Kya Publishing and Elevated Waves to Host Writing Workshop at Toronto Public Library

TORONTO, ONT (November 2019) - Independent publishers Kya Publishing (Toronto) and Elevated Waves Publishing (Cleveland) will collaborate at the Toronto Public Library's Albion Branch for a writing workshop on Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the library's auditorium.

The event will include an interactive panel discussion highlighting experiences and strategies for writing culturally specific narratives. Featuring urban fiction writers Kamilah Haywood, Selwyn Jeffers, and children's author Angelot Ndongmo, the panelists will provide individual workshops and also share tips and resources for starting, sustaining, and publishing personal writing projects.

The workshop--facilitated by Jameel Davis (Cleveland) and Stacey Marie Robinson (Toronto)--is free to attend. Interested participants are asked to visit the Albion Branch's information desk, or call 416-394-5170 to register. Space is limited.

Kya Publishing Partners with Donsdatter Ink for Fundraising Initiative

TORONTO, ONT (July 2019) - Toronto publishing and communications company Kya Publishing has partnered with local screenprinter Donsdatter Ink for a new fundraising initiative in support of their Kya Keys Book Donation Program. Original products will be designed and sold at upcoming Kya Publishing events and vendor fairs for a flat rate of $20, with proceeds going towards the purchase of one book (per item).

Kya Keys was created to encourage a love for books through the donation of literary keys: providing access, potential solutions, and systems for solving issues through reading. In the past Kya Publishing has donated books to Ontario correctional facilities, as well as collected and donated children's reading material for Jamaican schools.

With this new initiative, the purchase of one item will support the donation of motivational and instructional self-help books (with a focus on Canadian and Urban Cultural content) to students in the Greater Toronto Area, or the donation of a children's book to a specific partner organization or charity in the GTA.

"The goal of Kya Keys is to promote literacy and encourage self-advancement through reading," said Kya Publishing founder Stacey Marie Robinson. "We hope to encourage a well-read society with our book donations, and celebrate the joy of reading. Partnering with Donsdatter Ink has allowed us to develop unique products to remind donors of their contributions while inspiring their writing."

Donsdatter Ink, based in Scarborough, provides screenprinting and related services for local businesses and organizations, and has been the supplier of Kya Publishing apparel and branded products for three years. In addition to their printing services, their team--led by business owner Natalie Richardson--has a keen eye for product design and selection, with a natural expertise in branding.

"The staff at Donsdatter have been great with helping us create t-shirts and other items for our readers, and our events over the years," said Robinson. "My consultations with Natalie have been helpful when it comes to a range of creative presentation ideas from products to trade show displays."

The products available for purchase include pencil cases, t-shirts, mouse pads, mugs, and other writer-friendly items. These can be purchased on site, or made-to-order in bulk by request.

"We are committed to helping small businesses find products, messaging, and branding to suit their organizational mission," said Richardson. "For example, writers spend a lot of time in their offices or at their desks, so visual inspiration and comfort are important for their craft. We have created a range of products with writing quotes and practical usage, to fit the daily needs of Kya Publishing's writing audience, and we can tailor our products to any industry."

The Kya Keys products will be available at all Kya Publishing events and appearances, including a pop-up shop taking place in Ajax on Saturday, October 5, 2019 (details to follow).

For personalized bulk orders for writers, please contact kyakeys@kyapublishing.com for quotes and details. For Donsdatter Ink inquiries, please contact hello@donsdatterink.ca.

Kya Publishing to Support the STAGES CANADA Reggae Artist Development Platform

TORONTO, ONT (May 2019) - Kya Publishing has joined the Stages Canada team for their upcoming Jamaican showcase and related events, and will be providing promotional and communications support this season. The official Stages Canada media launch, scheduled to take place on Friday, May 31 at Margaritaville in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, will be the first of many productions as Stages continues new artist development in Canada and in Jamaica.

Stages has been one of Canada's premiere artist development platforms since 2015; along with sponsors VIBE 105.5fm and Fresh Start 4 Youth Services, the team has been gearing up for this moment for years.

"We were always getting requests from emerging artists in Jamaica to expand our platform here, and as a team we knew that there would be more than reggae in store," said Stages CEO Carrie Mullings, host of the weekly all-Canadian reggae music program "Rebel Vibez" on VIBE 105.5fm.

The media launch will feature Jamaican comedian Owen "Blakka" Ellis, will be co-hosted by Queen Jo Jo of Jamaica's Roots 96.1fm, and will present guest speaker Rodcliff Chung of Fresh Start 4 Youth Services Inc., along with a range of reggae artists who will be performing live in Ocho Rios.

"Rebel Vibez was one of the first organizations in Toronto to embrace Kya Publishing and our books, and as a community leader, Carrie has always been supportive of our initiatives and cultural programs," said Kya Publishing founder Stacey Marie Robinson. "We are happy to support Stages Canada as the team expands their programming in Jamaica and continues to build and strengthen the international reggae music infrastructure."

Details about the Stages Canada launch, and the upcoming summer tour are available at StagesCanada.ca, as well as via their social media accounts on Instagram (@StagesCanada) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/stagescanada).




Photos by Kya Publishing: (L-R) Canadian Reggae Artists Chizzy Bashment, Ammoye, and Nfyah.

Kya Publishing to Participate in the Durham Caribbean Festival on June 29 at Pickering High School

TORONTO, ONT (May 2019) - Toronto-based Publishing and Communications company Kya Publishing will be participating in the upcoming Durham Caribbean Festival, on Saturday, June 29th. The all day festival, taking place at Pickering High School (180 Church Street North, Ajax) will be a part of the official Durham Caribbean Week festivities, and is the largest Caribbean celebration in the Durham Region.

Featuring street performers, live entertainment, children's activities, a carnival parade, marketplace, and a special Caribbean Breakfast Party, the Festival will celebrate their 9th year in operation with free admission for all and an exciting cultural experience for the community to enjoy. At the new location this year, attendees will be able to take part in indoor and outdoor activities.

"Taking part in the Durham Caribbean Festival back in 2013 was an important experience for us, and we are happy to return for this year's special Caribbean Breakfast Party," said Kya Publishing's Stacey Marie Robinson. "The Durham Region has a growing and thriving Caribbean community helping to shape the culture and enterprise of the area. We look forward to attending the Festival this year to showcase our books and services, and to celebrate Durham Caribbean Week with our neighbours and peers!"

At the Festival, Kya Publishing will feature the books of their Urban Toronto Tales collection, as well as the novels of Canadian urban fiction author Kamilah Haywood. Brochures and information about their communication services will also be available, along with personnel on site for questions, inquiries, and book signings.

For more information about the Durham Caribbean Festival, please visit their website (www.DurhamCaribbeanFestival.com).

Kya Publishing Releases Special Anniversary Edition "Urban Toronto Tales" eBooks on Amazon Kindle

TORONTO, ONT (April 2019) - Toronto-based publishing and communications company Kya Publishing has just released a special anniversary edition of  their Urban Toronto Tales collection. The nine novels and short story collections are now available online in e-book format with special new cover designs, through Amazon.com.

Written by Stacey Marie Robinson, the stories in the Urban Toronto Tales collection are a fictional documentation of life, love, and relationships in the urban Toronto city.

"I love Toronto and the people that live here, and my stories have always been dedicated to preserving the natural essence of life in Canada from a cultural perspective," said Robinson. "Kya Publishing's objective has always been to document, support, share, and encourage growth through urban fiction. The lives of my characters represent the young African and Caribbean descendants of this multicultural city, and it is my hope that this history will be authentically preserved through literature."

The first Kya Publishing novel available in print, "Video Light," went on sale to the public in the summer of 2008, followed by the birth of the Urban Toronto Tales collection with "Friends with Benefits," "The Way We Used To Be," "The Hook Up," "First Year," "Request to Rewind," "Eighteen," "I Wish I Never Met Him," and "Carnival Spotlight," the latest novel that was published in 2014. The 10th book of the Urban Toronto Tales collection, "Bonafide Toronto Love," is scheduled to be released later this year.

In addition to the literature by Stacey Marie Robinson, Kya Publishing also features Kamilah Haywood's novel "Diamond in the Rough: Part Two," a story that takes a fictional look at the urban Toronto experience from inside a women's correctional facility.

All Kya Publishing paperback books and ebooks are available online via the Kya Publishing website.

Kya Publishing Documents Toronto Caribbean Carnival Season to Encourage International Participation

TORONTO, ONT (April 2019) - Toronto-based communications and publishing company Kya Publishing will be chronicling the masquerade bands, costumes, events, and arts surrounding Toronto's annual Carnival, taking place this year on Saturday, August 3. The parade, the pinnacle of the season's festivities, has attracted millions of participants, both local and international over its 52 years of production and presentation in the diverse Ontario city.

"We enjoy participating in and endorsing this festival, as it has always been a staple of summer arts and activity in Toronto," said Kya Publishing founder Stacey Marie Robinson. "From the band launches to the registration process, we hope to always play a part in promoting this local enterprise by helping interested patrons locate a designer, band, and events to support."

Kya Publishing's 2014 novel "Carnival Spotlight" is based on the Toronto Carnival experience--the Carnival arts industry in Toronto continues to thrive, with a talented system of designers, administrators, makeup artists, DJs, dancers, event promoters, and musicians involved in keeping the industry energetic and profitable. Each year, the sponsoring entity behind the beloved celebration (still affectionately referred to as "Caribana") develops and supports a full schedule of summer activities to keep the city's Caribbean community and supporters engaged.

From the official launch, to public showcases, television appearances, concerts, and the anticipated start-of-season band launches, the event captivates Toronto's Caribbean arts crowd for the majority of the summer, leading up to parade day.

With a history of costume design, mas band administration, and communications over the years, Kya Publishing has been committed to Toronto's Carnival, its sustainability and community development.

"We love Carnival," said Robinson. "We love every aspect of this vibrant celebration, from the organizational side, to the stage show presentations. For this reason, we've dedicated one of our social media channels (@CarnivalSpotlight) to documenting and promoting the important stages along the way, and as a platform to support the community on an infrastructure level."

Dedicated to promoting Urban and Caribbean culture in Canada, Kya Publishing will continue to share the costumes and activities of the Carnival creators, as well as help to spread the word about the events and initiatives from the individual mas bands throughout the season. In addition to providing online/promotional support, Kya Publishing has also expanded their services to include Carnival-friendly items. A full list of services are listed online at KyaPublishing.com.

To connect directly with the various mas bands, please visit their individual websites for event and costume registration information:

Tribal Carnival
Toronto Revellers
Fantazia Carnival
Dream Carnival
Epic Carnival
Saldenah Carnival
Sunlime Mas
Carnival Nationz
Costume Creators
Venom Carnival
Atlantic Mas Toronto

Please note that Kya Publishing operates independently, and is not affiliated with or working in official representation of the Toronto Carnival organization.


To connect with Kya Publishing in regards to Carnival writing and administration services, please contact services@kyapublishing.com.

Kya Publishing Adds Musical Literacy to Services

TORONTO, ONT (January 2019) - Toronto-based communications and publishing company Kya Publishing has added Musical Literacy to their list of available services for 2019. Their 6-week course will teach students to read music and understand the basics of music theory.

The course will be available in person to students in the Scarborough/Toronto area, or delivered online via interactive video conference for one-hour sessions. Instruction will be personalized to the individual student, whether a child beginners or adult novice; all sessions will cover the same topics, based on the initial student assessment.

Concepts to be covered will include (but are not limited to) reading music, music history, understanding musical terminology, scales, rhythm, and the composition of the musical staff.

"Musical literacy is a great tool to have," said Kya Publishing founder, and music instructor Stacey Marie Robinson. "For instrumentalists, singers, DJs, performers, or music lovers, having an understanding of how to read music can be helpful and enhance your musical experience overall."

Registration is currently open via services@kyapublishing.com. The initial assessment is free, and can be conducted upon request.

Toronto Urban Book Expo to Return in the Spring of 2020

TORONTO, ONT (January 2019) - Kya Publishing's urban book fair, the Toronto Urban Book Expo, will return to the city in the Spring of 2020. The literary event, which began in 2014 in association with the Toronto Public Library, has since hosted nearly 100 independent and published writers, community organizations, and provided the opportunity for local book lovers to purchase original literature and meet with a range of authors from Toronto and across the U.S.

"We are committed to providing the best possible service for our participating writers as well as our book-loving patrons," said founder Stacey Marie Robinson. "Over the past five years we have collected data, feedback, recommendations, and aspirations from our participants, and are now dedicated to implementing improvements and brainstorming innovative ways to encourage literacy and increase independent book sales through the Book Expo."

While all writers are welcome to participate in the Toronto Urban Book Expo, the event culture and significance is its dedication to black writers and to telling "urban" stories rooted in the African- and Caribbean-Canadian (as well as African-American) experience. Highlighted books range in genre from Canadian Urban Fiction to African-American Fiction, Caribbean Fiction, Multicultural Literature, Motivational Texts, Autobiographies, and Diverse Children's Books.

"The best part about the Toronto Urban Book Expo thus far has been the connections made between writers and the community that has been built as a result," said Robinson. "Since our last edition in August of 2018, we have created an online List of Featured Authors for easy access to our previous Book Expo participants. We have also formed a Board of Directors."

The Toronto Urban Book Expo's Board of Directors (including Robinson, Jameel Davis, Angelot Ndongmo, Ancil London, Kamilah Haywood, Jeffrey Lee Cheatham II, Camille Ramnath, and Marsha Mohammed) has been meeting to ensure optimal benefit from the event going forward.

"We do this for the love of literature, and for the celebration and encouragement of literacy," said Robinson. "Our return in the Spring of 2020 will bring our book fair back to the city with new programming and an increase in partnerships to ensure that we can continue to support the writing community and the unique and important stories they are contributing to contemporary Canadian culture."

For information and updates about the Toronto Urban Book Expo, connect with Kya Publishing at tube@kyapublishing.com, via mailing list or social media, or visit the website for details.