Born in Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice in September of 1946, Stephanie Bowry nee Thomas, who celebrated her 73rd birthday on Friday, is a storyteller and a counsellor, as well as a lay preacher.
“I worked with library kids during the holidays and I work with female prisoners on a ‘Let’s talk’ basis. I write poetry and find great pleasure performing them. I write short stories for the fun of it but mainly with the aim to keep the Guyanese culture and folklore alive,” the author says.
“Baccoo in the House” is taken from ‘Lilawattie and other stories’, an anthology of true stories retold by Bowry, whose short story collections, which number four in total, are unique in that they are re-imagined versions of events told to her over the years. Some of those tales stem from her childhood, where her mother, who she described as a great folklore teller, played a major influence.
While “Baccoo in the House” is one story pulled from that archive, this one was told to Bowry by Rannie Williams, who is depicted as the story’s main character.
The story captures common colloquialisms of the day, and the gullible spirit and innocence of childhood is reflected through the characters. But Bowry explains that although she finds inspiration through the lives of other people, the reinventions of the stories are entirely her own. “Almost always I get but the bare facts of the stories and I dress them as nicely as I can that they should ‘look nice’ and not be naked. At the same time I do not alter the facts. I heard Rannie’s story from Rannie Williams himself. I was a child and he was a grown man. He told a bunch of us kids how his own ill-placed cap frightened him. I wove the plot around that single fact,” she recalls.
Besides the stories that came to her in the early days and those brought by those persons eager to relay their tales to the veteran storyteller, she admits that most times she goes after them herself.
“When I go, it is to the older generation. The younger people are not much knowledgeable… I believe that our culture should be preserved. For one reason, a people without a history does not exist,” she relates, adding that having been a storyteller, she thought documenting those stories would be useful for posterity’s sake. “Stories told are often forgotten. I believe that it is of utmost importance to preserve our cultural identity. I am happy to do what I can from my corner,” Bowry says.
Her first book of short stories was self-published in 2011 and her debut poetry book in 2000. Since then, Bowry has added three short story books to her collection, and two other books of poetry. Those books are available for sale at the Austin’s Bookstore and can also be found in the University of Guyana’s library.
Bowry is expected to publish another book of short stories before year’s end.
Those who wish to make contact with the author, who resides in New Amsterdam, can do so on Tel: 333-4451 or 676-5442. Emails can also be sent to stephaniebowry_2000@yahoo.com.
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