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2010-2019 Design of a Decade: My Writerly Life, part 1

1/11/2020

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.

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2019 Highlight Reel of My Writerly Life

1/5/2020

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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.

January 2019
I launched my book Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter Book Launch at A Different Booklist Bookstore in Toronto, ON. The book was published on December 31 by Harper Collins Children’s Books. I continued to teach Grade 7 and 8 Core French and Grades 1-4 Music until June 2019.

February 2019
I delivered 20+ school presentations, booksignings, and storytimes at bookstores and libraries in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area, and New York City.

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

April 2019
I attended the Kweli: Color of Children’s Literature Conference in New York, NY in April 2020. I attended a middle grade novel writing workshop with Renee Watson.

I proposed and moderated the Future of Diversity in #KidCanLit, a panel about diversity in Canadian children’s literature as part of the Canadian Society for Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP) Annual General Meeting at A Different Booklist (ADB) Bookstore in Toronto.

I presented at the Moncton Public library and local area schools as part of the Fry Festival in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

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.

June 2019
I participated in the Annual Guelph District Multicultural Festival in Guelph as well as a booksigning in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

I filmed a Behind the Book video with Owlkids to promote my new title A Likkle Miss Lou. The video can be viewed on youtube.

Go Raptors!!! Congratulations to the NBA Team that brought the championship to Toronto, my hometown! (Yes, I’m an insta-fan!)

I embarked on a four-day 4000+ kilometre cross-country trip on the Canadian train which departed from Toronto to Vancouver. The trip was exciting, the food delicious, and there were stops along the way. Beautiful scenes of the Canadian prairies, Rocky Mountains, and countryside, bears and moose, lakes, and valleys were evident.

July 2019
I played “tourist” and visited Whistler, BC (Canada) and Seattle, WA (USA). During the month of July, I was Writer in Residence in Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. During this time, I delivered a storytime, spoken word, and peacock headpiece-making workshop at Spare Time Fun Centre. In the Greater Victoria public libraries, I delivered a storytime and writing workshops in Victoria, BC. I facilitated a panel on diversity in children’s literature at the Historic Joy Kogawa House. I also participated in writing critique groups. Sadly, I was in a car accident. (It could have been a lot worse. I was supposed to have rented a smaller car but the rental office gave me the SUV to rent as a courtesy because I had a long wait.)

August 2019
During my residency in Vancouver, I connected and attended several Jamaican and Caribbean community events to sell and sign books. I was a guest lecturer for a graduate studies class in Writing, Publishing, and Children’s Book Trade at the University of British Columbia (UBC). On August 15, my book A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice was officially released. That day, I presented a storytime at the Marpole library and held a book talk/meet n greet/goodbye party at the Joy Kogawa House. I edited one young adult novel manuscript. The Toronto Star did a large feature story about Louise Bennett and A Likkle Miss Lou and even sent photographer to take pictures of me that were used in the article. I celebrated my birthday in Chicago and Cleveland in the United States.

September 2019
I took a leave of absence from teaching until December 2019. I used this time to promote my books, present in schools, and focus on my self-care.

From September 5-12, I travelled to Jamaica as part of a fifty-member group delegation from the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) for the sole purpose to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this cultural icon and celebrating the unveiling of Miss Lou Square in Gordon Town, the hometown of the late Jamaican poet. I had the opportunity to meet the Jamaican first-lady/Minister of Parliament (MP), Juliet Holness. I also presented A Likkle Miss Lou to Priory and Muirhouse Primary Basic schools in St. Ann, Jamaica. The first school was that of a former student and the latter school was that my mother and relatives attended as children.

On September 14, I officially launched A Likkle Miss Lou at A Different Booklist bookstore in Toronto. The event celebrated the seven-year journey to bringing this book to life. The Heritage Singers, a 40+ year old Caribbean choir with which I had sung, beautiful graced us with beautiful folksongs featured in the book.

I took part in an amazing lengthy CBC interview on Sunday Edition with Michael Enright to discuss A Likkle Miss Lou and the work of Louise Bennett Coverley. This was an amazing emotional experience as excerpts from Enright’s interview with Louise Bennett Coverley (four years before her death) were interspersed throughout the interview.

I also presented A Likkle Miss Lou at the Telling Tales festival in Hamilton, Ontario, the Toronto Reference Library, and a school and bookstores in New York City.

At the end of the month, the first ever FOLD Kids festival took place in Brampton, Ontario. It was a pleasure to host the Storytelling Showcase and supporting this event after months of planning.

October 2019
I took part in book signings throughout the Greater Toronto area. I attended the Storytelling Through Drawing workshop for three-days at the Highlights Foundation in Pennsylvania. I also attended the annual Canadian Society for Children’s Authors, Illustrators, & Performers (CANSCAIP) Packaging Your Imagination (PYI) Conference in Toronto, Ontario. I was a mentor for the Black Indigenous People of Colour (BIPOC) Writers Connect conference in Toronto. I had the opportunity to work with three amazingly talented pre-published writers. I also attended the 2nd Annual CanKidLit Gala which donated to the TD Children’s Book Week 2019.

November 2019
I had the pleasure of hosting author Tayari Jones in Conversation as part of the Toronto International Festival of Authors (IFOA) at the Harbourfront Centre. I participated in a draft reading from my young adult novel work in progress. I delivered school presentations in Toronto and New York City. This was the first time that I presented to schools within the public board in which I teach.

I saw the film Harriet which took 20+ years to be made. It is the first feature length film with theatrical release about Harriet Tubman. When I was offered the opportunity to write a book about this hero, I jumped at the chance. I knew that the film was also coming down the pipeline too ;-). One of the historians who was a consultant for my book Harriet Tubman, Freedom Fighter also was consulted for the film.

I had the pleasure of going to Baltimore to take part in the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention. There, I completed book signings, moderated a panel on Black Girl Literacies, and hosted a table at the Children’s Book Award Luncheon. I had the pleasure of presenting A Likkle Miss Lou to Grade One students at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. I also met some of my #kidlit superheroes and organized a gathering of Canadian authors who were present.

I also had the opportunity to present at Catholic and public schools in Toronto. This was especially significant for me since it was the first time that I got to do author visits within the school board I work.

December 2019
This was my busiest month regarding school visits. I had many memorable experiences. I also attended a few holiday celebrations within the Canadian children’s literature community and sold and signed books at local events. I took part in recording of promotional videos for an upcoming campaign called #IReadCanadian Day which will take place on February 19. I decided to also get prepared for my return to the classroom in January 2020. I am quite excited about what I hope to experience in the upcoming new year and decade. For the holiday season, I stayed local in Toronto and celebrated Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Day. It has been a blessed and adventurous 2019. Stay tuned for my Winter 2020 newsletter and my writing goals blogpost!

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2010-2019 Design of a Decade: My Writerly Life, part 1

2019 Highlight Reel of My Writerly Life

Nadia L. Hohn

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