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V Steve Russell | Publishing Mentor + Coach

@iamvsrussell

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Founder @cariconla
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I am thrilled and honored to be featured in the latest edition of Where It Begins magazine! 🌟 It was an incredible experience to sit down for an interview and share my journey with all of you. 📖

I want to express my gratitude to the amazing team at @where_it_begin for giving me this wonderful opportunity to be part of their inspiring publication.

Special shoutout to the fantastic people at @pristineinitiative for making this feature possible. Your support and collaboration made the whole process even more memorable.

I couldn't have asked for a better platform to share my story and insights. This feature means the world to me, and I hope it resonates with all of you. 🌍

Check out the full feature here in Where It Begins magazine and join me on this extraordinary journey! https://issuu.com/cecewibnet/docs/wib_jun-jul_2023_final-rev2/26 Let's continue to embrace new beginnings and make a positive impact together! 🙌🏼💫

#WhereItBegins #MagazineFeature #Gratitude #PristineInitiative #JourneyOfALifetime #vsteverussell #caricon #Caricon2023 by @iamvsrussell

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3 years ago

At the University of South Carolina, I was cast in A View from the Bridge.

In one scene, my character eats an orange.

Without thinking, I pulled out a knife and peeled it the way I’d seen my whole Caribbean childhood—
slow, circular, precise.

The room went silent.

Someone finally said:
“I’ve never seen anyone peel an orange like that.”

They used their hands.
I used my culture.

That moment taught me something I’ve never forgotten:

What feels normal to you might be extraordinary to everyone else.

Different isn’t a deficit.
It’s your differentiator.

The things you think are “too Caribbean,” “too different,” or “won’t translate” are exactly what make you irreplaceable.

Your culture isn’t something to hide.
It’s your competitive advantage.

Don’t apologize for your difference.
Monetize it.

💬 What’s something about your background you once thought was a weakness—but turned out to be your strength?

👇 Drop it below.

#Authenticity #CaribbeanCulture #DifferenceIsStrength #OwnYourStory #creativepowerhousesociety by @iamvsrussell

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9 months ago

CARICON is proud to announce our new partnership with the International Authors Forum, an important step forward in our commitment to strengthening the Caribbean literary community.

Through this partnership, CARICON and the International Authors Forum will work to educate and empower Caribbean writers to better understand their rights, protect their intellectual property, and negotiate from a position of knowledge.

Because telling our stories is only part of the journey. Know your rights. taken in Los Angeles, California by @iamvsrussell

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2 months ago

📚✨ Join me for an exciting reading at the Fruitful Vale Primary & Infant School Literacy Fair! From interactive activities to online reading sessions, the students will be celebrating the power of literacy and imagination.

A special highlight — online Author Reading featuring *Brer Anancy and Brer Duck*! 🎉🐤

🗓️ May 13, 2026
⏰ Starting at 1:00pm

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader!” ❤️📚

#LiteracyFair #FruitfulVale #ReadLearnGrow #AuthorReading #SteveRussell YoungReaders LiteracyMatters ReadingIsFun FutureLeaders by @iamvsrussell

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5 months ago

Bon siman! Here's the aftermovie of the CARICON Poetry Slam 2026.

So much happened beyond the stage.

From school visits to rehearsals, shared drinks and meals, and quiet moments in between: all part of CARICON Poetry Slam 2026.

Thank you to everyone who was part of it.

🎥 Watch the aftermovie by @iamvsrussell

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6 months ago

It was a pleasure connecting with Ayuko Babu, one of the founding members of the Pan African Film & Arts Festival, currently taking place in Los Angeles. @paffnow

Our conversation explored the origins of the festival, the cultural influences of his Ghanaian heritage, and how Caribbean voices helped shape his artistic journey—including icons like @Mutabaruka and @jimmycliff

It was equally inspiring to meet fellow Jamaican @Rochelle Williams-Belizaire, Director of Clinical Research at Mirati Therapeutics, whose work advances cancer research. She also shared how her Jamaican upbringing continues to guide her contributions at @beonemedicines, a company dedicated to developing treatments for cancer.

Always uplifting to connect with Caribbean nationals making meaningful contributions and shaping global culture, science, and society.

#CaribbeanExcellence #PanAfricanFilmFestival #DiasporaImpact #CaribbeanPride taken in Los Angeles, California by @iamvsrussell

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8 months ago

Over the past month, I’ve been sharing lessons from theater and how my Caribbean culture grounded me as an immigrant in America. Last night’s Super Bowl halftime show brought it all into focus.

Bad Bunny performed almost entirely in Spanish, and many people complained: “I didn’t understand a word.” But here’s what they missed: culture doesn’t need to be in your language to be understood. That halftime show wasn’t just entertainment; it was a statement about the immigrant struggle, resilience, and the refusal to erase oneself to fit in.

Immigrants are often expected to shed everything—their language, culture, identity—just to belong. They spend a lifetime code-switching, assimilating, and making others comfortable. Bad Bunny asked American audiences to do that for 30 minutes, not a lifetime. And many couldn’t handle it. That tells you everything about empathy.

What I saw on that stage was love, representation, and recognition. The Caribbean diaspora felt seen, and Latin communities felt celebrated. Sometimes, you don’t need words to feel connection; you need someone brave enough to show up fully—unapologetically and authentically. That’s what Bad Bunny did, and it’s what I strive to do every day.

At CARICON, I don’t water down Caribbean culture to make it “accessible.” The moment you erase your culture to make others comfortable, you lose what made you powerful in the first place.

Bad Bunny proved this: you can stand on the world’s biggest stage, reach millions, and do it on your own terms, in your own language, representing your people. The people who matter will understand—not because they speak the language, but because they feel the culture. Your culture is not a barrier; it’s your power.

What did the halftime show mean to you?

#SuperBowl #BadBunny #CulturalPride #ImmigrantStory #Representation by @iamvsrussell

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8 months ago

Yesterday, I spent time at the Exposition Park / Mary McLeod Bethune Library (@LAPubliclibrary)for the soft launch of the CARICON Book Club, hosted by Katrina O’Connor, and what I expected to be a simple visit turned into a powerful conversation.

I had the chance to connect with the librarian—also from an immigrant background—and our discussion opened up into questions of representation, access, and inequity in publishing. One thing became very clear: while institutions often say there’s “space for diverse voices,” that space hasn’t reached its full capacity. There is still a deep need—and desire—for more stories rooted in culture, heritage, and lived experience, especially from immigrant, Indigenous, and marginalized communities.

Libraries like this one are doing the work. They are not only curating books that reflect broader worlds and imaginations, but they are actively inviting more voices in. The message from inside the building was simple and powerful: we need more—and we’re ready for it.

Sharing a few moments from the visit, including some of the titles on display that remind us how expansive middle-grade storytelling can be.

If you’re in the area, I encourage you to check out the Exposition Park / Mary McLeod Bethune Library and explore what’s happening at the branch. There’s so much more than books—workshops, conversations, and community-centered programming worth showing up for.

👉 Be sure to visit the LAPL Events Calendar and see what else is coming up.

Thank you for the space—and the conversation. taken in Los Angeles, California by @iamvsrussell

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8 months ago

My theater professor in Jamaica once shared a lesson that has stayed with me:

“If you’re going to make a mistake, make it BIG.”

At 19, I was shy and terrified of making mistakes on stage. When I questioned this advice, he explained that mistakes are inevitable. The key is to commit fully to your choices and own them completely.

He emphasized that the worst thing you can do is make a timid mistake—one that shows a lack of commitment.

This lesson has influenced my journey over the past twenty years:

When I launched Brer Anancy Press with a “45-day publishing” promise, many deemed it impossible. I made that choice BIG—no hedging, just a clear commitment. The result? We published every book on time, turning that bold promise into our competitive advantage.

When I founded CARICON to preserve Caribbean literary culture, I could have started small. Instead, I went for international literary festivals, poetry competitions across multiple islands, and year-round programming.

@salmon5197 taught me that timid choices yield timid results. Bold mistakes are better than cautious mediocrity, and commitment is more valuable than perfection.

You won’t be perfect, but mistakes are part of the learning process. If you’re going to mess up, do it with conviction. Make it so big and unapologetic that even if you’re wrong, you learn something significant.

The audience—whether in theater, business, or life—respects commitment more than perfection.

In the long run, it’s not that serious. Make the choice. Make it big. Stand behind it.

What’s a “big mistake” you made that taught you more than any success? Share below as we celebrate bold failures.

This is Post #2 in my “Lessons from the Stage” series, where I explore how theater training has provided unexpected business skills. Stay tuned for more insights. by @iamvsrussell

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9 months ago

Skills can be taught.
Processes can be learned.
But attitude — curiosity, discipline, standards, hunger — is harder to instill.

Early in my career, I discovered that those who rise aren’t always the most qualified on paper. They are the individuals who show up ready to learn, committed to excellence, and open to being coached.

The best leaders don’t just focus on what someone knows; they pay attention to how someone thinks, listens, and responds under pressure.

When the right attitude is in place, training becomes an investment rather than a risk.

What’s the one attitude you value most when building a team? by @iamvsrussell

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9 months ago

JAIKU joins poets and other creatives from across the region to celebrate our Caribbean roots with global excellence at @carifestaxv CARIFESTA XV in Barbados 🇧🇧

#Caribbeanroots
#globalexcellence
#jaikupoetry
#caribbeanpoetry
#jamaicanpoetry
#carifesta2025
#jamaicanpoets
#jamaicanpoetry
#teamjamaica taken in Bridgetown, Barbados by @iamvsrussell

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a year ago

🚨 LAST CHANCE! 🚨

Tomorrow is the big day — the CARICON Virtual Pitch Fest is happening June 7, 2025… and TODAY is your final opportunity to book a session with one of our incredible agents or publisher!

🎯 Got a manuscript, story idea, or published work ready to shine?
Don’t miss your shot to pitch to:

💼 Samantha Fabien – Literary Agent, Root Literary
📚 Carey Blankenship-Kramer – Literary Agent, Azantian Literary
🖋️ V. Steve Russell – Publisher, Brer Anancy Press

This is your moment. Connect. Be discovered. Be published.
👉 Book your spot now: www.cari-con.org/pitch-fest

#CARICONLA #CaribbeanLiterature #PitchFest #WritersOfInstagram #YAfiction #ChildrensBooks #Afrofuturism #MemoirWriters #CaribbeanAuthors #PublishingJourney #AmQuerying #LatinxWriters #ReadCaribbean #BordersAndBridges #BlackWriters #IndiePublishers taken in Los Angeles, California by @iamvsrussell

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a year ago