Mt Hope woman turns to writing to combat pandemic pain

HAZEL-ANN LYNCH turned to writing as a coping mechanism after suffering bouts of depression during the coronavirus pandemic last year.

On December 1, 2020, Lynch published her first book, Senor Fluffy: A Cat's Tale. It was launched on February 26 at East Side Plaza Mall, Charlotte Street, Port of Spain.

The 56-page novelette is a combination of humour, action, and adventure from a cat's eyes.

Lynch, who is in her 50s and lives at Mt Hope, told Newsday she started writing the book on and off between 2018 and 2019.

Feeling slightly depressed and adjusting to the new normal caused by the pandemic, she vowed to finish it by 2021.

"From a very young age, I knew that one day I would be an author. I always had that dream. I have a deep love for writing and reading. Growing up, sometimes I would read about 300 books at a year's end. Last week, I read four books," Lynch said.

This one, she said, is the first of a series.

"Senor Fluffy will be heading to Maracas in the second series. I already have some ideas for that. In the third series, he would go to Tobago. Maybe there would be a fourth, but I cannot say at the moment," Lynch said.

Senor Fluffy is a French cat with a Spanish name. A cat with pedigree, he lives with a wealthy Frenchwoman in France. Smiling and speaking as though he is a real animal, Lynch said he is accustomed to the fancy life. He is accustomed to having butlers and housekeepers at his beck and call, being carried from place to place, travelling the world, and eating expensive meals.

"So when his human owner decides abruptly to leave for NYC, Senor Fluffy is not having it. It is a coming-of-age story. It is about finding out about oneself and adjusting to a new environment. He is a very naughty cat and it is a fun story. He was in for a wake-up call in NYC," Lynch said.

Lynch is the mother of an adult son who has two children, and considers herself a "glam-ma of two."

In real life, Lynch does not have a pet cat. But she recalled having one named Tommy as a child.

Lynch migrated to the US but returned to Trinidad a few years ago to care for her mother. Though she had a passion for writing, she had jobs such as housekeeping, clerical work, and worked in a Trinidadian-owned restaurant.

She is a member of the NY Writers Coalition and the NGO Centre for Independence of the Disabled, which falls under the coalition. One of her pieces was also published in 2019 through Voices of Lefferts, a community organisation.

She did her first piece on her main character (Senor Fluffy) titled Paws for Knowledge in Voices of Lefferts’ magazine.

The book costs $185 and is available at the House of Creative People at the Southern Main Road in Marabella and Fineprint Bookstore at East Side Plaza.

It is available online at https://www.mialovesus.com/authorhazel-annlynch at US$19.99.

She also has merchandise on sale relating to the book. The website says all profit from the sale of the merchandise goes directly into funding this page so Lynch can promote her book.