In this issue…
Letter from the editor
This December 2022 newsletter is a little late… okay by a lot. It perhaps comes at no surprise that it has been a busy time for me. Each day, I teach music to kindergarten and primary grade students. I’ve been preparing my students for a big performance. The rest of the time I’ve been working on things writing-related as well as personal. I’ve also spent more time in a small business learning curve, complete with a business and #HST number. This has been accompanied by a big mind-shift as well. It’s caused me to realize that the work that I love to do– writing– is growing and I need a team to help. And although I didn’t do any new writing this month, so many things are required to make my writing career possible beyond it being my passion.
This later newsletter gives me the perfect opportunity to share that I have read more than 222 books so far this year– amazing, brilliant books that I hope to re-read again one day. In the meantime, please check my social media, I will be sharing about these soon.
This is a season of waiting both literally (in my personal life) and spiritually (advent) for me. I look forward to my two week break from work and social media. What will I be doing? Resting and catching up on shows, spending time with family and friends, and taking care of me.
I wish you a happy holiday season– Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, and many Blessings in 2023!
Sincerely,
Nadia L. Hohn
- Recap Salon du Livre
- ByBlacks November and December 2022 articles
- Cook N Book: Holiday Edition highlights
- Celebrate with Me
Letter from the editor
This December 2022 newsletter is a little late… okay by a lot. It perhaps comes at no surprise that it has been a busy time for me. Each day, I teach music to kindergarten and primary grade students. I’ve been preparing my students for a big performance. The rest of the time I’ve been working on things writing-related as well as personal. I’ve also spent more time in a small business learning curve, complete with a business and #HST number. This has been accompanied by a big mind-shift as well. It’s caused me to realize that the work that I love to do– writing– is growing and I need a team to help. And although I didn’t do any new writing this month, so many things are required to make my writing career possible beyond it being my passion.
This later newsletter gives me the perfect opportunity to share that I have read more than 222 books so far this year– amazing, brilliant books that I hope to re-read again one day. In the meantime, please check my social media, I will be sharing about these soon.
This is a season of waiting both literally (in my personal life) and spiritually (advent) for me. I look forward to my two week break from work and social media. What will I be doing? Resting and catching up on shows, spending time with family and friends, and taking care of me.
I wish you a happy holiday season– Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, and many Blessings in 2023!
Sincerely,
Nadia L. Hohn
Recap of Salon du Livre in Montréal
Months ago, I was invited to take part in Le Salon du Livre de Montréal. Of course, I said, “Oui Oui.”
On November 25 and 26, I signed copies of #LasurprisedeMalaika (the French translation of #MalaikasSurprise).
It was so good to see familiar faces again— Carol-Anne, Sarah— and meet new ones— Gabriella, Andrew, Julie, and Gabriel. I loved seeing the families who recognized my book and had that spark if familiarity. I also appreciated meeting part of the team that sells my book, including the editor of my French translation Marlène and Chantal, vice-president of the French division.
I also met a #ScaredySquirrel named Frisson.
One thing I loved to do is speak in my second language. I didn’t get the opportunity to attend #Frenchimmersion as a child or teen, but I made up for it by taking high school courses after Grade (when they were mandatory) as well as in university. I really learned to speak French after completing two free summer language immersion programs and worked in a daycare and Francophonie Games in Quebec and Nova Scotia (sponsored by the Canadian government).
Then I began a series of more courses and jobs in which I worked in French, including becoming a core French teacher in elementary schools.
This all took place more than ten years before I had the chance to visit France. 🇫🇷
I say all that because at times, it felt almost impossible and too difficult to become bilingual. But attaining this goal was all preparing me to be an author who can communicate— present, read, edit, voice over— passably in French.
On Thursday, November 24, I had the pleasure of visiting #CoronationElementarySchool while in #Montreal. This was my first in-person school author visit since 2019.
I received a warm welcome 🙏🏾 from staff and kindergarten students. It was such a pleasure sharing #MalaikasWinterCarnival and #lecarnavaldeMalaika— in English and French— with this group. They were such an attentive and enthusiastic learners.
Not only had children read the stories, but they had done amazing artwork to show their understanding too.
When I present to such a young group, I bring decades of experience as an educator. This really is my favourite age group when their eyes are filled with wonder, courage and possibility.
Representation matters. The school has a diverse student population and the staff reflect that. The photo with some of the teachers means a lot to me. Being a Black teacher in Canada with #Caribbean roots, like the women here, there is an instant sisterhood. I can’t imagine the positive impact that they will have on their students at such a young age. (I didn’t have my first #Black teacher until grad school and my first #Caribbean woman teacher until my second Masters degree.)
Presenting at this school was professional development for me as a teacher. I noticed the benefits of small class sizes, French immersion, and an in-staff spiritual/character educator.
Thank you for these lovely ☺️ gifts 🎁, support, encouragement, and hugs.
Thanks also to author #BonnieFarmer and @kidsbookcentre for helping to make this possible.
Thanks again to the #ScholasticCanada 🇨🇦team and everyone who bought books and came to my signing.
Months ago, I was invited to take part in Le Salon du Livre de Montréal. Of course, I said, “Oui Oui.”
On November 25 and 26, I signed copies of #LasurprisedeMalaika (the French translation of #MalaikasSurprise).
It was so good to see familiar faces again— Carol-Anne, Sarah— and meet new ones— Gabriella, Andrew, Julie, and Gabriel. I loved seeing the families who recognized my book and had that spark if familiarity. I also appreciated meeting part of the team that sells my book, including the editor of my French translation Marlène and Chantal, vice-president of the French division.
I also met a #ScaredySquirrel named Frisson.
One thing I loved to do is speak in my second language. I didn’t get the opportunity to attend #Frenchimmersion as a child or teen, but I made up for it by taking high school courses after Grade (when they were mandatory) as well as in university. I really learned to speak French after completing two free summer language immersion programs and worked in a daycare and Francophonie Games in Quebec and Nova Scotia (sponsored by the Canadian government).
Then I began a series of more courses and jobs in which I worked in French, including becoming a core French teacher in elementary schools.
This all took place more than ten years before I had the chance to visit France. 🇫🇷
I say all that because at times, it felt almost impossible and too difficult to become bilingual. But attaining this goal was all preparing me to be an author who can communicate— present, read, edit, voice over— passably in French.
On Thursday, November 24, I had the pleasure of visiting #CoronationElementarySchool while in #Montreal. This was my first in-person school author visit since 2019.
I received a warm welcome 🙏🏾 from staff and kindergarten students. It was such a pleasure sharing #MalaikasWinterCarnival and #lecarnavaldeMalaika— in English and French— with this group. They were such an attentive and enthusiastic learners.
Not only had children read the stories, but they had done amazing artwork to show their understanding too.
When I present to such a young group, I bring decades of experience as an educator. This really is my favourite age group when their eyes are filled with wonder, courage and possibility.
Representation matters. The school has a diverse student population and the staff reflect that. The photo with some of the teachers means a lot to me. Being a Black teacher in Canada with #Caribbean roots, like the women here, there is an instant sisterhood. I can’t imagine the positive impact that they will have on their students at such a young age. (I didn’t have my first #Black teacher until grad school and my first #Caribbean woman teacher until my second Masters degree.)
Presenting at this school was professional development for me as a teacher. I noticed the benefits of small class sizes, French immersion, and an in-staff spiritual/character educator.
Thank you for these lovely ☺️ gifts 🎁, support, encouragement, and hugs.
Thanks also to author #BonnieFarmer and @kidsbookcentre for helping to make this possible.
Thanks again to the #ScholasticCanada 🇨🇦team and everyone who bought books and came to my signing.
ByBlacks November and December 2022 articles
Check out my latest articles for #ByBlacks.
In November, I interviewed two #BlackCanadian #youngadult #fantasy authors— #SarahRaughley and #LiselleSambury.
I also shout out to contributors in the #Black #SFF #Afrofuturism space (like #NjeriDamaliCampbell and #NaloHopkinson) in Canada. Plus I offer a list of books you can read if you love #BlackPanther, #WakandaForever, and others outside everyday realities. (Sarah and Liselle offer theirs too.)
In December, I shared 36 English language books 📚 written and traditionally published by #BlackCanadian authors in 2022 that you can gift this holiday season.
Authors provided favourite quotes from their books OR a book synopsis was provided by the publisher.
You can find the links below.
https://byblacks.com/entertainment/books/item/3301-if-you-love-black-panther-then-you-ll-love-these-books
https://byblacks.com/entertainment/books/item/3317-celebrate-black-canadian-authors-this-holiday-season-withthese-36-books
Check out my latest articles for #ByBlacks.
In November, I interviewed two #BlackCanadian #youngadult #fantasy authors— #SarahRaughley and #LiselleSambury.
I also shout out to contributors in the #Black #SFF #Afrofuturism space (like #NjeriDamaliCampbell and #NaloHopkinson) in Canada. Plus I offer a list of books you can read if you love #BlackPanther, #WakandaForever, and others outside everyday realities. (Sarah and Liselle offer theirs too.)
In December, I shared 36 English language books 📚 written and traditionally published by #BlackCanadian authors in 2022 that you can gift this holiday season.
Authors provided favourite quotes from their books OR a book synopsis was provided by the publisher.
You can find the links below.
https://byblacks.com/entertainment/books/item/3301-if-you-love-black-panther-then-you-ll-love-these-books
https://byblacks.com/entertainment/books/item/3317-celebrate-black-canadian-authors-this-holiday-season-withthese-36-books
Cook N Book Holiday Edition Highlights
Thanks to everyone who attended COOK N BOOK: Holiday Edition!
Author Sadé Smith and I shared our books 📚— #GrannysKitchen and #MalaikasSurprise—, the new ones to come, and our favourite Jamaican-Canadian 🇯🇲 🇨🇦 holiday traditions on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
If you missed it, the full video is posted on our Instagram profiles: @nadialhohn_author and @stc_smith. (I have also posted the video on my Facebook page.)
Buy #GrannysKitchen and all #Malaikaseries books at your favourite book retailer.
To pre-order our upcoming books (#MalaikaCarnivalQueen and #JulieandtheMangoTree), please visit the links in our bios.
Thanks to everyone who attended COOK N BOOK: Holiday Edition!
Author Sadé Smith and I shared our books 📚— #GrannysKitchen and #MalaikasSurprise—, the new ones to come, and our favourite Jamaican-Canadian 🇯🇲 🇨🇦 holiday traditions on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
If you missed it, the full video is posted on our Instagram profiles: @nadialhohn_author and @stc_smith. (I have also posted the video on my Facebook page.)
Buy #GrannysKitchen and all #Malaikaseries books at your favourite book retailer.
To pre-order our upcoming books (#MalaikaCarnivalQueen and #JulieandtheMangoTree), please visit the links in our bios.
Celebrate with Me
My copy of #CelebratewithMe just arrived in the mail yesterday. I'm so excited to be a part of this collection. And I love that it helps support a good cause. Stay tuned for my selfie 📸 photoshoot.
I am a contributor to a new book called CELEBRATE WITH ME. My contribution is called KWANZAA. I can’t wait to get my copies. Thanks to editor Laura Gladwin, illustrator Dawn Cardona, and the team at Magic Cat Publishing and Abram Kids.
Upcoming Events
My copy of #CelebratewithMe just arrived in the mail yesterday. I'm so excited to be a part of this collection. And I love that it helps support a good cause. Stay tuned for my selfie 📸 photoshoot.
I am a contributor to a new book called CELEBRATE WITH ME. My contribution is called KWANZAA. I can’t wait to get my copies. Thanks to editor Laura Gladwin, illustrator Dawn Cardona, and the team at Magic Cat Publishing and Abram Kids.
Upcoming Events
Articles and Podcasts
“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
“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, 2022
Toronto, ON, Canada
Toronto, ON, Canada
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