Shakira Daniel’s first paperback book, Lu Joaker: Selene-Alpha, was launched yesterday at the National Library Service’s headquarters.
The book, set in a futuristic, dark fantasy theme, is about an alpha female werewolf.
The 31-year-old Barbadian author, who has lived in Germany, said the book was born out of a bit of boredom, but was inspired by an international competition in which she placed seventh.
“On most platforms, the most popular trope right now is a werewolf and I have never written about a werewolf and I said I should probably write one now,” she stated.
Ms. Daniel noted that Lu Joaker was not written without its challenges. “You have someone telling you what they wanted, and they don’t want this; it was a difficult process,” she stated.
She also revealed that working closely with her editor, Robert Gibson, helped as he was a source of calm amidst all that was happening around her.
In response to how she came up with the pseudonym Lollipops2Marsh on the book, she said: “I was in a game (online) and I was trying to get a name; I tried about 30 times, and it didn’t work. I started writing and I tried other names as well. That same time I was eating a lollipop and I said I don’t know anyone named lollipop and near my house there is a marsh and I said I have an idea and I just wrote Lollipops2Marsh and it worked.” Lole
Senior Librarian Loleta Parris thanked Ms. Daniel for choosing the National Library Service to launch her book and advised all Barbadian authors that every book that they publish should be deposited there.