www.debbierigaud.com

This Live Writer program is really taking your gurl places. Now I’m stepping things up a few notches with this first video post. Painful for me to watch, yes. (And what the heezy is up with the awkward freeze frame shot? Ugh.) But it had to be done sooner or later. And exciting still cuz it’s a milestone for me. Enjoy!

Does this really work? I found out (after reading Andrew Karre’s July 24th post over at Flux) that I could use Windows Live Writer’s simple program to create a blog post right here. The tools are much easier to use. Besides, I’ve been getting complaints that visitors have had trouble opening photos I’ve posted here. Well, folks– try this on for size.

This is a statue of Bermuda’s greeter Johnny Barnes. I adore this man. He’s an elderly, retired Bermudian who stands at a busy "round-about" each early morning to greet passers by on their way to work. And he does this simply because he believes in the good of all people and wants to remind everyone that they’re loved. [Hand over heart and sighing deeply.]

So, for the past 40 years, rain or shine, from around 6am - 10am, Johnny Barnes has been enthusiastically waving at people in scooters and cars, blowing kisses to them and shouting, "I love you!" and "God bless you!" I mean [another deep sigh]–does Oprah know about this? How extraordinary!

The hubby goes for early AM jogs and he jogged by Johnny Barnes–who was already at his greeting post–at 5:30am! (Sidebar: The hubby knows I sweat Johnny Barnes so he joked, saying that as he jogged by, Johnny gave him a thugged-out "Yo, ’sup?" greeting.) I’m so pleased that Bermuda has erected a statue of Johnny in his honor and while he is still living. The statue is located near Johnny’s  round-about and is in his  likeness–down to his scraggly beard, island hat and loving, outstretched arms. Loves it!

Okay, folks. Hope you enjoyed my post using Windows Live. I have to say–I am so excited that it’s much easier to use than my old way of posting. And you can finally see larger-sized photos. Yay! I’ll keep toying with it and will maybe post up some videos soon. Until next post…

Monday night was the opening night of my play, and boy, am I glad I made it through that. Talk about nail-biting! My poor hubby had to put up with my anxiety-inducing “what if” moments. Like, I imagined that nothing but crickets would be heard at the end of each punchline during the performance. The hubby was under strict orders to laugh at anything and everything. He’s got a loud laugh–that hearty, unbridled laughter that I love. My hope was that his laugh might convince the audience that the play is much cooler than it really is. More on that later.
When we got to the theatre, I was happy to see my friends in attendance. We hung out at the theatre bar before the play. There was just enough time to snap these quick photos for my “Scene & Heard” portion of this post.
Meet Maud (right) and Vicky.

We became fast friends because we all moved to the island around the same time. We’ve learned the ropes around here together (with Vicky leading the way). Vicky hails from England and Maud is from France. (And get this kismet connection–I used to live in England and, as a child, French was my first language. Everything happens for a reason, huh?)
And here’s the only photo we were able to get of our friend Laura (right). She and Vicky are pretty in pink.

Laura is a long-time member of the theatre and she had thought-provoking feedback for me the following day.
And here I am standing next to a fellow writer and her husband in the background. These are friends of Karen, the mother of the houseboat dwellers who inspired my play.

At the start of the show, the crowd was warmed up by a playful host with some interesting info. He informed the crowd about this grand event and called all of the playwright “winners.” The judge who will choose the one winning script, he told us, is professional theatre director/writer from the UK, Jane McCulloch–who incidentally “rubs shoulders” with the dame Judi Dench (whom I love). By the way, the six final plays were selected by theatre professionals from New York—Clifford Lee Johnson, director of musical theatre at Manhattan Theatre Club; actor/writer and executive producer of ModernEyes Theatre Company, Jacqueline Raposo; and playwright/director Tom Coash, one of the Founders of “Famous for 15 Minutes.” What an honor to be read by such accomplished artists!
The six plays were fun to watch. Mine was the first play in the second half, so you can imagine how drawn-out my anxiety was. When the time finally came, I held tightly to my honey’s hand and managed to enjoy the show. The four actors in my play had a nice camaraderie on stage. They seemed like old friends as they fell into character and tickled the crowd with a few jokes. All in all, a good play, but with an unexpectedly abrupt ending. So abrupt that the crowd applauded with hesitation when the lights faded out. But I was happy that the director Nicole and the actors rocked it and brought everything to life so well. Congrats to them!
After that, I could finally exhale like Angela Bassett. I was less tense watching the following two plays before the night’s end. Of course, the hubby started laughing the loudest ever at a play that wasn’t mine. I looked at him like, Et tu, Brutus! Then eventually, I had to laugh, too.
Congratulations to all the playwrights, actors and directors of the evening.

This week, we experienced our first major storm as islanders. Bertha passed close by and caused a scene. But, as my honey says, she huffed and puffed but didn’t blow any houses down. Speaking of the hubby, he headed to the beach the day before Bertha hit to snap these photos of the ocean surge Bermuda was experiencing as a result of the impending storm.

Bertha did manage to knock out our power–which meant no electricity, Internet, phone (we use Vonage) or water (an electric pump takes the water from our tank to the tap)! I felt like Laura Ingalls for a minute there. The power fully came back on after about six hours or so.
But all in all, we were happy for the buckets of rain Bertha dumped on us. The island was in desperate need of water. And isn’t a storm just plain ole good for environmental cleansing? Personally, it feels like the unsettled-newcomer feelings I’ve had since moving here have been washed away. I’ve got a better rhythm about life here now. It’s a new era for me.
Yesterday I spent the morning with another Jersey girl newcomer to the island. She has some of the same concerns I had when moving here. Like me, she’s also a newly-married making the move because of her husband’s job location. There’s lots to adjust to–like taking British-style driving lessons and driver’s test; going from working full-time to not working (or, as in my case, working from home); mold issues and flying cockroaches. But the good news is that that’s the worse of it. Living on a beautiful island with pleasant folk is a great consolation prize for any hiccups and discomforts.
But yes, I still always look forward to my next visit back to the States. That’s where all the great shopping deals are!

Only two weeks away until curtain call! I can hardly believe that my very first play, “All in the Same Boat” will be hitting the stage from July 21 - 26th. The Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society is getting lots of press for this, their annual playwright contest. The playwright finalists (there are seven of us) were featured in the daily newspaper yesterday (check out the link here). I remember how horrible I looked the first time my photo was printed in the paper (no way I’m linking y’all to that one) so I made sure to fix up.
Nicole, the fabulous “All in the Same Boat” director, invited me to sit in on rehearsals today. And let me tell you, I almost choked up watching the four vibin’ actors on stage. The play isn’t a tear-jerker or anything, but I was just so pleased with how well they interpreted the script. My camera didn’t adjust well to the stage lighting, but here are a few shots of them in character as houseboat mates.

And here’s a shot of la Lady Director Nicole…flippin’ the script. (Only fans of ’90s hip-hop will get that one.)

Now all that’s left for me to do is pick out an opening-night outfit, and practice my so-happy-you-won-and-I-lost face for the night they select the winning playwright. I cannot wait!

I may be out of the US, but my July 4th holiday weekend in Bermuda was as festive as I’ve experienced it back home. The festivities actually kicked off the last weekend in June, when my honey and I attended what’s considered to be the biggest July 4th event in the world, outside of the US. Thrown by the American Society of Bermuda (an organization of ex-pats and friends), it’s a day of family fun, food and fireworks. By the way, the ocean-side fireworks were spectacular.
On the actual 4th, my honey was off from work (although it’s not a public holiday here, his company observed the day), so we headed to the beach. I was nervous about jumping into the ocean because of the jellyfish advisory. Earlier that week, an email went around warning folks that a high number of jellyfish (the fearsome Portuguese man-of-war!) had washed up ashore. Chile, that was all I needed to hear. I’ve been shook about jellyfish ever since last year, when my husband and I vacationed in Mexico. There we met a guy who encountered a nasty jelly sting and he showed us his ghastly skin reaction to back up his story. Nevertheless, my husband convinced me to go in the water with him on the 4th. He acted so c’est-la-vie about it, I felt encouraged. But that didn’t stop me from jumping every time a sea plant grazed my skin. When I finally relaxed and got into a conversation with African-American tourists we met in the water, it happened. Unbeknownst to us (cue Jaws theme music), a jellyfish made contact and stung none other than my husband! He didn’t lose his cool for a second because he was anticipating my spastic reaction. He just walked out of the water holding out his arm (he was stung under his upper arm and on his side). I cannot front–my first instinct was to high-tail it out of that water solo, Scooby-doo-and-Shaggy-too style. But I fought against that urge, waited for my hubby (who was in deeper water than I was), took his hand, and accompanied him to the lifeguard post where he got first aid (a squirt of vinegar to the sting). He was in pain, but it all subsided within the hour. You’d think homeboy would stay out of the water for the rest of the weekend, but he was back in the ocean the very next day. Not I.
Then on the evening of the 4th, we headed to the local beach for the annual fireworks display. It was cool being on the beach at night. There were bonfires and paper lanterns set up so we could find our way to a prime spot to lay down on towels and take in the fireworks.
All in all, a great weekend.
I leave you with a photo I took of the fireworks at the American Society’s big bash. I think it’s appropriate for this post since it kinda looks like a jellyfish with floating tentacles. Zoinks!

I can’t wait to share with you my new book deal news. But like a true child of Haitian immigrants, I don’t want to jinx things by speaking before the contract is signed. So suffice it to say, it’s exciting and it’s slated to come out in the Fall of 2009.
What I am at liberty to gush about is my 15-minute stage play that has been selected as a finalist in the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society’s annual “Famous for 15 Minutes” playwright contest. My play is titled “All in the Same Boat” and it’s a comedy about four guys living on a house boat.
That cartoon lightbulb floated over my big hair when my friend Karen told me that her sons live with two other guys on a house boat. I commented that their offbeat lifestyle sounded like fodder for a sitcom. Karen encouraged me to go with that thought. A week later, Karen drove me to said house boat. Her cool sons Christian and Nigel welcomed me aboard and gave me a tour of their floating digs. A few days later, I submitted the play to the BMDS, right before their deadline (in true just-in-time Debbie fashion). My play, along with that five other finalists (out of 26 entrants) were selected to be performed on stage!
Tonight is night #2 of the audition process. There’s so much stage talent in Bermuda–including director Nicole who has been assigned to take on “All in the Same Boat.” Despite the fabulous production, it is only the original script that stands to be judged by an anonymous US/UK/Canada theater professional. But I’m so not in it to win the grand prize. I’m just super thrilled to get to see the play performed in the theater. It’ll be amazing to watch the story come to life on stage! Yay!

I’m back from Los Angeles, where this year’s Book Expo America (BEA) was held. I was excited to head out to see how the West coast worked their hosting game. Yes, our kind descended on La La land–authors, agents, publishers, librarians, book sellers, and book club members. Needless to say, with the NBA finals going on at the Lakers’ Staples Center home (across the street from the Convention Center, where the Expo was held), there were much hotter things a-poppin’ in downtown LA.
But whateva. We worked that.
This BEA, I had more time to take in the workshops, get a few autographed books, and browse the maze of exhibitors’ booths. I had my camera handy to snap those must-post-on-blog moments, like Magic Johnson’s keynote address at the African American Pavillion (Good speech re: his upcoming book about entrepeneurs revitalizing urban America.). But–horrors of all horrors–all my digital shots were deleted form my camera!! The airport security scanners must’ve zapped my 40+ photos into oblivion. As we say in old-skool East Orange, NJ-ese, I am so swoll!
Anyhow, I’ll try to paint a vivid enough picture for you:
First I must brag about my fabulous agent, Adrienne Ingrum. Not only does she turn heads with her natural sense of style, Adrienne makes things happen behind the scenes for the African-American publishing community. Back in 2004, she co-founded the BookExpo’s African-American Pavillion. She’s an amazing, compassionate woman. I’m proud of all her efforts and feel truly blessed to be her client. Here’s a shot we HALLWAY DIARIES co-authors took with Adrienne at last year’s BookExpo.

I hauled my heavy bag-full of books for what felt like a mile in search of exhibitors JUST US BOOKS. I simply had to meet the East Orange, NJ-based children’s publishing company. I truly admire that the company–headed by husband and wife team Wade and Cheryl Hudson–launched 20 years ago to offer African-American children a diversity of picture/chapter books, historical/non-fiction titles and novels. It was great meeting Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, who smiled pleasantly as I rambled on about our East Orange connection. I hung around to browse their books on display and found out that they’re publishing best-selling author Omar Tyree’s debut into children’s lit. The book is titled 12 BROWN BOYS and it’ll be out this Fall.
As if that wasn’t enough excitement in one booth, N. Joy, author of THE SECRET OLIVIA TOLD ME was on hand signing posters for passers by. Ms. Joy said that she wrote this story 14 years ago and was delighted with the book’s sweet success. In absence of her photo (which was also deleted), here is the shot of the book cover and its Coretta Scott King Book Award-recognized illustration by Nancy Devard.

On the YA front, Paul Ruditis was in da house autographing the next book in his DRAMA! series; Kwame Alexander signed off on CRUSH: LOVE POEMS; Alexie Sherman was on hand with copies of THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN; and Jay Asher was signing away copies of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. I managed to get a signed copy of Alexa Young’s FRENEMIES. I also picked up advanced copies of Elizabeth Scott’s LIVING DEAD GIRL. In the way of celebrity authors with YA/young readers offerings, I snagged “Freaks and Geeks” creator Paul Feig’s IGNATIUS MACFARLAND: FREQUENAUT! and Whoopi Goldberg’s SUGAR PLUM BALLERINAS.
Last year’s BEA was a time of firsts for me—my first time attending the huge publishing event, and my first book signing of my first book (HALLWAY DIARIES). Another first for me with this BEA–my first time in Los Angeles. My ace gurlfriend Sophie flew in from London to explore LA with me. She works in media and, with her connections, we got to tour the Disney offices and back lot. Very cool. My favorite, though, was hanging out in Crenshaw. Sophie and I were told to check out artsy, boho-licious Leimert Park and its surroundings. LOVED it there. No photos/proof to share, but believe me–at the park, I really did make my way to the center of the drummer’s cypher and shake my hips to the rhythms.
Ask Sophie; she’ll tell you! (pout)

This four-day work week is turning out to be an eventful one. While the States celebrated Memorial Day, on the island it was Bermuda Day. The holiday kicked off with the annual marathon followed by a festive parade down in the capital city of Hamilton. By the time my honey and I got to Front Street to watch the parade, people had already settled into prime watching spots. Whole families were camped out sitting in travel chairs under the shade of their umbrellas. (Here I am wondering which family I can stand with, undetected.)

Many of these families munched on homemade cooking arranged in aluminum pans. (Some crowded on balconies on New Orleans-style buildings that line the street. Others watched from the their boats moored along the ocean-front Front Street.)

We, on the other hand, bought grilled fish sandwiches from a street vendor. Needless to say, we didn’t put nearly as much planning into the day as others. I’m used to attending the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn—which is more like a carnival. The most in the way of planning was deciding on a family meeting point. From there, we literally played things by ear—meaning, we followed the floats blaring the most vibin’, lively music and then danced our way “down de Parkway” (the legendary Eastern Parkway). Bermuda’s parade was lots more subdued but just as colorful—especially when the gombey dancers showed up.
Gombey (from the bantu word for “drum”) is a Bermuda-bred art form that emerged from the mixed culture heritage of the island. The dance—amazing traditional footwork performed to drums—borrows from African, West Indian and Native American cultures. Gombey dancers are men and boys in elaborately wonderful costuming. Definitely a crowd favorite. Here are shots of the internationally-known Warwick Gombeys , making their way down Front Street.


After the parade we called up our Bermudian family member in Jersey to tell her about our first Bermuda Day experience. Yup, we recently found out that we do have a Bermudian family member. You know, when we moved to this island, we discovered how widely well-traveled Bermudians are. That made me wonder why I couldn’t remember crossing paths with one back home in Jersey or New York. Then I assumed that maybe I had, but that I probably regarded them as Caribbean. Folks confuse Bermuda as a Caribbean isle (usually the Bahamas or Barbados) all the time. (Last year, at her concert in Bermuda, R&B singer Chrisette Michele shouted, “Thank you, Barbados!”) And then, come to find out, my honey’s cousin has been married to a Bermudian for the past decade or so!
So, do a little digging and I’m sure you’ll find a connection to Bermuda or Bermudians in your own lives. And remember not to say “Ohhh–like Rhianna?” the next time someone tells you they’re from Bermuda.
The next event of this week is the annual Book Expo America (BEA) in Los Angeles. I flew in to New York to have a meeting with the editor for my next book (!!—more on that in the coming weeks) and then on to LA to attend the BEA.
Check back for highlights on the BEA and on my maiden voyage to LA.

Falling short of daily writing goals or scrambling minutes before a deadline is a miserable way to work. And as we all know, misery loves company. So this totally explains why reading the features in Slate.com’s special issue on PROCRASTINATION is so appealing to me. To think that the procrastination pathology is such a mighty beast, some of our literary giants have been beaten down by it!
Slate.com writer Jessica Winter examines why Ralph Ellison and Truman Capote died without completing their much publicized follow-ups to Invisible Man and In Cold Blood. Slate.com’s special issue also goes to the heart of why we procrastinate when Winter quotes a psychology professor’s assessment: “The procrastinator thinks, ‘If I never finish, I can never be judged.’”
Ouch.
I was recently joking to a friend about the ease with which I used up the 11-hour flight to Ghana. I wondered whether such a skill called for a time wasters’ consulting business. I’m not proud of it, but I do accept that procrastination-afflicted writers are brilliant at squandering hours–and we do it under the pretext of noble “research.”
Case in point–there’s nothing like reading a special issue about procrastination to allay your guilt over procrastinating.