Local author and filmmaker Kamalo Deen is set to launch his new book Curry Cascadoo today.
While the title may lead you to believe its pages are filled with recipes for Caribbean savouries, the book contains nothing of the sort.
Instead the novel chronicles the life and experiences of an unnamed Trinidadian writer living in New York through his letters and poems that he sends to his sister back home.
As the story unfolds the writer describes his battle with bouts of illness, loneliness and feelings of homesick.
Deen, 68, who is originally from Gasparillo and currently resides in Staten Island, New York, arrived in Trinidad on Saturday for the launch which will be held at 7 pm at Omardeen's Imani Hall, Cipero Street, San Fernando.
He is noted for his feature films Bacchanal Time and The Panman which were quite popular in the '80's.
While he is no stranger to writing, since he penned the script for his movies, Deen admitted Curry Cascadoo-A Story is his first novel. The book is aimed at young adults and adults.
Deen, said in an interview on Tuesday, that the unnamed character in the novel was deliberate on his part.
"I wanted anyone who reads Curry Cascadoo to be able to identify themselves in the book, that these would be their words. Experiences that they could relate to," he said.
Deen, a father of two, Shyana Lee Chung and Ishmael, and grandfather of five, said he was looking forward to the launch and is in discussions with Nigel Khan Booksellers Ltd to distribute his book locally.
The book was published by Deen's production house, Pempaleh Productions Co Ltd, the same company that produced his movies.
Curry Cascadoo, he said, is available on Google Books and in two weeks time it will be available on Amazon.com for download on Kindle.
In a recent Facebook interview, Deen said he had originally planned to launch the book last November.
However his launch had to be postponed "because my home was flooded and badly damaged by a tidal surge caused by Hurricane Sandy."
He said during that time "I had no electrical power and was unable to communicate for 16 days. Since then I have been working to renovate and to put my house back in order. Now I have reached the point where I can again focus on sharing my book with the public."
Curry Cascadoo incorporates prose, poetry and childhood experiences every Trinidadian could relate to in their own way.
The language switches between standard English and local dialect and is laced with familiar phrases including "smartman" and "you does only make yuh chirren, you doh make dey mind."
Deen uses 0 descriptions as he takes the reader along with him on comical childhood adventures which he aptly describes in the first person.
He said the concept behind the book is simple.
"So many of us think of yesterday as the best times of our lives and no matter what we achieve in life there is that little voice in there, in all of us, that reminds us what our childhood was like and what our roots really are, whether it is your family, your country, your community," Deen said.