Trinidadian-American, Kelvin Christopher James holds a B.Sc. from the University of West Indies (St. Augustine campus), and a doctorate in Science Education from Columbia University Teachers College. He lives in Harlem, New York City. Born in Port of Spain, grown up in Arima, Kelvin left formal schooling at an early age. He worked as sole assistant to Dr. Gaston. P. Blair, a researcher of Red Ring disease (which still destroys coconut trees just at bearing age). These two were first to explain basic data such as life cycles and transmission mode of the nematodes (Aphelencus cocophilus) which cause the disease.
Beyond this life of apprentice research scientist, Kelvin enjoyed an adventurous youth, hitched his way around the Caribbean archipelago, found time to be a National athlete. Eventually visiting New York, he decided to stay and mingle. While about dis and dat, he meandered into the craft of fiction, and eventually abandoned his supervisory job at Harlem Hospital to pursue the Writer's life.
In 1989, he was awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in fiction. In 1996, was granted a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in Literature. From 1992, through 1996, and managed through the Board of Education, each year he donated approximately $3000 to New York City high-schoolers for his eponymous annual writing awards.
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