As you know, I have gone back to school.  Currently, I am a first year student in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program at the University of Guelph.  Join me on March 10 at 7pm EST and my kidlit colleagues authors SK Ali (York) and Karen Crossing (VCFA), hosted by Glen Huser (UBC) for the CANSCAIP Monthly Meeting.

Wed Mar 10

 

7:00 EST

 

Zoom
Meeting Start Times Across Canada
 BC 4:00 | AB 5:00 | SK 6:00 | MB 6:00| ON 7:00 | QB 7:00
NS 8:00 | NB 8:00 | PE 8:00 | NL 8:30



CANSCAIP Members and Friends across Canada are invited to register for our membership meeting on Wednesday March 10. Our monthly meetings are via Zoom on the second Wednesday of each month. Registration is free, and the Zoom link will be in the email confirming your registration. Guests are welcome, and can contact office@canscaip.org to request the Zoom link. REGISTER  
THIS MONTH'S MEETING TOPIC: Have you considered a degree in creative writing? What degrees are out there? What is the workload? What can I gain? And – was it worth the money? Our panelists are S.K. Ali, Nadia Hohn and Karen Krossing, and moderator Glen Huser. All of them have faculty and student experience and will shed light on programs and schools.
MEETING FORMAT: 

• Meetings start with announcements by Members and Friends, followed by the meeting speakers, with breakout rooms at the end.
• During the meeting, attendees can use Chat to type questions and comments, which will be read aloud by the meeting coordinator. 
• Attendees are encouraged to linger after the meeting for breakout rooms where we can talk to each other in smaller groups.

Announcements by Members & Friends
Celebrating a new book? Having an event? Teaching a course? Other news? Announce it at the meeting! If you're making an announcement, please send office@canscaip.org the following info:

• Your name
• Book title, genre, publisher, publication date
• Summary of your book, event, course, award, or other news 
• Email subject line: "Meeting Announcement by [your name]" 

NOTE: Please keep announcements to about two minutes. 
Meeting Topic & Speakers
Have you considered a degree in creative writing? What degrees are out there? What is the workload? What can I gain? And – was it worth the money? Our panelists and moderator all have faculty and student experience and will shed light on programs and schools.

 
S. K. Ali is the author of Saints and Misfits, a finalist for the American Library Association's Morris Award, winner of the APALA Honor and Middle East Book Honor Award, and Love from A to Z, a Today Show's "Read with Jenna'' Book Club selection. Both novels were named best YA books of the year by various media including Entertainment Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. She’s also the co-editor of the critically acclaimed middle-grade anthology Once Upon an Eid and co-author of the NYT bestselling picture book, The Proudest Blue.

 
Nadia L. Hohn is the award-winning author of children's books including A Likkle Miss Lou (Owlkids) and the Malaika series (Groundwood Books); Malaika's Surprise (Groundwood Books) was released in March 2021. Nadia is currently a student in the MFA Creative Writing program at the University of Guelph. She teaches elementary school, as well as courses in writing for children at University of Toronto School for Continuing Studies, Centennial College, and University of Guelph Open University. She lives in Toronto where she is working on novels and other projects.

 
Karen Krossing writes for kids and teens, including the novels Punch Like a Girl, Bog, and Cut the Lights. She graduated with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2020. Her debut picture book Sour Cakes, illustrated by Anna Kwan, will be published by Owlkids Books in October. She has two nonfiction picture books forthcoming with Owlkids and Groundwood Books, and she conducts workshops to empower emerging writers. 

 
Glen Huser has been a sessional lecturer in children’s literature and creative writing at UBC. His first work Grace Lake was shortlisted for the 1992 W.H. Smith-Books in Canada First Novel Award. His books for young adults include the Governor Generals’ Award-winner Stitches, GG finalist Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen, and Firebird released in 2020. His short stories have appeared in literary magazines. Glen lives in Vancouver where he continues to write as well as pursue interests in art and film studies.

Freelance Articles
I am thankful for the opportunities to write in recent publications:

• “I Now Write Our Stories, But Who Else?” in the Winter 2021 Canadian Children’s Booknews magazine

 

• “Going Up on the Rough Side of Black Canadian Kidlit” in the Winter 2021 Write! Magazine (The Writers’ Union of Canada)

 

• Upcoming article… University of Waterloo magazine

Virtual Presentations
I am pleased to announce that I am booking 2021 virtual presentations.  It has been a busy last two months.  My presentations have included:

• Public libraries (including Toronto, Ajax, Milton, North Vancouver)
• Schools (including Toronto, Niagara, and Peel District, Alberta)
• Hospital for Sick Kids

  I present on a variety of platforms. Please contact me if you would like a presentation package including details and pricing.
​
New book contract
In February 2021, I signed my eighth book contract.  I am excited about my new project which is an anthology of sorts. Stay tuned!
Upcoming in Spring 2021 Nadia’s Notables Newsletter…

• Upcoming books
• Agent update
• MFA first year highlights​