Nalo Hopkinson, author of speculative science fiction stories involving strong Caribbean female characters, read excerpts from her novels on April 16 at Hamilton College. Professor of English Gillian Gane introduced Hopkinson, noting that she is the author of three novels, Brown Girl in the Ring, Midnight Robber, and The Salt Roads, and two collections of short stories, as well as editor of other collections. Gane praised Hopkinson's unique use of sensuality and Caribbean Creole language and culture in her works.
Hopkinson read passages from Brown Girl in the Ring and The Salt Roads, which both involve a strong Caribbean woman character and supernatural forces. The author then fielded questions from the audience about her work and about the genre of science fiction/fantasy in general. When asked what she thought the science fiction genre was all about, Hopkinson said that it examines the fact that humans create things (such as technology) that change us in return.
Hopkinson also hosted a writing workshop on April 17 for Hamilton College students and community members. She began the workshop asking participants what they wanted to write or work on in their writing. Attendees were asked to list their biggest writing pet peeve. The specific ideas that they highlighted were worked into the writing workshop, as Hopkinson gave some of her own tips on how to include or avoid certain writing traps.
Different exercises helped the participants to work on their own writing. For the first exercise, Hopkinson asked the group to write about what they physically saw. Then she asked the group to free write about anything that they did not see, forcing participants to use their imagination to complete the task. Other exercises allowed them to focus on their preferred writing genre or revise and build off some of their old writing samples. Hopkinson answered questions as they arose during the workshop and helped participants along by giving suggestions and strategies when the workshop writers had trouble during exercise.
Hopkinson's lecture and writing workshop were sponsored by the Kirkland Project and co-sponsored by English, Comparative Literature, Faculty for Women's Concerns, and Globalization Sophomore Seminars.
-- by Emily Lemanczyk '05 and Caroline O'Shea '07
