Kya Publishing Hosts 1st Annual Toronto Urban Book Expo at Toronto Public Library (Malvern)

Kya Publishing is set to host the first annual Toronto Urban Book Expo (TUBE) on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at the Toronto Public Library (Malvern Branch), 30 Sewells Road, as a part of the TPL's Black History Month program.

The TUBE is the only Canadian event dedicated to celebrating urban fiction—-an annual exposition of contemporary urban Canadian writers where authors will have the opportunity to display, sell, and communicate their projects while promoting support and recognition for urban literature and literacy.

TUBE will highlight published, self-published, and aspiring writers and their books—-it will also feature other urban cultural artists as well as guests from the Canadian literary/cultural community. .

The event schedule includes:

Teen Writing Workshop (The S.P.O.T. Computer Lab) | 10am-12pm
Facilitated by writer Telisha Ng and TDSB educators Camille Ramnath, this workshop will look at 1) Why it is important to write your story; 2) Writing tips, tools, and techniques; 3) Starting your own urban novel/short story. A summary of this workshop will be published in the August 2014 edition of the Journal of Canadian Urban Fiction. Space is limited.

Media (TPL Auditorium) | 11:00am-1:00pm
Vendors will meet with journalists, take photos, and record video of their works and presentations.

Book Fair (TPL Auditorium) | 1:00pm-4:30pm
Vendors and attendees gather to purchase urban fiction books, and interact with authors about their projects.

Urban Expert One-on-One | 2:00pm-4:00pm
Experts from the Canadian urban cultural community meet and share their perspectives on Canadian Urban Fiction, and the growth of Canadian urban culture.

For more information, please contact Stacey at info@kyapublishing.com or 647-342-3040.

Kya Publishing's URBAN TORONTO TALES Now Available in eBook Format

Kya Publishing Promotes Literacy During the Junior Caribbean Carnival Season Through Children's Activity Booklet

TORONTO, ONT (JULY 2013) – As a part of their mandate to support youth literacy and culture, Kya Publishing has created a Children’s Carnival Activity Booklet to be distributed within the annual children’s Caribbean carnival’s festivities.

The 4-page workbook contains a carnival wordsearch, carnival word jumble, a carnival colouring page, and a create-your-own-carnival-story worksheet. It will be donated to 200 junior masqueraders with the Toronto Revellers band, is available for order, and will be a yearly initiative from the Kya Keys Book Donation Program during the carnival season.

“The Junior [Caribbean] Carnival is such an exciting time of year for kids,” said Kya Publishing founder and author Stacey Marie Robinson. “While children have an opportunity to celebrate their culture through music, costume, dance, and food, I thought it was an important time to introduce an element of reading and language as well.”

The Kya Keys Book Donation Program was created to share the benefits of literacy through various rehabilitation, academic, and youth institutions on behalf of individual or organizational donors.

“We want to encourage children to continue to explore their culture in various ways. Our activity booklet uses the common words and phrases associated with carnival, as well as a worksheet for the children to write their own carnival stories,” said Robinson. “By documenting their experience with carnival, they can also share their culture with their friends and teachers year-round.”

Kya Publishing supports and celebrates urban Canadian writing, culture, and literacy by offering books, writing and editing services, literary events, and music.

To find out more about the Kya Keys program, or to donate to this initiative, please contact Kya Publishing at info@KyaPublishing.com, visit www.facebook.com/KyaKeysBookDonationProgram, or call (647) 342-3040.

Kya Publishing is dedicated to telling the stories of contemporary urban Canadians, and celebrating their culture and experiences through literature.

Kya Publishing Releases DJ Majesty Mixtape Highlighting the "Urban Toronto Tales" Book Collection

TORONTO, ONT (April 2013) – Kya Publishing has released an audio annotation of their 8 book Urban Toronto Tales collection: a mixtape created by DJ Majesty, featuring MC Brenton B, and narrated by author Stacey Marie Robinson. The musical mix of reggae, soca, hip-hop, and R&B is available for download and free hardcopies of the CD will also be distributed across Toronto this spring.

"Each of these stories was inspired by a particular genre of music," said Robinson. "I wanted to provide a soundtrack to the books that would sound and feel like what my characters were experiencing, and what I was listening to during the writing process."

The CD features 8 exclusive mixes from DJ Majesty, representing each of the books in the collection, and the characters from the tales: VIDEO LIGHT - Delia's Reggae Oldies Mix / I WISH I NEVER MET HIM - Vanessa's Dancehall Mix / REQUEST TO REWIND - Abigail's Soca Mix / THE WAY WE USED TO BE - Rahim's Hip-Hop Old School Mix / EIGHTEEN - Afia's R&B Old School Mix / FIRST YEAR - Michelle's R&B and Hip-Hop Mix / FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS - Symone's Slow Jam Mix and THE HOOK UP - Desiree's Lover's Rock Mix.

"The music sets the mood for each story," said Ryan Lowe aka DJ Majesty. "Many of our life experiences are tied to certain types of music; just hearing a song or a familiar riddim can bring us back to that time. It was great being a part of this project, and reminiscing about the Toronto experience over the years."

Toronto’s DJ Majesty provides professional entertainment services, with over 15 years of experience entertaining crowds. He is one of the most versatile DJs in the industry, and presents 8 distinct genre-mixes to highlight each of the Urban Toronto Tales on Kya Publishing’s inaugural mixtape.

"The CD itself is like a story," said Brent Kitson aka MC Brenton B, a staple in Toronto's urban entertainment community and a vibrant MC, also featured on the mixtape.


"The characters went through what most of us went through growing up in Toronto: going to the same events, having basement dances in your neighbourhood, playing mas or going downtown for Caribana…and then also dealing with regular day-to-day issues like school, work, or relationships. The Urban Toronto Tales books are about the life we live in Toronto, and the music fits each story perfectly."

"My books capture various moments in time in Toronto, from the perspective of a specific demographic of first- and second-generation Canadians, living in and around the city," said Robinson. "The language, the activities, and the locations are all distinctly Toronto by nature. This mixtape is Kya Publishing's way of enhancing the Urban Toronto Tales reading experience, by adding a familiar and enjoyable audio element, bringing the energy of the characters and their experiences to life."

Kya Publishing Book Drive to Donate Children's Books to Pediatric Hospitals Through the Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ)

TORONTO, ONT (February 2013) – Canadian publishing company, Kya Publishing, is extending their book donation program, Kya Keys, to share the benefits of reading with boys and girls in Jamaica. The book drive will take place from Friday, March 1^st through Saturday, March 30, 2013; donations will be accepted in the Toronto area and the books will be delivered to Jamaica in the spring.

Through the Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ), the Kya Keys book drive will provide new and gently-used reading materials to patients in the island’s pediatric hospitals.

For drop-off or pick-up in the Peel Region/West Toronto, please call, text, or email Donna Sisneth at 416-262-2832 or BeSmartToday@gmail.com. For Central/East Toronto, please email Sonia Bhatia at Sonia1Bhatia@gmail.com.

In the Durham Region, books can be dropped off through the Canadian Caribbean Cultural Association of Durham via the Kumon Learning Centre in the Whitby Mall (1615 Dundas Street East, #18) at 905-683-0980, or at The Family Worship Centre, Children's Christian Education Ministry in Pickering (1527 Bayly Street) at 905-839-4953.

“Many of us have children’s books that are no longer age-appropriate, or piled away in storage, that may never be opened again. Books are a treasure, and we want to ensure that no book goes unread,” said Kya Publishing founder and author Stacey Marie Robinson. “Through the Kya Keys Book Donation Program and the guidance of the BIAJ, Kya Publishing will find your books a new home in Jamaica, give the gift of reading to a young mind, and bring joy to their spirits during their hospital stay. Donations of new

 children’s books are also appreciated.”

The Kya Keys Book Donation Program was created to share the benefits of literacy through various rehabilitation, academic, and youth institutions on behalf of individual or organizational donors.

“It is important to be able to share knowledge and inspirational stories whenever possible. Through Kya Keys, Kya Publishing would like to assist in providing the access, potential solutions, and systems for solving issues through reading, by contributing these literary keys to our young Jamaican brothers and sisters.”

Please visit the Kya Keys Book Donation Program at www.facebook.com/KyaKeysBookDonationProgram for more information or to make arrangements for your donation—you may also contact (647) 342-3040 or info@kyapublishing.com.

About the Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ)

Founded in 1989, the mission of the BIAJ is to be the nation’s premiere organization committed to promoting literacy and the reading habit as tools for national development, economic growth, and educational excellence. In doing so, it affirms its support for Jamaica’s stated commitment to protecting the intellectual property rights of its citizens and preserving its culture heritage. Visit the BIAJ at www.BookIndustryJA.com for more information about their programming.

Kya Publishing to Define Canadian Urban Fiction Through Panel Discussion at the Toronto Public Library

TORONTO, ONT (January 2013) –Toronto publishing company Kya Publishing, along with the Toronto Public Library, will be hosting a panel discussion on Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Malvern Branch (30 Sewells Road at Neilson Road) with the objective of defining “Canadian Urban Fiction.”

Featuring a panel of urban Canadian writers, educators, and cultural advocates, the group will work towards creating a definition of this relatively new genre of Canadian literature, while discussing the Canadian urban identity and the most effective and accurate way to document this culture.

Moderated by author and Kya Publishing founder Stacey Marie Robinson and journalist Angela Walcott, the panel will feature relationship blogger Telisha Ng, children’s author Angela Ndongmo, Christian non-fiction writer Tanika Chambers, urban education scholar/teacher Camille Ramnath, hip hop artist General, and Life Fiction author D.A. Bourne.



“American authors like Sister Souljah, Omar Tyree, Terry McMillan, Zane, and K’wan have helped to develop a genre of fiction that is specific to their urban demographic and experience,” said Robinson. “It’s important that we ask: who is responsible for telling the urban Canadian stories of our generation, and how are these stories being told?”

Guest authors will read from their works, while outlining what makes their writing uniquely “urban Canadian.” A working definition of Canadian Urban Fiction will also be determined, to assist Kya Publishing with future research projects and the continued development of urban Canadian fiction. Following the discussion, video footage will be posted online to continue the conversation with the international writing community.

“Despite its growth, this genre still remains somewhat ambiguous and underrated,” said Robinson. “I’d like for this group of experts to assist in forming a concrete direction for Canadian urban fiction, so that our intentions and experiences are distinct, with a great foundation to build on.”

For more information, visit the Kya Publishing website at www.KyaPublishing.com to be connected to their social media sites. You may also contact Stacey at (647) 342-3040 or info@kyapublishing.com.

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For more Black History Month events and programs from the Toronto Public Library, please visit http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/featured/black-history-month.jsp.