Attendees are expected to come from the four corners of the world to experience the best environment for creative thinking, as well as the tropical beauty of the Caribbean. The Festival will take place during the independence celebration and will close with a Festival Golf Tournament and Gala Event.

To date, sponsors include The Jolly Beach Resort, The Baltimore Times, Carib-World Travel, Siboney Publications, and Heart and Soul Magazine.  The Festival has also earned the endorsement of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture & Social Transformation, and the Ministry of Education.

Festival officials have already confirmed authors as Terry McMillan, Jamaica Kincaid, Yvonne Weekes, JA George Irish Ph.D., Althea Prince, Terrie Williams, Elizabeth Nunez, and Marie-Elena John, who just received international acclaim for her fictional work Unburnable.

“We have received favorable responses from the publicists of several well known authors and are determined to make this an annual event where people regionally and internationally will have the opportunity to gather in Antigua, meet authors, publishers, editors and other professionals associated with the written word,” says Pamela Arthurton, Manager of Carib-world Travel.

A key community initiative currently underway is rebuilding the public library since its destruction during a hurricane in 1972. “I am particularly pleased that the event is designed not only to develop and encourage literary skills but to also support the construction for the National Public Library,” shares Bertrand Joseph.

Festival officials will also establish a Library Science Scholarship Fund and a Secondary School Short Story Competition to encourage the masses to explore their creative skills and careers in the Library Sciences. The Caribbean Literary Festival will build excitement and reinforce the message that "reading is fun" for everyone.