Kya Publishing Expands Publishing Program to Preserve Black/Caribbean Canadian Stories

Since its founding, Kya Publishing has been committed to sharing meaningful stories and providing a platform for voices that deserve to be heard.

As we continue to grow, we are expanding our publishing focus to include nonfiction works that document histories, experiences, and cultural contributions in Canada.

This expansion reflects Kya Publishing’s ongoing commitment to storytelling, not only through fiction, but through the preservation of real-life experiences, community histories, and cultural knowledge.

We are seeking projects from knowledge holders, historians, artists, researchers, community leaders, and storytellers who have important stories, archives, and experiences to share.

Many of our histories exist through personal memories, photographs, recordings, research, and lived experiences. From musicians and DJs to organizers, entrepreneurs, artists, and community builders, countless individuals have helped shape Canada’s cultural landscape. Yet many of these stories have never been documented in published form.

Through this expanded publishing focus, Kya Publishing will work with contributors to develop professionally produced books that preserve these histories and make them accessible to readers, researchers, educators, and future generations.

We welcome conversations about projects related to Black/Caribbean Canadian history, music and cultural movements, oral histories, biographies, memoirs, archival collections, and other forms of cultural documentation.

If you have a story, archive, research project, or idea that you believe deserves to be preserved, we invite you to connect with us at books@kyapublishing.com, or visit kyapublishing.com/publishing to learn more.

Together, we can continue building a collection of stories that reflect the experiences, creativity, and contributions of our communities.

Rediscover Caribbean Carnival Moments Through Kya Publishing's Carnival Spotlight Archive

With Toronto's Caribbean Carnival season undeway, Kya Publishing invites the community to explore its Carnival Spotlight Archive, a growing digital collection celebrating Caribbean Carnival culture, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, and the creativity of the Caribbean diaspora.

Spanning nearly two decades, the archive brings together articles, photographs, videos, artist features, Toronto mas band profiles, cultural commentary, and historical content documenting the people, traditions, and stories that shape Carnival in Canada and beyond.

Featured resources include:

Caribbean Carnival Booklist

Selecting a Caribbean Carnival Band to Play Mas With (free downloadable guide)

Preparing Your Teenager for Caribbean Carnival (free downloadable guide)

Carnival Curves and Carnival Spotlight novels

Coverage of Toronto Carnival, Jamaica Carnival, Canadian Calypso, Carnival leadership, and community initiatives from 2007 to today.

Whether you're playing mas for the first time, reconnecting with Carnival traditions, or looking to learn more about the culture, the Carnival Spotlight Archive offers educational resources and year-round inspiration for participants, families, educators, and Carnival enthusiasts alike.

This Toronto Carnival season, celebrate the culture by exploring the stories that preserve its legacy and inspire its future.

Kya Publishing's New Chapter of "Flash Fiction" Musical Mixes

Kya Publishing's Flash Fiction Mix series, a collection of short-form multimedia storytelling experiences, is now being shared across its social media platforms. More than 150 mixes have already been created and posted on YouTube since 2024, with new pieces continuing to be added regularly.

The Flash Fiction Mix series combines original curated music selections and visual imagery sourced from footage of independent creators around the world to create bite-sized stories that explore the connections between sound and narrative. Drawing inspiration from genres that span reggae, dancehall, hip hop, pop, rock, and African and Caribbean musical traditions, the mixes celebrate storytelling without boundaries.

"Music is storytelling," says creator and writer Stacey Robinson. "Lyrics can capture a feeling, a memory, or a truth in the same way books can. I've always been fascinated by how songs from different genres and generations can convey the same message in entirely new ways."

Robinson credits concerts, DJs, and performing artists for continually inspiring her creative process.

"Live performances sharpen my listening ear," Robinson says. "Whether it's a DJ creating a set, or an artist performing on stage, there's the potential for a story unfolding in the music. The Flash Fiction Mix concept grew out of that love of listening and became another way for me to tell stories."

Robinson is also the author of the young adult novels Dancehall Rebel (2024) and Carnival Curves (2025), both published by James Lorimer & Company Ltd. These works are deeply rooted in music and culture, continuing her long-standing exploration of how culture, identity, and storytelling intersect across generations.

The Flash Fiction Mix series will continue to be shared across Kya Publishing's social media channels and can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@KyaP_Stacey/shorts

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Kya Publishing extends gratitude to the DJs, musicians, performing artists, and independent videographers whose creativity inspires these mixes and helps bring culture and storytelling to evolving multimedia platforms.