She is the author and illustrator of the children’s storybook and workbook; The Adventures of Marvin the Mischievous Manicou. As a Communication Specialist with a Master’s Degree in Media, Communications and Public Relations, Oprah enjoys using her skills to create fun and creative methods of teaching children valuable lessons!

What do you love about being a creative communications strategist? We're living in the age of the unconventional and to be honest, there's no longer a set blueprint for how things should be done. While others may see uncertainty, for me, it's exciting! Coming up with creative and innovative ways to engage audiences and to help people understand new concepts, ideas and perspectives is truly a thrilling experience.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? Ha! Honestly, I treat my characters like they are real. For me, a character shouldn't just be limited to a single story. Each character has depth, a history, personality traits and quirks, likes and dislikes as well. This is something you can look forward to with other stories I'm working on right now.

What was the inspiration behind Marvin the Manicou? Some may wonder what led to you choosing a manicou specifically. (Does it have anything to do with our wild meat culture) I wanted to create a character that children could relate to and also a character that we could call our own. And yes, opossums can be found in other parts of the world, but in Trinidad and Tobago, we have furnished it with our very own name - the Manicou. Locally, people often associate the manicou with wild meat, but the animal also has a personality and antics of its own. I thought it would be interesting to develop a character around that.

Has your career field impacted your writing?It certainly has. Working in the field of communications has given me a great appreciation for public opinion and feedback. To truly engage your audience, sometimes you have to take a step back and put yourself in their shoes to better understand them, the way they think, how they feel and what they see as important and appealing. This strategy has been especially helpful to me in developing and tailoring the narratives, designs and illustrations for Marvin's adventures to appeal to parents, teachers and most importantly, our young readers.

What are your favourite pastimes?For sure, I love outdoor adventures, just like Marvin. I also have an unhealthy habit of binge watching, but I guess that comes from my love of film. Sometimes I find myself getting lost in the narratives onscreen and the way directors are able to bring these stories to life.

What is your favourite aspect about writing children's books?I think it's the innocence and excitement in the storytelling. Children are highly inquisitive and can turn the simplest moments into grand adventures. From including animals that they can find in their backyards to creating narratives they can relate to, I enjoy writing stories that add to that experience.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. My favourite colour is red, bet you didn't know that (lol).

What are you most passionate about? Honestly, making a difference. When I came up with the concept for the first book years ago, I thought there weren't enough local children's books on the market. But today, there's an emergence of so many new and talented local children's authors and I'm just happy to be a part of that movement. I would love Marvin and friends to be as impactful to children today as Carla, Boyo and Anasi were to me growing up.

Your book ‘Forest Wars’, aims to help children understand constructive dialogue to resolve conflict. Do you see storytelling as a great avenue for this in the future?Of course. The creative arts is a powerful tool and with it, I think we can teach our children the fundamental values of life. And this is exactly what Marvin's adventures seek to do. Yes, each story is fun and educational, but there's also a moral to be learned at the end of each book. This is something you can look forward to in future stories as well.

How do you set and envision goals for yourself/your writing/your career?Honestly, the sky's the limit. This is just the beginning and I hope to continue Marvin's adventures with many more stories to come.

If you could only write about one aspect of Caribbean culture what would it be and why? I would definitely say folklore because of the intricacies of each character. The possibilities would be endless.

Do you have any big plans up your sleeve? What’s next on the agenda? (if you don’t mind us asking lol). I know what it's like trying to plough your way through the creative sector on your own. Though a fulfilling experience, it can be tough at times. For this reason, I recently started 'Create Me' as an avenue through which I can help other authors and creatives in achieving their entrepreneurial and self-publishing goals.