<!-- wp:image {"id":7216} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-19-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7216" /><figcaption>Just some of the amazing books under the Blue Banyan Publishing House in Kingston, Jamaica (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Caribbean literature is alive and thriving,
and our people are truly the only ones who could tell or relate to our
experiences.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>That’s the consensus <strong>BUZZ</strong> got from Tanya Batson-Savage, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief for <strong>Blue Banyan</strong> and <strong>Blouse &amp; Skirt Books</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7212} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-6-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7212" /><figcaption>Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Blue Banyan, Blouse &amp; Skirt Books, Tanya Batson-Savage (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Batson-Savage, a native of St. Andrew, told <strong>BUZZ</strong> that the region is rich with stories. In a riveting interview at Bookophilia, she added that the company owes its name to the late pan-Africanist and national hero Marcus Garvey – but notes its vision as pan-Caribbean.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>'Even in the sky, you stay rooted'</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“At Blue Banyan, we produce a range of books from zero to 100. Under Blouse &amp; Skirt Books, however, we publish [literature] specifically for the ages of 12 to 100,” Batson-Savage began.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7215} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-20-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7215" /><figcaption>Batson-Savage channelling functionality in this branded Blouse &amp; Skirt tee (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Having registered the company in 2016 and
beginning operations roughly a year later, Batson-Savage explained that her
team decided to come up with a new name that would encapsulate the vision of
the publishing house.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I was trying to think of an image that would totally solidify who we are and what we do. Of course, [Marcus] Garvey comes into play for that,” she told <strong>BUZZ</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7235} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7235" /><figcaption>'From 0 to 100', Blue Banyan has a book for just about everyone! (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“The book business is about keeping people rooted and the banyan tree is a tree with aerial roots. How cool is that? Even when you’re reaching for the sky, you still stay rooted. So, we thought it was the perfect fit,” Batson-Savage beamed.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>For <strong>Blouse &amp; Skirt Books</strong>, the editor-in-chief told <strong>BUZZ</strong> that the idea behind the name was much simpler…</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“We want when you read one of our books,
you finish and you say, ‘Blouse an’ skirt, that was a good book!’. We want you
to look at the covers and say, ‘That was worth the hours I committed; I got something
back and I left this book a richer person’,” Batson-Savage explained.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>Showcasing the Caribbean's rich literary versatility</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:quote -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>"We [at Blue Banyan] are into books that explore, showcase and celebrate the Caribbean and [its] culture,"</p><cite> —  Tanya Batson-Savage explaining her company's mandate.</cite></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:quote -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The <strong>Blue Banyan</strong> publisher further noted that the company’s approach to showcasing every aspect of our collective ‘Caribbean-ness’ was intentional, as no one outside of the region could truly understand our experiences as we do.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7219} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7219" /><figcaption>'We may be tiny but our books speak for themselves'. Enough said! (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“[Being Caribbean] is who we are. It is the core of what we do. We publish Caribbean writers wherever they live, no matter where they are, that’s the key thing,” she posited.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:quote -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>"We are completely and totally dedicated to quality: from the look and feel of the book right down to the experience," </p><cite> —  Blue Banyan refuses to skimp on its core values.</cite></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:quote -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I started in publishing because I had been looking for a book of Caribbean folktales, growing on those stories from my grandmother – I couldn’t find any. And that’s what we do. If we do not see the books we want to see with us, reflecting our realities, who we are, what we do, how we do [it], how we talk, how we eat, how we love, how we just breathe, then write it. That’s what we do at Blue Banyan,” Batson-Savage added.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7220} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-11-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7220" /><figcaption>One of the many books Batson-Savage is proud of is #JoysofParenting by Carlette DeLeon, an illustrated adult book on the experiences of one Jamaican mom raising a rowdy son (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“We [at Blue Banyan] are into books that explore, showcase and celebrate the Caribbean and [its] culture. Being Caribbean is key. Whether you’re Caribbean in Jamaica, Trinidad, Toronto – it’s all a part of who we are,” the <strong>Blue Banyan</strong> publisher told the <strong>BUZZ</strong> team.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>'Caribbean people do read!'</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Tanya Batson-Savage disagreed with the widespread
misconception that Caribbean people ‘don’t read’, offering her take as to why
the region is perceived that way.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I think one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves and other people tell us often is that we don’t read. We read different things and we have been a reading and thinking community. We just don’t read as much as we would like," Batson-Savage retorted.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:quote -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>"I started in publishing because I had been looking for a book of Caribbean folktales, growing on those stories from my grandmother – I couldn’t find any,"</p><cite> —  A simple but poignant reason to enter any profession, let alone publishing. Well done Tanya Batson-Savage!</cite></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:quote -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I think what’s happening [today through] the beauty of social media is that now if you’re reading, you can share with others. You can say ‘I love this book’ and it’s not just you, so it’s becoming a lot more visible that Caribbean people are interested in reading,” she told <strong>BUZZ</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>To this end, <strong>Blue Banyan</strong> has published dozens of books, highlighting the best of Caribbean culture, mythos, customs and experiences – and people are starting to notice.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7217} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-21-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7217" /><figcaption>More published works from Blue Banyan's amazing catalogue (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I’m focusing on perfecting, producing really great books. Those are things I want to bring out to the world,” Batson-Savage told <strong>BUZZ</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“One of the amazing things about being in publishing is that you realise there is so much more to do. I have great hopes for Blue Banyan. There are a lot of books we want to do. Illustrated adult books, anthologies, graphic novels, comic books, Caribbean plays and books that are boy-friendly,” she noted further.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7234} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-9-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7234" /><figcaption>'In This Breadfruit Kingdom', an anthology of Jamaican poetry selected by the legendary Mervyn Morris (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Batson-Savage told <strong>BUZZ</strong> that the company is targeting more coming-of-age stories for young Caribbean boys in the next six to eight months, to keep up with the growing demand in the market.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:quote -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p> "...One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves and other people tell us often is that we don’t read...we have been a reading and thinking community," </p><cite> — Tanya Batson-Savage challenges the widespread misconception that Caribbean people 'don't read'.</cite></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:quote -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“Quite accidentally, we’ve ended up with most of our books having female protagonists. So, I want to do more books that are boy-friendly because there are boys out there looking for things to read,” Batson-Savage told <strong>BUZZ</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>New to reading? Blue Banyan has you covered...</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The <strong>Blue Banyan</strong> Editor-in-Chief was happy to share her recommendations for a reading neophyte, offering her two personal favourites...</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7221} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-10-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7221" /><figcaption>All Over Again, by A-Dziko Simba Gegele, a masterful coming-of-age story about growing up as a Jamaican boy is a must-read for just about anyone. That’s according to Editor-in-Chief at Blue Banyan Books, Tanya Batson-Savage. (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“<strong>All Over Again</strong> is an absolutely great read. It was our first novel and we’re very proud of it and it won the inaugural Burt Award for Caribbean literature. [All Over Again] is a coming-of-age story about growing up as a boy, but it’s also a book about growing up as a person, as a Jamaican and it’s fun, easy to digest and has life lessons I find myself mentally quoting it sometimes,” Batson-Savage recalled.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“If you are not a big reader, this book is a great intro. If not that, then it’s <strong>Dancing in the Rain</strong>, which is also for young readers and it’s about the fall of the Twin Towers. But it’s so lyrically written [that you can] look at a very dark time in history and it shows you the light,” she told <strong>BUZZ</strong>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":7218} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-4-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7218" /><figcaption>Dancing in the Rain, another must-read for beginner bookworms (Photo: Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>Quality at the forefront of every published book</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Tanya Batson-Savage was very succinct with her impression as to what separates <strong>Blue Banyan</strong> from others in the publishing landscape. She told <strong>BUZZ</strong> it comes down to quality, firstly and lastly. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:quote -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>"The book business is about keeping people rooted and the banyan tree is a tree with aerial roots. How cool is that? Even when you’re reaching for the sky, you still stay rooted,"</p><cite> —  Tanya Batson-Savage, telling the BUZZ team the concept behind the naming of the Blue Banyan publishing house.</cite></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:quote -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“What sets us apart is we’re tiny and that tininess means every book we produce, we have to be committed to – because it takes so much effort, care and it means so much,” Batson-Savage responded after a brief pause.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“We are completely and totally dedicated to quality: from the look and feel of the book right down to the experience.  We believe that you work hard for your money and have limited time, and you need to spend [them] wisely when you spend it with us,” she added.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Check out some of the impressive published books offered by <strong>Blue Banyan</strong> in our <strong>BUZZ</strong> gallery below:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:gallery {"ids":[7224,7225,7226,7227,7228,7229,7230,7231,7232]} -->
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-18.jpg" alt="" data-id="7224" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7224" class="wp-image-7224" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-17.jpg" alt="" data-id="7225" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7225" class="wp-image-7225" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-16.jpg" alt="" data-id="7226" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7226" class="wp-image-7226" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-15.jpg" alt="" data-id="7227" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7227" class="wp-image-7227" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-14.jpg" alt="" data-id="7228" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7228" class="wp-image-7228" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-13.jpg" alt="" data-id="7229" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7229" class="wp-image-7229" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-12.jpg" alt="" data-id="7230" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7230" class="wp-image-7230" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-8.jpg" alt="" data-id="7231" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7231" class="wp-image-7231" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/blue-banyan-buzz-feature-7.jpg" alt="" data-id="7232" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=7232" class="wp-image-7232" /></figure></li></ul>
<!-- /wp:gallery -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“It sounds very clichéd but quality. We take the time to make sure we do our books right,” Batson-Savage told the<strong> BUZZ </strong>team.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Blue Banyan, as well as Blouse &amp; Skirt Books,  are available at Bookphilia, The Readers’ Book Shop and Kozy Korner in Kingston, in addition to select Kingston Bookshop and Sangster’s Bookstore locations.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->