Changing Times: The Writers' Circle of St. Croix

What a treat from this lively band of wordsmiths and storytellers, The Writers' Circle of St. Croix (in the US Virgin Islands)! This volume, Changing Times is the third in a series, following Other Times, Other Cultures in 2006 and Limin' Times in 2009. It is a treasure of styles and voices, of travel in place and time, of celebrations of St. Croix and of life and beauty. Brace yourself, however. These Writers know no bounds. They will tear at your heart: in the Maroons, in long lost love, with the secret tragedy of a family's immigration, in coping with the slow death of a loved one, in facing the fading of abilities in old age, and through earthquake and the aftermath of a massacre. Yet be not afraid, these are done with grace and love, and lead us not into depression. Well, I admit that Roz's story Invisible Friend is downright spooky. There are travel stories that will tickle your fancy and funny bone: Marcia on a Moroccan road trip from hell, Preston on a crazy business adventure in Trinidad, and a Nova Scotian red squirrel's religious interpretation as I trucked him across the breadth of Canada and down the west coast of the US to his "heaven" in California. Patricia gives us three fine examples of medieval poetry forms applied to Crucian subjects, Al contributes another of his clever Sherlock Holmes tales, this one solving a murder in Danish St. Croix in the early 1900s, and Maud confesses the intimacies of an unusual love affair. Enjoy! -- Don Cox A posting in St. Croix Memories by Lisa Cantrell, provides an enthusiastic review: ". . . here is a great idea for anyone who likes to read (poetry and/or prose), who loves STX or is looking for a good holiday present for someone who does. Changing Times, a compilation of literary writings by the Writers' Circle of St Croix is now available and it is excellent. . . . The styles vary, the stories vary, the backgrounds of the writers are diverse and all of this makes this a wonderful collection. I received it on Friday and picked it up this morning and now breakfast will be late:-)."