New Year's Eve is not about having a big party for me. It's a time of reflection, and I often go on spiritual retreats. Monique Roffey bigeveparty Change image and share on social
All my books explore fatherhood. I look at what it means to have a big father figure at the centre: sometimes they're a good father, sometimes bad. Monique Roffey badbigbook Change image and share on social
Trinidad's language is a fusion of English, African, and French, and so we have our own words and even our own dictionary. Steupse is a common local word, and it's the onomatopoeic word for the sound people make to show disapproval, or to show they are vexed, when they suck their teeth together. Monique Roffey africancommondictionary share on social
'The White Woman on the Green Bicycle' is a love story mapped onto an unfolding political tragedy: that of the failure of the Independence era in Trinidad. Monique Roffey bicycleerafailure Change image and share on social
While I am most at home in London, I cannot really label myself as either British or Trinidadian. I write in the English language and live in the U.K. I find it hard to say that I am an entirely British writer, especially when I supported Trinidad in the 2006 World Cup and also support the West Indies cricket team. Monique Roffey britishcricketcup share on social
At the age of 62, my father died of cancer - it was much too soon. My mother never remarried or got over it, never even thought of another man. Monique Roffey agecancerdie Change image and share on social
Trinidadians love speaking their own English; it's full of poetic forms and can be playful and lyrical and comical. Trinidadians are verbal acrobats, and I love being on the island just to hear the people speak. Monique Roffey acrobatcomicalenglish share on social
I was an observant but dreamy child. I had a lazy eye and wild curls. Monique Roffey childcurldreamy Change image and share on social
Long-term heterosexual monogamy is still the dominant model: men and women still want to pair for a long period of time. Monique Roffey dominantheterosexuallong Change image and share on social
I talk to myself. It's my worst habit. I often muse aloud, or, when people drive me crazy, I curse them aloud. I might do a ranting monologue about how pissed off I am about them, occasionally forgetting that they might still be in the room; now, that's weird! Monique Roffey aloudbadcrazy share on social