Check out my latest newsletter here.
2 Comments
Happy new year! I am now posting my blog on Substack. Please join me for weekly posts and essays. Subscribe today!
Photo credit: Lawrence Kerr Media On Friday, October 6, 2023, I participated in something called a media or press junket. It’s a series of interviews in a short span of time to accommodate various time zones and airtimes.
I had 13 phone interviews (with one cancellation) with CBC Radio stations across Canada in the span of 4 hours. This was a first for me but I felt energized by the pace and challenged to describe #TheAntiracistKitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes), the book I edited, with concise descriptions. Through the interviews, I travelled across 5 time zones, 8 provinces, 3 territories, and multiple shows. I’ve been to all of these places in-person, except for #Kelowna and the #Territories (#Yukon, #NWT, #Nunavut). The timing was perfect, right before the annual Thanksgiving Day weekend. Some were recorded live and others were pre-recorded for later airing. Thank you so much to my #CBC contact who reached out to me, invited me to interview, and helped coordinate this series of interviews. To watch the interviews, you can find the recordings at the following links, by city: #charlottetown https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-130-mainstreet-pei #Ottawa https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-92-all-in-a-day #Halifax https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-37-mainstreet-ns #Toronto https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-82-here-and-now-toronto #Victoria https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-93-all-points-west #Vancouver https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46-on-the-coast #Kelowna https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-96-radio-west #QuebecCity https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-79-breakaway #Winnipeg https://www.abc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-111-up-to-speed #Sudbury/ #ThunderBay https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-84-up-north #Calgary https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-97-the-homestretch #Saskachewan ttps://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-103-the-afternoon-edition-sask #Whitehorse https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-81-airplay To order a copy of #TheAntiracistKitchen, please visit the linktr.ee/nadialhohn or your favourite bookstore. @cbckidsca @cbcbooks @cbcindigenous @cbcbeingblackincanada @cbcradiocanada @cbcradiocanada @orcabook @yallaroza #antiracist #antiracisteducation The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) is out today. Finally, I get to share this book with you. It has been a joy working on this book. I’d like to thank my team at ORCA book who have worked consistently with me to build this gorgeous book. Thank you also to my illustrator Roza Nozari for these bright, diverse, and engaging images. Finally and importantly, I thank every single contributor for sharing their personal stories and delicious recipes. There are so many ways to engage with this book including: - get the teacher guide (stay tuned!) - attend the in-person book launch - follow the book tour - read my interviews https://blog.orcabook.com/qa-with-the-antiracist-kitchen-editor-nadia-l-hohn/ https://quillandquire.com/authors/nadia-l-hohn-on-the-power-of-community/ - access teacher resources www.orcabook.com/Assets/PDFs/TeacherResource/AntiracistKitchen_TeacherGuide.pdf
- 2 Kid Reviews and 2 Kid Interviews of The Antiracist Kitchen - listen to the 7+ hour-long Antiracist Kitchen Soundscape Playlist which is on Spotify (some songs contain mature lyrical content) spotify.link/gOriDrC22Cb In this issue…
Letter from the editor Greetings readers, May rolled in on the tail end of the Children’s Books course I taught at Centennial College. On May 2, I had a lovely release day of Malaika, Carnival Queen which I had the opportunity to present this book during Education Week/Canadian Children’s Book, May 1-5 in my very own school. I have an incredibly supportive administrative team and librarian who helped make this happen. That week was an amazing chance for me to test out my story and get comfortable in the telling. This month has been a series of events and more to come— all part of the Malaika Carnival Queen Book Tour. Please check out the dates and stops. As busy as I am, I think a lot about writing and making more time for my stories. I’ve also begun sharing about my own personal journeys on my social media. The response has been positive. I hope to do this more often. My abilities and skills continue to evolve as an author and creative entrepreneur as I learn about balance. Thanks for being part of my journey. Best wishes, Nadia L. Hohn Book Launch Highlights The MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN book launch on May 6 was simply magical. Even though this is my eighth book, it doesn’t make this book launch less special than others. This was the first in-person book event that I organized since 2019 and in spite of a location change and traffic delays which altered some decors plans, the event went smoothly but, way too quickly. There were so many beautiful moments. I think my favourites were having my friends, family, past and present coworkers, former teacher, and writing community present to witness what illustrator Irene and I have been working on in the privacy of our own homes and heads. We both had deep connections to this book. I am so lucky to work with such a talented illustrator. I also loved the opportunity to pour out this personal story through my reading. This was magic for me. Lastly, the question and answer was so well-done. Author Kern Carter did his homework and delivered a thoughtful, well-prepared, and thorough Q&A. I also had the opportunity to meet my literary agent, Hilary McMahon, in-person for the first time. Everything came together smoothly. I particularly wish to thank Joseph, Sadé, and the Groundwood Books team for help with the setup. I also wish to thank especially everyone who attended my book launch and sent me many of these wonderful photos. Check out the rest of the Malaika, Carnival Queen tour dates, the book giveaway contest, and the YouTube & Spotify playlists. See links here: linktr.ee/nadialhohn To watch the highlight reel video, click here: https://youtu.be/Z5xTwl33Kv8 Stay tuned for a detailed recap in a blog post. Photos by: @andreapcurtis @bellamazon @jayoh83 @stc_smith @kirstenashleyb0 @rizntree @sahargolshanwriting One of my coworkers, my dad, and me Video editing: Me Malaika, Carnival Queen Book Tour (Part 1) Flyer Design by Nadia L. Hohn A Malaika, Carnival Queen tour is in the works. These dates have been scheduled so far. Please check my Instagram @nadialhohn_author each Monday for updates. * * * Check out the Malaika, Carnival Queen Playlist is more of a Soundsacape, at four hours and over 60 songs, on Spotify. To find out the songs and how I was able to write this, blog for the playlist, link, and to find out my process for selecting songs, please visit https://www.nadialhohn.com/blog/malaika-carnival-queen-contest-time-and-thank-you. Each day on my Intagram @nadialhohn_author and Twitter @nadialhohn, I will share 3 songs and the stories behind them. * * * THANK YOU FOR 2, 980+ FOLLOWERS and MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN comes out in May! To celebrate 🎉 these milestones, you know what that means— BOOK GIVEAWAY CONTEST! With 3 chances to win! This is what I'm giving away: 2 copies of #MalaikaCarnivalQueen 1 Book Prize Package which includes all 4 books in the #Malaikaseries-- #MalaikasCostume #MalaikasWinterCarnival #MalaikasSurprise #MalaikaCarnivalQueen To find out how to win, see the link in my bio for information or visit my blog www.nadialhohn.com/blog/malaika-carnival-queen-contest-time-and-thank-you TikTok and YouTube Channe My YouTube Channel contains new content. Please check it out: https://youtube.com/@nadialhohnauthor I now have a TikTok. Please check it out: @nadialhohn_author Upcoming EventsArticles and Podcasts “How To Create An Inclusive Literary Festival,” ByBlacks April 2023 “16 Reasons Poetry Is Essential For Black Canadians,” ByBlacks April 2023 “Part 2: Should I Self Publish My Book Or Get An Agent? Advice From Six Black Canadian Authors Who Have Done Both,” ByBlacks March 2023 “Should I Self Publish My Book Or Get An Agent? Advice From Six Black Canadian Authors Who Have Done Both,” ByBlacks March 2023 “Ainara’s Bookshelf is Diversifying What We Read One Book at a Time”, ByBlacks February 2023 Interview on the January 10, 2023 Soul Perspectives, CKUT (McGill University radio). “Meet Dr. Suzette Mayr: The 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize Winner”, ByBlacks January 2023 “Celebrate Black Canadian Authors This Holiday Season with These 36 Books”, ByBlacks December 2022 “If You Love Black Panther, Then You’ll Love These Books”, ByBlacks November 2022 “The Hairy Truth” and “A Deeper Meaning”, Owl Magazine, November 2022 “Three Black Organizations Working to Get Us Reading,” ByBlacks, October 2022 “Top 10 Summer Reads for Black Canadian Kids,” ByBlacks, August 2022 Travelling Across Canada’s Underground Railroad, Owl magazine (January/February 2022) “Kojo’s Holiday”, Chickadee magazine (December 2021). “How Harriet’s Daughter Helped Me Find My Way as a Black Canadian and a Writer for Young People”, Arc Poetry magazine (Arc 96 Islands of Influence Caribbean Canadian edition) (Fall 2021). “Writer with a Capital W”, University of Waterloo podcast “Writer Finds Resilience Stories Black Women and Girls”, University of Waterloo magazine (Spring 2021). Upcoming booksPatty Dreams (Owlkids), Spring 2025. Journey to Grandma's House (Groundwood Books), Fall 2024. The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) (Orca Books), September 2023. Published booksMalaika, Carnival Queen (Groundwood Books), May 2023.
Kwanzaa section in Celebrate with me! Recipes, Crafts, and Holiday Fun from around the world (Magic Cat Publishing/Abrams Kids), 2022 Contributor to 100+ Voices for Miss Lou: Poetry, Tributes, Interviews, Essays anthology (UWI Press), 2021. 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 © Nadia L. Hohn, 2023 Toronto, ON, Canada Can I Bring my Kids?Yes, you can bring your kids. This is an all ages event. You are cordially invited to the #MalaikaCarnivalQueen Book Launch.
Please join us! This is what we have in store: - a reading of Malaika, Carnival Queen - craft with Irene - Q&A facilitated by Kern Carter, author of #BoysandGirlsScreaming - book signing - surprises And course, #Carnival. Refreshments (and music) will be served. Our event takes place on Saturday, May 6, 2023 2-4pm ET at #AnansiBookshop, Lower Level, 128 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON (northeast Dundas Street West, south of Bloor Street West, west of Lansdowne Avenue; beside the Museum of Contemporary Art) For details, please visit the link in my bio and stay tuned for posts. Illustrated by @ireneluxbacher, #MALAIKACARNIVALQUEEN is the fourth book in my #Malaikaseries and my eighth published title. This story is close to my heart. 🥰 For ordering info and details, check the links here: linktr.ee/nadialhohn. Flyer Design and video editing by Nadia L. Hohn Join the #MalaikaCarnivalQueen Book Tour (Part One)!
Malaika, Carnival Queen aka #book8 aka #Malaika4 is here! You are cordially invited to the #MalaikaCarnivalQueen Book Launch. Please join us! This is what we have in store: - a reading of Malaika, Carnival Queen - craft with Irene - Q&A facilitated by Kern Carter, author of #BoysandGirlsScreaming - book signing - surprises And course, #Carnival. Refreshments (and music) will be served. Our event takes place on Saturday, May 6, 2023 2-4pm ET at #AnansiBookshop, Lower Level, 128 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON (northeast Dundas Street West, south of Bloor Street West, west of Lansdowne Avenue; beside the Museum of Contemporary Art) Illustrated by @ireneluxbacher, #MALAIKACARNIVALQUEEN is the fourth book in my #Malaikaseries and my eighth published title. This story is close to my heart. 🥰 For preorder, check the links in my bio. Flyer Design by Nadia L. Hohn Here are some frequently asked questions about the NEW LOCATION for the #MalaikaCarnivalQueen Book Launch. Where is the NEW LOCATION for the May 6 Malaika, Carnival Queen Book Launch? #AnansiBookshop at #HouseofAnansi/ #GroundwoodBooks The Lower Level, 128 Sterling Road Toronto, ON (across the lot from the Museum of Contemporary Art) Is there parking at the Anansi Bookshop?Details in video. There is a small lot beside the bookstore. There is an independent paid parking lot directly across from MOCA that may have availability. The nearest Green P parking lots are at Dundas St and Roncesvalles Ave, Bloor St and Lansdowne Ave and Margueretta St and Bloor St. Is there an accessibility entrance? Yes. From the website: The front door to the Anansi Bookshop is at 128 Sterling Road, with access down two steps from the sidewalk. There is an accessible entrance to our office and bookshop through the front door of 128A Sterling Road, the adjoining building, which is west of us through the parking lot, on the other side of Henderson’s Brewery. If you will use the accessible entrance please contact us at 416 363-4343 x 0 and we will meet you to show you the way in. Can you take transit?Here's how!
From the MOCA website: Nearest Subway station: MOCA is a 10-minute walk from both Lansdowne Station and Dundas West Station. Nearest Streetcar stop: The museum is a 5-minute walk from the closest streetcar stop at Dundas St West and Sterling Rd. This can be reached by the 505 Dundas and 506 Carlton streetcars. UP Express: MOCA is a 10-minute walk from Bloor Station, which is two stops on the UP Express from Toronto Pearson Airport and one stop from Union Station In this issue…
Letter from the editor This April, the first quarter of the year, has been a time of reflection and anticipation for me, on what was working– word of mouth promotions, engagement with school and staff, and the existing list of books with more to come. I presented at 36 institutions both in-person, individual sessions at several which totalled over fifty. I anticipate that this demand will only grow as I write more books and grow in my writing career. My eighth book Malaika, Carnival Queen will be released on May 2 and a new release date for The Antiracist Kitchen. This is also a season of growth and change– preparing for a move, a wedding, and many events to promote my book. The need for balance and adjustment continues, as I grow in this path. Thanks for being a part of my journey. . Best wishes, Nadia L. Hohn ByBlacks Articles (Part 1 and 2)One of the most common questions I get asked by adults is about self-publishing. However, I always feel ill-equipped. I've never self-published. But I know many authors who have and can speak on this experience. Over two #ByBlacks articles, I had the honour of interviewing 6 #BlackCanadian authors who started out as self-published but are now traditionally-published. This is the second of a two part series. In part One, we focus on self-publishing. In Part Two, the focus is on traditional publishing. You can read the full articles here: https://byblacks.com/entertainment/books/item/3368-should-i-self-publish-my-book-or-try-to-get-an-agent-advice-from-six-black-canadian-authors-who-have-done-both https://byblacks.com/entertainment/books/item/3379-part-2-should-i-self-publish-my-book-or-get-an-agent-advice-from-six-black-canadian-authors-who-have-done-both Malaika, Carnival Queen Book Launch and other Events, Contest, Playlist, and AudiobooksMalaika, Carnival Queen is almost here. You are cordially invited to the #MalaikaCarnivalQueen Book Launch. Please join us for a reading, Q&A, booksigning, some activities, and, of course, #Carnival. Refreshments and music will be served. Our event takes place on Saturday, May 6, 2023 2-4pm ET at the Anansi Bookshop, Lower Level, 128 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON (northeast Dundas Street West, south of Bloor Street West, west of Lansdowne Avenue; beside the Museum of Contemporary Art) From the website: The front door to the Anansi Bookshop is at 128 Sterling Road, with access down two steps from the sidewalk. There is an accessible entrance to our office and bookshop through the front door of 128A Sterling Road, the adjoining building, which is west of us through the parking lot, on the other side of Henderson’s Brewery. If you will use the accessible entrance please contact us at 416 363-4343 x 0 and we will meet you to show you the way in. Illustrated by @ireneluxbacher, #MALAIKACARNIVALQUEEN is the fourth book in my #Malaikaseries and my eighth published title. This story is close to my heart. 🥰 For preorder and preview, check the links in my bio. Written and Flyer Design by Nadia L. Hohn A Malaika, Carnival Queen tour is in the works. These dates have been scheduled so far. Please check my Instagram @nadialhohn_author each Monday for updates. Check out the Malaika, Carnival Queen Playlist is more of a Soundsacape, at four hours and over 60 songs, on Spotify. To find out the songs and how I was able to write this, blog for the playlist, link, and to find out my process for selecting songs, please visit https://www.nadialhohn.com/blog/malaika-carnival-queen-playlist-on-spotify. Each day on my Intagram @nadialhohn_author and Twitter @nadialhohn, I will share 3 songs and the stories behind them. THANK YOU FOR 2, 900 FOLLOWERS and MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN comes out in May! To celebrate 🎉 these milestones, you know what that means— BOOK GIVEAWAY CONTEST! With 3 chances to win! This is what I'm giving away: 2 copies of #MalaikaCarnivalQueen 1 Book Prize Package which includes all 4 books in the #Malaikaseries-- #MalaikasCostume #MalaikasWinterCarnival #MalaikasSurprise #MalaikaCarnivalQueen To find out how to win, see the link in my bio for information or visit my blog https://www.nadialhohn.com/blog/malaika-carnival-queen-contest-time-and-thank-you My Spring/Summer 2023 CourseThis spring/summer 2023, I will be teaching an Introduction to #WritingforChildren once again through the University of Toronto School for Continuing Studies (UTSCS). The class takes place on Wednesday evening, starting on May 31 for eight weeks. Register at the link here: https://learn.utoronto.ca/programs-courses/courses/1717-writing-children-introduction The AntiRacist Kitchen UpdatesNEW Pub date: September 12, 2023 THE ANTIRACIST KITCHEN: 21 Recipes (and Stories) pre-orders are here! An mg anthology featuring stories and recipes from racialized authors about food, culture and resistance. What if talking about racism was as easy as baking a cake, frying plantains or cooking rice? The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) is a celebration of food, family, activism and resistance in the face of racism. In this anthology featuring stories and recipes from 21 diverse and award-winning North American children's authors, the authors share the role of food in their lives and how it has helped fight discrimination, reclaim culture and celebrate people with different backgrounds. They bring personal and sometimes difficult experiences growing up as racialized people. Chopped, seared, marinated and stewed, The Antiracist Kitchen highlights the power of sitting down to share a meal and how that simple act can help bring us all together. I’m so happy to have so many award-winning authors contribute to THE ANTIRACIST KITCHEN 📚and I can’t wait to have this collection out in the world. The gorgeous colourful illustrations of Roza Nozari bring each author’s story to life. The gorgeous photos of food are an extravagant treat for the senses. The foreword is written by thirteen year old bookstagrammer and @ainarasbookshelf host, Ainara Alleyne. Featuring recipes and stories from: S.K. Ali @skalibooks Bryan Patrick Avery @bryanpatrickavery Ruth Behar @ruthbeharauthor Marty Chan @martychanwriter Ann Yu-Kyung Choi @annykchoi Hasani Claxton @hasaniclaxton Natasha Deen Reyna Grande @writerreynagrande Deidre Havrelock @deidrehavrelock Jennifer de Leon @jdeleonwriter Andrea J. Loney @andreajloney Janice Lynn Mather @janicelynnmather Linda Sue Park @parklindasue Danny Ramadan @thedannyramadan Sarah Raughley @s_raughley Waubgeshig Rice @waub Rahma Rodaah @rahmarodaah Andrea Rogers @andrealrogers Simran Jeet Singh @sikhprof Ayelet Tsabari @ayuli1 and Susan Yoon @susansyoon Pre-order your copy today from the link here: linktr.ee/nadialhohn Upcoming EventsBooks, Articles and Podcasts “Ainara’s Bookshelf is Diversifying What We Read One Book at a Time”, ByBlacks February 2023
“Meet Dr. Suzette Mayr: The 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize Winner”, ByBlacks January 2023 “Celebrate Black Canadian Authors This Holiday Season with These 36 Books”, ByBlacks December 2022 “If You Love Black Panther, Then You’ll Love These Books”, ByBlacks November 2022 “The Hairy Truth” and “A Deeper Meaning”, Owl Magazine, November 2022 “Three Black Organizations Working to Get Us Reading,” byblacks, October 2022 “Top 10 Summer Reads for Black Canadian Kids,” byblacks, August 2022 Travelling Across Canada’s Underground Railroad, Owl magazine (January/February 2022) “Kojo’s Holiday”, Chickadee magazine (December 2021). “How Harriet’s Daughter Helped Me Find My Way as a Black Canadian and a Writer for Young People”, Arc Poetry magazine (Arc 96 Islands of Influence Caribbean Canadian edition) (Fall 2021). “Writer with a Capital W”, University of Waterloo podcast “Writer Finds Resilience Stories Black Women and Girls”, University of Waterloo magazine (Spring 2021). Upcoming books Patty Dreams (Owlkids), Spring 2025. Journey to Grandma's House (Groundwood Books), Fall 2024. The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) (Orca Books), Fall 2023. Malaika, Carnival Queen (Groundwood Books), Spring 2023. Published books Kwanzaa section in Celebrate with me! Recipes, Crafts, and Holiday Fun from around the world (Magic Cat Publishing/Abrams Kids), 2022 Contributor to 100+ Voices for Miss Lou: Poetry, Tributes, Interviews, Essays anthology (UWI Press), 2021. 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 © Nadia L. Hohn, 2023 Toronto, ON, Canada #tbt At this time in 2017, I was in #Egypt on a solo trip. I’d done my research and decided to go on a long weekend, during a holiday from my then new teaching job in my #Dubai. I pulled an all-nighter to make the trip work so by the time I got to the #PyramidsofGiza, I wasn’t feeling too well. But I had an amazing guide and after a good night of sleep, I had more than enough energy to deal with the #Egyptian heat and full days. I went to the #CairoMuseum, saw so many artefacts, and even went on a #Nilecruise. After being diagnosed with #thyroidcancer in 2011, I made two promises to myself for when I got better— travel and get published as a writer. Thankfully, I’ve had opportunities to do both. I'm so glad I took the chance, in spite of media portrayals, and went for it. I experienced hospitality, beauty, and a trip of a lifetime. As a solo woman traveller, always do your research and talk to people who have been there. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories |