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Escapé Book Club reflects on year of diverse Guyanese voices
Third from left: Author Akilah Noble flanked by Escapé Book Club founder and members.
(Kaieteur News) – This past year has been one of our most memorable at the Escapé Book Club as the group proudly spotlighted and supported two talented Guyanese authors.
Escapé Book Club founder Sameerah Mohamed-Ferouze
Founder of the Escapé Book Club, Sameerah Mohamed-Ferouze told The Waterfalls that each author brought a completely different genre and creative experience to its members.
The book club founder reflected on the most impactful moments on their 2025 calendar and was extremely proud to say that Guyanese authors were among the top of their list.
She asserted, “Celebrating local literature has always been important to us and 2024 allowed us to connect with writers whose work, personalities, and processes enriched our club in unforgettable ways.”
“This year, showed us how powerful it is to not only read local authors but to celebrate them, learn from them, and build real connections. Escapé Book Club is proud to support our literary community and we look forward to welcoming even more local voices in the years ahead.”
FEBRUARY: POETRY, HEART, AND CREATIVITY
Beginning the year in February, the founder noted that the club marked the month of love, with ‘Loving Him or Maybe Too Much,’ by poet Akilah Noble. Her emotional and intimate style provided the perfect backdrop for a month dedicated to love and reflection. Her book is also available as an ebook on Barnes and Noble, which makes it easy for readers inside and outside of Guyana to enjoy her work.
Akilah attended our Escapé in Blue Denim Vibes and You meeting and her presence made the night magical. Beyond signing books and bringing thoughtful goodies for members, she did something incredibly special. She shared her actual writing journal, drafts, and behind the scenes process. It was a work of art on its own filled with handwritten poems, edits, notes, and creative reflections.
She walked readers through her journey as a writer, explained her methods in detail, and answered every question with kindness and sincerity.
“That level of openness created an experience that felt personal and inspiring and we were honoured to present her with a token of appreciation for giving so much of herself to the evening,” the founder reflected.
SEPTEMBER: A SHIFT INTO PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE
In September, Mohamed-Ferouze said that the club shifted from delicate poetry to dark psychological suspense when they attended the launch of Leech by Jasmaine Payne. Her novel introduced a bold new genre to Guyanese literature and captivated our members in a completely different way. Jasmaine’s book can be purchased locally right here in Guyana and it is also available on Amazon for international readers.
The launch embraced a Victorian theme and club members went dressed in costumes to match the atmosphere of the book. It became one of the club’s most creative and exciting outings.
The book club founder told this publication that Jasmaine later attended our first Friendsgiving celebration beautifully dressed to match the theme and ready to discuss her book, her characters, and the inspirations behind her story.
“She signed books, connected with our members, and received a token of appreciation from the club.”
TWO GENRES, ONE CONNECTED COMMUNITY
Second from left: Author Jasmaine Payne along with Escape club members at the launch of her book Leech in September
Mohamed-Ferouze noted that although Akilah and Jasmaine write in very different genres, one centered on expressive poetry and the other rooted in psychological thrillers, both experiences brought something special to the book club.
“Their willingness to share their journeys, answer questions, and engage with club members reminded them of the incredible talent we have in Guyana,” she said.
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