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.

Happy New Year, everyone!

I know what you're thinking. We said that last year and 2021 was no walk in the park.  Losses and gains and hard lessons.  Reminders that we aren't quite in the clear.

Yet 2022 appears all shiny and new. Hopeful and bright-eyed. Kind of like this Bit-moji.

I tend to find more motivation and great momentum at this time of year to start things. 

My goals for this year:

1) Healthy habits, boundaries, and care to maintain my physical and mental health 

2) Nurturing my relationships

3) Completing my two novels (my MFA thesis, another one, both have been in the works for several years) and other projects 

4) Deepening my spiritual life 

5) Preparing for life post-MFA

I hope you find a healthy, hopeful, and happy 2022. 

What are you looking forward to in 2022?

What’s Up Next? January 2022

Mark your calendars 📆 for my upcoming events

I look forward to visiting schools 🏫 this month.

I also look forward to being the special guest speaker at the upcoming Brockton Writers Series on Wednesday, January 12 at 6:30-8pm ET.  See link in my bio.

On Monday, January 17 at 8pm ET, I will be presenting, cohosting, and coordinating the Speakeasy Reading Series. Please stay tuned for details.

On Thursday, January 27, I will be the guest speaker for Managing Your Career Without an Agent, a Writers’ Union of Canada 🇨🇦 (TWUC) Webinar. 

Please stay tuned for details.

Imagine growing up watching the #SantaClaus parade on television throughout your childhood (and adult years) to one day be sitting down and chillin' with #Santa, talking about my first picture book, Malaika's Costume, and its message, as well as our love of playing musical instruments, languages, and Drama class.  Well that is what happened here.  #Santa was really cool.  And not because he lives in the #NorthPole and likes jazz (although that helps). 

​I was so excited that a #MalaikasCostume float was a part of the 117th The Original Santa Claus Parade this year as part of the #TDGradeOneBookGiveaway.  Irene Luxbacher's gorgeous illustrations were brought to life in 3D.

Interacting with a life-size 3D version of my character is surreal andstill gives me chills and they are true to Irene Luxbacher’s gorgeous  vibrant illustrations.

I really do feel lucky.  I know that this is rare for an author. I thank God for this opportunity and I have been blessed by this experience. 🙏🏾 

The fitting song 🎵 you hear is a cover by the #German🇩🇪/#Trinidadian🇹🇹 group Boney M. of the #Tanzanian🇹🇿 song, #Malaika.  I learned about the song after the book's publication.

When I first named this character, I pronounced her name Malika (mal-EEKA) which means queen in #Swahili but then switched it to Malaika (mal-AY- ka) eventually learning that means angel.

I think both names suit her.  There are even more special connections to this name.

When the late Sheila Barry, former publisher at Groundwood Books, acquired my story, she said she thought it would be big.  She was right.

Her story represents resilience, resourcefulness, creativity, community, and family... and reflects diversity and the immigrant experience. 

I wanted to show which illustrations from the picture book were used to inspire the float.

In these images, you will see Malaika with her grandmother and three of her friends, Malcolm, Marcus, and Ravina.

Perhaps the most frequent comment given to Irene Luxbacher’s illustration in all three books of the Malaika series is how gorgeously colourful 😍 they are depicted.

On my two workshop visit and through consultation with regular photo updates, I had a chance to see and comment the different stages in the construction process.

I'm not a professional illustrator but I've always loved to make art (draw, collage, paint, edit videos). Seeing these 3D images up close was amazing and a result of hard work, consultation, teamwork, and creativity. The sculpts are made from Styrofoam and paper mâché, paint, and cloth.

Thank you, Irene, for your art that inspired such a beautiful float.  Thanks to everyone who made this float happen.

 You can still view the Santa Claus Parade for a limited time at the CTV website here or go my Linktree here.