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. 

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

TORONTO, ONT (December 2018) - Canadian and American writers will connect this upcoming Black History Month at the Toronto Public Library's North York Central Branch, for the collaborative workshop with Kya Publishing (Toronto) and Elevated Waves (Cleveland) taking place on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. "Writing the Black Narrative: How to Tell Your Cultural Story" will take place in the North York branch's e-Learning Lab.

"Join our interactive panel discussion with writers Stacey Ann Berry, Kamilah Haywood, Selwyn Jeffers, and Angelot Ndongmo, sharing experiences and strategies for writing culturally-specific narratives. Writers will also provide individual workshops and share tips and resources for starting, sustaining, and publishing writing projects in a variety of genres. Facilitated by Jameel Davis (Elevated Waves Publishing, Cleveland) and Stacey Marie Robinson (Kya Publishing, Toronto)."

Registration is now available through the Toronto Public Library--spaces are limited. Please register for this free event by calling (416) 395-5639.

Kya Publishing Author Kamilah Haywood to Present at Naked Heart Festival

TORONTO, ONT (October 2018) Kya Publishing author Kamilah Haywood will be participating in the upcoming Naked Heart festival at Glad Day Bookshop, Buddies in Bad Times, and 5Six2. The annual LGTBQ festival of words, features a range of 60 authors and presenters, and runs from Friday, November 9 through Sunday, November 11. Kamilah will be featuring her third published novel "Diamond in the Rough: Part 2" through a panel discussion and also a reading.

The Festival will include a range of events featuring Jewell Gomez, Larissa Lai, Fatima Jamal, Lindsay Nixon, Kai Cheng Thom, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, and Shyam Selvadurai--a balance of new and returning presenters. The main session types include panels, workshops, and readings across the three locations, Glad Day Bookshop (499 Church Street), Buddies in Bad Times (12 Alexander Street), and 5Six2 (562 Church Street).

Glad Day Bookshop is the oldest surviving LGBTQ bookstore, dedicated to stories of representation and freedom of speech: it is an important venue for supporting, nurturing and inspiring creativity and community.

"Michael [Erickson] and Glad Day Bookshop have been supporters of my books from day one, and I am grateful for their support," said Kamilah Haywood. "I look forward to sharing my book Diamonds in the Rough: Part 2 with the Naked Heart festival attendees, and also learning from the range of presentations taking place over the festival weekend."

Diamonds in the Rough: Part 2 chronicles a series of questionable events taking place in a women's prison in Toronto, as the main character battles issues of love, addiction, and struggles with her mental health. Over the years, Kamilah has comfortably written about subjects ranging from the drug game, to the criminal system, relationships, and coming-of-age in urban Toronto, and has been praised for her truthful depictions of urban landscapes and characters.

"Kamilah brings an authentic voice and a gritty perspective to the Canadian literary scene," said Kya Publishing's Stacey Marie Robinson. "Her writing style, her subject matter, dialogue, and perspectives are unlike any other Canadian author, and will make a great addition to the Naked Heart festival."

For details about Naked Heart Festival events and times, please visit their website at NakedHeart.ca.