Writer pens book on Dominican folk tales

cover
The cover of the book

Dominican writer, Roy Sanford, has published a collection of stories based on folk tales he heard when growing up.

The book, Three Nights Later, the Soukouyan on the Roof and Other Stories, was self-published on July 4, on Amazon.

Sanford said the creatures featured in the book come from numerous stories he heard as a child in the Kalinago Territory.

“When we were growing up, we were told many stories about Soukouyans, La Diabless, Lougawous, Mama Glos and the like,” he said. “I was always fascinated by these stories because in them there was always the struggle between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ and in the end ‘good’ always win.”

He said presently many of these characters of Dominican folklore are being replaced by imported ones from American Television.

“So today children talk about Sponge Bob or Ninja Turtles and other characters, while the ones that formed the basis for our folklore are being lost,” he stated.

Sanford said the book consists of 10 short stories.

“They are all based on the characters I heard from childhood,” he stated. “However, the stories in the book itself are completely made up and are products of my imagination.”

He hopes the stories will create an interest in Dominican folk tales.

The book can presently be ordered only on Amazon.

“Hopefully, one day I will be able to publish it locally and have it available in local bookstores,” Sanford said.

The book can be ordered here: LINK

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9 Comments

  1. john B floyd
    August 19, 2019

    some of the storys are true a tv show called ghostly encounters has a story on the sucyan ,I know I starred in it .

  2. July 7, 2016

    Brilliant — I just ordered my copy.

  3. Fran
    July 7, 2016

    Awwee, I missed those days. Most I got from other children but the hair on your neck would stand straight from the first “tim tim, bwa shesh”

  4. LuClu
    July 7, 2016

    Ah man I remember the good old days, when DOMLEC would take lights and that was the opportunity for my grandparents to tell us ‘ghost stories’. Stories of Soukouyans, La Diabless, Lougawous and the like, they would also give us the Brer Anansie stories, the good old days when life was simple!! I cherish those memories and toyed with idea of writing them down for my nieces. I’ll ask my mom to do it :lol:

  5. SweetS
    July 6, 2016

    Congratulations ROY! Keep up the good work.

  6. Free Thinker
    July 6, 2016

    Very good, I will get myself a copy. It is a good thing to pass on the folklore to the younger generation in an effort to keep the culture alive. Thank you Mr Sanford.

  7. Tj
    July 6, 2016

    I am waiting to get my copy of your book

  8. BEB
    July 6, 2016

    Why a photograph or the writer, publisher not posted?

  9. July 6, 2016

    I agree totally with Roy, we do not share the old time stories which made our imagination go wild. Children now a days don’t even think, because someone else just feed them with all that junk they see on tv. I will be getting my copy on Amazon, glad, cause I have an account with them. Good luck Roy, hope your book will become popular.

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