On August 1st  I celebrate 🍾 #Freedom.

Join me July 25 to August 1, 2022 for Carnival Emancipation week.

On August 1, 1834, my ancestors who were enslaved Africans in the then British colony of #Jamaica 🇯🇲 were freed.  We, their descendants, still celebrate this day across the former colonies of #Canada, many #Caribbean islands, #Guyana, the diaspora, and of course, the #UK.  Emancipation Day is the equivalent to #Juneteenth.

I will commemorate and celebrate #Emancipation and #Carnival season week here in #Toronto with videos and posts about #history, #culture, and my books.

My books in the #Malaikaseries celebrate #Carnival, #culture, #family, and #migration. 

I've also written extensively about the #UndergroundRailroad and #Emancipation for blogs, #Owlmagazine, and in three of my 📚 books.  #HarrietTubmanFreedomFighter features the great #Emancipator and #conductor.

Stay tuned!

🎵Song: #RedemptionSong by #Bob Marley

Fun facts: #Redemption Song was written using the words from a speech by #MarcusMosiahGarvey. Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, my parents, and #ancestors all come from Saint Ann , Jamaica. 

​Coming in Fall 2024!

Stay tuned for details.

This number means a lot to me.  In 2010, I got a thyroid cancer diagnosis and it made me realize that I had two wishes— travel and writing a book.

In 2011, I made the decision that I wanted to become a professional writer.

And I made the goal of having ten published books by the time I turn 45.

Well, I turn 45 in August and today, I signed the contract for my eleventh book and it feels real.  It’s official.

I wrote this story in 2020 and it’s the first book that I’ve had represented by my literary agent.  I can’t wait to share this story with you. :-)

I tend to be a very shy piano player.  I’ve studied classical piano since the age of 5 until 19 and off and on since then.  But, I’ve decided to celebrate with 11 book songs. 

I’m also happy to say that I’ll be returning to the elementary teaching classroom this fall to teach part-time primary music.  I’ve waited many, many years for such a position.

Enjoy!

More highlights from the 2022 #Toronto #Caribbean #JuniorCarnival and #FamilyDay on July 16 at #NeilsonPark.

This is my second video and more of a highlight reel of my entire day. 

Thanks 😊 to everyone who came out to the #TorontoCaribbean #JuniorCarnival and #FamilyDay, especially those who visited my table to their TD Grade One Book Giveaway copy #MalaikasCostume or #LecostumedeMalaika, purchase another, and to say “hi”. It was honestly a pleasure for me to be back in the outdoors and in-person cultural events.  I loved 🥰 signing books 📚 and checking out the parade too.

Special thanks to #GroundwoodBooks 📚 #publisher who was also my #editor for #ALikkleMissLou at #OwlkidsBooks, #KarenLi and her kids, for coming to help out.

It was also such a pleasure seeing familiar faces.

My hope for this year’s participation was pretty BIG— I had hoped to have the #MalaikasCostume float from the 2021 #OriginalSantaClaus parade.  This didn’t work out for a few reasons.  But I’m thankful for how quickly Karen, the CCBC, and my #TorontoCaribbeanCarnival contact worked to help make this happen.  I’m happy to have had these moments today.

It was also a pleasure sharing the space with author, #SadéSmith whose book, #GrannysKitchen, debuted last week.  When I reached out to her about this table, without knowing how it would turn out, she said yes.  I can’t wait to read her work.

I enjoyed speaking to parents, educators, and meeting kids and seeing how happy they were to see #Black and #Caribbean books and the authors who write them.

There were more highlights from this event but I think it will be better shown in a reel or video at a later date.

The photos and video footage were taken by me, #parade attendees, authors Yolanda Marshall, Sadé Smith, and Ayana Francis, and publisher Karen.

Happy #Juneteenth!

Two years ago, on June 19 2020, I  organized #kidlit4blacklivescanada, an online event which was in alliance with the original #kidlit4blacklives rally that took place in the US.  It was a chance to heal, grieve, and call to action and to commemorate #Juneteenth. 

The event gained 8, 000+ views and resulted in 3 book deals, offers of representation, and paid book reviewer opportunities for the 22 presenters. 

We had a Black-owned sign language company provide interpretation as well. @tslisto

I organized and hosted this event in less than 10 days with the support of @Groundwood Books, @the_fold, and @A Different Booklist Bookstore and Cultural Centre. 

Watch the video of the full event here: https://youtu.be/ajPy2uE9tNU 

Check out 2 new books that were published as a result of presentations, then contacts made at this event. They are out in 2022: 

- Where Do Your Feelings Live by Catherine Hernandez 

- Dear Black Child by Rahma Mohamed 

Presenting author Dr. Sarah Raughley is now a professor at  Lakehead University.

The presenters were: @nadialhohn_author @jaelrichardson @rahmarodaah @legshernandez @rabia_khokhar @mflowrites @ishtamercurio @sean_mauricette @sean.liburd @knowledgebookstore @authorangelotndongmo @skalibooks @sahlgood @kareativeinterlude  @robinstevensonwrites @zettaelliott @janicelynnmather @s_raughley
@adfrntbooklist @adifferentbooklist_ @ireadcanadian @canscaip @scbwi_canada_east @foldkids @bookflap @brownbookshelfteam  #kidcanlit #cankidlit #diversekidlit #diversecankidlit #diversekidcanlit #independentauthors #independentpublishing @blm_toronto @blm_toronto @harperkids @picturebookseh

​8 years ago today, I signed my contract for #MalaikasCostume, my first picture book.  This award-winning picture book is the first in my 4-book #Malaikaseries.

Thanks #SheilaBarry for believing 🙏🏾 in my story. You were a publisher with vision and a heart for diverse representation in children’s literature, especially in Canada.

May you rest in peace. 

So this just happened...

The title of the fourth book 📚 in the Malaika series is...

MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN!

It comes out in spring 2023 and I can’t wait to share it with you.

MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN began as one tale and split into two and then back into one then two. The first part of the story became book 3, MALAIKA’S SURPRISE, which was published in 2021.

And soon, you will learn more about Malaika’s story.

MALAIKA, CARNIVAL QUEEN will be published by Groundwood Books and is the first of two books I will be releasing in 2023. (My eighth and ninth books.)

Illustrations by the talented Irene Luxbacher.

The ARCs have arrived!

Les ARCS sont arrivés!

Les copies de "La surprise de Malaika" (la version française de "Malaika's Surprise") sont ici!

Je suis très impressionée par la beauté, le "look", et la qualité de ces livres traduits. 

Le titre de ette chanson est "Sourire" (smile en anglais) par le duo-soeurs Les Nubians et maintenant, je souris beaucoup. 🥰

Je voudrais remercier l'illustratrice Irene Luxbacher, les équipes Éditions Scholastic et Groundwood Books.

Les autres livres dans la série Malaika (Malaika's Costume et Malaika's Winter Carnival) sont disponibles en français aussi.

Pour achetez “La surprise de Malaika”, visitez le lien dans mon bio. Pour achetez “Le costume de Malaika” et “Le carnaval de Malaika”, visitez mon site web au lien dans mon bio.

Finally, I have the diverse French language books 📚 I wished for as a Core French teacher.

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.