In this issue...
- Malaika #4 Book Cover
- Ms. MFA
- Writing for Children: Introduction course
- Upcoming Events
Letter from the editor
Greetings. I had a busy but lovely summer. I worked on my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing thesis defense and successfully defended it. So I’m officially an MFA, a double Masters (my other one is in Education). I took a very much needed holiday in the Maritimes provinces (Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia to be exact) where I also celebrated my birthday.
So now what? You may ask.
My September has been a busy one, hence this late monthly newsletter in mid-month. And as busy as it has been– recovering from a second bout of COVID, setting up a classroom at a new school, meeting writing and other deadlines, attending as much of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as I can—, I have returned to the elementary classroom on a part-time basis to teach early years music, one of my passions. I’ve also been revising and editing upcoming books in 2023 and 2024.
But, I hang on to those remaining summer days.
There are still warm ones in Toronto and I hope you too find the company of warm rays and a good book.
Sincerely,
Nadia L. Hohn
Greetings. I had a busy but lovely summer. I worked on my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing thesis defense and successfully defended it. So I’m officially an MFA, a double Masters (my other one is in Education). I took a very much needed holiday in the Maritimes provinces (Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia to be exact) where I also celebrated my birthday.
So now what? You may ask.
My September has been a busy one, hence this late monthly newsletter in mid-month. And as busy as it has been– recovering from a second bout of COVID, setting up a classroom at a new school, meeting writing and other deadlines, attending as much of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as I can—, I have returned to the elementary classroom on a part-time basis to teach early years music, one of my passions. I’ve also been revising and editing upcoming books in 2023 and 2024.
But, I hang on to those remaining summer days.
There are still warm ones in Toronto and I hope you too find the company of warm rays and a good book.
Sincerely,
Nadia L. Hohn
Malaika #4 Book Cover
I share the cover for #MALAIKACARNIVALQUEEN, the fourth book in my #Malaikaseries.
Malaika learns about her father, who came to Canada as a migrant farm worker when she was just a baby and who shared her love of carnival. Read this book to find out my connection to this story.
I am lucky that I get to have the #Malaika series illustrated by the talented #illustrator #IreneLuxbacher, who herself has penned some books.
This story was once part of the original manuscript I had written in 2016/2017 that would eventually become #book3, #MalaikasSurprise which was released this year. But based on the advice from my editors and critique group, there was just too much being covered.
So I rewrote #book4 as a stand alone and I was so excited when I got the greenlight.
#MalaikaCarnivalQueen will be released in spring 2023.
Pre-sales will start at the end of 2022. Stay tuned!
Malaika learns about her father, who came to Canada as a migrant farm worker when she was just a baby and who shared her love of carnival. Read this book to find out my connection to this story.
I am lucky that I get to have the #Malaika series illustrated by the talented #illustrator #IreneLuxbacher, who herself has penned some books.
This story was once part of the original manuscript I had written in 2016/2017 that would eventually become #book3, #MalaikasSurprise which was released this year. But based on the advice from my editors and critique group, there was just too much being covered.
So I rewrote #book4 as a stand alone and I was so excited when I got the greenlight.
#MalaikaCarnivalQueen will be released in spring 2023.
Pre-sales will start at the end of 2022. Stay tuned!
Ms. MFA
It's official. I'm graduating 🎓 🤗
My dream of getting my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in #CreativeWriting has finally come true. After I was turned down by two MFA programs at other universities in 2011 and 2014, I thought I didn’t need or want this graduate degree. But something changed in 2019, perhaps a hunch that I should try and I’m so glad I did.
My thesis committee consisted of two professors— accomplished authors in their own right. Shyam Selvadurai was my thesis advisor and Lawrence Hill my second reader. Professor Jennifer Shacker was the chairperson of my defence. In 2021, I completed a self-directed course under Dr. Shacker. So I was very comfortable in my defence (and a bit of fan, too as I’ve read both Selvadurai’s and Hill’s books since undergrad).
I now have a 300+ page young adult romance novel manuscript, based on a play I wrote in high school almost 30 years ago.
Never give up, my friends.
My dream of getting my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in #CreativeWriting has finally come true. After I was turned down by two MFA programs at other universities in 2011 and 2014, I thought I didn’t need or want this graduate degree. But something changed in 2019, perhaps a hunch that I should try and I’m so glad I did.
My thesis committee consisted of two professors— accomplished authors in their own right. Shyam Selvadurai was my thesis advisor and Lawrence Hill my second reader. Professor Jennifer Shacker was the chairperson of my defence. In 2021, I completed a self-directed course under Dr. Shacker. So I was very comfortable in my defence (and a bit of fan, too as I’ve read both Selvadurai’s and Hill’s books since undergrad).
I now have a 300+ page young adult romance novel manuscript, based on a play I wrote in high school almost 30 years ago.
Never give up, my friends.
Writing for Children Introduction Course
My Writing for Children: Introduction course begins on October 5. This will be the 5th time that I’m delivering this course at the University of Toronto School for Continuing Studies (UTSCS) and the first time in person.
For registration info, please visit the link here:
https://learn.utoronto.ca/programs-courses/courses/1717-writing-children-introduction
For registration info, please visit the link here:
https://learn.utoronto.ca/programs-courses/courses/1717-writing-children-introduction
Upcoming Events
Upcoming books
Book #11 (Owlkids), Spring 2024.
Journey to Grandma's House (Groundwood Books), Fall 2024.
Editor of Untitled anthology (Orca Books), Fall 2023.
Malaika #4 (Groundwood Books), Spring 2023.
Contributor to 100+ Voices for Miss Lou: Poetry, Tributes, Interviews, Essays anthology (UWI Press), 2021.
Published books
Louise Go A Country in 100+ Voices of Miss Lou: Poetry, Tributes, Interviews, Essays (UWI Press, 2022).
Interview in Contemporary Canadian Picture Books: A Critical Review for Educators, Librarians, Families, Researchers, & Writers by Beverley Brenna, Richard Dionne, and Theresa Tavares (Brill, 2021).
Malaika's Surprise (Groundwood Books), Spring 2021 https://houseofanansi.com/products/malaikas-surprise French version available in 2022 by Éditions Scholastic, Malaika's Surprise Book Trailer
A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett-Coverley Found Her Voice (Owlkids), Aug. 15, 2019
Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter (Harper Collins), 2018
Malaika's Winter Carnival (Groundwood Books), 2017 (available in French and English paperback http://scholastic.ca/editions/livres/view/le-carnaval-de-malaika)
Malaika's Costume (Groundwood Books www.groundwoodbooks.com), 2016 (available in French paperback www.scholastic.ca) 2021 TD Book Giveaway
Music in the Sankofa series (Rubicon Publishing), 2015 www.sankofacollection.com
Media in the Sankofa series (Rubicon Publishing), 2015 www.sankofacollection.com
Book #11 (Owlkids), Spring 2024.
Journey to Grandma's House (Groundwood Books), Fall 2024.
Editor of Untitled anthology (Orca Books), Fall 2023.
Malaika #4 (Groundwood Books), Spring 2023.
Contributor to 100+ Voices for Miss Lou: Poetry, Tributes, Interviews, Essays anthology (UWI Press), 2021.
Published books
Louise Go A Country in 100+ Voices of Miss Lou: Poetry, Tributes, Interviews, Essays (UWI Press, 2022).
Interview in Contemporary Canadian Picture Books: A Critical Review for Educators, Librarians, Families, Researchers, & Writers by Beverley Brenna, Richard Dionne, and Theresa Tavares (Brill, 2021).
Malaika's Surprise (Groundwood Books), Spring 2021 https://houseofanansi.com/products/malaikas-surprise French version available in 2022 by Éditions Scholastic, Malaika's Surprise Book Trailer
A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett-Coverley Found Her Voice (Owlkids), Aug. 15, 2019
Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter (Harper Collins), 2018
Malaika's Winter Carnival (Groundwood Books), 2017 (available in French and English paperback http://scholastic.ca/editions/livres/view/le-carnaval-de-malaika)
Malaika's Costume (Groundwood Books www.groundwoodbooks.com), 2016 (available in French paperback www.scholastic.ca) 2021 TD Book Giveaway
Music in the Sankofa series (Rubicon Publishing), 2015 www.sankofacollection.com
Media in the Sankofa series (Rubicon Publishing), 2015 www.sankofacollection.com
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