Guests listen keenly to Asha as she reads her book, 'Mulina, The Little Lioness'. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Book launches are not strange events these days, but when the author is a nine-year-old, now that's something!

Asha Boxill, daughter of Prof Ian Boxill and wife Rachel, launched her first book Mulina, The Little Lioness, on Saturday at their College Common home in Mona. The book focuses on the adventurous lion cub who, like all young ones, gets into some scrapes, and how she gets out of them, with the help of her friends, is the gist of the story.

Professor Boxill noted that Asha, a grade-five student at Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory School, had always loved writing, and when she came up with the idea, it was Bajan Elombe Mottley who thought the family should publish it. He said he hoped the book was the start of something huge and that little Asha would inspire other children to go for their dreams.

Apart from writing, Asha loves to play chess, swim and loves nature, hence using animals in her story. So, what else can we expect from Mulina? Plans are to launch the book in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados (where Professor Boxill is from) and maybe even the wider Caribbean and some parts of the United States. It's already on sale at Sangster's. "You can look out for some Mulina toys," says mom.

Guests out included Prof Waibinte Wariboko, Dr Brian Meeks and wife Patsy Lewis, Jean and Hubie Chin, Michael and Winnie Mair, Blossom and Salema Crawford, Celia Webster, Fay Alexander, Dr Curdella Forbes and Heather Kong.

Asha Boxill (right) signs copies of her book for Salema Crawford (left) and grandmother Winnie Mair.

Proud mom Rachel Boxill gets Asha ready to read excerpts of her book.