My son will be proud'

Fitzwilliam launches new book Kristy Ramnarine kramnarine@trinidadexpress.com Saturday, October 3rd 2009

'very personal': Former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam signs a copy of her book, Letters to Ailan, for Cherry Wallen yesterday at Metropolitan Book Suppliers, Capital Plaza, Port of Spain. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK Former Miss Universe (1998) Wendy Fitzwilliam says she is confident that her son, Ailan, will be able to handle and appreciate her book, Letters to Ailan. The vice president of Investment Promotion at eTECK officially launched her first book, among family and friends, at the Prime Restaurant at Invaders Bay, Port of Spain, on Thursday. "This book had to be Ailan's truth and a book both my son and my mother will be proud of. I am confident that my son will be able to handle and appreciate it because it's his truth," she said. "It's all about my experience being a mother and thoroughly enjoying the experience. It is very personal and it speaks about things that make Trinidad and Tobago unusual." Fitzwilliam became the second Trinidadian (and second woman of colour) to capture the Miss Universe title. When, eight years later, she announced that she was pregnant, the news was dramatic and controversial. Letters to Ailan is the narrative of that tumultuous time in her life. Ken Jaikaransingh, director of Lexicon Trinidad-publisher of the book-said local booksellers have stocked up on the book's first print of 1,000 soft-cover and 500 hard-cover copies. "Wendy by herself is almost an industry, so clearly she is the best sales agent for her book," he said. "A lot of the booksellers have responded to the book in a way that we did not expect. They've been calling for this book; so much so that we are almost out of the hardcover. We've run out of stock and we are fast approaching a reprint status for the soft cover. We did 1,000 of each, but we haven't received all of the hardcovers. We are expecting a further delivery of 500 hardcovers from the printers tomorrow (Friday)." Jaikaransingh, who was been in the publishing business for the last 25 years, does not regret working with Fitzwilliam. "I didn't know Wendy. Julie Morton of Morton Publishing is the one who called me and said Wendy has a book and she wants to publish it," he explained. "I was a little reluctant, because it is not the kind of book that we generally publish. But I went to meet her and I got the manuscript and I saw that there was merit in this. I like the frankness of the approach. There is something about Wendy that is endearing, she really draws you to her." The launch was attended by many local personalities, including former Miss World (1986) Giselle Laronde, Olympic medallist Ato Boldon, fashion designer Peter Elias, hairstylist Bally and soca artiste Destra Garcia. http://www.trinidadexpress.com