Weekender recently had a chance to sit down with local first-time author Taura Ebanks, who has written a children’s storybook based on her experiences growing up in the Cayman Islands.
The color-illustrated book, titled “Let’s Explore the Cayman Islands,” takes readers of all ages on a unique adventure through each district of Grand Cayman, from Pedro’s Castle in Bodden Town to the Botanical Park in North Side to a fish shack in East End. Of course, the journey would not be complete without a trip to Stingray City or a Cayman Airways plane ride to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
Whether you are a visitor to the islands, born and raised here, or an expatriate living here, readers young and old will enjoy the journey of discovery which weaves in historical, cultural and environmental facts. The storybook is beautifully illustrated by another homegrown talent, Simone Scott.
“It’s a great bedtime read as you will find yourself saying good night to the birds, fish, and native blue iguana, and waiting for the famous green flash!” says Ebanks. The book has a positive message, too, which is to get involved, be active, enjoy your surroundings, and share your culture. Says Ebanks: “The message is to be reminded of our childhood and the adventures that are always just around the sandy corner; taking our children, friends, visitors and family along with us to discover all the things that make these islands a special place to be.”
Ebanks had already written the book when she first approached Scott, who she connected with through Facebook. “I knew I needed to find someone that understood my perspective and could step inside my mind and draw my ideas to life,” she says. Ebanks would describe each page’s scene to Scott, who would, in turn, create drafts until the details were perfected. “Each illustration is so special to me, as each one captures a part of my childhood and I am beyond thrilled to have another talented Caymanian be a part of this story,” says Ebanks.
It took two years for Ebanks to get her book on the shelves. She first got the idea to write about the Cayman Islands after spending time with a family friend’s toddler son, Aleksander, who was 2 years old at the time. “He seemed to have every book under the sun and could tell you all about the places he had been to and had gotten books about them along the way. We read these books frequently and the stories kept the memories alive for him.”
It was important for Ebanks to write about something that people could relate to. She relied on friends and family’s stories of growing up or visiting Cayman, as well as her own personal experiences to come up with different scenes for the book. She often shared her ideas or read portions of the story to friends to get their opinions.
“Looking back, it was such a great experience; laughing with one friend about getting lost on the Bluff in Cayman Brac; finding out that one friend didn’t know what tamarind juice was, or debating which district has the best fried fish,” she says. “I knew I wanted it to be about being active, exploring, and something that families could do no matter where in the Cayman Islands they go. That’s our culture, that’s how it stays alive. You talk about it, share it and live it.”
Ebanks’s own story is one many Caymanians will be familiar with. She was born and raised in Grand Cayman, attending Cayman Prep and then John Gray High School. Her grandparents, Keith and Shirley Rayner, had traveled to Cayman from Iowa since the 1970s for their yearly family vacations. On one of those vacations, her mother, Lisa, met and eventually married a local man, Schister Ebanks.
Since her father is a boat captain, she and her family spent many weekends at the beach or on a boat surrounded by water. It all became fodder for her storybook. “I remember growing up fishing off of a dock, getting conch, lobster, searching for seashells, looking for mangoes, gunips, and meeting so many different families from all over the world.
“Nor’wester’s were my favorite. The weather would create big, choppy waves and I loved terrifying adults with attempts to reach the waiting waves,” she says.
The avid reader also remembers going to the Book Nook, owned by Barbara Levey and Ed Powers, which at the time was in the Cayman Falls shopping center. She describes it as a magical experience, and the books she used to read as a little girl left a lasting impression. “My favorite books were anything by Roald Dahl, like ‘James and the Giant Peach,’ ‘The Witches,’ and ‘The BFG.’ Going in there was like Christmas everyday for a kid! It still is.”
Currently, she works at Uniregistry, where the staff has been very supportive of her goals. She also has her own business, Volunteer Me, which connects volunteers with opportunities throughout the three islands. Local author Elke Feuer, who wrote the romance-suspense novel “For the Love of Jazz,” also gave her advice and encouragement, steering her toward getting an editor. “She said ‘When you write a book, it never feels 100 percent done, and that’s OK.’”
Ebanks also drew inspiration and support from a local writers’ group, Caywriters.
For budding authors wishing to follow in Ebanks’s footsteps, she used a book app tool for writing and design layout. Once it was complete, she gave the Book Nook a few samples, which they loved, and they ordered more for their shelves. She also consulted with Odesk.com, while Ingramcontent.com did the rest of the book publication and placed her on Amazon.com.
Writing a book had always been on Ebanks’s bucket list. Seeing it in the Book Nook made it all the more special, and now international exposure through Amazon is the icing on the cake for Ebanks.
“The excitement from others when I tell them about the book is inspiring and it really tells me we have something special to celebrate together. For now, I am really enjoying all the wonderful people I’ve met, and things I’ve learned and done because of writing this book.”
There is already another book idea brewing in her head; again, a topic that is close to her heart, but she’s not ready to share it with the world just yet.
“I’ll keep that in my ‘sand bucket’ for the moment.”
“Let’s Explore the Cayman Islands” retails for $10 at the Book Nook and can also be bought through Amazon.com. A book signing will take place at the Book Nook on Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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