About Scarlet Ibis James

Scarlet Ibis James is an award-winning author of Caribbean-centered literary fiction. Rooted in Trinidad and Tobago and shaped by her life in New York City, her work explores love, inheritance, and self-discovery through emotionally honest stories that bridge island and urban worlds. Known for her unflinching authenticity and deeply human characters, James writes fiction that invites readers to sit with complexity, cultural memory, and the courage it takes to choose differently.

I am a joy-filled woman with grown children, happily married, who loves traveling, dining at fabulous restaurants, and connecting with friends and strangers alike. A natural storyteller who identifies as she/her, I must write — and am always the charmingly loquacious suspect.

She’s an Award-Winning Author

For her book, Scarlet Birthright:

Shortlisted, 2025 Discovery Editors’ Choice Award
Winner of 2025 NYC Big Book Award in the Multicultural Fiction category
First Place in multiple categories of the 2025 International Firebird Book Awards: African American Fiction + Literary Fiction + Multicultural Fiction + Best for Provoking Philosophical Discussions
Winner of 2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
Three (3) Five-Star Reviews from Readers' Favorite Book Awards

For her book, Scarlet Yearnings:

Winner of 2025 International Impact Book Award: Short Story Collection
Finalist for the 2025 American Legacy Book Awards in the Multicultural Fiction category
Three (3) Five-Star Reviews from Readers' Favorite Book Awards