Painting by Nadia L. Hohn, 2018. My self-portrait is becoming an annual tradition.
In this issue…
Dear Readers,
Greeting. I admit it. This newsletter is a little late in getting to you but I hope you are doing well and in good health. It has been a busy summer. Thank you for your supportive comments over the years. It has been a blessing to be a writer and have my words in a published format on the written page. I still balance this with the life of being a teacher. This school year, I will be in a new position teaching music and French to students in Toronto. This is quite a transition for me. Hence, I will continue this Nadia’s Notables Newsletter in the seasonal format. Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Nadia L. Hohn
- Cover Reveal of Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter
- ETFO Writing Award
- Brazil
- Authors Booking Service: Welcome Caroline
- SCBWI LA
- Back to School: Graduate Diploma
- Malaika Number Three and Play
- Summer 2018 Events and Appearances
- Words of Advice
- Important Dates
Dear Readers,
Greeting. I admit it. This newsletter is a little late in getting to you but I hope you are doing well and in good health. It has been a busy summer. Thank you for your supportive comments over the years. It has been a blessing to be a writer and have my words in a published format on the written page. I still balance this with the life of being a teacher. This school year, I will be in a new position teaching music and French to students in Toronto. This is quite a transition for me. Hence, I will continue this Nadia’s Notables Newsletter in the seasonal format. Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Nadia L. Hohn
- Cover Reveal of Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter
2018 ETFO Writing Award
This year, I received the 2018 Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) award for the manuscript of my upcoming book about the late Jamaican poet, Louise Bennett-Coverley better known as Miss Lou. ETFO represents 85, 000 educators in the province of Ontario. I am pleased and honoured that this work, which will be my sixth published book and seventh if you include my contribution to the T-DOT GRIOTS anthology, has already received such a positive response. As we approach what would have been Miss Lou’s 99th birthday on September 7, 2018, I also accept this award is a tribute to my work but also to Miss Lou’s dedication to the education of Jamaica’s young people. Please read here for the media release.
Brazil
In July 2018, I spent an amazing and transformative three weeks in Brazil. I spent my first week travelling solo and researching in Salvador da Bahia, the capital of the Brazilian state where the highest number of Africans were brought during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. I then spent two weeks with American teachers through a program called Brazil Summer Teacher Institute through the Consortium on Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP). With this group of fourteen educators, over ten days, I toured Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo. Lastly, I spent my last week in Sao Paulo solo and thanks to Denise, Colleen, and Ben, especially my tour guides Alissar and Sayuri for organizing such an amazing experience.
This year, I received the 2018 Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) award for the manuscript of my upcoming book about the late Jamaican poet, Louise Bennett-Coverley better known as Miss Lou. ETFO represents 85, 000 educators in the province of Ontario. I am pleased and honoured that this work, which will be my sixth published book and seventh if you include my contribution to the T-DOT GRIOTS anthology, has already received such a positive response. As we approach what would have been Miss Lou’s 99th birthday on September 7, 2018, I also accept this award is a tribute to my work but also to Miss Lou’s dedication to the education of Jamaica’s young people. Please read here for the media release.
Brazil
In July 2018, I spent an amazing and transformative three weeks in Brazil. I spent my first week travelling solo and researching in Salvador da Bahia, the capital of the Brazilian state where the highest number of Africans were brought during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. I then spent two weeks with American teachers through a program called Brazil Summer Teacher Institute through the Consortium on Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP). With this group of fourteen educators, over ten days, I toured Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo. Lastly, I spent my last week in Sao Paulo solo and thanks to Denise, Colleen, and Ben, especially my tour guides Alissar and Sayuri for organizing such an amazing experience.
Authors Booking Service: Welcome Caroline
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Caroline as the new president of Authors Booking Service (ABS). ABS has been a one-stop shop to connect authors and illustrators to readers since 2006. I have been a member and presenter since 2017. Please check out their website and my presentation page in order to book me at your school.
SCBWI LA 2018
In August 2018, I had the pleasure of attending my very first Los Angeles conference for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). SCBWI has two annual conferences that take place in two cities— LA and New York City. Previously, I have attended the NYC SCBWI Conference in 2015 and 2016. This is an expensive event but well worth it. Picture 1, 500 pre-, self- and traditionally published writers and illustrators with the “rockstars” of the children’s literature world spending 3 to 4 days in workshops, networking, schmoozing, and being inspired. That is what this event was for me. Please check out the highlight reel here. You will see a familiar face at 10:06/10:07
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Caroline as the new president of Authors Booking Service (ABS). ABS has been a one-stop shop to connect authors and illustrators to readers since 2006. I have been a member and presenter since 2017. Please check out their website and my presentation page in order to book me at your school.
SCBWI LA 2018
In August 2018, I had the pleasure of attending my very first Los Angeles conference for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). SCBWI has two annual conferences that take place in two cities— LA and New York City. Previously, I have attended the NYC SCBWI Conference in 2015 and 2016. This is an expensive event but well worth it. Picture 1, 500 pre-, self- and traditionally published writers and illustrators with the “rockstars” of the children’s literature world spending 3 to 4 days in workshops, networking, schmoozing, and being inspired. That is what this event was for me. Please check out the highlight reel here. You will see a familiar face at 10:06/10:07
Back to School: Graduate Diploma
I have been working on a young adult novel that I have been calling Number 8 for the last seven years. During this time, it has taken on a few manifestations as I work on it and I realized that the research for this novel would require a trip to Brazil. Through aggressive grant applications, I received the funding to make this possible in July 2018. I have also completed three one-on-one critiques this year for this novel and based on all of my feedback, I need some help in pulling it together. Enter: Cherie Dimaline. Cherie is the author of a Canadian best-selling 2017 novel called The Marrow Thieves, a young adult indigenous futurist/science fiction. I read the book earlier this year and it was a Canada Reads finalist in 2018. I also attended a Toronto Public Library workshop a few years ago and Cherie was a panelist. Recently, I saw Cherie speaking at the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) in 2018. Feeling that I needed a mentor to tell my story, I had the feeling that Cherie might be that person. Coincidentally this summer, I learned that Cherie would be on the faculty for Humber College School of Writers Fall 2018. By then, it was already August 2018. I contacted both the school and Cherie and asked if there was any way that I could work with her as my mentor. After a few weeks, I received some wonderful news. I will be working with my first choice. (I have completed this program in 2015 on a middle grade manuscript that I worked on with mentor/author Richard Scrimger. This was my first finished novel manuscript ever.) As I juggle full-time teaching at a new school, writing projects, and other commitments, I know this will be a very intense, busy 20 weeks but it can be done. I am determined to learn all I can in this process and get this manuscript ready for submissions to agents and publishers in 2019.
Malaika Number Three and Play
Great news! There will be a sequel to Malaika’s Winter Carnival (#2), the sequel to Malaika’s Costume (#1). I am calling it Malaika #3 (or, Book #7) and it has been a story that I have had for the past few years so I sat down and wrote it. Malaika #3 is still in development and I have been given a greenlight from Groundwood Books for a release in 2020. I have also been working on a Malaika play manuscript through playwriting courses and now a mentor who will help me complete it. Stay tuned!
Summer 2018 Events and Appearances
It was a busy summer for me with presentations and booksignings. Here is where I was:
Malaika's Carnival Storytime
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 2-3pm
High Park Library
Toronto, ON, CANADA
Malaika's Costume and Winter Carnival Book Signing
Sunday, July 29, 2018 11am-2pm
Chapters Brampton
Brampton, ON, CANADA
Malaika's Costume and Winter Carnival Storytime and Book Signing
Friday, July 27, 2018 11am-3pm
Indigo Yorkdale
Toronto, ON, CANADA
Malaika's Carnival Presentation
Friday, June 8, 2018 10am-12pm
School Presentation in Stouffville, ON
I have been working on a young adult novel that I have been calling Number 8 for the last seven years. During this time, it has taken on a few manifestations as I work on it and I realized that the research for this novel would require a trip to Brazil. Through aggressive grant applications, I received the funding to make this possible in July 2018. I have also completed three one-on-one critiques this year for this novel and based on all of my feedback, I need some help in pulling it together. Enter: Cherie Dimaline. Cherie is the author of a Canadian best-selling 2017 novel called The Marrow Thieves, a young adult indigenous futurist/science fiction. I read the book earlier this year and it was a Canada Reads finalist in 2018. I also attended a Toronto Public Library workshop a few years ago and Cherie was a panelist. Recently, I saw Cherie speaking at the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) in 2018. Feeling that I needed a mentor to tell my story, I had the feeling that Cherie might be that person. Coincidentally this summer, I learned that Cherie would be on the faculty for Humber College School of Writers Fall 2018. By then, it was already August 2018. I contacted both the school and Cherie and asked if there was any way that I could work with her as my mentor. After a few weeks, I received some wonderful news. I will be working with my first choice. (I have completed this program in 2015 on a middle grade manuscript that I worked on with mentor/author Richard Scrimger. This was my first finished novel manuscript ever.) As I juggle full-time teaching at a new school, writing projects, and other commitments, I know this will be a very intense, busy 20 weeks but it can be done. I am determined to learn all I can in this process and get this manuscript ready for submissions to agents and publishers in 2019.
Malaika Number Three and Play
Great news! There will be a sequel to Malaika’s Winter Carnival (#2), the sequel to Malaika’s Costume (#1). I am calling it Malaika #3 (or, Book #7) and it has been a story that I have had for the past few years so I sat down and wrote it. Malaika #3 is still in development and I have been given a greenlight from Groundwood Books for a release in 2020. I have also been working on a Malaika play manuscript through playwriting courses and now a mentor who will help me complete it. Stay tuned!
Summer 2018 Events and Appearances
It was a busy summer for me with presentations and booksignings. Here is where I was:
Malaika's Carnival Storytime
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 2-3pm
High Park Library
Toronto, ON, CANADA
Malaika's Costume and Winter Carnival Book Signing
Sunday, July 29, 2018 11am-2pm
Chapters Brampton
Brampton, ON, CANADA
Malaika's Costume and Winter Carnival Storytime and Book Signing
Friday, July 27, 2018 11am-3pm
Indigo Yorkdale
Toronto, ON, CANADA
Malaika's Carnival Presentation
Friday, June 8, 2018 10am-12pm
School Presentation in Stouffville, ON
Coincidentally saw young adult author Nicole Winter being a patron at High Park Library in Toronto. Thanks for helping me bring in my stuff, Nicole.
My beautiful display at Brampton Chapters store.
Teacher Gail and son visit one of my booksigning events
Storytime to almost 50 toddlers and tots and caregivers at High Park Library
Words of Advice
Find a mentor. We can’t know everything. A mentor can help us eliminate the guess work. They also have experience, perspective, and advice. A mentorship may come at a cost but can be quite valuable. I am currently working with two mentors to help me bring out my stories.
Important Dates
Writers at the Toronto
Reference Library as part of
the
Eh! Series
Find a mentor. We can’t know everything. A mentor can help us eliminate the guess work. They also have experience, perspective, and advice. A mentorship may come at a cost but can be quite valuable. I am currently working with two mentors to help me bring out my stories.
Important Dates
- November 13, 2018 I will be facilitating Get That
Writers at the Toronto
Reference Library as part of
the
Eh! Series
- December 31, 2018 Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter book release
- September 2019 Miss Lou [title to be determined] book release
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