#KidLit4BlackLivesCanada: A Rally to Support Black Lives in solidarity with #KidLit4BlackLives and #Juneteenth was a success with over 2000+ viewers (in spite of having gone over 45 minutes and Zoom having made the mistake of capping at 100 viewers even though it was extended ahead of time.) One thing is certain: we love and care for our children and youth.  Many courageous conversations were had and will continue after this event.  To my presenters: Thank you for getting to the tough stuff, being so real, and vulnerable.  Thank you for your creativity— poetry, storytelling, music, art.  I suppose that it was ambitious to get this all in within time constraints (the event went over by 45 minutes). The kids’ section was fun, brave, and creative.  The teen section was the kinds of things I wish I heard as a teen, gritty, and genuine.  The adult section really encouraged them to be informed and to act.  On our panel consisted of 100+ books published, 22 presenters, 17 authors of which 9 were self-published, 6 Black female and 5 Black male authors, 5 allies, 3 time zones, 3 Canadian provinces, 2 countries, Goals reached: Educate, empower, heal, call to action. What else was accomplished? So much more.  I wish to thank all of our participants.  To watch the full length event, visit A Different Booklist Cultural Centre’s Facebook Page.  An edited version with resources list will be available on youtube soon. 

​Meet the presenters here!

Special thanks!

Join us!!!!

    Let’s face it.  It’s been a challenging season.  Staying at home more has brought a lot of gifts but for many of us are dealing with new work arrangements, managing children, supporting sick family members, recovering, loss of employment or income, or grieving.  My original thought at the start of the pandemic was that I could blog and post weekly but I realize that was a lot to demand myself.  I have been doing a lot of journaling, working (although it feels much slower), spiritual life, and goal setting.  I will do my best to share what I have been learning along the way.  The optimist in me believes that there is good that can come from these challenges.  

    A “piece of positive news”... I am going back to school. I decided to fulfill a dream and pursue my passion. Once upon a time, I applied to an Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in #CreativeWriting program at UBC in 2011 and Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) in 2014. I did not get into either. I let go of the dream. I found many other ways to “get into” writing through courses, workshops, conferences, critique groups, mentorships, and on-one-on feedback sessions. I now have 6 books published and a 7th on the way, plus 1 poem in an anthology, which I have been able to do without an agent. I have a Master of Education (MEd) degree (2015), jury writing awards, review books, and present all over, including teaching an upcoming course in writing for children at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. You may be asking, why an MFA now?  I have blogged a lot about how to have an “MFA experience” without going into loads of debt (read about that here). However, I realized I still held a flame for pursuing one. Part of applying was for me to know that I could get an offer of admission. Secondly, many of my favourite authors completed MFAs and I wanted to learn how they were able to write such great books. I am a multi-genre writer who wants to develop further in my other genres, especially non-fiction, fiction, and drama. With this program, I am amazed at the writing of the award-winning faculty like Carrianne Leung and Dionne Brand and graduates like Canisia Lubrin, Ayelet Tsabari, #SimoneDalton, #JaelRichardson, #RichardScrimger, and Wendy Motion Brathwaite  that the MFA program of interest boasted. The MFA in #CreativeWriting Canada as a degree is still fairly new, only 5 institutes offer it in this country. The University of Guelph-Humber program offered a lot of advantages— Toronto’s only MFA in #CreativeWriting program, it’s super close (#Rexdale represent!), it’s tiny (less than 15 students, so the faculty to student ratio is very low), and there are other benefits too. Admittedly, I don’t know what I’m getting into as I’m not sure what it will be like in this #pandemic/#physicaldistancing climate. I will need to juggle studying with other responsibilities.  In spite of all of this, I am super excited. I look forward to applying time to my many works in progress— plays, novels, books in my head and being with a group of such talented and focussed people.  Thank you so much to all Paul Coccia, Danielle Daniel, Harold Underdown, Ann-Marie Metten, Richard Scrimger, Melanie Fishbane, Shauntay Grant, Jael Richardson, and Karen Krossing who were part of my decision-making process. #writerlylife #writeordiechick #writerwithadayjob  The University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA #maturestudent #2nddegree

    How are you doing?  How are you coping?  The Novel COVID-19/ Corona Virus Pandemic has brought up a lot of different feelings for people from panic to concern, anxiety to uncertainty.  For many of us, it has brought up the feeling of “loss of control”.   We pore over news feeds and stock up on essentials at the stores. It has resulted in generosity and greater concerns for vulnerable members of society.  Never have we seen such a pandemic in my generation or in this century.  This time is causing me to think a lot about what we can do help people in difficult situations such as domestic abuse in which a “lockdown/social isolation” can have dire consequences, and holding each other up.  As a teacher who currently does not have my own children, I understand that many parents have to keep their young ones at home and in social isolation.  Museums, movie theatres, shows, and even places of worship have closed down or reduced their hours and capacities.  Literary and other conferences are being cancelled left right and centre or moved to virtual platforms.  Authors, including myself on March 24, are presenting and doing readings online.  

     I have probably spent way too much time online, reading Facebook posts, watching the numbers on the news, trying touch base with loved ones, and finding out what exactly is gong on?  It is possibly way too soon to know.

     In the meantime, I am using this time for self care and check in on loved ones.  Sure, it may feel like a luxury.

       Since this week is technically my March Break from my teaching career, I have been using this time for writing projects.  Below is my schedule.  PLEASE NOTE: I have not followed this schedule exactly as I’ve been flexible with the times, here and there.  If I get to most of the things on this list, major success especially since some days it’s more about reading COVID updates on social media, meeting deadlines, and checking in with loved ones.  Perhaps, you’ll find it helpful.  

      You will notice that my faith is an important part of my day.  I am a practicing Christian and I’ve begun writing prayers this week (as in first time ever).  I wrote my first ever prayer for healthcare workers.  Much of my family members work in the US and Jamaican 🇯🇲 healthcare systems so in addition to my Canadian home, I am following the novel COVID-19 pandemics there as well.  If you would like a copy, please contact me here.
​        
      On a different note, please join me on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 11am EST for FOLD Kids Academy webinar.  Click here for details.  Check www.nadialhohn.com/events or my social media for updates on any more online visits.

        Staying healthy is also essential!  I am thinking of ways to serve my community more in the next few weeks.  All of this will also be dependent on what this social distancing will look like in my career as a teacher.
        
        Check on your loved ones!  Take good care! 

     This blogpost is about the decade that changed my writing career.  The 2010s was a huge decade for me— both professionally and personally.  At the start of the decade, I was fresh and fly with my beautiful dredlocks a flow.  These photos were taken during a significant week in 2010– professionally (finished teaching my first year at the first ever publicly-funded Africentric school in Canada, I was part of the inaugural staff), personally (I just got engaged), and physically (my doctor discovered a lump in my neck).  Below, you will find the highlights of my 2010s decade which focuses on my writerly life and some of my personal life.  (I have not included much about my teaching career other than what is connected to my writing.). I also have not included all of the things I got rejected from because then this post may get dull.

So here goes...

2010-2019 DESIGN OF A DECADE: MY WRITER LIFE!

2010

• I took my first writing course (Writing for Children 1 at George Brown College Continuing Education then took part 2)
• I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer 
• I got engaged
• I completed my first year teaching Grade 1 at the Africentric Alternative School
• moved

2011

• I had my total thyroidectomy (thyroid gland removal), radiation, and hormone therapy adjustments
• I started sharing about my cancer and transition to veganism is journey on a blog called Blue Butterlfy.  Check it out here.  
• I travelled to Newfoundland to take part in a Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) Survivor retreat
• I returned to teaching part-time
• I applied to MFA Creative Writing program at UBC (I did not get in)
• I meet publisher Sheila Barry (then at Kids Can Press) at panel about How to Get Published in Children’s Books at A Different Booklist bookstore
• start attending CANSCAIP meetings
• teaching kindergarten at Africentric then leave to focus on health
• Became a vegan, then switched to vegetarian (added back in cheese, desserts I like) by the next year

2012

• I took Writing Non-Fiction for Children 1 at George Brown College
• I got married in Jamaica
• thyroid cancer follow-up clear
• return to teach full time 
• moved
• I go to my first Packaging Your Imagination (PYI) CANSCAIP Conference
• became volunteer editor of the Thyroid Cancer Canada newsletter

2013

• I cut off my waist-length dreadlocks
• I enter my manuscript Malaika’s Costume to a writing award it loses
• I decide the manuscript was ready to query. I sent it to two publishers— one is a contact through a writer I know and the other is Sheila Barry, then at Groundwood Books
• Dec 2019 (same week) I apply to two PhD programs, I don’t get in, Sheila Barry likes my manuscript and wants to publish it, I get an e-mail asking if I can write books for the Sankofa Black Heritage Collection series.  I say yes.
• I visit VCFA and fall in love with the campus.  I apply to the MFA Writing for Children and Young Adults program but don’t get in.
• car accident, no more car
• started African-Canadian Writers for Children and Young Adults (ACWCYA), later became on an online group renamed Sankofa’s Pen

2014

• I wrote two books— #1 Music and #2 Media.
• I visited Ghana— my first international solo trip— to study Orff music education and connect with my roots.
• Took Orff music level 2
• articles published in the Orff Canada journal and Canadian Children’s Book News magazine
• moved again
• Took courses
• my grandfather (last surviving grandparent) passed away

2015

• visited Bahamas
• #1 Music and #2 Media are published (finally)
• health stuff
• attended writing non-fiction for children and SCBWI NYC conferences in New York City and SCBWI Canada in Montreal, PYI in Toronto
• completed Humber College School of Writers program with author Richard Scrimger
• attended Highlights Foundation in Pennsylvania
• launch of my writing website and blog
• started Brazilian Portuguese class
• research trip to Quebec City from Ontario Arts Council grant
• new car (well technically used new car)
• took part in NaNoWriMo and finished draft of middle grade novel that I worked on through Humber College School of Writers
• won the Isabel Sissons Children’s Book Award through PACE for my manuscript of Malaika’s Costume

2016

• #3 Malaika’s Costume is published
• Book launch and tour to Toronto and Greater Toronto area (GTA), Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Detroit, UK
• attended SCBWI and Kweli conferences both in NYC and VONA Workshop for Writers of Color in Miami, PYI in Toronto, SCBWI Canada in Ottawa
• went to Essence Fest in New Orleans
• moved to teach in Abu Dhabi
• health stuff
• divorce
• returned to Toronto for Word on the Street and Kingston Writersfest
• visit Germany, France, Italy, England
• joined writing community in Abu Dhabi
• more Brazilian Portuguese class
• juror for the TD Children’s Book Award (Norma Fleck Award for Non-Fiction)

2017

• Wrongfully ”let go” from teaching job in Abu Dhabi 
• got new teaching job to finish school year, move to Dubai
• visited Sri Lanka, Egypt, Trinidad, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Barbados, Portugal, Spain, Kuwait
• Accepted teaching job in Vietnam for new school year
• brother passed away suddenly, I decided to stay in Canada
• Groundwood Books publisher Sheila Barry passed away
• joined writing community in Dubai, participate in UAE literary events including the Emirates Air Literary Festival
• Malaika’s Winter Carnival is published and launched
• attended Highlights Foundation workshop in Pennsylvania
• I presented in Trinidad, Philadelphia, and GTA
• I go to Washington DC to accept the Americas award nomination for Malaika’s Costume at the Library of Congress
• took a Writing Science Fiction course at George Brown College
• presented in Toronto public libraries
• looked for and found publisher (Owlkids) for A LIKKLE LABRISH (which became A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice)

2018

• Took Brazilian Portuguese class
• visited Brazil​ to research and study with American teachers
• Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter is published on the last day of 2018
• attended Kweli in NYC and SCBWI in LA, SCBWI Canada in Ottawa
• Book tour to NYC, Boston
• Attended Highlights Foundation workshop in Pennsylvania and present at the Eric Carle Museum in Massachusetts
• presented in Toronto, Kingston, and local public libraries, schools in Ontario and Word on the Street
• received Canada Council grant
• participated on #kidlit and #yalit panel in Ottawa
• facilitated panel 
• ran NaNoWriMo club with students and teachers at the school I teach.  Finish first draft novel manuscript and now editing it.
• do Humber School of Writers again but this time with author Cherie Dimaline
• my Abu Dhabi friend Angela passed away
• juror for the Children’s L

2019

• Join the FOLD Kids team to organize the first ever book fest focused on diverse books for young people in Canada
• On faculty at SCBWI Canada Montreal
• attend PYI in Toronto, KWELI in NYC
• attend Highlights illustration workshop
• I presented at Frye Festival in New Brunswick, Telling Tales in Hamilton (ON), various schools 
• Writer in residence at the Historical Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, BC
• presented in Jamaica (at mom’s school and another school), Toronto, NYC, Baltimore, Vancouver, Victoria
• I was part of 50-person delegation to the unveiling of Miss Lou Square and statue in Jamaica.
• took 4-day train trip across Canada, visited Whistler, Seattle, Chicago, Cleveland
• A LIKKLE MISS LOU featured on the front page of entertainment section of the Toronto Star and on CBC (Weekend Edition)
• I was presenting author for TD Children’s Book Week, toured schools and libraries in southern Alberta.  My tour coordinator, contact, and chauffeur Richard Chase passed away.
• featured author at NCTE in Baltimore, signings, etc.
• A LIKKLE MISS LOU published by Owlkids
• I start presenting in the school board in which I teach
• signed Malaika’s Surprise with Groundwood Books (2021)
• took 4 month leave from full-time teaching in the fall
• organize and host the Diversity in #kidlit panel at the CANSCAIP AGM in Toronto
• offered the opportunity to teach Writing for Children (introduction) course at the University of Toronto School for Continuing Studies in spring 2020.
• record Owlkids Behind the Book for A LIKKLE MISS LOU
• participated in Inktober.  For my participation, check out my Instagram page at @nadialhohn_author
• for more details, check out my 2019 Highlight Reel here

I am so blessed to be alive!  Each day is a chance to live my best life.
​

2019 has been a year filled with many “ups” and “downs”, challenges that promoted me to grow and learn, take on new roles, expand my brand and travel.  In one year, I presented in  5 Canadian provinces and 2 American states, realized dreams (travelling across Canada by train, presenting at schools in Jamaica, and delivering writing workshops), and launched two books— HARRIET TUBMAN, FREEDOM FIGHTER and A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice.  It’s been an incredibly busy year.  So much so that I had not blogged as much as I typically do.  So hopefully you will be caught up soon enough.  Below you will find the 2019 Highlight Reel of my Writerly Life.

March 2019
It’s all a blur.  I think I had a signing or two and a school visit.

May 2019
I attended the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) in Brampton, ON.  Months earlier, I joined the planning team for the first ever FOLD Kids Book Festival to be held in September 2019.

From May 4 to 11, I was one of one 30 presented in participated in TD Canadian Children’s Book Week.  I presented in schools and libraries in Calgary, Lethbridge, Fort MacLeod, Coaldale, and Pincher Creek, Alberta.  My host, chauffeur, and local organizer/contact, Richard Case (pictured right, above), sadly passed away in December 2019.  He was very kind and made me feel very welcome.  May he Rest In Peace.

From May 24 to 26, I was on faculty at the Art of Story Conference organized by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Canada East.  This year’s conference place took place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
to edit.

I have done quite a lot of reading this year.  My goal was to read 200 books in 2019.  As of December 31, 2019, I have read 260 books so far this year.  (Who knows what will happen before midnight?)  I stopped posting all of my book reviews to this blog as it is incredibly time consuming.  However, if you wish to read my book reviews, please "friend me" on Goodreads where my reviews are posted there.  This year, most of my books were written by authors of colour.  Also in 2019, I did not read enough science fiction/fantasy/speculative fiction books to merit creating its own list as I had in 2018.  Instead, I have added an adult fiction, a middle grade, and an adult non-fiction list.  As an author, I dream about finding my book on variety of reading lists, including the ones I have compiled below.  Books that are not listed here, does not mean I don't like them.  I chose books that I love over the moon and back.  I have a soft spot for diverse characters, #ownvoices, and social justice themes.  If an author released two books in 2019, I chose one of the two so no repeats(looking at you SK Ali).  I will share my list on social media outlets and tag most of the creators so they could feel some validation (we all need some) and that another "writer who supports writers".  (Cue in: You are not alone by Michael Jackson.)

My 2018 Top 10 Favourite Canadian Books I Read in 2019:
These books were written by authors who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, authors residing in Canada, or Canadians living overseas.  Regardless, these authors all have a Canadian connection.
​
Winners:
Love from A to Z   by SK Ali
and
Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mathers
​
Runners up:

• Reproduction by Ian Williams
• In the Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen
• Shut Up You’re Pretty by Tea Mutonji
• Fried Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta
• Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell
• Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
• That Time I Loved You by Carrianne Leung
• No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My Top 10 Favourite Young Adult (YA) Books I Read in 2019 (I cheated a bit here)

Winners:  
With the Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo,
Love from A to Z by SK Ali, and
Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mathers
​
Runners Up:

• In the Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen​
• Calling My Name by Liara Tamani
• Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
• Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi
• On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
• Riot by Walter Dean Myeres
• Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert
• The Agony of Bun O’Keefe by Heather Smith​

​My Top 10 Favourite Middle Great (MG) Books I Read in 2019

Winner:  
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
​
Runners up:

• The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
• The New Kid by Jerry Craft
• Sunny by Jason Reynolds
• Bad Babysitters by Caroline Cala
• The Season of Styxx Malone by Kekla Magoon
• Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
• The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boone
• Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen​
• Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott

​My Top 10+ Favourite Picture Books I Read in 2019

Winners (I cheated a little bit, included my own):
Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier​,
A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice by Nadia L. Hohn, and
Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
​
Runners Up:

• The Undefeated  by Kwame Alexander
• The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
• Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
• Khalida and the Most Beautiful Song by Amanda Moeckel
• You are Stardust by Elin Kelsey, illustrated by Soyeon Kim
• Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
• A Place to Land by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
• Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
• I, Promise by Catherine Hernandez, illustrated by Syrus Marcus Ware 
• The Good Egg by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald
• Small World by Ishta Mercurio, illustrated by Jen Corace
• King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

​My Top 10 Favourite Adult Fiction That I Read in 2019

Winner:

• Queenie by Candace Carty-Williams (really, really hard choice as I would tie this with Carrianne Leung, Tea Mutonji, and Ian Williams)

​
Runners Up:

• Reproduction by Ian Williams
• How to Love A Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs
• Aisha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
• The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel
• Fried Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta
• Shut Up! You’re Pretty by Tea Mutonji
• Women Talking by Miriam Toews
• That Time I Loved You by Carrianne Leung​

​My Top 10 Favourite Adult Non-Fiction That I Read in 2019
Winners: 
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell,
Well-Read Black Girl edited by Glory Edim 
Runners Up:

• The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
• Becoming by Michelle Obama
• Hunger by Roxane Gay
• Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
• Real Romance by Aziz Ansari
• The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell by W. Kamau Bell
• Twelve Years A Slave by Solomon Northrup
• How to Be A Bawse by Lilly Singh
• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
• The Wait by Devon Franklin & Meagan Good

​Top 12 Overall Favourite Books I Read in 2019 That Were Published in 2019

• Love from A to Z  by SK Ali 
• Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mathers

• Reproduction by Ian Williams
• Shut Up You’re Pretty by Tea Mutonji
• With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
• Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell
• The New Kid by Jerry Craft
• Queenie by Candace Carty-Williams
• Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo
• The Good Egg by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald
• King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
• Fried Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta

In this issue...

• ​Writer in Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House Wrap-Up in 2019 
• A LIKKLE MISS LOU in the media
• FOLD Kids 1st Festival
• Important Upcoming Tour and Launch Fall 2019 Dates

​Letter from the editor
    It has been a beautiful and productive summer.  I did not travel to any foreign countries but instead went to new places within Canada and the United States— Winnipeg, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Whistler, Seattle, Chicago, Cleveland, Vancouver, and Victoria.  This summer was incredibly busy (see Writer in Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House Wrap-Up in 2019 below) but fun. Being on the West Coast, I was blessed with slow mornings and quick evenings, hot yoga and strolls along the Arbutus Trail.  I marvelled at the variety of trees, flowers, and spiders. I found a church and connected with members of the writing, Jamaican, Caribbean, and #kidlit communities. I also met wonderful BC-based writers and creators like Junie Desil, Janice Lynn Mather, Kathryn Shoemaker, and Eva Campbell.  I even had the opportunity to meet author, poet, activist Joy Kogawa in whose childhood home, I conducted my writing residency. It was also wonderful to meet again with author Sarah Ellis who I spoke with 8 years ago during her writing residency at the Toronto Public Library (TPL).
In the words of the late Miss Lou, “Walk good!”

Nadia

​
​
Writer in Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House Wrap-Up in 2019 
by Nadia L. Hohn
 
    This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to be a writer in residence at the Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  The summer was quite busy and I realized quickly that prioritizing tasks was necessary to realize my personal and professional writing goals. The following is a list of achieveables/achieved tasks this summer.  I was able to accomplish:

• 4 morning workshops for students at Spare Time Day Care Summer Camp in Vancouver for children ages 3 to 12 years old.  The workshops involved readings of my stories, Carnival peacock headpiece making, a neighbourhood parade, poetry writing, and a slam poetry performance on July 15 to 18, 2019
• 3 writing workshops in the Victoria Public Library (VPL) system on July 22 and 23, 2019
  • Malaika’s Carnival Storytime with crafts and parades at Oakridge Public Library
  • Teen Writing Workshop at Emily Carr Library
  • Writing #kidlit and #yalit for adults at Greater Victoria Library
• Hosting 1 panel on Writing Diverse #kidlit and #yalit at the Historic Joy Kogawa House on July 25, 2019
• 1 A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice Book Birthday party at the Historic Joy Kogawa House on August 15, 2019
• 1 presentation at the Jamaican Canadian Cultural Association of British Columbia (JCCABC) 57th Independence Gala in Coquitlam, BC on August 4, 2019
• 1 table display at the JCCABC Jamaica Day Festival in Surrey, BC on August 10, 2019
• 1 presentation at the Reverb: Songs, Poems, Stories at Tenth Church in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC on August 17, 2019
• 1 talk at the Writing, Publishing and the Children’s Book Trade graduate-level class in the Library School at the University of British Columbia (UBC) on August 8, 2019
• 4 hour-long online Weekly Wednesday Write-in Workshop on Instagram LIVE and Facebook LIVE July 31 to August 21, 2019
• 1 A LIKKLE MISS LOU storytime at the Marpole branch of the Vancouver Public Libraries (VPL) on August 15, 2019

    I managed to write a picture book draft and complete edits on one draft of my young adult novel manuscript.
    I would like to believe that it was a productive summer 2019.

A LIKKLE MISS LOU in the media
By Nadia L. Hohn
A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice was officially released on August 13, 2019 in the United States and on August 15, 2019 in Canada weeks shy of what would have been her 100th birthday (September 7, 1919).  In fact, in Jamaica, the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange declared 100 days of Miss Lou commemorations and celebrations.  My new book, published by Owlkids and illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes, is available online (publisher website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo-Chapters) or a bookstore near you (if it isn’t, you can ask for it to be ordered). (However, several stores stocked this book on their shelves weeks before the release date.). All celebrations and upcoming book tours aside, the media response for this book has been positive.  I was excited to have completed an interview with the Toronto Star which became the front page of the entertainment section.  I was impressed that a photographer was sent to capture photos of me while I was in Vancouver.  The Globe & Mail, Open Book, and an upcoming edition of the Quill & Quire magazine are all excited about A LIKKLE MISS LOU in Canada.  In the United States, the reviews so far have also been favourable in Booklist, Kirkus Review, and Publishers weekly.  To check out all of the media articles so far, please visit the link for A Likkle Miss Lou reviews and interviews. Have you bought your copy of a A LIKKLE MISS LOU today?
   

                                                                                      FOLD Kids 1st Festival 2019
I am excited to announce that the first ever Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) Kids festival will be taking place on September 27-29, 2019 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.  As a member of the planning team, I am excited about the upcoming program and the amazing authors who will be part of this line-up. Visit www.thefoldcanada.org/kids for more information.
                                                                                                                                Important A LIKKLE MISS LOU Upcoming Tour and Fall 2019 Dates
My fall 2019 tour dates are filling up fairly quickly and I have other related events which are listed below.  It is quite an exciting time! For updates to this schedule, please check my website at www.nadialhohn.com/events.  To request a presentation or signing near you, please send me an e-mail at nadialhohn@gmail.com.


Spring 2021
Malaika’s Surprise release date
Details to follow

November 24, 2019
Bookstore Presentation
Washington, DC, USA

November 21-24, 2019
2019 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention
Baltimore, MD, USA

November 21, 2019
Enoch Pratt Library Presentation (details to follow)
Baltimore, MD, USA

November 20, 2019
School Book Fair (details to follow)
Manhattan, NY, USA

November 17, 2019
Draft Reading Series (details to follow)
Toronto, ON, Canada

October 30, 2019
Mentor, BIPOC Writers Connect (details to follow)
The Writers' Union of Canada (TWUC)
Toronto, ON, Canada

October 27, 2019
1-3pm 
Chapters Ajax
Ajax, ON

October 6, 2019
12-4pm
Chapters Vega
Mississauga, ON

October 5, 2019
2-4pm
Knowledge Bookstore 
Brampton, ON
 
September 27-30, 2019
FOLD Kids Festival
Brampton, ON

September 22, 2019
A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice Brooklyn Book Launch and Storytime
Greenlight Bookstores
11:30am Prospect Leffert Gardens location
1:30pm Fort Greene location
Brooklyn, NY, USA
 
September 21, 2019
10:30-11:30am
Storytime
Bank Street Bookstore
Manhattan, NY, USA

September 17, 2019
Celebrating Miss Lou: Queen of Jamaican Culture
5:30-8:00pm
Toronto Reference Library (TRL)
Beeton Hall (1st. Floor)

September 15, 2019
1:15pm
Telling Tales Festival
Westfield Heritage Village
Rockton, ON, Canada
Early Settlement Area
​
September 14, 2019
3-5pm
A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice Toronto Book Launch
A Different Booklist Bookstore and Cultural Centre
Toronto, ON

​September 5-12, 2019
Miss Lou 100th Birthday Celebration 
c/o Jamaican Canadian Association 
Jamaica







© Nadia L. Hohn, 2019
Toronto, ON, Canada

     A LIKKLE MISS LOU deh yah! A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice is here! It gives me great pleasure to share that the project I had been working on for the past seven years, my sixth picture book, was released into the world on August 15, 2019, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes, published by Owlkids.  In the words of the late author Toni Morrison, "[this is the] book I wanted to see in the world".  Most of all, the book has been completed in time for the 100th anniversary celebration of Miss Lou's birthday. And we're not the only ones talking about it.  Check out this link to see what the reviewers from such publications as Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, The Toronto Star, OpenBook, Booklist, and The Globe & Mail are saying about A LIKKLE MISS LOU.  On August 15, there was a lovely A LIKKLE MISS LOU birthday celebration held at the Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, BC, Canada where I was the writer in residence in summer 2019.  This was the perfect warm-up to the upcoming A LIKKLE MISS LOU Book Launch to be held on Saturday, September 14, 2019 3-5pm at A Different Booklist bookstore in Toronto, ON, Canada and tour (see below and check for updates here).  I hope you will join us in celebration and purchase your copy.  A LIKKLE MISS LOU soon come to a city near you!  Walk good!