Candy Benn

My name is Candy Benn. I am from Guyana. I'm a mother, teacher, book worm, poet, and author. I am a follower of Christ Jesus. He is everything to me.

The poets I most admire are Louise Bennett, a renowned Caribbean Poet from Jamaica and Maya Angelou

I read widely from most genres. Some of my favorite authors are  V.S. Naipaul, Lisa Jackson, Robin Cook, Scott Turow, Louis L'Amour, Nora Roberts, Tom Clancy, Sandra Brown, Jude Deveraux, Farrah Rochon, Dara Girard, and Sharon Sala.

Years ago a friend challenged me to write a poem and a song for the Children's Mashramani Competition in Guyana. I had only ever written a poem once before but I'm not one to back down from a challenge. 

So I wrote the pieces and the result was surprising. First I surprised myself because as a lover of creole poetry I thought I had done a great job. Not only that but it was like discovering a part of myself I didn't know was missing. I wanted to carry o writing. At the competition another surprise was in store, my work won for both categories.  That was the start of something new for me. 

In terms of story writing, this started out as something I did for my children. I saved all my pieces and now I've decided to publish them so that all children may enjoy.