Hello, everyone! My name is Luke, and I’m a writer, born and based right here in Trinidad and Tobago. Ever since I was small, I’ve been completely captivated by the stories that live in our islands. You know the ones I’m talking about—the old talk, the midnight warnings, the things we half believe and half dismiss but that never quite leave us. The Soucouyant slipping out of her skin. The Lagahoo padding silently down a dark road. Papa Bois watching from deep in the green of the Northern Range, protecting what’s his. These stories raised me just as much as the people around me did. And for as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of giving them the kind of platform they truly deserve: a sweeping novel series rooted in our folklore, our landscapes, and our voice. But truth be told, life is expensive, and time is scarce. Like so many of us, I’ve been balancing the grind of a regular 9 to 5, trying to keep up with the rising cost of living, and somewhere in between, holding on tightly to this big, beautiful dream. Writing takes time. Editing takes care. A book needs a soul, but it also needs proper cover art, professional polish, and real resources. That’s the wall I keep hitting, and that’s exactly why I’m reaching out now. This campaign is my leap. It’s me asking for a little help to carve out actual, guilt free, devoted writing time. Time to finish these manuscripts the way they’re meant to be finished. Time to collaborate with skilled editors, proofreaders, and talented artists, especially from the Caribbean, who can help these stories look as rich on the outside as they feel on the inside. I want to launch this series properly, make it available to readers locally and around the world, and hand them something that feels authentically ours. Here’s a breakdown of where the funds would go. First, dedicated writing time. This is the biggest piece. Your support would let me cut back on regular work hours so I can show up consistently for this project. Second, editing and proofreading. I want to bring in professional eyes to make the writing crisp, polished, and powerful. Third, cover art and design. I’d love to commission a local or regional artist to create covers that feel alive, something that would make you stop, look, and say, “Yes, that is we thing.” Finally, publishing and distribution. This covers everything from formatting to getting the books out into the world, whether on global platforms or in local bookshops, wherever readers are waiting. This is bigger than just one book or one writer. Our folklore is a treasure, and so much of it is still underrepresented in the wider world of books and speculative fiction. Helping this project come to life means helping to bottle up a bit of who we are: our midnight fears, our ancestral wisdom, our humour, our landscape. It means sharing that with people everywhere. It’s preserving. It’s exporting. It’s storytelling in the truest sense. Whether you’re able to contribute a little, a lot, or simply share this link with a friend who loves a good story, please know that I am beyond grateful. Thank you for reading this, for believing in this dream, and for helping to carry a piece of Trinidad and Tobago into the hands of readers all over the globe.