River Ridge Press, Dominica

15/03/2026

Here's a bit of frustration from the normally mild-mannered founder of River Ridge Press, Dominica. https://kristinesimelda.wordpress.com/2026/03/15/the-price-of-paradise/

01/03/2026

If you are interested in social justice, check out these fascinating new books . . . one from a Jamaican and the other from an Egyptian journalist.

Dear Readers and Writers, Question: What do the latest books by Jamaican Olive Senior and Egyptian-born Canadian author Omar El Akkad have in common? Answer: A quest for social justice in the face …

01/02/2026

Two exciting new books in the queue from River Ridge Press, Dominica. (Weight is a heavy load, but we're getting there.)

Dear Readers and Writers, Dominicans say, ‘Weight is a heavy load.’ I try to be patient when publishing my own work, but in the case of the historical novel, Riverdale: A Tale of Two Sarahs, a coau…

22/01/2026

It's 2026, and I hope y'all are reading and writing to the max. Here is my first review of the new year.

Dear Readers and Writers, I have heard it said that everyone brings a different perspective to literature. Maybe it’s me that’s off, but lately I’ve had a hard time finding a book that moves me. Cr…

16/01/2026

Bravo Dominican writers. Keep up the good work.

04/01/2026

A fresh start for 2026.

Dear Readers and Writers, I hope y’all enjoyed the holidays and are ready to get back to work in the new year. Work!? Yes, writing requires physical dedication as well as mental concentration. As …

12/12/2025

The Holidays are upon us! Check out my latest website blog for the perfect gift for fellow book lovers or perhaps yourself.

Dear Readers and Writers, Looking for the perfect gift for fellow book lovers? Check out the Caribbean-themed Romance, Adventure, and Mystery titles by me, Kristine Simelda. They are available at J…

04/12/2025

2026 is your year to shine as a writer! Here is another publishing tip from River Ridge Press, Dominica. This one helps write your query letter. You can check back on my website blog in June for previous tips: 4th, First Draft; 11th, Editing;18th, Proofreading; 25th, Cover and Layout; July Bonus, Amazon Self-Publishing.

Dear Writers, Do you have a completed manuscript that has been properly edited and proofread? Have you done your homework and identified publishers and agents who have successfully launched books …

25/11/2025

This advice from Passionate Words Editing on How to make your 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝔼𝕕𝕚𝕥𝕠𝕣 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝔹𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕪 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕡𝕤!
I couldn't agree more!
❶ 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 - you are enlisting the services of a professional. This means taking careful consideration of every piece of advice, even if you don't exactly agree.
❷ 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 --Don't just bring your first draft to your editor. Go through it and self edit, have others read it and make whatever corrections you can do before I see it. If you don't respect your work, why should I?
❸ 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐆𝐏𝐓 - And - for the love of GOD - Do not tell me CHAT GPT has given you a list of things I can do to improve my editing. Generative AI is nowhere ready to analyse the complexities of a human's creativity. It can be used to help you get ideas, but don't use it to write your book for you. A good editor will notice and probably turn the job down.

19/11/2025

From the Editor's Desk: As a writer, freedom of expression is very important to me. In my latest website blog, I compare 100-year-old literary fiction to current political nonsense.

Dear Readers and Writers, While waiting for the proofreader to plow through the 2nd edition of A Face in the River, I am presently updating a memoir I started writing in 2001. The working title is …

05/11/2025

"Read more than you write" is an old adage that still holds true today. However, with a bare bones library and a rather limited bookstore in Dominica, it's not easy to find an inspiring book to settle into. With that in mind, I have resurrected River Ridge Reviews in my latest blog https://kristinesimelda.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/river-ridge-reviews-november-2025/ Let me know in the comments if you have read and enjoyed any of these books, and what you would recommend.

Dear Readers, I hope you are well. While searching for a way to move River Ridge Press, Dominica forward, it occurred to me that I might revive River Ridge Reviews. Read more than you write, right?…

31/10/2025

In her latest blog, Kristine Simelda reflects on the raw reality of facing nature’s fury — from surviving Hurricane Maria in Dominica to empathizing deeply with Jamaicans in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

She shares three unforgettable experiences that taught her what it means to reach “the moment of truth” — when control slips away and surrender becomes survival. 💔

But beyond devastation, Kristine reminds us that every storm brings lessons — opportunities to turn post-traumatic stress into post-traumatic wisdom and to make sustainable choices that shape a better future. 🌍

Read her powerful reflection below and join the conversation on how we can live more consciously with the forces of nature.

https://kristinesimelda.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/the-moment-of-truth/

Dear Readers, The Moment of Truth As a Caribbean resident who has witnessed the onslaught of 5 hurricanes in the past 30 years, including surviving Category 5 Hurricane Maria, I empathized with Jam…