Hear mi nuh peeps, I wouldn't exactly call myself a book nerd, but I'm definitely passionate about the written word. So for folks like me who are hooked on books, March 1 to 8 is an absolutely great week to be on the rock.

It's a cool time for book-heads because this is the week designated for KBF 2015 - the fourth annual Kingston Book Festival. And well, is nuff tings a gwaan; nuff nice things! Seminars and workshops and book fairs and public readings and more. It opened up on Sunday with the return of 'Love Affair with Literature' featuring luminaries Tanya Shirley and Roland Watson Grant.

And on Monday, there was a school tour with writers and publishers doing readings at select primary schools across the island, talking about their work and about careers in the book industry.

Yesterday, there were several events, but for obvious reasons of course, the extra special event yesterday for me was the launch of my first full published collection of poetry 'Riddim and Riddles'. I'm still basking in the afterglow of what was a truly memorable boonoonoonoos evening!

Exceptional people

From the opening invocation by Reverend Winston 'Bello' Bell to the awesome drumming that closed the event, there was music and laughter galore. Guests were treated to eloquent, evocative and riveting readings from the book by some exceptional people like my brethren, writer/actor and comic maestro Tony Hendriks, veteran theatre and communication stalwarts Fae Ellington and Leonie Forbes, the godfather of dub poetry Oku Onuora, outstanding multitalented artiste Donald 'Iceman' Anderson and another large group of superbly talented individuals all of whom I've had the honour of working with as teacher, director or mentor.

Guest speaker was noted academic and 'intellect-to-all' Dr Sonijah Stanley Niaah and the MC was my brilliant brother Ian 'Ity' Ellis. I felt truly loved and admired, and proud! Trust me, peeps, if mi head swell anymore mi might explode with pride and pleasure!

And at another event earlier in the day, young poets got the opportunity of a special interactive session with Jamaica's Poet Laureate Professor Mervyn Morris in an event aptly called 'Meet the Poet Laureate' hosted by the National Library of Jamaica.

Literary lunch

And much more book-related niceness [and naughtiness] is in store for this week. Ah me fi tell unnu! You can take your favourite person for a midweek literary lunch date if you're in New Kingston, as 'Lunchtime Lit' takes place today under the trees in front of the Jamaica Tourist Board on Knutsford Boulevard. No, there won't be any free lunch, but there'll be priceless poetry and prose and invaluable inspiration for absolutely no charge.

And tomorrow night is 'big people tings' ago gwaan as book-related naughtiness gets on the agenda at another event called 'Late Nite Lit' - an evening of raunchy literature and comedy at Peppers starting at 'six to nine' and ending at midnight. It promises to be scintillating and stimulating. Forward nuh! Yeah, man, gab a mature friend and come get your lit groove on.

Yeah, friends, Kingston Book Festival is definitely happening. The organisers, the Book Industry Association of Jamaica, has this week locked down safe, solid and sound; everything is covered and bound, like a good book. And between you and me, it's a good look.

box-mi-back@hotmail.com.