Created to advance Canadian Urban Fiction and literary scholarship for urban writers, the theme of the inaugural edition is "Defining Canadian Urban Fiction," which follows up on a Kya Publishing panel discussion from February 2013 at the Toronto Public Library where urban writers gathered to investigate the genre of fiction and what it means in the Canadian publishing landscape.
"Canadian Urban Fiction is a relatively new genre, and takes on a completely different form than American/international urban fiction," said Kya Publishing founder, Stacey Marie Robinson. "We have started this journal to clearly define the scope of Canadian Urban Fiction, identify the common themes and sentiments, and of course, to begin a body of research that will assist future writers in classifying their work and expanding this genre."
The Journal of Canadian Urban Fiction will also provide a venue for academic discussion, progressive debate, and critical analysis of issues surrounding the development and growth of Canadian Urban Fiction.
"The first issue features writers Angelot Ndongmo, General, Keishia Facey, Queeny, and Angela Walcott, and covers a range of issues about cultural identity and the role of literature in its development," said Robinson. "This journal will be a safe space for writers to discuss urban identity, deconstruct their culture and beliefs, and of course celebrate the writing that drives the culture forward."
The Journal of Canadian Urban Fiction is available online at www.CanadianUrbanFiction.com.