BONAFIDE // Kya Publishing Releases 13th "Black Toronto-Based" Fiction Book

TORONTO, ON (December 2022) – Toronto-based publishing and communications company Kya Publishing has just released their 13th book featuring Toronto-based Black characters, cultures, and locales.

TITLE | Bonafide

AUTHOR | SM Robinson

PUBLISHER | Kya Publishing

PRICE | $11.99

PAGES | 220

ISBN-13 | 978-0-9879195-3-3

GENRE | Fiction

SYNOPSIS | A story about a 41-year-old professional female who is selected to participate in a research project analyzing life in the city for Black Torontonians born in the 1970s: #BlackTorontoLive. Presented with a group of eligible male bachelors, her courting process is documented through livestreams, social media, and a series of orchestrated dates.

"Documenting contemporary Black/African Canadian life is important to us, so our stories reflect a range of cultures, sub-cultures, characters, and experiences within the city of Toronto during the 90s, early 2000s, and present time. Through the fiction of SM Robinson and Kamilah Haywood, our catalogue of books features themes of relationships, self-love, human trafficking, Caribbean carnival, incarceration, coming of age, friendship, marriage, and the entertainment industry, all with a focus on development, growth, and self-awareness."

Order Bonafide by SM Robinson in paperback or ebook format.

To view this, and additional books from Kya Publishing, please visit our website.

 

Toronto Author KWooDZ and Glowz offer Writing Workshops for the Previously Incarcerated and Warrior Women

TORONTO, ONT (November 2022) Toronto-based authors Kamilah Haywood (aka KWooDZ) and Gloria O'Koye (aka Glowz) are continuing their series of writing workshops this month: "Warrior Women Winning" and "Find Your Voice" were established to support marginalized voices, and also to cultivate new stories and shared experiences to encourage and inspire each other.

All are welcome to attend the workshops, to connect with KWooDZ and Glowz and build a community of creatives from within Toronto (and internationally) with free access to a safe space for conversation, creative sharing, and composition.

The WARRIOR WOMEN WINNING for trauma survivors, will be held on Sunday, November 20 at 2:00pm EST (REGISTER HERE).

The FIND YOUR VOICE workshop for will be held on Sunday, November 27 at 2:00pm EST (REGISTER HERE).

"These workshops are important, because our stories and experiences are all important," said KWooDZ. "We want to provide a space for writers to gather, talk, work out their ideas, and get on a path to implementing them."

Both authors have been actively involved in prison rights activism, as well as supporting Toronto's Black and Indigenous communities through their writing, and project participation. Special guests have contributed to the events through song, performance, poetry, and ceremony.

"We hope to continue to uplift one another," said Glowz. "Virtual workshops have been a great tool for us these past few years, and we have built many strong relationships that translate from Zoom, to protests, to our laptops, and into beautiful fiction, spoken word pieces, poetry, and other creative arts."

Support from the Forgiveness Project, Kya Publishing, TU Book Expo, and community participants have helped to continue the momentum for the writing workshops.

For additional information about the workshops or future opportunities to contribute/participate, please contact kamilah@kyapublishing.com.

International Writers' Workshop returns Emancipation Day Long Weekend in Toronto

(June 2022) - The International Writers' Workshop (IWW) returns for a virtual edition during Emancipation Day long weekend in Toronto, Thursday, July 28, 2022 from 12:00pm to 1:30pm over the Zoom platform. The theme is "Enhancing and Leveraging the Black Writing Community" featuring presentations and a roundtable discussion from all registered participations; registration is free.

The Workshop, now in its fourth edition, is designed for writers (particularly those in the Black/African diaspora) to present and advance their writing projects and initiatives through conversation and connection.

During the interactive discussion, experts will share culturally-specific experiences and strategies for writing and marketing, in addition to providing resources for starting, sustaining, and [self-]publishing writing projects in a variety of genres.

"We hope to continue to provide writers with an inviting and comfortable platform to cultivate new ideas and artistic networks," said event administrator Stacey Robinson.

Presented by the TU Book Expo, and sponsored by the Toronto Arts Council, Toronto's Kya Publishing, Nairobi's Mutendei Writes, Cleveland's Elevated Waves, and Toronto's Bstellar Group Inc, the IWW team is composed of Black writers Mutendei Nabutete, Stacey Ann Berry, Kamilah Haywood, and Jameel Davis. 

"Our goal is to continuously strengthen the writing, the voices, and the unification within the Black writing community, and to also establish Toronto as a hub and key international location for Black writers to feel welcome, supported, and enhanced as artists."

Previous sessions have highlighted:

• "Character Development and Historical Representations" by Mutendei Nabutete
• "How to Use Writing to Ignite Freedom, Healing and Power" by Stacey Ann Berry
• "Content Marketing" by Jameel Davis
• "Self Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing" by Kamilah Haywood and Mutendei Nabutete
• "Traditional Marketing Methods in the Digital Age" by Stacey Ann Berry
• "Literary Cultural Barriers in the African Diaspora" featuring guest presenter Adam H.C. Myrie, in addition to presentations from the IWW Board members.

Writers and literary supporters from all communities are welcome to attend!

REGISTER HERE

VISIT TUBOOKEXPO.COM

Contact us with your inquiries or to learn more about the International Writers' Workshop at IWW@kyapublishing.com.

ABOUT EMANCIPATION DAY

Emancipation Day is celebrated on August 1 in Ontario, Canada. The Government of Canada officially designated this day on March 24, 2021 to mark "the actual day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire."

"Canadians are not always aware that Black and Indigenous Peoples were once enslaved on the land that is now Canada. Those who fought enslavement were pivotal in shaping our society to be as diverse as it is today. Therefore, each August 1, Canadians are invited to reflect, educate and engage in the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination. Emancipation Day celebrates the strength and perseverance of Black communities in Canada."

Kya Publishing hosts Virtual Book Launch for Bajan Author Wilmont St. Cyr's Latest Novel "The Vault"

On Sunday, May 15, 2022 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm EST, Kya Publishing will support the launch of Bajan author Wilmont St. Cyr's novel THE VAULT with a virtual session moderated by Kenyan author Mutendei Nabutete, with special guest author Andre L. Simpson from Jamaica.

The launch will feature readings and discussions on Caribbean history, culture, and the themes of Wilmont's novel (including folklore, dark tourism, human trafficking, and colonization) in this romantic thriller set from 1812 to 1820.

Registration is free and all are welcome to attend!

The author of two published books, Fields of Death (2015) and The Vault (2021), Wilmont's detailed and historical literary writing style is reflective of his life experience coupled with his passion for knowledge. His works are to be used as a catalyst to not only highlight the stories of Barbados, but also to recognize the influence of his home island both locally and internationally.

Toronto publishing and communications company Kya Publishing will be joining creative forces with Wilmont to present promotional and cultural activities over the upcoming months, and to encourage the international reading and sharing of texts.

To learn more about Wilmont, connect through his Facebook author page, his Instagram account, or online at Amazon.

Author Kamilah Haywood Featured in Myseum Toronto's "Confinement and Contagion" Exhibit

TORONTO, ONT (April 2022) - Toronto author Kamilah Haywood will have their writing featured in the Myseum Intersection 2022 Confinement and Contagion Exhibition, taking place from April 2 through April 13, 2022 at NPC Arts (56 Neilson Drive, Toronto).

This year, Myseum Intersections 2022 features five collaborative projects, with a focus on rediscovering the city, and "deepen[ing] your understanding of people, places, and moments that have shaped Toronto as we know it today," with the free experiences, tours, and events "exploring diverse conversations and perspectives about our city."

Also highlighted within the Exhibition will be "Find Your Voice," a writing workshop facilitated by Kamilah Haywood and Toronto author Glowz (Gloria O'Kaye). "Newly released inmates requiring programming hours are encouraged to sign up. All are welcome, but priority will be given to previously-convicted artists, entertainers, and/or writers."

Co-presented by the FU Project and Kya Publishing, the workshop will guide participants "through the creative writing process to support their individual healing practices and to compose a writing piece that can be included in their portfolios. Participants will have the opportunity to share their work with peers within this private workshop, and can offer constructive and uplifting insight about each other's work to encourage growth in their creative journeys."

This is the seventh year for the annual festival of arts, culture, and community and will feature three exhibitions: Confinement & Contagion, Resistance. Resilience. Revolution., and Etobicoke Stories of Significance.

For more information or to register, visit Myseum Toronto here.

Kya Publishing Forms Partnership with Author Wilmont St. Cyr (Barbados)

TORONTO, ONT (March 2022) - Toronto publishing and communications company Kya Publishing will be joining creative forces with Barbados-based author Wilmont St. Cyr to present promotional and cultural activities over the upcoming months, and to encourage the international reading and sharing of texts.

The author of two published books, Fields of Death (2015) and The Vault (2021), Wilmont's detailed and historical literary writing style is reflective of his life experience coupled with his passion for knowledge. His works are to be used as a catalyst to not only highlight the stories of Barbados, but also to recognize the influence of his home island both locally and internationally.

"Wilmont has been a long time supporter of Kya Publishing, and we strongly believe in his storytelling abilities, historical acumen, and literary vision," said SM Robinson. "He has a unique and informed way of expressing untold stories of Barbados and Caribbean history, and we look forward to sharing his voice with our network and beyond."

"I am honoured and pleased to be in partnership with Kya Publishing, in promotions, and for future events," said Wilmont. "I look forward to collaborating on projects, and continuing to support the development of writing and connection of writers on an international level."

Kya Publishing will support the launch of Wilmont's novel "The Vault" with a virtual session, moderated by Kenyan author Mutendei Nabutete, featuring readings and discussions on Caribbean history, culture, and the themes of his novel. The launch will take place on Sunday, May 15, 2022 and registration is free. All are welcome to attend!

To learn more about Wilmont, connect through his Facebook author page, his Instagram account, or online at Amazon.

International Writers' Workshop // Exploring Literary Cultural Barriers in the African Diaspora on February 26, 2022

TORONTO, ONT. (February 2022) - Uniting Black writers virtually from across continents, the third edition of the International Writers' Workshop is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022 on the Zoom platform from 1:00 pm to 3:00pm EST. This event is presented by the TU Book Expo, and sponsored by the Toronto Arts Council, Toronto's Kya Publishing, Nairobi's Mutendei Writes, Cleveland's Elevated Waves, and Toronto's Bstellar Group Inc.

Honouring Black History Month, this session will explore the theme of "Literary Cultural Barriers in the African Diaspora." Hosted and moderated by Mutendei Writes, the workshop features presentations from Jameel Davis, Stacey Ann Berry, and Adam H.C. Myrie, and contributions from panelist Kamilah Haywood. Discussion and participation from attendees is encouraged!

Registration is free for all writers, with an optional fee for a session workbook with resources and writing activities.

Writers and literary supporters from all communities are welcome to attend: REGISTRATION LINK. For additional information, please visit TUBookExpo.com, or contact tube@kyapublishing.com