In This Issue:
1. Back to School (Early Years Literacy at Ryerson, Writing Science Fiction at GBC, Playwriting at Tarragon Theatre)
2. Tribute to Sheila Barry
3. CANSCAIP PYI
4. Sankofa’s Pen Meet-Ups
5. Highlights and Philadelphia
6. Talking to Librarians about Diversity
7. Words of Advice
8. Important dates in November, January to May 2018
1. Back to School (Early Years Literacy at Ryerson, Writing Science Fiction at GBC, Playwriting at Tarragon Theatre)
2. Tribute to Sheila Barry
3. CANSCAIP PYI
4. Sankofa’s Pen Meet-Ups
5. Highlights and Philadelphia
6. Talking to Librarians about Diversity
7. Words of Advice
8. Important dates in November, January to May 2018
Dear Readers,
As the holiday season approaches, it is the perfect time to buy books. There are some spectacular books to give the children in your life. Books inspire, promote learning, develop literacy skills, endorse family and community bonding, and support creators. A great gift is my new picture book Malaika’s Winter Carnivalwhich is just in time for the winter season. Also, this time is perfect for celebrations. It is also an award season. A huge congratulations to the winners of the TD Canada Children’s Book Awards, Governor Generals, and Giller Prize. This is the time for Canadian authors to shine!
I am also thankful and grateful for my process. It has been a long road and I am thankful for the opportunities Sheila Barry gave to me. If it were not for her, my picture books may not have found the home that they did at Groundwood Books, a publisher that aims to produce diverse work. I am sorry to have to say goodbye to such a kind, talented, encouraging, and positive publisher in Sheila. May she rest in peace!
Especially during this holiday season, spend time with your loved ones and hold them close.
Truly,
Nadia L. Hohn
As the holiday season approaches, it is the perfect time to buy books. There are some spectacular books to give the children in your life. Books inspire, promote learning, develop literacy skills, endorse family and community bonding, and support creators. A great gift is my new picture book Malaika’s Winter Carnivalwhich is just in time for the winter season. Also, this time is perfect for celebrations. It is also an award season. A huge congratulations to the winners of the TD Canada Children’s Book Awards, Governor Generals, and Giller Prize. This is the time for Canadian authors to shine!
I am also thankful and grateful for my process. It has been a long road and I am thankful for the opportunities Sheila Barry gave to me. If it were not for her, my picture books may not have found the home that they did at Groundwood Books, a publisher that aims to produce diverse work. I am sorry to have to say goodbye to such a kind, talented, encouraging, and positive publisher in Sheila. May she rest in peace!
Especially during this holiday season, spend time with your loved ones and hold them close.
Truly,
Nadia L. Hohn
1. Back to School (Early Years Literacy at Ryerson, Writing Science Fiction at GBC, Playwriting at Tarragon Theatre)
I am back at school [AGAIN] and it’s great. I am taking courses that will compliment my study goals as well as strengthen my abilities as a writer. I am completing a course in Early Years Literacy as one of two final courses before completing my diploma in Early Childhood Music Education (ECME) at Ryerson University Chang School, so it is after hours. I am also taking courses to improve my writing skills. First, I am taking Writing Science Fiction with Nina Muteanu where I learned more about the ins and outs of writing science fiction which could be applied to other genres as well.
2. Tribute to Sheila Barry
A time to mourn. My heart is broken. I learned today that my publisher/editor Sheila Barry has passed away. Sheila was kind and honest with her feedback as an editor, a mother, and a wife. She believed in my abilities as a writer and in my stories when I didn't feel "good enough". I am honoured to have known and worked with Sheila. She acquired and edited both of my first picture books, “Malaika’s Costume” and “Malaika’s Winter Carnival”. There was a certain magic about how she worked, her attention to details, her warmth of spirit, how she brightened the room, and how she said my name "Nod-cha." I always wondered about how she was able to pull together or identify what artist-author combination would work. How did she know which books would go on to win awards? How she helped Groundwood Books become one of the best publishers in North America. How she took risks like publishing my story about a little girl written in standard English and Caribbean patois? How she was committed to telling much needed diverse stories in the children's market? She was an advocate and has left a wonderful legacy. The last time I saw Sheila was at my book launch at A Different Booklist in August 2017. We were supposed to meet again after that but it didn't happen. Sheila was sick and I wish we had more time. I prayed she would pull through. We shared cancer stories too. I know how much she wanted to get better and how she really tried to be there until the end. This happened way too quickly and as I've come to learn from losing my brother in July, life is way too short and things can change suddenly. I will miss Sheila Barry. Prayers up, hugs, and condolences for her family and friends and for the Groundwood Books family. The Canadian Children's literature has lost a few this year.
I am back at school [AGAIN] and it’s great. I am taking courses that will compliment my study goals as well as strengthen my abilities as a writer. I am completing a course in Early Years Literacy as one of two final courses before completing my diploma in Early Childhood Music Education (ECME) at Ryerson University Chang School, so it is after hours. I am also taking courses to improve my writing skills. First, I am taking Writing Science Fiction with Nina Muteanu where I learned more about the ins and outs of writing science fiction which could be applied to other genres as well.
2. Tribute to Sheila Barry
A time to mourn. My heart is broken. I learned today that my publisher/editor Sheila Barry has passed away. Sheila was kind and honest with her feedback as an editor, a mother, and a wife. She believed in my abilities as a writer and in my stories when I didn't feel "good enough". I am honoured to have known and worked with Sheila. She acquired and edited both of my first picture books, “Malaika’s Costume” and “Malaika’s Winter Carnival”. There was a certain magic about how she worked, her attention to details, her warmth of spirit, how she brightened the room, and how she said my name "Nod-cha." I always wondered about how she was able to pull together or identify what artist-author combination would work. How did she know which books would go on to win awards? How she helped Groundwood Books become one of the best publishers in North America. How she took risks like publishing my story about a little girl written in standard English and Caribbean patois? How she was committed to telling much needed diverse stories in the children's market? She was an advocate and has left a wonderful legacy. The last time I saw Sheila was at my book launch at A Different Booklist in August 2017. We were supposed to meet again after that but it didn't happen. Sheila was sick and I wish we had more time. I prayed she would pull through. We shared cancer stories too. I know how much she wanted to get better and how she really tried to be there until the end. This happened way too quickly and as I've come to learn from losing my brother in July, life is way too short and things can change suddenly. I will miss Sheila Barry. Prayers up, hugs, and condolences for her family and friends and for the Groundwood Books family. The Canadian Children's literature has lost a few this year.
3. CANSCAIP PYI
On November 11, I attended CANSCAIP Packaging Your Imagination (PYI) conference 2017. I attended a workshop presented by author Emil Sher about how to turn your picture book into a play. My second session was a panel about legalities in the children’s book industry. I also attended a session on being an author-ilustrator and making a living as a children’s author who also writes in other genres. I learned a lot and it was great seeing my colleagues in Canadian children's literature but we need to have more diverse voices and representation too.
4. Sankofa’s Pen Meet-Ups
Moving this to Facebook Live in a monthly format. The next one is on Saturday, December 9, 2017. Tune into Facebook Live on my Facebook page.
5. Highlights Foundation and Philadelphia Trip
It was a very short trip to Philadelphia but hopefully not the last. I saw all this in about 4 hours, after I did storytime at Momo's Tree House and checked in to my lodging. Covered City Hall and public art like this giant afropick, the Liberty Bell, Mother Bethel church (the first A.M.E. African Methodist Episcopalian Church, Harriet Tubman's spiritual home after she escaped slavery and settled in Pennsylvania, the oldest plot of land consistently owned by African-Americans), Blackbird Pizzeria (a vegan pizzeria I discovered by accident), the African-American Museum of Philadelphia (AAMP), Jamaican history, and other interesting points of interest. I loved my Air B n B too. Definitely marked some places for my next visit.
The Fundamentals of Biography workshop I took at the Highlights Foundation in Milanville/Boyds Mill, Pennsylvania was a blessing! Every time I come to this place, I produce literary magic and my mind is abuzz with more stories and ideas. I benefited hugely from this time away to focus on one of my picture books and brainstorm ideas for others. I learned so much from the experience of working with both Cynthia Levinson and Bethany Hegedus. Bethany helped me to develop and shape a picture book manuscript that I had been working on for six years. After having workshopped this manuscript, I was able to develop my story further. Bethany and I both felt it was ready and I have begun to submit this manuscript to publishers and agents in Canada and the United States.
On November 11, I attended CANSCAIP Packaging Your Imagination (PYI) conference 2017. I attended a workshop presented by author Emil Sher about how to turn your picture book into a play. My second session was a panel about legalities in the children’s book industry. I also attended a session on being an author-ilustrator and making a living as a children’s author who also writes in other genres. I learned a lot and it was great seeing my colleagues in Canadian children's literature but we need to have more diverse voices and representation too.
4. Sankofa’s Pen Meet-Ups
Moving this to Facebook Live in a monthly format. The next one is on Saturday, December 9, 2017. Tune into Facebook Live on my Facebook page.
5. Highlights Foundation and Philadelphia Trip
It was a very short trip to Philadelphia but hopefully not the last. I saw all this in about 4 hours, after I did storytime at Momo's Tree House and checked in to my lodging. Covered City Hall and public art like this giant afropick, the Liberty Bell, Mother Bethel church (the first A.M.E. African Methodist Episcopalian Church, Harriet Tubman's spiritual home after she escaped slavery and settled in Pennsylvania, the oldest plot of land consistently owned by African-Americans), Blackbird Pizzeria (a vegan pizzeria I discovered by accident), the African-American Museum of Philadelphia (AAMP), Jamaican history, and other interesting points of interest. I loved my Air B n B too. Definitely marked some places for my next visit.
The Fundamentals of Biography workshop I took at the Highlights Foundation in Milanville/Boyds Mill, Pennsylvania was a blessing! Every time I come to this place, I produce literary magic and my mind is abuzz with more stories and ideas. I benefited hugely from this time away to focus on one of my picture books and brainstorm ideas for others. I learned so much from the experience of working with both Cynthia Levinson and Bethany Hegedus. Bethany helped me to develop and shape a picture book manuscript that I had been working on for six years. After having workshopped this manuscript, I was able to develop my story further. Bethany and I both felt it was ready and I have begun to submit this manuscript to publishers and agents in Canada and the United States.
6. Talking to Librarians about Diversity
On November 20, 2017, I presented my talk “Who Will Hold the Pen?” to Toronto public librarians at the Northern District Library. This was an hour long session focusing on diversity in children’s literature, my books, and a discussion. Given that this was days after Sheila Barry’s passing, I dedicated the talk to her. I quoted various scholars, authors, and researchers in this field including Zetta Elliott, Jacqueline Woodson, Junot Diaz, and Sheila Barry. I also provided the latest figures on diversity in publishing, which surprised many about how far we still need to go. I was thankful for this opportunity and looking forward to more like these.
7. Words of Advice: CONTESTS!!!
Contests, contests, contests! There are a literally hundreds of contests that writers can enter and I am just begun to enter more of them this December 2017. A contest can help you to polish your writing and get it to a certain level, get critiques and freebies like magazine subscriptions, publicity for your other work, and cash prizes. Some of these contests have entry fees and others do not. All you need to do is an internet search for “writing contests” or “writing competitions” and you will get thousands of results. Some notable writing magazines maintain these lists as well such as www.writersdigest.com and www.thewriterlife.com. Good luck!
8. Important dates in December to May 2018 (Book me! [email protected])
Saturday, December 9, 2017 2-4pm Reading and signing at Knowledge Bookstore in Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Late January 2018 (specific dates and times TBA) Quebec City/Montreal readings and signings
Friday, February 2, 2018 10:30-11:30am Malton Library, Mississauga, ON
Saturday, February 3, 2018 11am-12pm Richmond Hill Library, Richmond Hill, ON
Saturday, February 3, 2018 Totsapalooza in Toronto, ON
Saturday, February 10 Books of Wonder (location, time TBA)
Saturday, Febraury 10 Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, February 11, 2018 Books of Wonder (location, time TBA)
Friday, February 16 School presentation, Markham, ON
Saturday, February 17 2-5pm Yonge & Eglinton Indigo bookstore, Toronto, ON
Tuesday, Febraury 20, 2018 1-2pm Parkdale Public Library in Toronto, ON
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 1-2pm Barbara Frum Public Library in Toronto, ON
Thursday, February 22 and Friday, February 23 School Presentation, Brampton, ON
Saturday, February 24 High Park Public Library in Toronto, ON
Sunday, March 18 Vaughan Chapter’s Bookstore in Vaughan, ON
May 2018 (date, time TBA) Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, MA
6. Talking to Librarians about Diversity
On November 20, 2017, I presented my talk “Who Will Hold the Pen?” to Toronto public librarians at the Northern District Library. This was an hour long session focusing on diversity in children’s literature, my books, and a discussion. Given that this was days after Sheila Barry’s passing, I dedicated the talk to her. I quoted various scholars, authors, and researchers in this field including Zetta Elliott, Jacqueline Woodson, Junot Diaz, and Sheila Barry. I also provided the latest figures on diversity in publishing, which surprised many about how far we still need to go. I was thankful for this opportunity and looking forward to more like these.
7. Words of Advice: CONTESTS!!!
Contests, contests, contests! There are a literally hundreds of contests that writers can enter and I am just begun to enter more of them this December 2017. A contest can help you to polish your writing and get it to a certain level, get critiques and freebies like magazine subscriptions, publicity for your other work, and cash prizes. Some of these contests have entry fees and others do not. All you need to do is an internet search for “writing contests” or “writing competitions” and you will get thousands of results. Some notable writing magazines maintain these lists as well such as www.writersdigest.com and www.thewriterlife.com. Good luck!
8. Important dates in December to May 2018 (Book me! [email protected])
Saturday, December 9, 2017 2-4pm Reading and signing at Knowledge Bookstore in Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Late January 2018 (specific dates and times TBA) Quebec City/Montreal readings and signings
Friday, February 2, 2018 10:30-11:30am Malton Library, Mississauga, ON
Saturday, February 3, 2018 11am-12pm Richmond Hill Library, Richmond Hill, ON
Saturday, February 3, 2018 Totsapalooza in Toronto, ON
Saturday, February 10 Books of Wonder (location, time TBA)
Saturday, Febraury 10 Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, February 11, 2018 Books of Wonder (location, time TBA)
Friday, February 16 School presentation, Markham, ON
Saturday, February 17 2-5pm Yonge & Eglinton Indigo bookstore, Toronto, ON
Tuesday, Febraury 20, 2018 1-2pm Parkdale Public Library in Toronto, ON
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 1-2pm Barbara Frum Public Library in Toronto, ON
Thursday, February 22 and Friday, February 23 School Presentation, Brampton, ON
Saturday, February 24 High Park Public Library in Toronto, ON
Sunday, March 18 Vaughan Chapter’s Bookstore in Vaughan, ON
May 2018 (date, time TBA) Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, MA
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