Thursday, 3 July 2025

WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES MANY OTHERS OPEN

 


RETIREMENT IS FUN BY BRENDA MOHAMMED

 

WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, MANY OTHERS OPEN.

In her memoir RETIREMENT IS FUN, which is a sequel to My Life as a Banker - A Life Worth Living, Brenda describes her many wonderful experiences at the end of her banking career.

Within the pages, you will read how Brenda proves that retirement is a time to enjoy life and continue to earn.

For her, retirement is when you stop working to live, and start working at living.

Of course, life is not a bed of roses, and you will read how Brenda stands out as a beacon of light throughout every challenge she faces.

Follow the author on her remarkable journey.

Read a five-star review from an Amazon Reviewer:

“Great Motivational Read!

BY: Mariana's Bane

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, educational, aspirational, and charming.

Enlightening and inspiring, author Brenda Mohammed takes us through a bird's eye view, turned fly on fly-on-the-wall look at her life. Banking? Insurance? Exotic holidays? For some of us, such a life is beyond our reach. For those of us to strive just to be a little bit better at what we do, every day, we are the kind of reader suited to this book.

Anyone can read it, but you will be pleasantly surprised just how the author takes on new challenges with gusto. True, she has a large family and strong network of friends egging her on, but this is her tale, and how retirement is anything but a door closing.

It is a new opening, a new chapter, and it is fun to read as well as have some very poignant moments in it. A great companion to her other memoirs, but it stands well on its own. Far from being something to fear, the author teaches the reader to really go for it in life. Nicely done.

The book is available in Audiobook, Kindle, and Paperbackon Amazon. CLICK HERE

Saturday, 28 June 2025

TRINIDADIAN AUTHOR BRENDA MOHAMMED SHARES HER WORLD TRAVELS

 



BOOK REVIEW FOR TRAVEL MEMOIRS WITH PICTURES: EXPLORING THE WORLD.
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Memoirs of the Author's Travels
Reviewed in the United States.
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
An informative and enjoyable book to read. The author recounts her family's world travels. She shares her experiences with the reader.
You'll read about the various sites to see in each location, the restaurants with delicious food, and the less costly ones.
She writes of the various ways to travel and of the climate of the location.
You will read of her travels to different locations in the world:
#Paris, #Germany, #Amsterdam (Holland), #NewYork (USA), #LosAngeles, California(USA), #LasVegas, Nevada (USA), #London (United Kingdom), #Toronto (Canada), #Colorado (USA), #NewOrleans (USA), #Italy [#Rome, #Venice, #Florence, #Pisa], #Spain, #Miami (USA), #Orlando (USA), #Caribbean Vacations,#Anguilla, #PuertoRico, Caracas, #Barbados, #CruisetotheBahamas, #Cartegena, #CruisetoCozumel (Mexico), #TrinidadandTobago.
The book Cover is a picture taken in Venice.
Josephine Calabrese


TRINIDADIAN AUTHOR BRENDA MOHAMMED DESCRIBES HER LIFE AS A BANKER

 


In 'My Life as a Banker, ' the author combines both History and Geography with her positive outlook to bring her story to life.

The Memoir is the story of a woman's determination to succeed in a profession that did not always favor women.

Set on the lovely Caribbean island of Trinidad. MY LIFE AS A BANKER: A LIFE WORTH LIVING is a fascinating personal memoir written by Brenda Mohammed, a former bank manager.
The book starts with the author’s early life and childhood, leading up to her first job, which was in banking.
Having defied death twice at the ages of eight and nine, she excels and graduates from High School at the tender age of sixteen and lands a job with an International bank with ties to the United Kingdom.
Dealing with customers and money issues can be stressful, but Brenda proved that hard work and determination pay.
She gradually moved up the ranks and received several promotions, leading up to senior managerial status.
Brenda describes changes in the banking system and changes in the bank's attitude towards its employees throughout her working years, and the important roles she played to bring about these changes.
My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living by Brenda Mohammed was the winner of Best Bio/Memoir, 2nd place in Metamorph Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards 2016.
An Amazon reviewer wrote:
Top reviews from the United States
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Life Worth Living]] is a wonderful story detailing how the author started at a clerical ...
Reviewed in the United States.
Verified Purchase
My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living is a wonderful story detailing how the author started at a clerical level and rose to a senior position, solely based on her dedication, hard work, and intelligence.
Brenda Mohammad describes how manual work was transformed into computerization, her work at different branches, and her working relationship with her colleagues
Her farewell party from her fellow workers describes how popular she was during her stay with them.
It was interesting to note, as a tradition, that the groom used to write a letter to the bride's father to seek permission to marry his daughter.
This is what happened when her husband proposed to her.
The description of her marriage is so beautiful and emotional.
Brenda had extensive travelling in the United States and Europe;
I enjoyed her visits to Germany and the Netherlands the most.
Close-knit in her family, and how her parents and her siblings took care of each other, is worth reading.
It was touching to read how her father talked to all of his children separately before his death.
Brenda's belief in God is remarkable.”


Tuesday, 17 June 2025

TRINIDADIAN AUTHOR EARNS GOLDEN INSIGNIA ORO FROM CIESART GLOBAL

 


THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF WRITERS AND ARTISTS CIESART awarded its Official International VIP Members with the Golden Insignia Oro: Golden Badge One.

President Lily Baylon conveyed this message:
"Receive our most sincere thanks for your generous contribution and solidarity support through your annual donation, a gesture that strengthens the spirit of cooperation and cultural commitment that unites us in this great international family.
In the framework of the distinction "Golden Insignia One", we celebrate not only your literary status and your active participation in the activities of this first semester of the year, but also your altruistic gesture, which represents an invaluable impulse for the sustainability and development of the projects promoted by our institution across all five continents.
Each of you has demonstrated that art and words not only inspire but also mobilize concrete actions that sustain the fabric of our global community.
Your annual donation is more than a financial contribution. It is an act of faith in culture, in free creation, in humanistic values, in dialogue between nations, and in the persistence of an organization that has as an essential mission to spread peace through art and literature.
On behalf of the Standing Committee of the International Chamber of Writers & Artists CIESART, we reiterate our respect, admiration, and gratitude for your presence, your voice, and your generosity.
We continue to build together.
With appreciation and consideration,
Standing Committee
International Chamber of Writers & Artists CIESART

Wednesday, 14 May 2025

MY INTERVIEW FOR CONVERGENCIA NEWSPAPER

 


MY BRIEF INTERVIEW FOR THE NEWSPAPER

A brief sFor the past four years, the newspaper Convergencia has kept the public informed about the most significant events of CIESART GLOBAL.
I am sharing my interview with President Lily Baylon.

Please give a brief summary of your literary or cultural career (no more than 10 sentences).

After a successful Banking career followed by another successful stint in the Insurance field, my life took a momentous turn after surviving an aggressive cancer that almost claimed my life. After that experience, I started writing books and began a prolific career as a writer and peace advocate.

My commitment to peace has led me to serve as a Peace Ambassador for the Iqra Foundation of India and, as President of CIESART Trinidad and Tobago, to lead initiatives that promote art, love, and humanity. I have created a digital platform through which my team and I extend CIESART's mission to thousands of readers and writers in the Caribbean.

How did you first get involved with reading or writing?

My love for reading was inspired by my father, a school principal with a large library, that awakened in me a love of books.

Have you published a book?

After my bout with cancer, I have published 64 books between 2013 and 2025, spanning genres as diverse as memoirs, science fiction, romance, self-help, children's literature, Christian books, thrillers, poetry, and essays.

In your opinion, what are the benefits of reading?

In my opinion, reading offers numerous benefits, including improved literacy, mental stimulation, stress reduction, and expanded knowledge. It also enhances vocabulary, memory, and analytical thinking skills, while also promoting better focus, concentration, and improved writing abilities.

Briefly describe your plans and contributions within CIESART, based on your current role, for the Convergencia newspaper.

Since assuming the Presidency of CIESART Trinidad and Tobago, we have undertaken the following projects:

1.    Published an International Anthology of Poems – Creating a Better World

2.    Published an International Anthology – Peace Begins with Us.

3.    Published three International Magazines to promote CIESART’s initiatives.

4.    Held a National Book and Arts Fair in Trinidad and Tobago to promote Literacy.

5.    Donated books to schools, churches, libraries, and schools.

On May 10th, 2025, we fed the residents of the J. C. McDonald Home for the Aged in San Fernando, Trinidad.

A team comprising the President – Brenda Mohammed, Vice-President – Florabelle Lutchman, Director- Fiona Gobin, as well as members of the Susamachar Presbyterian Church -  Rashiff Mohammed, Adrian Mohammed, and Chitra Badal-Mohammed, took boxes of delicious lunches for the twenty senior residents and six staff members.

It was a heart-rending and touching experience to listen to the plight of each one that caused them to spend their senior years in the home.

Florabelle Lutchman said a prayer for the well-being of the residents before lunch, and we took pleasure in serving them their meals.

We were invited to the Chairman’s quarters for a brief discussion of how the home was born.

Founded in 1931, the J.C. Mac Donald Home for the Aged is situated in the heart of San Fernando at Lower Independence Avenue.

Dr. Allan Mackenzie, former Principal of the Naparima Boys College in San Fernando, and now Chairman of the Home, was always a supporter of this initiative.

He recalled the days when they would gather homeless people from the street and take them to the location, where there was a humble dwelling, and provide them with food and lodging.

Over the years, it evolved into a retirement home, with a minimal payment from the residents’ old age pension.

From all appearances, the home seems comfortable, and the residents are happy.

They were very pleased with our visit, and we left there satisfied that we had warmed their hearts.

For personal and security reasons, we were not allowed to take photos with the residents.


2. Each year, we support the Animals Alive Sanctuary in Oropouche, Trinidad, with cash donations, dog food, and treats. In 2025, we attended a musical recital held by the Sanctuary at the San Fernando Community Centre to raise funds.

We do not ask for donations, and use our personal funds for our charitable endeavours. 

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