In June 2019, I sat down with the Owlkids Books marketing team to film this Behind the Book! interview about my upcoming book, A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice.  My sixth book comes officially out in less than two weeks— on August 15, 2019.  But several stores already have copies (and signed ones at Munro's Books in Victoria and Kids Books in Vancouver).  Buy it online at Owlkids Books, Amazon, or your local bookstore.  Just in time for Miss Lou’s 100th anniversary.  (She was born on September 7, 1919).   My Vancouver book launch is on August 15, 2019 4-8pm at the Historic Joy Kogawa House. My Toronto book launch is on September 14, 2019 at A Different Booklist.  My New York City storytimes are on September 21st at Bank Street Bookstore in Manhattan and 22nd at both Greenlight bookstores in Fort Greene and Prospect Park, Brooklyn.  I have also had some amazing reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and there are more to come.  For more upcoming events and updates, visit here.  For more press articles, visit here.

     After spending a year teaching in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and upon returning to Toronto in 2017, I began to seek opportunities to help me grow as a writer and published author as well locate funding sources.  Upon visiting the Writers’ Trust website, I learned about a few writing residencies to which I could apply— spaces in which writers could focus on projects and in which the costs of lodging were covered. My inner traveler was excited by these opportunities but since I am also a full-time elementary school teacher in Toronto, it was challenging to find a writing residency that I could complete during my summer holiday.    My challenge was that many writing residencies took place during the school year or up to two years after the application deadline when life is harder to predict down the road. On this website, I learned about the Writing Residency at the Historic Joy Kogawa House. I knew a little bit about Joy Kogawa. When one of my younger sisters attended gifted class in elementary school, the selected book that year was her  novel Obasan.  (Perhaps this selection was welcomed then because my sister also had an obsession with Japan and all things Japanese. So she told me all about this book.) As this was Toronto in the 1980s, there was very little taught in school about the internment of Japanese-Canadians during World War II. So what my sister gained from Obasan which she then passed on to me was important. I also knew about some of Joy’s picture books like Naomi’s Tree and Naomi’s Road.  What an opportunity this would be! So I applied.
​

​In April 2018, I was blessed with some great news in an e-mail!  My application was selected and I could become a writer in residence at the Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada).  They could only offer me a spot in July and August 2019. Would I accept? Of course. Fast forward to summer 2019 and here I am!   

      During my residency, I will be primarily editing my novel manuscripts as well as picture books.  I will be running workshops and presenting in Vancouver and Victoria. On August 15, I look forward to celebrating the release of my sixth book, one that I began seven years ago, A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice, just in time for the 100th anniversary of this Jamaican poet.  I also have some important decisions to make about my writing career. 
 
     Being a writer in residence at the Historic Joy Kogawa House is kind of like living in a museum.  There are tours and visitors on occasion. I look around at framed photographs, paintings, and plaques.  I wash dishes and brush my teeth in a kitchen and bathroom from which a family was forced to flee long ago.  I try to imagine the chatter of Joy and her family going through daily routines like getting ready for school and then the imminent silence in 1942.   I imagine there are a great number of stories that each wall and corner of this 1912 house may hold. I wonder if the Marpole railroad tracks along the nearby Arbutus Trail which may have led to train stations crammed with Japanese-Canadians clinging on to their wares, anxiety in the air, trying to make sense of their lost livelihoods and sense of dignity. 

Being at the Historic Joy Kogawa House aligns with my interests in social justice education, community-building, and, undoubtedly, writing.  And besides these, let’s face it. Vancouver is gorgeous in the summertime. (The last time I was here it was a chilly damp December in the early 2000s.)  I have taken the gondola and chairlift up to Whistler and Blackcomb peaks, swum in the Kitsilano saltwater pool, watched the steam pour from the Gastown clock, visited the Starbucks roastery and Pike Place Market in Seattle, marveled at the effortless diversity of leaves, trees, and vibrant flowers each day.  I am finding my way in this great city.  ​

To read the original post on the Historic Joy Kogawa House site, click here.

In this issue...
● TD Children’s Book Week Tour 2019
● Spring 2019 Tour and Events Recap
● LIVE FROM VANCOUVER: Writer in Residence is in the House
● A Likkle Miss Lou Reviews are Rolling In
● Important Upcoming Dates here to edit
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Dear Reader:

It is summer time.  When it is summer time for me, it means a time in which I get a bulk of my writing and editing completed.  It also means working on new projects and reprioritizing.  There have been a few challenges along the way.  My laptop "died" a month ago and I've been working from my ipad and cell-phones, but I need to still see what can be retrieved from the damaged harddrive (sadly a very costly endeavour), but I managed to salvage unpublished novel and picture book manuscripts from various other sources. (Another reminder for writers to backup EVERYTHING.) I placed my writing in five separate binders.  After 5 published books between 2013 to 2018, a 6th forthcoming in August, and a 7th in 2021, I still look at these manuscripts with disbelief, wonder, amazement, anticipation, and fear. Pinch me. My s.o. says, "I got this" and I'm trying to remember that.  Happy reading and writing but most of all happy summer!

Nadia



​
TD Children’s Book Week Tour 2019

​May 4-10, 2019 was Canadian Children’s Book Week.  To commemorate this occasion, TD Canada Trust Bank teamed up with the ​Canadian Children’s Book Centre to tour 38 authors, illustrators, and storytellers to hundreds of schools across Canada.  After having applied to participate for three consecutive years, I was selected to participate as a touring presenter. Alberta was not my first choice to be honest. (I chose Nunavut, Yukon, and Prince Edward Island— the only Canadian province I have not yet visited— as my top picks.). However, southern Alberta won me over as I discovered regions of Canada I had never visited before— Calgary, Lethbridge, and small towns skirting the Rocky Mountains.  Below you will find a recap of my week.

To see my cover on the Strathmore library news click here. 

LIVE FROM VANCOUVER: Writer in Residence is in the House 
     In fall 2017, I began to seek out opportunities for being a writer in residence.  My challenge was that many of these residencies took place during the school year. Also, many of the residencies took place up to two years after the application date.  It was difficult for me to envision where exactly life might bring me so far in advance. However, last year I was blessed with some great news! In April 2018, I received some news.  My application was selected to be a writer in residence at the Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) but they could only offer it in July and August. Would I accept?  Of course. Fast forward to 2019 and here I am! The house is named after Japanese-Canadian author and activist Joy Kogawa who was evicted with her family during the early 1940s to interned along with thousands of others in remote parts of Canada.  Joy continues to write and advocate for peace and educate generations about the horrors of her experience. Being here aligns with my dedication to social justice, community its, and the arts. I will be running workshops and presenting in Vancouver and Victoria plus working on edits for my novels.  I also have some important decisions to make. For information on events, please visit my website or see the graphic below.

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A Likkle Miss Lou Reviews are Rolling In
      On August 13, 2019, A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice, my sixth book will be released.  September 7th, 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the birthday of this great Jamaican cultural ambassador, playwright, poet, author, storyteller, and actress.  I am thrilled to see the responses and reviews so far which include my very first ever Publishers Weekly review. Here is a sampler. I also look forward to upcoming reviews from the Globe & Mail, Quill & Quire, and other publications.  

“This joyful book celebrates the importance of language and taking it as your own, from early.”
— Kirkus Reviews (May 26, 2019) 

“Bright illustrations in creamily vivid color by Fernandes capture the richness of life reflected in the language that so captivated Coverley and conveys how the things she sees reappear on the pages she writes.”
— Publishers Weekly (July 3, 2019)

“This biography of the poet as a young girl is a tribute not only to her literary beginnings but also to patois itself.”
— Booklist (July 2019)

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​

Important Dates
Please check  www.nadialhohn.com/events for updates.

Summer (July/August) 2019 
Writer-in-Residence
​Joy Kogawa House
Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

• July 15-18, 2019 Malaika’s Caribbean Carnival Storytime and Workshops at Spare Time Fun Centre
• July 25, 2019 Diversity in #kidcanlit: How are we doing? Panel on Diversity in Children and Young Adult Literature with Raymond Nakamura, Mahtab Narsimhan, and Robin Stevenson, moderated by Nadia L. Hohn with the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Canada West, 7:30-9pm, $5
• Date TBA Teen Writing Workshop
• Date TBA A LIKKLE MISS LOU Vancouver Book birthday celebration

Greater Victoria Public Libraries 
Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)

• July 22, 2019 Malaika’s Carnival Storytime at Oak Bay Branch library, 1442 Monterey Avenue, 10:30-11:30am
• July 22, 2019 Teen Writing Workshop at Nellie McClung Branch library, 3950 Cedar Hill Road, 2:30-5:30pm
• July 23, 2019 Breaking into Kidlit and YAlit workshop, Greater Victoria Central Library, 735 Broughton Street, 5:30-8:30pm

A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice

• August 15, 2019 Publication Date
• ​Date TBA A LIKKLE MISS LOU Book birthday celebration
• September 5-12, 2019 Miss Lou 100th Birthday Celebration, c/oJamaican Canadian Association, Jamaica
• September 14, 2019​ 2-5pm A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice Toronto Book Launch, A Different Booklist Bookstore and Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON
• September 15, 2019 1:15pm Telling Tales Festival,Westfield Heritage Village (Early Settlement Area, Rockton, ON, Canada
• September 21, 2019 10:30-11:30am Storytime, Bank Street Bookstore, Manhattan, NY, USA
• September 22, 2019 A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice Storytime, Greenlight Bookstores, 11:30am Fort Green location, 1:30pm Prospect Park location, Brooklyn, NY, USA

September 27-29, 2019 
​FOLD Kids Festival, Brampton, ON

October 5, 2019
Brampton Chapters
Brampton, ON

October 30, 2019
BIPOC Writers Connect
Location TBA
Toronto, ON

November 1​6, 2019
Knowledge Bookstore
Brampton, ON

November 17, 2019
Draft Reading Series
Location TBA
Toronto, ON

November 21-24, 2019
2019 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention
Baltimore, MD, USA

Spring 2021
Malaika’s Surprise release date
Details to follow

    As of the day I finish writing this blogpost (July 12, 2019), I have read 64% books of my 2019 reading goal so I am at 127/200. In the past two and a half months, I managed to read a lot more picture books, particularly the New York Times Bestsellers and award-winners, with a total of 60 books.  I still review each book I read on Goodreads but will rank my 2019 favourites in December.  

• Twenty Years A Slave by Solomon Northrup
• How to Be A Bawse by Lilly Singh
• The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
• Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America edited by Ibi Zoboi (contributors: Ibi Zoboi, Tracey Baptiste, Coe Both, Dhonielle Clayton, Brandy Colbert, Jay Coles, Lamar Giles, Leah Henderson, Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Kekla Magoon, Tochi Onyebuchi, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Liara Tamani, Renée Watson, Rita Williams-Garcia)
• Garvey and Garveyism by Julius Garvey, John Clarke, and Amy Jacques Garvey
• American War by Omar El Akkad
• The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
• Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz, illustrated by 
• Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban
• Adrift At Sea: A Vietnamese Boy's Story of Survival by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, illustrated by Brian Deines
• On Being 40(ish) edited by Lindsey Mead, various contributors
• The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
• The BFG by Roald Dahl
• No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen
• With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
• The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6'4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian by W. Kamau Bell
• Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color by Monique Fields, illustrated by Yesenia Moises​
• Front Desk by Kelly Yang
• The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kama Bell: Tales of a 6’ 4”, African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama’s Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian by W. Kama Bell
• The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1) by Lemony Snicket
• Fake ID by Lamar Giles
• Bossypants by Tina Fey
• The Agony of Bun O’Keefe by Heather Smith
• Thank You, Omu! By Oge Mora
• A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Qin Leng
• They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki
• Sun Dog by Deborah Kerbel, illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo
• Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley
• Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by  Sophie Backall
• Maya by Mahak Jain, illustrated by Elly MacKay
• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
• Over the Rooftops, Under the Moon by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Nahid Kazemi
• The Branch by Mireille Messier, illustrated by Pierre Pratt
• Braids by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Dave Whamond
• Wet by Carey Sookocheff
• The Log Driver’s Waltz by Wade Hemsworth, illustrated by Qin Leng
• Rosie’s Glasses by Dave Whamond
• Say Something by Peter H. Reynolds
• The Good Egg by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald
• You Made Me a Dad by Laurene Sala, illustrated by Mike Marlborough
• Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama, illustrated by Loren Long
• Fresh Princess by Denene Millner, illustrated by Gladys Jose
• On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
• Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
• What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
• Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
• Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary
• The Night Diary by Vera Hiranandani
• Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet edited by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Calling My Name by Liara Tamani
• Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta
• Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
• In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
• The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
• Woke Baby by Mahogany L. Browne, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
• Dear Girl by Amy Krause and Paris Rosenthal illustrated by Holly Hatam
• The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
• I Am Enough by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
• Dear Boy by Paris and Jason Rosenthal, illustrated by Holly Hatam
• The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds

My goal is to read 200 books in 2019.  So far, from February to April 2019, I read 60+ books.  To read my reviews, check out my page on Goodreads.  I have shared the covers of my five favourites so far and below is the complete list:

• God Where Is My Boaz by Stephan Labossiere
• The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
• Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers
• So you want to talk about race by Ijeoma Oluo
• Freckle Juice by Judy Blume 
• The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo by Judy Blume
• Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
• Beautiful Moon: A Child's Prayer by Tonya Bolden; illustrated by Eric Valasquez
• Where's Bunny by Theo Heras; illustrated by Renée Benoit
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
• The Wait by Devaughn Franklin and Meagan Good
• The Spy by Paulo Coelho
• Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
• The City Speaks in Drums by Shauntay Grant; illustrated by Susan Tooke
• Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myers
• Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Because by Mo Willems; illustrate by Amber Ren
• Island: A story of the Galapagos by Jason Chin
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
• Well That Escalated Quickly by Franchesca Ramsey
• From Twinkle with Love by Sandhya Menon
• The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison
• Hear of Darkness by Joseph Cromwell (decidedly unfinished)
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
• Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
• Feel Free by Zadie Smith
• My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma
• Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder​

I will be touring Alberta from May 6-11, 2019 in TD Children's Book Week.  Calgary, Lethbridge, Strathmore, and Coaldale!  Here I come!  Check out the details here.

​     Two years ago, I had a vision for a panel discussing diversity in children's and young adult literature IN Canada.  I have attended such panels and conferences in the United States and followed American diversity #kidlit and #yalit discussions on social media for years now but seeing little of the sort in Canada. It took a few proposals, conversations, and several e-mails and one conference I had to turn down for what I thought were unrealistic economic demands of my panelists. Fast forward to yesterday and the vision came true. I organised and moderated a panel called A Conversation on Diversity in #kidlit and #yalit preceded by the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP). I am so pleased to have shared this stage with such amazing and accomplished individuals-- Karen Li (editorial director at @owlkids), Jael Richardson (host of Q, author, and founder/artistic director of The Festival of Literary Diversity, FOLD), and award-winning authors Tanaz Bhathena and SK Ali. It was a fruitful and very necessary conversation which I am so glad we had and I pray that it has begun a larger, necessary, and continued conversation about diverse books in Canada. We had an almost full house and one question from the audience. Apparently my statistics, facts, and questions ranging from representation and influences to representation and #ownvoices, covered "it all". My prayer is that this is only the beginning of a much needed conversation. (Photos credits: CANSCAIP, Ishta Mercurio, Shamaila J) 

Nadia’s Notables Newsletter
In this issue…

1. Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter Book Launch 2019
2. A Likkle Miss Lou cover reveal
3. FOLD Kids 2019
4. Black History Month 2019 Recap

    5.  Important Upcoming Dates

2. A Likkle Miss Lou cover reveal 
     COVER REVEAL Time!  A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice written by Nadia L. Hohn, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes, in stores on August 15, 2019.  Please pre-order this book.  I had the pleasure of revealing this cover at the Annual Boonoonoonoos Brunch in honour of the 100th anniversary of Louise Bennett Coverley at the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) in the presence of Jamaica's Minister of Entertainment, Sports, Culture, and Gender Affairs, her Honourable Olivia Grange.

3.    FOLD Kids 2019
      I am really excited to be joining the planning team of TheFOLD Kids Bookfest.  This role brings my passions for and commitment to diversity in children's books, education, and event planning experiences with such events as the festival I founded in 2000, ICED IN BLACK. I have been attending the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) since its first year in 2016 and wanted to get involved in some tangible way. I look forward to working with a wonderful group of people, learning a lot, and helping to bring an A-list event to Brampton and other western communities in the GTA. ​

Dear Readers,
 
Happy New Year!  2019 is gearing up to be a very busy, productive, and transformative year for me as an author.  I have already two books being launched and promoted, a writing residency, an Alberta tour, on faculty at a conference, several signings already booked, and a few events in the works.  I still continue to write and I am excited about my work. Thank you so much for your support as I journey through my career.  Your kind words and messages mean a lot.
 
Sincerely,
 
Nadia

1. Harriet Tubman Book Launch 2019
​Come celebrate with me! On January 22 2019, I will be launching "HARRIET TUBMAN: Freedom Fighter", my fifth book and my first book in the I Can Read Series with HarperKids (formerly Harper Collins Children's Books). We are commemorating the life of this remarkable woman who led people to freedom and inspired future generations. Join me for song, story, and refreshments.
            

​2. TD Children’s Book Week 2019: Going to Alberta!
Looks like I'll be heading due West for TD Canadian Children's Book Week in May 2019. To book a presentation in Alberta at your local classroom, library, or community centre, check out the following link here.  The deadline is January 31, 2019.  

3. ​ NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers Program
Every November, 400, 000 people around the world begin writing a 50, 000 word novel.  NaNoWriMo 2018 brought a few firsts for me.  It was the first year that I participated in NaNoWriMo and managed to complete a full draft of a novel.  My novel, which I am currently calling Rexdale Story, is a young adult romance.  Not only did I complete the NaNoWriMo word count challenge, I completed it one week early (November 25) but I was also almost 10, 000 words over the limit.  I continue to work on my Rexdale story.  In addition, NaNoWriMo 2018 I started a NaNoWriMo club at the school where I teach. I must say I'm excited and proud to work with this small group of really gifted writers-- both teachers and Grade 7 and 8 students. It was inspiring to watch this group see themselves as writers and discuss their stories.  One pair of students even managed to finish writing a novel based on their friendship.

​4.  FOLD Kids Festival Coordinator
​As many of you already know, I am passionate about diversity in children's books and reading diversely. I've also had fun organizing events for years through TIFF, Les Jeux de la Francophonie 2001, ICED IN BLACK (a film festival I started back in the day), and other events. So I'm excited to share the news that I will be working with The Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) Kids team in Brampton including Jael Richardson and Léonicka Valcius who are part of this Sankofa's Pen (African Canadian Writers for Children and Young Adults) online group. This is truly an exciting time for diverse children's literature.
 
Here is the press release at this link.

5. SCBWI Canada East 2019 in Montreal
I will be on the faculty of the upcoming SCBWI Canada East Art of Story Conference in Montreal, Quebec this May 2019.  I have attended this conference in 2015, 2016, and 2018 as well SCBWI NYC in 2015 and 2016 and SCBWI LA in 2018.  The details regarding the workshop that I will be presented shall be announced soon.

6. Words of Advice
Pause, notice, and celebrate your accomplishments.

7. Important Dates
HARRIET TUBMAN: Freedom Fighter Book Launch
​Tuesday, January 22, 2018 7pm
Toronto, ON, Canada
 
Friday, February 1, 2019
​Booksigning
Time: TBA
Ontario Library Association (OLA) Conference
Toronto, ON
 
Sunday, February 3, 2019
1-4pm
Chapters Vega
​Mississauga, ON

Friday, February 8, 2019
10:15 AM  
1:15 PM  
​Toronto, ON
 
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Malaika Carnival Storytime
10:30-11:15am
Bloor Gladstone Library
Toronto, ON
 
Saturday, February 9, 2019
1-4pm
Booksigning at Indigo Yonge & Eglinton 
Toronto, ON

Saturday, February 16, 2019
10:30am
Bank Street Bookstore
New York, NY

Saturday, February 23, 2019
1-3pm
Knowledge Bookstore
Brampton, ON

Wednesday, April 10, 2019
7-9pm
Canadian Society for Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP)
Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Presenter, May 4-11, 2019
TD Canadian Children's Book Week Tour
Alberta, Canada
 
Presenter, May 24-26, 2019
Conference TBA
Montreal, PQ, Canada
 
Writer in Residence
July and August 2019
Joy Kogawa House
Vancouver, BC, Canada