"Ink to Algorithm" Celebrates Literary Allies

Last week, the Toronto Urban Book Expo collective celebrated two people whose work has helped writers find community, opportunity, and support, presenting its inaugural Distinguished Contribution Awards at their "Ink to Algorithm" event.

As host Cleveland author Jameel Davis expressed during the presentation, “Books are never created in isolation. Behind the writers are people who mentor, advocate, encourage, connect, and open doors.”

That spirit is at the heart of the new awards, which recognize contributions that strengthen literary communities through mentorship, advocacy, collaboration, and representation in Canada and around the world.

LITERARY ALLY AWARD: Allister Thompson

The inaugural Literary Ally Award went to author/editor Allister Thompson, recognized for his longstanding advocacy for Black African and Caribbean voices in Canadian publishing.

Introducing the award, Davis highlighted Thompson’s editorial leadership, mentorship, professional guidance, and advocacy, noting that his efforts have “helped open doors and bring Black literature to life. His influence has created meaningful opportunities for writers and changed outcomes.”

GLOBAL COMMITMENT AWARD: Mutendei Nabutete

The inaugural Global Commitment Award was presented to Mutendei Nabutete, a member of the collective currently based in Kenya.

The group recognized Nabutete’s contributions to TUBE’s planning, brainstorming, programming, and professional development, particularly his role in strengthening connections between African writers and literary communities.

The award celebrates his “spirit of international collaboration, cross-cultural exchange, and global literary solidarity.”

Both awards will be mailed to the recipients: Allister in Thunder Bay, Canada, and Mutendei in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kya Publishing was proud to contribute to Ink to Algorithm and to continue supporting the work of the TUBE collective.

KONNECTION NEWSLETTER | "Ink to Algorithm" is One Week Away!

View in Browser Join us for "INK TO ALGORITHM" ! Join TU Book Expo for Ink to Algorithm, a special afternoon celebrating Black Canadian teen literature, storytelling, and digital creativity on Friday, September 18, 2026 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Toronto Public Library’s Fairview Branch* (35 Fairview Mall Drive, Toronto). This day is for content creators, book influencers, book lovers, and supporters, bringing Black Canadian YA literature to teen readers with the people who share, celebrate, and amplify books online and in their communities. The afternoon will feature author readings, live interviews, and opportunities to connect directly with writers, giving attendees the chance to create engaging content and discover stories to share with and recommend to teen readers. Special thanks to the Toronto Arts Council for their support through the Literary Projects program. *This event is not hosted by or sponsored by the Toronto Public Library. Double Book Launch: "Between Classes" & "Finding Family" this weekend! Celebrate the official launch of two new teen novels from Lorimer Publishing: "Between Classes" by Angelot Ndongmo" and Finding Family" by Kamilah Haywood. Both books follow young Black Canadian men navigating friendships, family, romance, school, and the experience of growing up in Toronto. Stop by for author readings, a conversation and Q&A with host Robin Rice, and a chance to have your books signed by Angelot and Kamilah. Saturday, September 12, 2026 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Blackhurst Cultural Centre 777–779 Bathurst Street, Toronto Admission is free! Books are available at A Different Booklist and will also be available for purchase at the event. Cultural Content Creators to Check Out Our social media feeds are home to content creators doing genuinely thoughtful, funny, creative, and culturally important work. This new Kya Publishing post on Patreon highlights creators whose work keeps us laughing, informed, inspired, and connected to culture. Reflections from the Harlem Book Fair "Black book fairs continue to emerge as a powerful response to decades of underrepresentation in traditional publishing, growing threats of book censorship, and the need for spaces where Black writers, readers, and communities can reclaim their voices, celebrate their stories, and shape their own literary narratives..." Read the full reflection on Substack, composed after attending this year's Harlem Book Fair. I would like to acknowledge funding support to attend the Harlem Book Fair from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario. ~ Stacey Robinson Book Launch: The Distinguished Leader The countdown is ON for "The Distinguished Leader". Mark your calendars — this is one you don't want to miss!  Saturday, October 3rd, 2026  5:00 PM  Iceland Arena — 705 Matheson Blvd East Mississauga, ON L4Z 3X9 Leadership starts with a decision. Be there when it's made.  For additional information, please visit The Able Leadership. We welcome literary news submissions from our Konnection community; if you have updates to share, please send them to konnection@kyapublishing.com, and we’ll be glad to feature you!

New Look for Collection of Contemporary Black Canadian Stories

Kya Publishing is excited to announce the re-release of the ebook edition of the Toronto Tales collection of novels and short stories by Canadian author Stacey Robinson, capturing over three decades of storytelling.

Spanning generations, neighbourhoods, relationships, and changing social landscapes, the Toronto Tales explore everyday experiences that shape identity, community, and belonging. These stories reflect the voices, rhythms, and realities of Black Canadian life, documenting the sounds and moods of Black-, African-, and Caribbean-Canadians and their peers through authentic characters, culture, dialect, and relatable experiences.

Written for teen and adult readers, the books examine friendship, love, family, ambition, and conflict in a constantly evolving society. From coming-of-age moments to complex adult relationships, these stories highlight the connections between personal choices and the larger cultural forces that surround us.

The collection represents a body of work created over 30 years, preserving snapshots of different eras while exploring themes that remain relevant today. Readers can experience the full range of Robinson’s storytelling through titles including:

• Friends With Benefits
• The Way We Used To Be (collection)
• Video Light
• Carnival Spotlight
• Eighteen
• First Year
• The Hook Up (collection)
• Request to Rewind
• I Wish I Never Met Him
• Bonafide
• Karisma’s Screwface Philosophy

Together, these novels and short stories create an independently published literary record of Black Canadian experiences: the conversations, relationships, struggles, cultural celebrations, and lessons.

Stay tuned for Stacey Robinson’s upcoming release, Parasocial Drift, arriving later in 2026.

The print and ebook editions of the Toronto Tales are all available through Kya Publishing: https://kyapublishing.com/books.