Happy #Juneteenth!

Two years ago, on June 19 2020, I  organized #kidlit4blacklivescanada, an online event which was in alliance with the original #kidlit4blacklives rally that took place in the US.  It was a chance to heal, grieve, and call to action and to commemorate #Juneteenth. 

The event gained 8, 000+ views and resulted in 3 book deals, offers of representation, and paid book reviewer opportunities for the 22 presenters. 

We had a Black-owned sign language company provide interpretation as well. @tslisto

I organized and hosted this event in less than 10 days with the support of @Groundwood Books, @the_fold, and @A Different Booklist Bookstore and Cultural Centre. 

Watch the video of the full event here: https://youtu.be/ajPy2uE9tNU 

Check out 2 new books that were published as a result of presentations, then contacts made at this event. They are out in 2022: 

- Where Do Your Feelings Live by Catherine Hernandez 

- Dear Black Child by Rahma Mohamed 

Presenting author Dr. Sarah Raughley is now a professor at  Lakehead University.

The presenters were: @nadialhohn_author @jaelrichardson @rahmarodaah @legshernandez @rabia_khokhar @mflowrites @ishtamercurio @sean_mauricette @sean.liburd @knowledgebookstore @authorangelotndongmo @skalibooks @sahlgood @kareativeinterlude  @robinstevensonwrites @zettaelliott @janicelynnmather @s_raughley
@adfrntbooklist @adifferentbooklist_ @ireadcanadian @canscaip @scbwi_canada_east @foldkids @bookflap @brownbookshelfteam  #kidcanlit #cankidlit #diversekidlit #diversecankidlit #diversekidcanlit #independentauthors #independentpublishing @blm_toronto @blm_toronto @harperkids @picturebookseh

​8 years ago today, I signed my contract for #MalaikasCostume, my first picture book.  This award-winning picture book is the first in my 4-book #Malaikaseries.

Thanks #SheilaBarry for believing 🙏🏾 in my story. You were a publisher with vision and a heart for diverse representation in children’s literature, especially in Canada.

May you rest in peace. 

So this just happened...

The title of the fourth book 📚 in the Malaika series is...

MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN!

It comes out in spring 2023 and I can’t wait to share it with you.

MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN began as one tale and split into two and then back into one then two. The first part of the story became book 3, MALAIKA’S SURPRISE, which was published in 2021.

And soon, you will learn more about Malaika’s story.

MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN will be published by Groundwood Books and is the first of two books I will be releasing in 2023. (My eighth and ninth books.)

Illustrations by the talented Irene Luxbacher.

The ARCs have arrived!

Les ARCS sont arrivés!

Les copies de "La surprise de Malaika" (la version française de "Malaika's Surprise") sont ici!

Je suis très impressionée par la beauté, le "look", et la qualité de ces livres traduits. 

Le titre de ette chanson est "Sourire" (smile en anglais) par le duo-soeurs Les Nubians et maintenant, je souris beaucoup. 🥰

Je voudrais remercier l'illustratrice Irene Luxbacher, les équipes Éditions Scholastic et Groundwood Books.

Les autres livres dans la série Malaika (Malaika's Costume et Malaika's Winter Carnival) sont disponibles en français aussi.

Pour achetez “La surprise de Malaika”, visitez le lien dans mon bio. Pour achetez “Le costume de Malaika” et “Le carnaval de Malaika”, visitez mon site web au lien dans mon bio.

Finally, I have the diverse French language books 📚 I wished for as a Core French teacher.

In celebration, I made this reel to celebrate the international nature of my children’s books and the many places I’ve shared my stories.  I can’t wait to start traveling again..

I also love to speak languages.  Let’s practice some time.

To find out more how to purchase my books, please visit the link in my bio.

Thanks author Andrea J. Loney for the inspiration with the flags and translations which she posted in her International Children’s Book Day reel.

I tend to be private when it comes to matters of my health on social media. (My thyroid cancer blog in 2011 is a small acception.) I do this for a few reasons.  One of them is that I usually like to share after I've had my own time to process and reflect and navigate the worst 🙃. So as the restrictions are being lifted, I ventured out-- to the gym, to a restaurant, to dance, to a potluck, to church.  I remained masked 😷 unless I was eating or drinking. After over two years of wellness, I started feeling symptoms by Sunday/Monday, mostly long 12 hours sleeps, a sore throat and exhaustion.

Then my blocked sinuses, runny nose, and chest congestion began and my voice became hoarse. By Wednesday, I decided to do a rapid test and this was the result- covid.  I made calls and texts to notify everyone I saw in the past days.  Only one tested positive and she was asymptomatic. 

For a few nights 🌙 ✨ my throat felt like it was on fire 🔥 and sneezing 🤧 felt like my upper respiratory was being raked, but today I feel a bit more energy and my symptoms have lessened. Given my medical and family history, I decided to see a medical professional.  Today/Saturday he checked my vitals (oxygen, BP, 🫁 breathing) are all good. I even asked to do a retest to see if it was truly covid. (Yup, I did the "brain 🧠 tickle" test again. Ouch.) The doctor said it could be just a virus but most likely covid.

And yes, I've been double vaccinated and boosted.

During this time, I've also reflected a bit on my relationship to health.

I was in and out of hospitals and doctors a lot as a child before the age of 8.  My siblings nicknamed me "sick chicken 🐥".

Years later, I got cancer at 33.

And coincidentally (I think it's God), on March 25, yesterday, I was supposed to undergo a medical procedure but it was canceled a third time since the hospital 🏥 was short staffed.

Over the past week, I've had to reschedule my virtual presentations and some deadlines, but I've listened to some amazing audiobooks and reflected on what I am thankful for and my purpose. 

I’m thankful that for the past two years, while in grad school, I have been a self-employed writer.  This means that I am my own boss and can cancel and reschedule to fit my schedule and my health.

For someone who rarely takes breaks, I’m so thankful for the grace that’s been shown when I need to cancel or postpone.

​I’m in love the world of stories and books.  I’ve been listening and reading wonderful stories and I also get to contribute my stories to the world.  I thank God that there is no limit of ideas or abundance to share.

I’m thankful for a free and accessible healthcare system in which I could have all of these services done.

I await the results of my test as I rest and recover.  These will help me decide when my quarantine is fully over.

Thats all for now.  

​Stay well folks.

These stats helps us to understand the publishing careers of BlackCanadian book creators who traditionally published in 2021.

Since last September, I’ve created weekly profiles for #Black #Canadian #kidlit #authors and #illustrators who had #traditionally published books 📚 in 2021, #KidLitCreatorSpotlight2021. 

I did this out of a love for my industry, concern for the lack of diversity in Canadian book publishing, and to learn about #kidlit creators of #African descent. 

This list is a result of many hours of work. I have received no funding and completed this list without assistance from any organization.

These results have not been tested for validity, reliability, or peer review.  However, they are compiled with integrity and to the best of my ability.

​WHAT’S UP NEXT? #February2022

For as long as I can remember, February has been one of my busiest months.  When I taught at the #AfricentricAlternativeSchool and other schools, February meant planning school assemblies and preparing my students for performances.  It’s also the month when I coordinated and hosted #ICEDINBLACK, a touring film festival that I founded.  February is also a great time to check out #BlackHistorymonth events.

February, as a #Blackauthor, like other #Blackartists, is incredibly busy as the demand for school presentations increases to an already busy schedule as a #gradstudent, #writer, #part-time #writingprofessor, and other roles.

To ensure this schedule is manageable, I:

- schedule author visits on certain days of the week
- decided to set a cutoff date of February 1st (TODAY) to schedule or until all my presentation dates are scheduled 
- maintain my self-care routine which includes prayer, exercise , and staying connected with friends and family, including travelling to attend a funeral as well as celebrating a birthday 

These are small modifications and I will update this schedule weekly. A both exciting and challenging aspect of being an #artrepreneur is I run all aspects of my writing career. So please be patient with me. My goal this year is to implement more balance in my  busy life.

Happy #AfricanLiberationMonth!

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chug Mung Nam Moy! Happy Lunar New Year! 

Please celebrate 🎉 and support #Blackkidlit authors.

Twenty years ago, before my 1st #picturebook #MalaikasCostume 📖 was given out across Canada 🇨🇦, I founded a #festival that #nationally toured #BlackCanadian #films.

When I had the idea💡, I was 23 years old & in my final year of undergrad in #HonoursPsych at the Univ. of Waterloo.

I saw a need.  At the time, there were a few #Black film #initatives in the country— but no #filmfestival focused exclusively on #Canadian content.

I approached #wpirg about sponsoring my idea 💡 and in 2001, the first #ICEDINBLACK: #CanadianBlack Experiences on Film was held at #UniversityofWaterloo, pre-social media era.  Volunteers signed up and helped me to run the event.  By year 2, I received grant funding and toured the #festival to 3 cities in #Canada.  By year 3, a larger grant allowed the festival to go to 9— #Toronto, #Waterloo, #Ottawa, #Montreal, #Halifax, #Winnipeg, #Edmonton, #Vancouver, and #Victoria. While still a student, I went to all of these cities and a few #filmmakers were able to join parts of the tour. 

I don’t talk very much about #ICEDINBLACK. By 2003, the model wasn’t sustainable.  That I understand now.

But at 25, I felt like it was a huge failure.  I was financially broke, burned out, and felt humiliated bc the persons who doubted/laughed at my festival turned out to be right.  Afterwards, I avoided the #film and #arts scenes.  It took me several years to recover.

But if I could speak to that young woman now, I would hug her, send her on vacation, and tell her how proud I am of her.  She had a lot of guts and vision for #ICEDINBLACK. Since 2003, many of the #filmmaker alumni are doing amazingly and the number of #BlackCandian filmmakers has increased tremendously.

Thanks all who were part of the journey.ck here to edit.