Peta-Gaye Nash

Told Ya Stories - This fascinating collection of stories are about the interactions of immigrants from the Caribbean with life in Canada.They are about things that surprise or confuse the author Peta Gaye-Nash. She explains; "It is how each of us sees life through the peculiar lens of our own experiences and environment, so that when we come together, our behaviours and motivations reflect the uniqueness of who we are - our gender, socio-economic background, culture, religious beliefs and so on."Swinging seamlessly between the slapstick and tragic in each life, these stories traverse the serendipitous circumstances of poverty that govern the harsh landscape of "paradise".

'Is Reine Still Sleeping' tells the story of two siblings, ten years apart. Big sister Reine used to play with her little brother Liam all the time, until she became a teenager. Now she has homework, friends and other interests. Plus she sure sleeps a lot. Liam always asks if Reine is still sleeping. He tries to wake her up by playing the drums outside her door and does everything to get her attention, including dancing naked in front of her friends. Reine finds Liam embarrassing. Liam is sad and feels Reine doesn't love him anymore. When realizes her little brother misses her, she puts away her cell phone and plays with him. She realizes she misses him too and she keeps an important promise that brings them even closer together. The story is based on the author's family.