Zan McDowell

Hobbyist writer of Indian ancestry, Zan McDowell, born in Trinidad, was educated at the UWI (LL.B Hons), the H.W.L.S. (L.E.C.) and the University of Cambridge (LL.M, First Class Hons, and CPGS). (Also to her credit: Diploma, Child Psychology; Diploma, Journalism/Short Story Writing.) Following her CPGS at Cambridge, later offered entry into second year PH.D studies, she declined due to family responsibilities and other personal reasons. Has worked as a university academic for a number of years in the Caribbean. Her professional field is Law. Retired from the profession, she spends her free time writing novels (and painting--many of her book covers display her artwork). Her books are mainly set in the Caribbean where she resides with her family. A prolific author, she has written some one hundred fiction books (novels, novellas, novelettes, plays, anthologies of short stories, as well as poetry) and has a number of non-fiction publications (academic textbooks, journal articles) to her credit, including "Elements of Child Law in the Commonwealth Caribbean" (UWI Press, Jamaica) and “Sourcebook of Restitution Law in the Commonwealth Caribbean” (Claitor's Publishing Division, Baton Rouge). She admits that the most fun she's ever had writing was when she wrote "Hair" for the Kernel's/Harper Collins' NaNoWriWee 30 Hour Novel Contest in January 2013. "Hair" was one of the 13 novellas shortlisted by Harper Collins. She also took first place in the "China in my Eyes" competition held by UWI Cave Hill in 2019.

Zan considers the creative process a wonderful balm--something mystical and magical, which has consumed her since childhood. A writer of Caribbean and World Literature, her works of fiction fall mainly within the literary fiction genre, some embracing magical realism and some, realist fiction. A few fall into the crime fiction and science fiction genres, respectively. Many of her themes are existentialist in nature and revolve around the human condition.

Zan welcomes communications from traditional publishing houses and literary agents (kindly insert a comment in the review section regarding any book(s) which you (publishers/literary agents) might be interested in, including publisher's/agency's name and contact details, and the author will get in touch once such is seen).