Arts & Leisure

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Two years ago, Sandra Daley got a phone call from an ex-lover who abruptly asked her if 'that thing' was still his. It's a call she says many women can identify with, and one that inspired her to write the book, Whose Vagina Is It, Really? which was released in June.

"Men leave (a relationship) and still think they have some form of control over a woman, especially that part of their body," Daley told The Sunday Gleaner last week from her home in Toronto, Canada.

The Trelawny-born Daley was in Kingston recently to pitch her book, which has been independently released in Toronto and New York City where she has a following through her 'Real Talk with Sandy' column, that appears in the weekly Street Hype newspaper.

"They know that I have spoken about women's issues for a long time so they know where I stand," she said.

not a man-hater's guide

Daley is quick to state that Whose Vagina is not a man-hater's guide. Though it examines intricacies of relationships, it does offer 'safety first' tips to women such as 'Don't date married men', 'If he hits you, leave' and 'Know their intentions before starting a relationship'.

The 41-year-old Daley says she is experienced enough to write on sensitive female issues. A divorcee, she describes herself as a single mother raising two grown sons, who was once in a physically abusive relationship.

Whose Vagina is Daley's first book. The self-produced, 130-page easy-read took 18 months to complete and has a first print run of 500 copies.

She is confident the book's message will not be lost in its sensational title.

"It won't take the mature reader long to get what I'm feeling as a woman," she said.

Daley grew up in east Kingston and attended Wolmer's Girls School, then immigrated to Canada at age 15. She has worked as a journalist and actress, but says Whose Vagina is her most satisfying accomplishment to date.

The book is available locally at Sangster's bookstores.