Another Caribana (Toronto Caribbean Carnival) has come and gone.  After having been interviewed twice by CBC Radio (once on the Candy Palmater Show and the other on Metro Morning) once by the Metro newspaper last week, what did I really think about Caribana 2016?  As a teacher, I decided that my last post for July 2016 would be a report card mark for this year's event.  This was my fourth time playing Mas' in Caribana.  I did so in 2009, 2014, 2015, and again in 2016.  2015 would have received a D- in my opinion and almost has me not playing mas' again this year.  I changed my mind after the deadline as the group, We Run Tings (who I also played Mas' with in 2014 and 2015), were very organized, got a great deal on the cost of our costumes, and focussed their discussions on health, nutrition, and body image.  (Nicole and Nichelle handled along of the ordering from our mas' camp Fantazia so I really didn't need to deal with too much.)  Having a younger sister who had been treated for an eating disorder means that I am very aware of body image and how my own body image attitude can have an impact on her.  I wanted to play Mas' with this in mind, despite my own reservations about my body size.  I wanted to fully embrace my curves and inches and enjoy the event which I did.  So when I saw the costume that We Run Tings selected with its orange and blue feathers (two of my favourite colours), I was "all in".  I wore my Great Canyon costume in the Fantasia section with pride. My grade and assessment is based on being a masquerader this year.  Click here for a fun Google Caribana animation. My costume fit nicely but I overlooked the necklace that I left behind in my bag and did not have the leg pieces tied on properly.  Ugh!  

Caribana 2016 Score: C
As much I love Caribana and the Caribbean festival, Caribana 2016 was a satisfactory event.  Masqueraders in the parade had the opportunity to participate in costume, dance for judges, and then the parade opened out to a less structured street party for the rest of the route.  There was no gun violence and the turn out was amazing... thousands of people and lots of tourists.  That's what we Torontonians like to see.  However, there is still room for improvement... lots of improvements. 
+
- spectators could see the parade
- this time, the judges were at their tables by the time my Mas' Camp (Fantazia) arrived
- the street party part where the masqueraders and spectators came together was dope (fun, excellent, exciting)
- the weather was nice
- the show went on despite losing a major sponsor- Scotiabank
- no gun violence (although there were some fights which thankfully only saw one which was quickly dissipated)
- kids were there as spectators (and I saw one in this parade, pictured here although the Kiddies Carnival took place weeks ago) and they seemed to be enjoying themselves
- smiley happy dancing people
- the parade route was smooth and did not require going into a confusing circle which happened last year
- picture perfect opportunities
- tourists enjoying themselves and saying that the parade is still better than the Caribbean Carnival in XXXXX
- music was great as always
- bottles of water were plentiful
- a celebration of Caribbean culture and heritage that has persisted for almost fifty years now
- drew an amazing turnout-- thousands of spectators in tow
- inspired many "spin-off" festivals that also take place during this weekend like Drake's OVO Fest, Fire Fete, SOS Fete, Iriefest, and Island Soul.

-
- spectators jumping over the high fence in the judging area before my group got judged
- NO repeat NO VEGAN OPTIONS (AGAIN! except CORN which is not enough to sustain)
- long periods of standing and waiting once on the parade route (nothing left to do, let's take a selfie)
- seeing signs that say JUDGING STARTS HERE and (nuttin' no go so) the Judge table being about hundred metres away
- a looooooooooong fence so masqueraders who needed to leave early or for emergencies meaning we had to walk the entire route to exit and there was no warning or indication of that (not safe)
- lack of signage to know where to go as the spectators were asking us masqueraders questions and we didn't know the answers (like last year)
- no parade marshalls (volunteers? greeters?) with Caribana t-shirts to answer questions, direct folks, keep things moving, prevent spectators from jumping in the judging and pre-judging area
- police and security presence was not overwhelming, often they were in the background but still there
- the fences! oh, the fences... it felt prison and cages... we got to do away with them or at least keep them only for the judging area
- right after the judging there is the big long gap with no signs and lots of people walking around, we couldn't move ahead because the truck was still behind us, there were lots of spectators, and no signage or officials to ask questions... this would be a perfect job for Caribana VOLUNTEERS and a VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
- would love to see more of the traditional mas' profiled somewhere, with the jumbies and the jab molassies (this year, I was kissed by a jumbie BELOW)

On Friday, July 29, 2016, I had the pleasure of being in the CBC Radio studios once again but this time for a nationally-broadcasted show.  (The day before, I was contacted by the CBC Candy Palmater show's associate producer and completed a pre-interview.  Being that it would air on Friday, the day before Caribana, also known as Toronto Caribbean Carnival (one of the largest festivals in North America), the timing was perfect for Malaika's Costume-- my Carnival-themed picture book.  Earlier this week, I was interviewed on Metro Morning with Matt Galloway.  I felt different going into both interviews.  With Metro Morning, I felt a little nervous going in as I didn't know what to expect but that feeling ended very quickly.  My interviewer, Candy Palmater, was amazing-- relaxed, well-informed, and witty (as well as quite accomplished as I read up on her the day before). Both interviewers were people of colour.  Matt Galloway has an African-American father and white Canadian mother, according to wikipedia. Candy Palmater is a Native woman with a Mik'maq father and white mother according to this article (as well as being a queer feminist Native comic raised by bikers).

As the associate producer prefaced me, it turned out that Candy Palmater did love the headpiece I brought from my first time playing mas' in Carnival, squealing with glee once she first saw it.  I loved our conversation which was about 13 minutes in length, giving ample time to speak about different aspects of the book and Carnival-culture such as Emancipation Day, pan-Caribbean, and costumes as well as other related topics like route-to-publication, "barrel children", language, diversity in children's books, the connections between Aboriginal pow wows and Caribbean Carnival, and language. I even read an excerpt from Malaika's Costume.

I loved looking at the "ins and outs" of the radio studio.  It's so quiet, controlled and timed but when you listen to the radio or the host Candy Palmater, it all feels effortless and unscripted.  I'm falling in love with this world of quiet rooms, talking into a microphone yet being heard by thousands who I can't see but know are there.  It's quite magical.

I am thrilled to know that this taping was broadcasted nationally-- first "live" in Newfoundland at 1:35pm and throughout the rest of Canada.  I tried to bring in the national aspects of Caribbean Carnivals and festivals throughout Canada including Caribana/Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Cariwest (Edmonton), Carifete (Ottawa), Calgary Carifest, and Carifiesta (Montreal).  (For a  calendar of  Caribbean Carnivals in North America, Caribbean, Brazil, and UK, click here.) It is also fitting that CBC Radio conduct my first radio interviews for Malaika's Costume since historically it has been an important part in forming a national identity in Canada-- a relatively young country with a low population that is very spread out across a large land mass. 

You can listen to my interview with Candy Palmater here.

As for that survival list of what I brought to Caribana, please watch that here.

Tell me what you think of my interview.  Also, do you think my Carnival survival packing list was excessive?  What was your Carnival experience like?

The show also profiled a lot of Canadian music.  My interview ended with a song about Carnival by Kardinal Offishall, a Canadian rapper of Jamaican descent.  Drake recently mentioned Kardi on an episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) here.  I didn't even know about this song nor that Kardi can sing, too.  I can't seem to find the link for the song but if you do, please contact me.

It has been really awesome seeing where Malaika's Costume is taking me.  From close encounters with Oprah (to be told in a future blogpost) to hand delivering copies to director Ava DuVernay and singer/actress/android Janelle Monae, it's been great.  Recently, one of these opportunities was doing my first radio interview for Malaika's Costume on CBC Metro Morning on Tuesday, July 26, 2016.  Metro Morning is a daily show that runs from 5:30-8:30am every weekday on the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) Radio station 99.1 FM (to my non-Canadian friends, the CBC is our national radio and television station, it's kind of a big deal around these parts. Yow! Big tings yout'.).  The show has a popular archive of podcasts on iTunes and the host Matt Galloway is a well-known local celebrity.  I would lie if I told you that I listened to the show or if I knew much about the host.  So, I knew that this woman's got to be prepared.  I was contacted about 1.5 weeks prior for a 30 minute pre-interview.  I was a little nervous the night before my interview, so I decided to listen to Matt's interview podcasts and he sounded like a nice, well-informed, intelligent, and inquisitive guy.  I felt at ease at once.  Not sure if there would be video cameras in the studio, I decided to do my "wash and go" into a "curly do" the morning of the interview which meant I had to be up at 4:45 am.  Being that I was trying a new leave-in conditioner to the mix, I had white clumps in my still-wet-in-some parts hair.  (I prayed that the cameras wouldn't do close-ups.) 

I arrived at the station ten minutes later than expected (to be blamed on traffic, searching for parking, and wet hair) and got sent up the elevator to a huge nearly empty newsroom full of monitors and desks.  I was glad to be led to the "green room" which turned out to be a nice combination of white and red.  There, I sat waiting and taking "selfies", watching CBC news, and then before I knew it, it was showtime.  I felt immediately at ease in the large light grey room with microphones, the television screen set on (gasp), rival station, CP24 filled with its trademark marquis-style news information (weather, traffic, goings-on, ads, NSE and NASDAQ), and Matt Galloway whispering the final words of an interview with caller Dr. Nadia (double-take, yes, we have a weird way of finding each other) in London, Ontario on the line.  Matt's style of interviewing is more like a conversation I would have with a colleague-- no audience, no camera, just microphones, and a couple of screens which put me at ease.  Then he asked me to read from Malaika's Costume which took me a little off guard since I did not expect it, but that was short-lived.  Since March, I have been reading Malaika's Costume all over the place (Miami, Atlanta, NYC, Montreal, Kitchener, Boston, Toronto, Brampton) and wasn't nervous back then.  Yet, knowing that I was about to read Malaika's Costume live to thousands of listeners in one take had me feeling just a little tense.  I tried to pretend that I was in the room by myself, reading it with a fresh enthusiasm, intonation, and attentiveness.  Before you know it, the whole interview was over.  Matt ended the show with a new Carnival soca tune which was perfect since Toronto's Caribbean Carnival, Caribana, is this Saturday, July 30, 2016 when I am about to play one piece of Mas'.  Below, I have included some photos and a link to my interview in case you missed the broadcast. 

Listen to the CBC Metro Morning Interview Broadcast below in this shareable link in google docs:
drive.google.com/file/d/0B2sCgRPpK47WdEtnR3pLZDhOUjB1SUZUTDRUci0wZUoxM25F/view?usp=sharing 
Or this MP3 which I'm still trying to upload (if you know, please send me an e-mail as I have tried to load it about 20 times and it says there is an error of some sort):

June/July/August 2016 Nadia's Notables Newsletter #4 (volume 1)
Greetings Everyone,
Earlier this week, I had spent a few hours working on this newsletter only to have it disappear as I tried to upload and edit this photo of me with Janelle Monae at this year's Essence Festival.  (Yep, gone! And yes, that is really her just two days before she performed at the White House. I hope she enjoyed reading Malaika's Costume on her private jet.)  NOTE TO SELF: When experimenting on ways to do your newsletter (like trying to do it directly on your blog, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS back it up).  I am a huge fan of her work (seen her perform 3 times) so I could probably leave my newsletter with you just leave you hanging with this photo, the slideshow below, and its enclosed captions.  However, Imma' not do that.  Imma' take a few moments to update you on my very busy last few months.  I also realize that some things can't wait like the fact that I have a big announcement.  Yes, it's true.  Also, I have decide to do these newsletter updates each season so this is the summer edition.  I will try to do more regular updates in between.  Here is a brief recap of what has been going on in my world for the last few months.  I hope you enjoy the slideshow
-- Nadia L. Hohn

6.  The Writers' Summit
In June 2016, Toronto hosted the first ever Canadian Writers' Summit-- a megaconference sponsored by 14 writing organizations across Canada.  Being a proud member of three of these organizations The Writers' Union of Canada (TWUC), Canadian Society for Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP), and Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) (Canada East region), I was looking forward to this combined effort for months, what I had been  referring to as “that big mega conference”.   I had already planned to go when I was also asked to cover this festival from the perspective of a children/young adult author for the next issue of TWUC Magazine (which I did).  Stay tuned for my upcoming article.

7.  VONA Voices of Our Nation
Voices of Our Nation or VONA is a multi-genre annual writing workshop for writers of colo(u)r started in 1999.  Now hosted at the University of Miami, VONA consists of two one-week writing workshops.  In 2014, I had applied and was called off the waitlist but I had to decline because I had already planned to take the Orff Afrique Masterclass in Ghana which took place at the same time.   I definitely did not wish to miss the opportunity again so this year, I applied again and completed my week in travel writing with Faith Adiele and Bani Amor.  It was a great learning experience despite its challenges and I met wonderful writers from all across the United States and a few other places, too.  This was an intensive experience and my only wish was that I had more time to devote to every aspect, especially critiquing and socializing.  I hope to return and hopefully study in the young adult workshop next year.  (Oh yes, there will be a next year.)

8. Award                                                                 Malaika's Costume has won the 2015-2016 The The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario Children's Literature (ETFO) Award-- its first award as a completed picture book. ETFO represents 76, 000 teachers across Ontario which recognizes quality children’s literature in keeping with ideals of social justice and equity.  This is the first award for the finished picture book.  The manuscript for Malaika's Costume won the Helen Isobel Sissons Canadian Children's Story Award in 2014.

9.  Toronto Caribbean Carnival                                Malaika's Costume is a celebration of Carnival.  This is a large event that takes place each year in Toronto during Emancipation Day long weekend.  (Emancipation Day is a celebration which acknowledges the abolishment of slavery in the British Empire, which includes Canada and most of the Caribbean.)  The event kicks off in early July 2016 and ends with a parade on Lakeshore Boulevard, this year, on July 30.  I am participating this year with two events Malaika's Carnival Book Bash at Parkdale Library on July 7 and Malvern Library on July 13, in conjunction with Another Story Bookshop and Toronto Public Libraries.  On Saturday, July 16 at the Junior Carnival/Kiddie Parade, I will be at the Toronto Public Library tent in Neilson Park selling copies of Malaika's Costume, signing books, and doing crafts.

10.  Many More Books
I worked on draft edits for the sequel of Malaika's Costume (working title: Malaika's Smile).  The sequel is scheduled for publication by Groundwood Books in Fall 2017.  I am also happy to announce that there will be a new edition of Malaika's Costume (a French translation, y'all) scheduled for publication in Spring 2017.  C'est un grand plaisir.  En fin, j'aurai un livre de la culture antillaise et du carnaval que je peux utiliser quand j'enseigne le français.

11.  Sankofa's Pen
On July 6, I had the final Sankofa's Pen (African Canadian Writers for Children and Young Adults) meeting.  I thank Michelle Thompson and Angelot Ndongmo for coming to the summer meeting of Sankofa's Pen (African Canadian Writers for Children and Young Adults). It was an intimate discussion with publishing professional Léonicka Valcius. What a gift it was to have real honest feedback about our works-in-progress from someone who truly knows (and is passionate) about the book industry AND looks like us (one of the few who do). Also, thank you to sister Itah Sadu who hosted us at A Different Booklist bookstore and providing valuable insight and feedback. We each represent different parts of the publishing spectrum-- longtime self-published (Angelot), recently traditionally published and teacher/school (me), soon-to-be traditionally published (Michelle), longtime traditionally published and bookselling (Itah), and acquisition/sales in traditional publishing and digital (Leonicka). This conversation will need to continue further and the professional development of our writing craft essential. I founded and ran the Sankofa's Pen group 2 1/2 years to connect with Black children's book and young adult authors in Canada. Although this was the last Sankofa's Pen (African Canadian Writers for Children and Young Adults) face-to-face meeting, I will continue to operate the Facebook page which numbers 109 since my last count.

12.  Writing Tips
Having writers' block?  Feeling stuck?  Switch it up.  Try somethiing new and different like a creative activity such as playing an instrument, drawing a picture, or dancing.  Or switch up your routine.  If you are a daytime person, try writing at night.  If you are a night owl, try writing in the early morning.  Or change your location.  Write in a coffee shop or in your bedroom.  Sometimes what you need to shift your point of view, so you can come back to your work with "fresh eyes".

It has been a very busy last few months.  I have been dealing with some personal challenges in the midst of travelling, hosting, and attending events to promote Malaika's Costume.  One way to keep you updated is my newsletter.  If you are interested, please e-mail me at [email protected] to be included on the mailing list. 

I have enclosed my April/May 2016 Nadia's Notables Newsletter (below) and I am currently on my June/July 2016 Newsletter.

NADIA'S NOTABLES
NEWSLETTER #3
APRIL/MAY 2016

In this issue of Nadia's Notables Newsletter:
1. My Diploma came in the Mail...
2. Malaika's Carnival Book Bash at Albion Library
3. Kweli Conference in New York City
4. Malaika's Brampton Book Bash
5. Koffler Bookmarkers: Breakfast & Books
6. Suddaby School Visit in Kitchener, Ontario
7. SCBWI Art of Story Conference in Ottawa 2016
8. Sankofa's Pen at the FOLD Festival
9. Reviews Galore
10. Where I'll Be Next
11. Writing Tips for Newbies and Oldies

1. My Diploma came in the Mail...
It's official!  I am a graduate of the Humber College School of Writers Correspondence Program in 2015.  I got to work with middle-grade/young-adult author Richard Scrimger on a middle-grade novel that I began in 2009.  Well, at first it was supposed to be a early chapter book, then it became a graphic novel, then evolved from a science-fiction middle grade to a contemporary modern novel.  Marcus... is the story of a twelve-year old Jamaican boy in Canada.  (There's a little more to the story but I like to keep some mystery.)  At this point, I am proud to say that the manuscript is complete but in need of some editing and workshopping which I hope to complete over the next few months.  I am giving myself a deadline.

2. Malaika's Carnival Book Bash at Albion Library
Thank you so much to all who came out to Malaika's Carnival Book Bash on Saturday, April 2, 2015 at Albion Library Youth Events, 1515 Albion Road in Toronto (Rexdale), my childhood library branch. It was so nice to see familiar folks and I met some new ones.  I presented our book ‪Malaika's Costume‬ in the story pit to an audience of parents, children, and fellow writers. The attendees  danced to interactive soca songs, sang "Malaika" in Swahili, made Carnival headpieces with illustrator Irene, coloured Carnival pictures, and watched and listened to the young performers of the Ubuntu Drum and Dance Theatre. Here are some photos highlighting the day.

3. Kweli Conference in New York City
On Saturday, April 9, 2016, the Kweli Journal hosted its 2nd Annual Children's Literature Conference in New York City, NY.  What made this one-day conference special was that it focused exclusively on diversity in children's and young adult books.  I loved the opportunity to see my diverse writing colleagues and to meet new ones from all across the United States. (Attending writing conferences and events in the US is feeling more and more comfortable as I see more and more familiar faces. :-) Now when I go to American events, it's becoming much more like "family" for me. In terms of Canadians present, there were four of us-- author and diversity in kid lit advocate (based in the United States), poet Carol-Ann Hoyte, pre-published writer Noelle Paredes-Plaza. I even got to meet some of my favourite Black women authors, Nnedi Okorafor and Edwidge Danticat. My only complaint of the conference is only that I wish it was longer.  Definitely worth the day trip.
​
4. Malaika's Brampton Book Bash
Malaika's Costume Brampton Carnival Book Bash took place on April 23 at Knowledge Bookstore, one of only three remaining independent Black-owned bookstores in the Greater Toronto-area.  (Owner Sean Liburd and his wife Michele created a gorgeous video trailer here.)  The adults and children who came sang and danced.  I told Caribbean stories, taught chants, songs, and Caribbean rhymes.  Kids learned about the history of Carnival, made peacock headpieces, and even participated in the reading of Malaika's Costume.

5. Koffler Bookmarkers: Breakfast & Books
On April 17, I had a fabulous time doing what I love doing which is sharing Caribbean rhymes and songs and reading my story to young children at Koffler Centre of the Arts Artscape Youngplace this morning Bookmarkers: a books + breakfast series for young kids & their parents in Toronto, Ontario. Children and their parents learned "Mosquito", sang a Jamaican folksong called "Wata Come a Me Yeye", soca danced to "Followed the Leader", and heard about the background story behind my new picture "Malaika's Costume". The children were fun, attentive, and inquisitive. For this presentation, it was nice that I had more time to sit down and chat with the children and their parents. I got to show off and play my musical instruments-- an axase and a recorder. Malaika's Costume illustrator Irene Luxbacher and author/illustrator Danielle F. Daniel engaged kids in double crafts-- puppets and Carnival headpieces. How fun is that? Danielle also read from her new picture book, Sometimes I Feel Like A Fox in a funny and engaging way. Plus, there was a delicious array of cookies which disappeared in no time. (Who could ask for anything more?)

6. Suddaby School Visit in Kitchener, Ontario
In April, I had the blessed opportunity to present my picture book, Malaika's Costume, at my first Canadian school (outside of my own) in Kitchener, Ontario.  I presented to all kindergarten classes and to students Grades 1-4.  I don't need to say much about this experience that was loads of fun as I am sure you can see in these photos.

7. SCBWI Art of Story Conference in Ottawa 2016,
 Steam Punk Party, and Authors for Indies at Kaleidoscope Books
What did I get to do over the course of 3 days in Ottawa, Canada's capital city?  A steampunk party, workshops, critique circles, one-on-one feedback, first page pitch, and a chance to hang out with Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) members of the Canada East Chapter and beyond.  Throw in some poutine and a stroll through Spark Street and Byward Market and it was all good.  Plus, I took part in the Authors for Indies day (in support of independent bookstores) held at the Kaleidoscope Kids Bookstore in Ottawa.  I got to hang out with some of my favourite Canadian children's author/illustrators like Ruth Ohi and meet new ones.  I even saw a familiar face with editor Grace Kendall, whose workshop I attended at both SCBWI Canada East and Kweli conferences.

8. Sankofa's Pen at the FOLD Festival
In 2014, I started a group called the African-Canadian Writers for Children and Young Adults (ACWCYA) which I later changed the name to Sankofa's Pen.  The group meets quarterly and has an active Facebook group which is just shy of 100 members.  Sankofa's Pen had its spring meeting recently at the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) May 6-8, the first ever event dedicated to diverse literature in Canada.  The event was held in Brampton, Ontario which is 40-minutes from downtown Toronto and one of Canada's most diverse cities.  The FOLD attracted over 500 delegates.  Great work to fellow Groundwood Books author/FOLD founder and director, Jael Richardson and her team, on a job well done.

9. Reviews Galore
I have been very blessed over the last three months with lots of great print and electronic coverage of Malaika's Costume.  There have been reviews, interviews, and honourable mentions in articles.  Check out the listings and view some here.  It gives me great joy that a story I wrote in patois 6 years ago is connecting with so many people.  The story about separation, immigration, Carnival, and the Caribbean has changed my life in many ways.  It's been an amazing journey so far.

10. Where I'll Be Next
Malaika's Costume NYC Carnival Book Bash
May 21 10:30-11:30am Kiddie Carnival (Story Time)
May 21 4-5pm Big People Fete (Book Launch)
Bank Street Bookstore
New York City, New York, United States of America

Malaika's Costume Boston Carnival Meet and Greet
May 26, 2016 1:00-3:00pm
Tatnuck Books
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

Malaika's Costume Burlington Carnival Meet and Greet
May 29, 2016 2:00-3:00pm
A Different Drummer Bookstore
Burlington, Ontario, Canada

11. Writing Tips for Newbies and Oldies
Read lots of books, all kinds of books.  Award-winners and the bad ones.  Read every genre but most importantly, read the genre you wish to write in. See what the conventions are for that genre and find out who the publishers that produce work in that genre.  Read to enjoy the book but also to critique it.  See what is working and figure out what is not working.