Kya Publishing Sponsors Nia Centre's Carnival Arts Program for "Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival" 2017

TORONTO, ONT (June 2017) - Independent Toronto publishing company Kya Publishing will be participating in the festivities of Toronto's annual Caribbean carnival again this year--the carnival was re-named today for their new title sponsor (a live-streaming and video app) Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Staying committed to their mandate to help communicate and celebrate urban Canadian culture, Kya Publishing will provide promotional sponsorship for Nia Centre's costume "BOMBAX," (designed by SugaCayneDesigns) as they develop their new Carnival Arts program, and produce the carnival costumes as part of their fundraising efforts for 2017.

A non-profit organization, Nia Centre for the Arts is a Toronto-based facility focused on the development of young people through culturally relevant arts experiences. Providing programming and services to engage young people artistically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually, Nia Centre strives to support the development of healthy identities and positive life choices, while promoting arts from an African-Diasporic perspective in a way that engages inter-generational artists and the general population.

"Kya Publishing is a product of Toronto, and we have participated in carnival in year's past by sponsoring a children's costume," said founder Stacey Marie Robinson. "We love the arts, and a traditional part of celebrating Toronto's unique cultural fabric is the participation in the city's largest cultural festival: affectionately known as 'Caribana'. We look forward to supporting the promotional efforts of Nia Centre and their Bombax costume, as well as participating on Grand Parade day with the Venom Carnival masquerade band."

Celebrating 50 years in Toronto, the Caribbean Carnival has gone through a few structural changes and adjustments to management, funding, and operation over the years. A press conference, held today re-energized the city with plans to improve the parade logistics and increase the overall enjoyment for participants and visitors.

The festival's theme for this year, "Celebrating Our Heritage: From Then to Now," plans to bring changes to the parade like the removal of barrier fences, a new parade route, and what is described as "more floats, music, celebrities, and fun than ever before."

"Carnival captures Toronto's vibrant multiculturalism, and the entire Peeks Social team is proud to support the 50th anniversary edition of the festival," said Peeks Social Ltd. founder, Mark Itwaru. "Especially on the occasion of Canad's sesquicentennial, it's going to be a celebration like no other and put a BIG spotlight on our wonderful city and all it has to offer."

The Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival will have a dedicated channel on the Peeks network and users can download the free Peeks app to view a live stream of the event; Kya Publishing has also now registered on the platform, and will continue to use their social media energy towards profiling various cultural (and literary) events in the city.

The Carnival runs from July 7 to August 7 with a variety of events taking place, including:

July 7 & 8 - Carnival Night Market
July 9 - Opening Church Service
July 11 - Official Launch
July 15 - Carnival Village
July 16 - Carnival King & Queen Showcase
July 22 - Junior Carnival Parade & Family Day
July 22 - Toronto Carnival Run
July 23 - Calypso Show
July 28 - Carnival Ball
August 1 - Lighting of the CN Tower
August 3 - King & Queen Showcase
August 4 - Pan Alive
August 5 - Grand Parade

Kya Publishing's 4th annual Toronto Urban Book Expo is scheduled to take place on Carnival Sunday, August 6 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, in association with Nia Centre programming to be announced on June 12, 2017.

"The economic trends in Canada--our low dollar and our high standard of living--will bring in an influx of American, Caribbean, and South American visitors to Toronto who have shared history of and appreciation for the Carnival. We look forward to sharing our expanded and enhanced celebration with the world," said Denise Herrera-Jackson, CEO of the Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

What is Peeks?

Founder Mark Itwaru--an entrepreneur who immigrant to Toronto from Guyana in 1969, with family roots in the original festival Board of Directors--has built several tech companies. Peeks Social Ltd. is a new live streaming app where people can interact and transact in real time by sending cash tips as appreciation for content and/or selling goods and services to their live viewers. The infrastructure allows users to receive financial tips and sell items, with the option to raise money from crowd-funding campaigns.

Authors Announced for Toronto Urban Book Expo 2017

TORONTO, ONT (May 2017) - Kya Publishing has announced the confirmed authors that will be featured at the 4th annual Toronto Urban Book Expo (TUBE) taking place on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge Street at Sheppard Avenue).

TUBE is the only Canadian event dedicated to celebrating urban fiction and culture. This event, taking place during the Simcoe Day holiday weekend in Ontario, will feature published and independent writers selling their books at a free and family-friendly book fair. Live hip hop, R&B, reggae, and soca music will once again be provided by DJ Majesty.

Featured authors include:

Allan Brentt Hood (Toronto, Ontario);

Andree Nicole (Toronto, Ontario);

Angelot Ndongmo (Brampton, Ontario);

Breanna Chanelle (Brampton, Ontario);

Deborah Watkins (Buffalo, New York);

Edquina Washington (York, Pennsylvania)

Erika L. Farmer (Washington, D.C.);

Evelyn Ayum (New Jersey);

J.L. Crayton (Orlando, Florida);

Jameel Davis (Cleveland, Ohio);

Jeffrey Lee Cheatham II (Seattle, Washington);

Jessica Tamara (Buffalo, New York),

K. Quiet Moore (Syracuse, New York);

K.L. Hall (Fredericksburg, Virginia),

Kamilah Haywood (Toronto, Ontario);

Kelvin Gumbs (Toronto, Ontario);

Key Porter (Seattle, Washington);

Key Porter (Seattle, Washington);

Lavern Lewis (Toronto, Ontario);

Mariah James (Rochester, New York);

Mathis Bailey (Toronto, Ontario);

Meldonna Jones (Washington, D.C.);

Michelle Thompson (Toronto, Ontario);

Ms. Tee (Rochester, New York);

Ndija Anderson-Yantha (Toronto, Ontario);

Olive Rose Steele (Mississauga, Ontario);

Precious Champegnie (Baltimore, Maryland);

Shannon Spruill (Cheektowaga, New York);

Shataya Simms (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania);

Simone DaCosta (Mississauga, Ontario);

Sincere James (Fort Worth, Texas).

T.L. Hayes (Columbus, Ohio);

Tamyara Brown (Buffalo, New York);

Tastee Thoughts (Columbia, South Carolina);

Taymer Mason (Toronto, Ontario);

Tramona Ford (York, Pennsylvania);

Tristan Jackson (Houston, Texas);

Van White (Rochester, New York); and

Yusuf Abubakar (Brampton, Ontario).

Kya Publishing, a boutique publishing and communications company, promotes and celebrates contemporary urban literature and culture through their books, research, events, and community initiatives. The annual Book Expo was established in 2014 in support of independent authors, and to increase urban literacy through familiar texts and cultural subject matter.

"Kya Publishing welcomes registration requests from all writers," said Kya Publishing founder Stacey Marie Robinson. "We look forward to inviting both local and international authors to present with us in the city, and are excited to celebrate urban literature and culture during Toronto's festive holiday weekend. "

For more information about this event, please contact TUBE@kyapublishing.com, or visit www.kyapublishing.com. 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE USING #TUBE2017 

TWITTER // @KyaPublishing
INSTAGRAM // @KyaPublishing
FACEBOOK // KyaPublishing

Kamilah Haywood to Launch New Book at Toronto Urban Book Expo

TORONTO, ONT (May 2017) - New Kya Publishing author, Kamilah Haywood, will be launching her new book "Diamond in the Rough: Part II" at the 4th annual Toronto Urban Book Expo on Sunday, August 6, 2017. The annual book fair, hosted by Kya Publishing and taking place at the Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge Street), features local and international urban authors sharing their works. Kamilah Haywood will be one of approximately 30 urban writers participating in the event--her third book, "Diamond in the Rough: Part II" will be her first book developed with Kya Publishing.

"Kamilah brings an authentic voice and a gritty perspective to the Canadian literary scene," said Kya Publishing owner, Stacey Marie Robinson. "Her writing style, her subject matter, dialogue, and perspectives are unlike any other Canadian author, and we're proud to have her on board."

Haywood--who has comfortably written about subjects ranging from the drug game, to the criminal system, relationships, and coming-of-age in urban Toronto--has been praised for her truthful depictions of urban landscapes and characters. Diamond in the Rough: Part II continues in the authentic style Haywood's readers have grown to love, as she explores the female correctional system in Ontario.

"I look forward to launching 'Diamond in the Rough: Part II' this summer at the Toronto Urban Book Expo," said Haywood. "Kya Publishing has been a source of support for me personally over the years, and encouraging for other emerging Canadian urban authors like myself. I'm glad to have found a home here, and look forward to contributing to the growth of Canadian Urban Fiction, and sharing our unique stories with the world."

For more information about Kamilah Haywood, or to connect with her online, please visit her page on the Kya Publishing website.