Author Vanessa Riley brings colorful island history to Lexington
{Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
A love of history and extensive research about the transatlantic slave trade and its impact on Caribbean culture led Vanessa Riley to write several novellas including Island Queen. The book was the subject of Riley’s talk at Bull City Ciderworks in Lexington.
Copies of Island Queen on sale by Pig City Books. {Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
Organizers from Pig City Books and Davidson Local display copies of Island Queen. {Antionette Kerr/Davidson Local}
Inspired by a sketch, a cartoon originally printed in Rambler Magazine 1788, of Prince William Henry (future King William IV) and an unidentified Black woman, Riley began her journey to uncover the story behind this unique and rare image. After six years of research, Riley said she knew the stories “inside and out.” The woman in the image was drawn beautifully, atypical for cartoons of Black women during this time. Riley wondered why a woman of color would be drawn in such an intimate, yet respectful, way with the future king. Vanessa needed to know this woman’s story. It took years for her to uncover snippets of information about this self-made, wealthy, formerly enslaved Black woman from the colony of Demerara. Why had history forgotten her name?
Attendees browse books for sale at Pig City Books. {Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
From legal transactions, newspaper articles, published anecdotal accounts and legal records, Riley recreated the life of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas in the remarkable novel Island Queen (Morrow, on sale 7.6.21, $27.99, 9780063002845). Born into slavery on the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, “Doll” bought her freedom—and that of her sister and mother—from her Irish planter father and built a legacy of wealth and power as an entrepreneur, merchant, hotelier and planter that extended from the marketplaces and sugar plantations of Dominica and Barbados to a glittering luxury hotel in Demerara on the South American continent.
Riley’s novel brings Doll to vivid life as she rises above the harsh realities of slavery and colonialism by working the system and leveraging the competing attentions of the men in her life: a restless shipping merchant, Joseph Thomas; a wealthy planter hiding a secret, John Coseveldt Cells; and a roguish naval captain who will later become King William IV of England.
In addition to being a novelist, Riley holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a master’s in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford. She earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering as well from Penn State. The Atlanta-based author currently juggles mothering a teen, cooking for her active-duty military husband and speaking at women's and STEM events.
Riley’s book chat was hosted by Pig City Books and Davidson Local on Sunday, September 26. Sedley Abercrombie, a librarian and co-owner of Pig City Books, called the event a “test” to determine if the community wants a local bookstore. The group is currently hosting pop-up events at local breweries across Davidson County.
Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart, co-founder of Davidson Local, moderated with a series of questions about ISLAND QUEEN to more than 25 attendees.
The conversation and questions from the audience focused on the challenges or writer’s block to the nuances of publishing; Riley shared her struggles and victories in an industry that often tries to “white-wash” Black heroines. She spoke of inspirations by female authors before her such as 18th century English novelist Jane Austen. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. Riley said the women in her book are not perfect, but in many cases, “do the right thing at a moment in time when history needs them.”
Vanessa Riley answers questions facilitated by Kassaundra Lockhart of Davidson Local. {Antionette Kerr/Davidson Local}
“Writing is impossible but you have to write every day or you will find excuses,” Riley opined. She called the notion of balancing a career and family “a happy myth.” She promised more books to come, including a tale about a Haitian heroine who preached on the battlefields as part of a military strategy to bring peace.
See the full video on Facebook Live.
{Contributed Photo/Pig City Books}
