I began my first blog about 10 years ago. I had a desk job with little to do and I was terribly bored so it was something to do. I must admit that this first attempt failed miserably. My post was filled with self-loathing and misery. I have always been an avid journaler but I hadn't spent much time reading other people's blogs.
Fast-forward to today and four blogs later (including the one I am writing now), I am becoming somewhat of a blog connoisseur. I also realize that the blog is a dying art form becoming more of an archival online relic of tester year, replaced by Instagram, tweets, and Pinterest. It seems that we simply do not have enough time anymore to actually read someone's thoughts expressed on a page. We are slowly becoming used to abbreviations and emojis and less accompanied to blogs.
This is partly why I love the following two blogs who have not only dedicated themselves to promoting children's books by authors and illustrators of colour, they give us space (the word count and megabytes) to do so. I was interviewed by each of these blogs so.
Fast-forward to today and four blogs later (including the one I am writing now), I am becoming somewhat of a blog connoisseur. I also realize that the blog is a dying art form becoming more of an archival online relic of tester year, replaced by Instagram, tweets, and Pinterest. It seems that we simply do not have enough time anymore to actually read someone's thoughts expressed on a page. We are slowly becoming used to abbreviations and emojis and less accompanied to blogs.
This is partly why I love the following two blogs who have not only dedicated themselves to promoting children's books by authors and illustrators of colour, they give us space (the word count and megabytes) to do so. I was interviewed by each of these blogs so.
The Brown Bookshelf: 28 Days Later
The Brown Bookshelf is a blog focused on pushing "the awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers". What is really cool about this site is that it is operated by young adult and children's book illustrators and authors like Don Tate, Tracey Baptiste, Varian Johnson, and Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich. (FAIBAI: For authors & illustrators, By authors & illustrators) Every February , during Black history month, the website highlights the work of authors and illustrators of African descent. Although this is not my first time on the site (check out last year's selfie interview here), I was excited to be included in this year's 28 Days Later list for New Voices Younger. Author Crystal Allen contacted me to say that I had "been selected for an author spotlight during the Brown Bookshelf's Tenth 28 Days Later campaign because of [my] amazing contributions to children's literature! We are so proud of your accomplishments, and all of the wonderful things about you." (I was extremely flattered. She had me at "selected".)
Also included in this list are some of my children and young adult writing sheroes (some of whom I read while in elementary and high school) like Rita Williams Garcia, Rosa Guy, Jacqueline Woodson, Eloise Greenfield, and Vanessa Brantley Newton. They are all scheduled for the last few days of the month. And I can't wait!
Also included in this list are some of my children and young adult writing sheroes (some of whom I read while in elementary and high school) like Rita Williams Garcia, Rosa Guy, Jacqueline Woodson, Eloise Greenfield, and Vanessa Brantley Newton. They are all scheduled for the last few days of the month. And I can't wait!
Anansesem: News, ideas, arts, & letters from the world of Caribbean children's publishing
Kiss me neck! Me mumma! Blouse and skirt! Brown cow! Wow! It does not get better than this. A whole blog dedicated to Caribbean children's books! Anansesem is not only amazing since it highlights authors and illustrators in the Caribbean but also those of Caribbean descent (like me). Naturally, Malaika's Costume found a home here. What is also cool about this site is you can buy books, too, no matter where you are in the Caribbean or another part of world. Summer Edwards, the sites' founder, invited me to write something for the December 2016 issue and gave me an idea-- collaborate with Itah Sadu, a fellow Groundwood Books children's book author as well as co-owner of A Different Booklist bookstore. (Itah's book "Greetings Leroy" is coming out very soon.) The result-- an author-to-author interview entitled "Author to Author: A Conversation Between Nadia L. Hohn and Itah Sadu".
I have known Itah Sadu for a long time. I have seen A Different Booklist book displays at numerous events over the years. I have attended workshops there. Itah Sadu even did a school visit to my classroom and school on numerous occasions. I have read her books Christopher Cleans His Room, Christopher Changes His Name, and Mathieu Da Costa: First to Arrive to my students over the years. I have attended various events she has organized in the Black community. So the interview was my opportunity to ask Itah all of the questions I have ever wanted to ask.
Back to the Anansesem blog, there are some really cool features like finding books by Caribbean country. Since the island in Malaika's Costume is not named, there is much interpretation about where the book is based. Many Trinidadians and other island people believe it is Trinidad. I am okay with this although I feel its weird to write about and name a place that I have not been. I have been to Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, and briefly to the Dominican Republic but I am most familiar with Jamaica. This is what I imagined when I wrote story but the Carnival traditions I use are Trinidadian. As long as we can agree that it's an island in the Caribbean, it's all good.
I have known Itah Sadu for a long time. I have seen A Different Booklist book displays at numerous events over the years. I have attended workshops there. Itah Sadu even did a school visit to my classroom and school on numerous occasions. I have read her books Christopher Cleans His Room, Christopher Changes His Name, and Mathieu Da Costa: First to Arrive to my students over the years. I have attended various events she has organized in the Black community. So the interview was my opportunity to ask Itah all of the questions I have ever wanted to ask.
Back to the Anansesem blog, there are some really cool features like finding books by Caribbean country. Since the island in Malaika's Costume is not named, there is much interpretation about where the book is based. Many Trinidadians and other island people believe it is Trinidad. I am okay with this although I feel its weird to write about and name a place that I have not been. I have been to Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, and briefly to the Dominican Republic but I am most familiar with Jamaica. This is what I imagined when I wrote story but the Carnival traditions I use are Trinidadian. As long as we can agree that it's an island in the Caribbean, it's all good.
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