In the early years of my photography practice, after I’d gotten pretty comfortable with my camera, using my camera became less about improving my photography and more about a meditative practice of searching for beauty. For years, whenever I was struggling with something having nothing to do with photography — a challenge at work, say, or a tough news cycle — I’d grab my camera and find something pretty to photograph. It was a great way to get myself out of my head and just fully focus on the beauty in front of me. With all the news from Gaza, from Sudan, from Ukraine, and hell, even the Unit ..read more

American friends dancing and making friends with Ethiopian friends. Many years ago, I attended a party where I met a young man — maybe in his early 30s — who worked in Mission Control at NASA. Naturally, as a complete NASA/space geek myself, I was intrigued. I spent some time asking him about his experience working with his fellow engineers, and what it was like to witness a space launch from “the room where it happens.” Eventually, our conversation moved on, and at some point, we began talking about regular, Earth-bound travel. And I asked him if he’d ever visited Europe. “I’ve never been ou ..read more

Exhibit A. I’ve hinted that I’m working on a new book — the second of a two-book deal —so I thought I’d share a bit about what this new book is about, and perhaps something of my process. Before I begin, I should confess that my process entails a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth: I am one of those people for whom writing is a tortuous affair, but who loves “having written.” I have a very close, very successful, multiple-New York Times-bestselling-novelist friend who tells me that when she is in the midst of writing a book, plots of future books are already dancing in her head. I can’t emp ..read more

This past Friday. When I was about 10 years old, my mother cut all of my hair off. I’ve always had incredibly thick hair, and my mom decided that it was just too much to handle, for me or for her, so off it came. And although it meant that most strangers thought I was a boy (this drove me nuts), I couldn’t deny that having such short hair was freeing — not having to worry about an hours-long wash session (especially after swimming in the sea), or taking too long to get ready in the morning — it was fantastic. Me, about 3 years before that first haircut, c. 1974, at home in Trinidad. (I’m on ..read more

A few years ago, in order to keep myself from being too sedentary on days when I’m chained to my computer, I began a new habit. Every time I switch tasks — like I’ve just finished a meeting, and am about to go into a writing session, say — I take a walk around my block. It’s a way to get my steps up, sure, but it also helps my mind switch gears so that I can come back to my desk focused on what I’m about to do next. Since returning from England, I’ve noticed on these walks that the air is getting warmer (almost alarmingly so, this early in the season). As a result, signs of spring are showing ..read more

I’ve always been drawn to design: I was one of those kids who, every two or three months, would rearrange my bedroom, experimenting with how the room felt. I don’t know that I have any design taste — truly — but I have very definite opinions about what it takes to make a room feel right. (My daughter makes fun of the way I’m constantly saying “Pools of light! We need more pools of light!” but she won’t deny that her apartment bedrooms are often the coziest.) So needless to say, when I stumbled upon the Netflix docuseries Abstract a few years ago, I devoured it. Each episode of the series is a ..read more

Pulteney Bridge. As I write this, we’re back in Bath, United Kingdom.* The last time we were here, in December, the trip was only for three days and primarily for picking up the keys to our tiny flat, getting utilities set up, and buying a bed and a couple of chairs so that it was usable for future visits. As a result, we didn’t spend any leisurely time exploring our new town** — before we knew it, it was time to head back to the airport and make our way home. This time, however, we’ve had the opportunity to visit family, and we’re continuing to do things to help make the flat more livable. B ..read more

Many years ago, my dad’s work required my parents to move to Stavanger, Norway. This was certainly the farthest north my Caribbean parents had ever lived, and they met this new adventure with gusto. Stavanger remains one of their most favourite places they’ve ever lived. I remember once when my parents were visiting me, my mom shared a Norwegian tradition that charmed her. “Whenever I go visit the home of any of my Norwegian friends,” she said, “as soon as they welcome me in, they light a candle. They all do it. It’s such a lovely gesture, as if they’re each intent on doing one little extra t ..read more

I’d like to go on record that I’m very grateful for what technology has brought to my life. It’s a pretty safe argument that everything I enjoy about my career evolved from the first moment I opened my laptop and launched the Typepad blogging platform. I wouldn’t be an author now if it weren’t for that technology back then — and admittedly, many of the social media platforms that launched since. Most of my closest friendships today exist because we connected through technology, either because we read each other’s blogs, or found each other on social media. I appreciate how technology has help ..read more

I am a confirmed introvert, with a preference for staying home over any social gathering, but when my friend Sean emailed me a couple of weeks ago and asked me if I wanted to meet for coffee sometime soon, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Sean is one of those folks who has a soothing aura about him, so I hold no illusions that my acceptance of his invitation was for entirely selfish reasons. I offered to meet him near his office, and he suggested we go to Mo’ Better Brews, a Black-owned, vegan coffeehouse near his work. Intrigued by the name alone, I agreed. Sweet Baby Jesus Lying In A Manger, i ..read more