Nadia L. Hohn
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My 2021 #WriterlyLife Highlights

12/29/2021

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My 2021 #WriterlyLife Year in Review

As I reflect on this year, I’m amazed that many of my dreams came true, as well as exceeded them. 2021 marks ten years since I promised myself to do everything in my ability to become a published author. In 2011, I was newly diagnosed with
#thyroidcancer which became “the fire 🔥 under my ass” to become a writer.

Fast forward to 2021 and here we are:

- Malaika’s Costume float in 117th
The Original Santa Claus Parade

- my screenwriting debut for “#OscarPeterson and #Montreal’s #LittleBurgundy” Historica Canada

- finding a #literaryagent Hilary McMahon @Westwood Creative Artists

- signing my 10th book contract by age 45 (my personal goal, I represented myself in all of these contracts whichwerein progress before signing with my la), 3 signed in 2021

-
#MalaikasSurprise, my 7th book (3rd in #Malaikaseries) is released

- 
#MalaikasWinterCarnival featured in the February 13 The Toronto Star #crossword - Malaika’s Costume (2016) is the 2021 TD Grade One Book Giveaway and a pick for the #TDsummerReadingClub

- taught 4 online classes at #CentennialCollege, #UniversityofGuelph, and #UniversityofToronto SchoolforContinuingStudies

- hosted or presented 50+ online literary events including Speakeasy Reading Series, #schools, #libraries, #festivals

- research trips for future writing projects

- studied 5 courses toward my
#MFA in #CreativeWriting (completed course requirement), took 1 poetry course w/ #CheleneKnight and 1 Children’s Book Illustration class with #WillowDawson

- wrote for 6
#articles in #publications (1 book, 4 #magazines-- #Chickadee, Arc Poetry Magazine, CCBC Book News, The Writers' Union of Canada)

- voiceovers (2
#TDBookGiveaway #announcement #videos, 3 participatedfor the #Malaikaseries)

- participated in first
#HighlightsFoundation #AmplifyBlackStories #cohort (I was 1 of 24 #kidlitcreators, the only #Canadian)

- filmed and edited my own cooking video, 1 book trailer, interviews, presentations, and rekindled my interest in filmmaking

- new logo and work w/
#socialmedia consultant thanks to Ontario Arts Council

- Conseil des arts de l'Ontario
grant in the summer

-
#MalaikasSurprise Forest of Reading nomination and CBC Books and The Canadian Children's Book Centre best book selections 

- a weekly series called #KidLitCreatorSpotlight to highlight #BlackCanadian and diverse authors and illustrators for children 
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Malaika’s Costume Float at the Santa Claus Parade, part 2

12/19/2021

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Imagine growing up watching the #SantaClaus parade on television throughout your childhood (and adult years) to one day be sitting down and chillin' with #Santa, talking about my first picture book, Malaika's Costume, and its message, as well as our love of playing musical instruments, languages, and Drama class.  Well that is what happened here.  #Santa was really cool.  And not because he lives in the #NorthPole and likes jazz (although that helps). 
​I was so excited that a #MalaikasCostume float was a part of the 117th The Original Santa Claus Parade this year as part of the #TDGradeOneBookGiveaway.  Irene Luxbacher's gorgeous illustrations were brought to life in 3D.
Interacting with a life-size 3D version of my character is surreal andstill gives me chills and they are true to Irene Luxbacher’s gorgeous  vibrant illustrations.

I really do feel lucky.  I know that this is rare for an author. I thank God for this opportunity and I have been blessed by this experience. 🙏🏾 

The fitting song 🎵 you hear is a cover by the #German🇩🇪/#Trinidadian🇹🇹 group Boney M. of the #Tanzanian🇹🇿 song, #Malaika.  I learned about the song after the book's publication.

When I first named this character, I pronounced her name Malika (mal-EEKA) which means queen in #Swahili but then switched it to Malaika (mal-AY- ka) eventually learning that means angel.

I think both names suit her.  There are even more special connections to this name.

When the late Sheila Barry, former publisher at Groundwood Books, acquired my story, she said she thought it would be big.  She was right.

Her story represents resilience, resourcefulness, creativity, community, and family... and reflects diversity and the immigrant experience. 
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I wanted to show which illustrations from the picture book were used to inspire the float.

In these images, you will see Malaika with her grandmother and three of her friends, Malcolm, Marcus, and Ravina.

Perhaps the most frequent comment given to Irene Luxbacher’s illustration in all three books of the Malaika series is how gorgeously colourful 😍 they are depicted.

On my two workshop visit and through consultation with regular photo updates, I had a chance to see and comment the different stages in the construction process.

I'm not a professional illustrator but I've always loved to make art (draw, collage, paint, edit videos). Seeing these 3D images up close was amazing and a result of hard work, consultation, teamwork, and creativity. The sculpts are made from Styrofoam and paper mâché, paint, and cloth.

Thank you, Irene, for your art that inspired such a beautiful float.  Thanks to everyone who made this float happen.
 You can still view the Santa Claus Parade for a limited time at the CTV website here or go my Linktree here.
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Malaika’s Costume Float at the Santa Claus Parade, part 1

12/3/2021

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Special Announcement:
​MALAIKA’S COSTUME


After months of keeping it secret, now I finally get to share it with you. SURPRISE! The 2021 TD Grade One Book Giveaway was shared on CTV Morning on Monday, November 29, 2021. There will be a Malaika’s Costume float in the 117th Annual
#Toronto Santa Claus Parade. 🎅🎅🏻🎅🏼🎅🏽🎅🏿🎅🏾 

​I am super proud of this announcement. As a child, my sister and I would watch the parade on television annually and now, my picture book will be a part of this years event. The parade airs on CTV at 7pm ET on Saturday, December 4, 2021. Watch the full interview on my IGTV or at
linktr.ee/nadialhohn. The SCP float announcement is made at the 3:17 mark. Check my author page updates, details, and photos: Nadia L. Hohn.
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So, there will be a Malaika’s Costume float in the 117th Annual #Toronto Santa Claus Parade. 🎅🎅🏻🎅🏼🎅🏽🎅🏿🎅🏾

Why does this matter?

When I learned this news a few months ago, I was nervous. But now, at this moment, I feel proud, excited, and completely honoured to have my first picturebook,
#MalaikasCostume be the first #TDBookGiveaway float. (I’ve even shed a few tears today.) The #TDGradeOneBookGiveaway is giving over 550, 000 copies of Malaika’s Costume to children across Canada.

There was a time when I was a little Black girl growing up in
#Jane & Finch and #Rexdale, although my sister and I watched the parade annually and we lived in the same city as this parade, it seemed so very far away. Our parents worked shifts, sometimes doubleshifts, so the very thought of traveling downtown by multiple subway and bus exchanges was not possible. I was a kid growing up in #Canada 🇨🇦 during the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Seeing #BlackCanadian and other diverse people on tv was a rarity, especially one that celebrated my #Caribbean identity.

Now my picture book will be a part of this year’s event because
#representation matters! And my story, #MalaikasCostume, is one of #immigration and #community and a dream. I want every child to watch this float and feel seen, as Irene Luxbacher’s illustrations are brought to life. Please follow #Malaika on this new adventure.

The parade airs on CTV at 7pm ET on Saturday, December, 2021.


Stay tuned for part 2.

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    Nadia L. Hohn

    Write or die chick.

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