A LIKKLE MISS LOU deh yah! A LIKKLE MISS LOU: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice is here! It gives me great pleasure to share that the project I had been working on for the past seven years, my sixth picture book, was released into the world on August 15, 2019, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes, published by Owlkids. In the words of the late author Toni Morrison, "[this is the] book I wanted to see in the world". Most of all, the book has been completed in time for the 100th anniversary celebration of Miss Lou's birthday. And we're not the only ones talking about it. Check out this link to see what the reviewers from such publications as Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, The Toronto Star, OpenBook, Booklist, and The Globe & Mail are saying about A LIKKLE MISS LOU. On August 15, there was a lovely A LIKKLE MISS LOU birthday celebration held at the Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, BC, Canada where I was the writer in residence in summer 2019. This was the perfect warm-up to the upcoming A LIKKLE MISS LOU Book Launch to be held on Saturday, September 14, 2019 3-5pm at A Different Booklist bookstore in Toronto, ON, Canada and tour (see below and check for updates here). I hope you will join us in celebration and purchase your copy. A LIKKLE MISS LOU soon come to a city near you! Walk good!
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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. Blogpost 1 LIVE from Historic Joy Kogawa House, The Summer 2019 Writer in Residence is in the House7/24/2019 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 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. The stats: - Countless times I was asked about having kids, being married, my age, why I write, and if I can live off my earnings as an author (sounds like my mom) - 3,238 km or 2,012 miles is the distance from Toronto to Calgary, almost 1,800 students saw my presentations - 403 is the area code of Calgary and southern Alberta - Pincher Creek is 136km to the closest US border crossing - 70.4 lbs was the weight of my heaviest suitcase - $18.20 is the cost to go up the Calgary Tower - 16 presentations in all - 12+ meals consumed in which cheese was in the veggie option (my herbivorous digestive tract was working overtime) - May 11th was the last day of Children's Book Week - May 10th was the last day of my presentations - 9:30pm was sunset at this time of year in southern Alberta, - 8th graders were the oldest students I presented to - 7 schools visited - 6 nights on my tour - 5 cities and towns visited (Calgary, #Strathmore, #Coaldale, #Lethbridge, #PincherCreek + 1 #Hutterite community called #Parklandcolony outside of Fort Macleod) - continued my fitness routine with 4 runs to prep for my 5km event in June - 3.75 hr was the length of my flight from Toronto to Calgary - I stayed at 3 hotels in #Calgary and #Lethbridge - 2 libraries visited and difference of time zones between Toronto and Calgary, and - 1 front page spread in the Strathmore weekly newspaper during an amazing TD Children's Book Week. Spring 2019 Tour and Events Recap Spring 2019 was an extremely busy time of year as I continued to teach as well as participate in TD Children’s Book Week, school visits, a literary festival, and a conference. In addition to Alberta, I visited New Brunswick and Montreal in addition to other commitments that brought me to New York City and Ottawa. Truthfully, this was perhaps the most busiest time I have had as an author but I have said this a few times already. Nevertheless, I embraced and enjoyed every minute of sharing my stories and meeting people along the way. 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. 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) Important Dates
Please check www.nadialhohn.com/events for updates. Summer (July/August) 2019 Writer-in-Residence Joy Kogawa House Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
Greater Victoria Public Libraries Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)
A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice
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 16, 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.
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:
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…
Editor's note Diverse stories matter so much. I am reminded that more and more each day, especially reading my very first fan mail received from a classroom of newer Canadians/English language learners. These young students, under the guidance of their teacher, had so many questions to ask about Malaika's Winter Carnival. So many students could relate to leaving their family, friends, and homeland behind for the many drastic changes that come from life in a new country. I was so pleased to know how my story touched their heart and made them feel "seen". Knowing these made the challenges that I have gone through as a teacher-author that much more manageable. I spent this past weekend in New York City at the Kweli: Color of Children's Literature Conference. I was reminded by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop that all children need "windows, mirrors, and sliding doors". I also had the chance to finally meet face-to-face my shero and one of my favourite illustrators, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, who has offered words of encouragement to me since 2013. The #kidlit community is generous to each other. If in Toronto this Wednesday, April 10, please join me as I moderate a conversation with an amazing panel of authors and professionals as we discuss the diversity in Canadian children's literature. Since my article "Who will write our stories?" was published in the Canadian Children's Book News magazine in Fall 2014, I have been wanting to plan this panel for two years now and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to bring it to fruition. Hope to see you there. Sincerely, Nadia L. Hohn 1. Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter Book Launch 2019 I wish to take this opportunity to thank the 40+ souls who braved the cold and the traffic to attend my HARRIET TUBMAN: Freedom Fighter Book Launch yesterday evening on January 22, 2019. Some highlights from the night: Cosplaying the cover of my book. Chef Amanda Hamer of Edible Bliss 11's delectable eats were a huge hit with my attendees. The gorgeous and tasty cake prepared by Gerry's Fast Food. Singing Spirituals with attendees. A mini-lecture about my journey of learning "Who Is Harriet Tubman?" Three of the four publishers of my six books were in attendance: Thank you to #LaurenMorocco of HarperCollins Canada, Michael Solomon of Groundwood Books, and Judy Brunsek of Owlkids. Thank you to Itah Sadu of A Different Booklist for her very helpful staff. Thank you also ever-supportive #kidcanlit community. The evening was well-attended. Thank you to all of my family and friends who attended and the children. 87% of the books were sold but there are still a few signed copies at A Different Booklist if you're lucky. Food has always been an important part and an intentional selection at my book launches. Since this launch was for my fifth book, I wanted it to be extra special. Harriet Tubman was enslaved but also a great African-American abolitionist, activist, and served in various roles of the Civil War. I am not African-American but African-Canadian of Jamaican descent. (I see African-Americans as my close relatives-- same blood and origins but the slaveship of my African ancestors docked in Jamaica and not the United States.) Given that it is January, it is the start of a new year. I am going to quote caterer Amanda Hamer of Edible Bliss 11 about the food selection and choices for this meal: "I was invited to Nadia Hohn book launch last night in which I also catered. In honour of Nadia 5th children book “Harriet Tubman: FREEDOM FIGHTER”. 🏾" I was asked to prepare a meal (All VEGAN) that represented what the enslaved Africans and poor whites would eat. Legend has it that eating collard greens and black-eyed peas represents a prosperous year. Peas for pennies, Greens 🥬 for dollars and cornbread for gold. Congratulations Nadia soooooo Proud of you!!!!!" So well said. Thank you Amanda for the wonderful food which was a big hit with attendees. Being vegetarian, it was important to respect the animals and that i could enjoy the food too. Also thanks to Gerry's Fast Foods for the delicious and beautiful cake. I intentionally chose the black, green, and red colours for the frosting which represent African Liberation. I also chose to exercise #kuumba (cooperative economics) in the selection of vendors from my community. 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. 4. Black History Month Recap Black History Month 2019 kept me on my toes. February is the shortest month but it is also the busiest time as it coincides with report card season and parent-teacher conferences (my teacher hat) and several school visits and book signings (my writer hat). Here is a recap of what I did: February 1, 2019 Booksigning Ontario Library Association (OLA) Super Conference (Toronto, ON) February 3, 2019 Booksigning Chapters Vega (Mississauga, ON) February 7, 2019 Roots: Digging Deeper & Building Stronger: A Panel Discussion Booksigning and selling (Brampton, ON) February 7, 2019 School Visit (Mississauga, ON) February 8, 2019 Malaika's Winter Carnival Presentation Alderwood Library and Hillcrest Library (Toronto, ON) February 9, 2019 Booksigning of HARRIET TUBMAN: Freedom Fighter and my other books Indigo Yonge & Eglinton bookstore (Toronto, ON) February 9, 2019 Malaika Carnival Storytime Bloor Gladstone Library (Toronto, ON) February 16, 2019 HARRIET TUBMAN: Freedom Fighter Storytime with Meet & Greet Bank Street Bookstore (New York, NY) February 20, 2019 Host, Black Writing Matters Book Launch with Whitney French Presented by: International Festival of Authors Lakeside Terrace, Harbourfront Centre (Toronto, ON) February 23, 2019 HARRIET TUBMAN: Freedom Fighter Storytime Knowledge Bookstore (Brampton, ON) 5. Important Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Canadian Society for Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP) 6-7 Annual General Meeting (AGM) 7-9pm Conversation about Diversity in #kidcanlit and #yacanlit A Different Booklist Bookstore Toronto, ON, Canada April 27 to 30, 2019 Frye Festival Moncton, New Brunswick Canada May 2, 2019 School Presentation Mississauga, ON, Canada May 2-5, 2019 Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) Volunteering Brampton, ON, Canada May 24-26, 2019 Faculty The Art of Story Conference Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Canada East Montreal, Quebec Canada July and August 2019 Writer in Residence Joy Kogawa House Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
August 15, 2019 A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice Publication Date * stay tuned for more tour information September 7, 2019 Miss Lou 100th Birthday Celebration September 5-12, 2019 Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) Tour 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 21, 2019 A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice Brooklyn Book Launch and Storytime Greenlight bookstores (both locations) details to follow Brooklyn, NY, USA September 27-30, 2019 FOLD Kids Festival Brampton, ON, Canada October 5, 2019 Brampton Chapters Brampton, ON, Canada Spring 2021 Malaika’s Surprise release date Details to follow |
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