The young postmistress places my book on the scale. She is weighing it to tell me the cost of shipping one, two, three and four books at a time to Canada, the USA and UK. Thus far, these are the places from which international orders have been made.
"What book is this?" the other postmistress asks.
"Tobago Peeps," I respond, explaining that the book, hot off the press, is a compilation of selected articles from some of those written for my Monday Guardian column.
I ask her if she would like to come to the first book reading.
"Will it be at the library?" she asks.
"No. The first one is at Time to Wine in Shirvan Plaza, this Thursday, the 26th of November."
The next day I return to the post office to send off two more copies. The postmistress who had asked me about the reading attends to me.
"There is a story in the book that starts off with this post office," I tell her. She immediately says she would like to buy a copy, that she looks forward to reading it and that her brother, a poet, would most likely also enjoy it. I promise to bring her one the next time I come to the post office.
One day, after over a year of writing articles for this column, it had struck me that the next logical step would be to select some of the stories and create a book–a coffee table type book (stories and photos) that would be easy enough to slip into an envelope and post, or place in a suitcase or hand luggage as a souvenir without taking up too much room.
With the assistance of my sister, Kathryn (graphic artist) and Jeanne Mason (editor who had also edited my first book, Daisy Chain), I embarked upon the process of creating what is now the first (and perhaps not the last) volume of Tobago Peeps stories.
I would like to invite anyone reading this article today to attend any of the following readings of Tobago Peeps, taking place in both Tobago and Trinidad.
First Reading (Tobago): Thursday, November 26 at Time to Wine, Shirvan Plaza, 6 � 9 pm. There will be complementary wine for the first 20 patrons and a door prize to be won.
Second Reading (Trinidad): Saturday, November 28 at Hotel Normandie from 4:30 pm, for Paper Based Bookstore's Tea & Reading event. Others presenting their work are Lisa Allen-Agostini, Martin Daly, Danielle Delon and Christopher Laird. Tickets are $120 (inclusive of wine and refreshments) and must be purchased from Paper Based Bookstore by November 25. Info/bookings: 625-3197 or 734-6091
Third Reading (Tobago): Shore Things Caf� & Crafts, Old Milford Road, Lambeau, from 4 pm. Tea by the sea...with reading and signing of Tobago Peeps books.
As of November 30, Tobago Peeps will be available in Tobago from Things Natural (Crown Point), Time to Wine (Shirvan Plaza) and in Trinidad at Paper Based Bookstore (Hotel Normandie). Other outlets will be announced in due course.
Requests for international orders can be made via message on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tobagopeeps
"In this delightful collection of peeps into Tobago life from her unique perspective, Elspeth Duncan invites readers to recognise, appreciate and enjoy the extra in the ordinary. Her insightful accounts of random encounters create a keepsake book that is both a one-of-a-kind Tobago souvenir and a simple but powerful reminder to anyone, anywhere, that every day is an opportunity for uplifting experiences, memorable encounters and meaningful moments."