About Celeste Mohammed

I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer. As early as seven or eight years old, I felt the pull of storytelling, the magic of shaping words into meaning. But like many, I was encouraged to take a more “practical” path—one that promised financial stability. Law seemed like a natural fit: it was rooted in reading and writing, and it paid well. So, I followed the script, excelling in my career as an attorney.

But something was missing. The long hours, the endless meetings, the corporate grind—it felt soulless. I spent my days advocating for clients and navigating legal complexities, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was meant to be writing stories, not contracts. Then, one day, after yet another futile meeting, I walked into my office, sat down, and wrote my resignation letter.

The transition wasn’t easy. My peers thought I was reckless. My family—especially my mother—struggled to understand why I’d walk away from a prestigious career. But I knew I had to prove, to myself and to them, that this wasn’t a whim. It was a calling.

That leap of faith led me to Pleasantview, my debut novel-in-stories, which went on to win the 2022 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. It affirmed what I had hoped all along: there is an audience for the stories I want to tell, written in the way I want to tell them. It gave me the courage to push my creative vision even further.

Now, I spend my days immersed in the lives of my characters, exploring the nuances of Caribbean life, peeling back the layers of human experience. I live and write in Trinidad, surrounded by the voices, rhythms, and complexities of my people—listening, observing, absorbing.

People often ask if I have advice for others thinking about leaving a traditional career for a creative one. The truth? There’s no easy answer. The road is long. It is hard. If you’re chasing fame or fortune, look elsewhere. But if you know, deep in your bones, that you’ll never be happy until you say YES to that voice inside you—then go for it.

And if you’re wondering what’s next, don’t worry—there’s another book coming your way soon!