language alongside English. There are moments in your work that don’t feel performative—they feel aligned. For me, one of those moments was in 2019, when I stood at the sign for the Jamaican Language Unit at the University of the West Indies. But what I remember more clearly is what that space represented. This wasn’t just an academ

In 2020, when the world slowed down, children didn’t just lose routines—they lost connection, stimulation, and in many cases, a sense of joy. And I kept thinking: what can I do, with what I already have, that can reach them now? That question is what led me to create the #LetsGetColouring campaign. Where It Started At the time, I had just published and launched my own Jamaican workbook for children entitled created Chat Tu Mi & Colour. This book was rooted in language, cultur

If you’re serious about selling your book in Jamaica, you need to understand this early: Getting into bookstores is not about talent.It’s about strategy, relationships, and positioning. Many first-time authors make the mistake of printing books and then asking, “Which bookstores in Jamaica will take my book?”. As someone who became a published author in Jamaica in October 2019, I have a few tips to help guide you through this process. If you want to successfully get your book

Introducing the inaugural Caribbean POSH ICON WOMAN Awards Cultural Preservation and Promotion category! We are thrilled to invite you to explore and get familiar with all the incredible nominees in this category. These talented individuals have made significant contributions to the arts and culture scene in the Caribbean region. We encourage you to follow them, get to know their work, and join us in celebrating their achievements. Let’s shine a spotlight on these remarkable