Dean Fenton is Antigua & Barbuda’s Director of Tourism for the USA and a published poet, moving between the worlds of international tourism and introspective writing. We first featured him in 2022, when he had written two poetry collections. He has since added five more, including his latest, Whispers of the Heart, bringing his total to seven. We caught up with him to see what has shaped this evolving body of work.
Since we last spoke, you’ve been very busy writing. Are your books shaped more by different stages of your life, or by different emotions?
A combination of both. I think from the moment we are born, we carry this little sack on our backs, like Santa, filled with things. Sometimes we never get a chance to unload it. For me, writing is my therapy, a way of unpacking that sack, at least part of it. The rest, I might need church, therapy, or some kind of retreat to deal with. We can laugh about it, but I really do think we all carry that bag.
My poetry isn’t ‘roses are red, violets are blue’. That’s not what I do. Sometimes I just capture brief moments. Words are powerful, so I jot things down as they come to me. Sometimes I return to them, sometimes I just sit with them. I can’t really switch my mind off. I’m always thinking, always running. Writing gives me a moment to escape on paper.
What inspired your latest book Whispers of the Heart?
I believe we have two hearts. One lies to us and one tells the truth. It sounds crazy, but that’s just the way I see it.
Your role is incredibly demanding. How do you find time to write?
I’ve just been away for two weeks in Brazil, nearly a ten-hour flight from New York. That’s when I write, on the plane and in hotel rooms. When I get to a hotel, I look for a quiet space where I can write.
You’re also surrounded by creative people. Do you think that environment has influenced you?
Maybe subconsciously. I’ve never really thought about it like that. But being around that kind of work and seeing what they create, perhaps it does influence you in ways you don’t realise. Angela Bassett was actually the first person I asked to endorse one of my books. Before that, you have to go through their team and make sure everything aligns with their image. When that happened, I thought, maybe I can do this. Then Dawn Lewis endorsed another, Reno Wilson, Tasha Smith and Kathy Sledge did the last one. One endorsement led to another.
Do you feel there are many more books in you?
When I reached seven books, I paused. Seven is a powerful number, a number of completion, so I had this conversation with myself. Do I stop here? But this little voice said, no, go to seventeen. Not for religious reasons, just because it feels like a good number. I think I’m going to do one large book compiling my poetry, maybe calling it Tapestry. I’ve just finished a children’s book for my niece called What My Feet Did This Summer. It’s about all the places I’ve taken her. The only challenge now is the illustrations. I can’t draw at all, so I’d love a child to do the artwork to keep that authentic feel. I’ve started my novel but I’m still working through the ending. I’ve got a few different possibilities. That’s always the hardest part.
Since your first collection, do you feel your writing has evolved?
I’ve seen a progression. It’s like a musical crescendo. I was very intentional about developing my own style. I didn’t want to be influenced too much by other poets. If you read my work, you’ll notice I like to bring the reader to a point and then leave them there. Almost like a cliffhanger. I give you enough to feel something, but I let you decide what happens next.
Would you say you’re braver now in what you share?
Honestly, it still feels like the first time, every time. You’re always worried. Did I miss something? Did I spell something wrong? Even after going over it hundreds of times, you still find things. With poetry, you have some freedom. With a novel, you don’t. That’s why it takes longer. But in terms of being open, it’s always difficult to bare your soul. In my first book, I held back a lot. Waltzing in the Breeze was meant to reflect my younger years, carefree, a bit reckless. Then My Theory of Thoughts became more introspective, asking deeper questions about life. My Time at the Door came later, when I was observing more, almost like a doorman watching life pass by. Then came Eloquent Conversations, Unforgettable Things, Baffling Affections, and now Whispers of the Heart. Each one reflects a different stage of my life and how I was thinking at the time.
Captured Moment
Love is a symphony of rustling breezes
It’s a soul awakening
Where emotions surge like a vibrant tide
And logic and reason begin to slide
As love and lies, Run free with rebel’s cry
And fervent plea
Knowing true love and beauty
Will forever be nothing more
Than wild and free
Cause with love, a fire burns
While love’s path is bravely sought.
Dean Fenton
How important is your Antiguan side to you?
Even though I’ve spent over 40 years in the States, those early years in Antigua shaped me. They were my formative years, joyful and innocent. I’m Antiguan through and through. Those childhood memories, running to the beach, picking fruit from trees, growing up in a strong community where people looked out for each other stay, with you.
I had a great life in the States, but those early years in Antigua are something I always return to.
I had a great life in the States, but those early years in Antigua are something I always return to. They are irreplaceable. Having had that upbringing is priceless, and I think I appreciated it even more once I left and saw the world.
Why should people choose Antigua over another island?
Antigua is still very authentic. We’ve never overbuilt the destination. I left 44 years ago and some things are still exactly the same. Development has always been gradual. We don’t have high-rises; nothing goes above the palm trees. We take life as it comes. Yes, there are changes, but we don’t rush. We take our own time, and I like that. It still feels like a true Caribbean destination.
We take our own time, and I like that. It still feels like a true Caribbean destination.
There’s a freedom to it. Nothing looks the same, nothing feels manufactured. Falmouth Harbour always draws me in. The scenery never gets old. Sitting on a beach in Antigua will never get old for me. And there are still places where you can be completely alone on a beach. That’s rare. That’s special.
Where did you live in Antigua before moving to the US?
In St John’s. My parents were originally from the countryside, and although we lived in town, every summer we had to go back for the entire break. They wanted us to stay connected to that side of the family and understand how they grew up. At the time, we used to complain. We knew we’d be milking cows and doing things like that. But looking back, I really appreciate it.
How do you feel about the changes happening in Antigua now?
They’re good changes. Nothing extreme, just improvements to infrastructure. For me, my job is personal. I still have family members working in hotels, cleaning rooms, driving taxis. So when I promote Antigua, it’s not just a job. I’m representing people I know. Antigua sells itself. It’s not only authentic, but it’s also one of the safest places in the Caribbean, even globally.
Would you set one of your novels in Antigua?
I would love to. I’d like to create something centred on Antigua, something that reflects that part of me. I recently watched a British series, Mr Loverman, where Antigua was mentioned often because of the migration story, and it made me think I could definitely do something like that. I’ve written a few poems about Antigua and touched on my ancestors too, but I haven’t fully explored it yet. Antigua is a great backdrop for stories, films and novels.
If you could live your life again, would you choose to be a writer?
One hundred percent. I love the arts. I love writing and watching performances, seeing how people bring stories to life. It’s interesting you ask that, because I often think about retirement. Some people plan an exit strategy, but for me, retirement would mean writing more and taking it even more seriously. I’d probably find a quiet place, maybe a cabin somewhere, and just write. If something I created became a script and was turned into something meaningful, I’d be very happy. I’d also loved to teach. I’d want to work with children while they’re still impressionable. Those are the teachers you remember, the ones who shape you early on.
Anything else?
I had this idea. Antigua & Barbuda is a two-island nation, and I always imagined creating a red ribbon stretching from one island to the other, with a heart in the middle. Two islands, one heart. It’s a bit of a crazy idea, especially since they’re 27 miles apart, but I’d love to do it, maybe even make it into the Guinness World Records. I’m a child at heart, and that’s one of my little fantasies.
You can procure all of Dean’s books on Amazon. Enjoy!