Sonia Garmers

(Curaçao, 1933) wrote her first children's stories in Papiamentu, Conta Cuenta. In addition to very popular cookery books she also wrote Un makutu yen di cuenta (A Basket Full of Stories). And together with Nydia Ecury and Mila Palm she published the collection of poetry Tres Rosea (Three Laments). Her two booklets (together with Hanny Lim) about Brua (black magic) was and is in great demand. She has also worked as a politicial reporter. In 1976 she published (in Dutch) Lieve Koningin, hierbij stuur ik u mijn dochter (Dear Queen, Hereby I Am Sending You My Daughter). It was a great success both in the Netherlands and on the Antilles. After that the children's book Orkaan (Hurricane) appeared in 1977. At the close of the 1970s she lived in Holland, and wrote short spoken columns for the NCRV-radio programme Rozengeur en Prikkeldraad. In 1980 her next children's book Orkaan en Mayra appeared in 1980, which won her the 1981 Nienke van Hichtum-prize of the Jan Campertstichting in the Hague. In May 1983 Sonia Garmers received the Cola Debrot prize, the highest literary award of the island area of Curaçao. In the collection of short storied Ieder diertje z’n pleziertje (To Every Animal Its Fun) a number of themes from Sonia Garmers' very first children's stories can be found. Wonen in een glimlach (Living in a Smile) was written in 1985.