KONNECTION // January 2024

 

YA FICTION // Books About African Canadian Children & Teens from Lorimer Check out these engaging stories from Canadian publisher James Lorimer & Company, Ltd.! Ace and the Misfits by Eddie Kawooya | New to Canada, Ace is battling ignorance, bullying, and a new culture. Now he seeks to regain his confidence and show himself he has the tools to make it in his new life... Not Talking About You by Kevin heronJones | Not Talking About You portrays racism as it occurs amongst young Canadians today. It explores the impact on the target and on bystanders who have to decide how to react when they find a racist youth in their midst... The Hoop and the Harm by Jawara Pedican | ...with the clarity and poetic style of a seasoned writer, and drawing on his own time as an elite sports prospect, Jawara Pedican shows the trials and traumas of becoming fixated on a dream of sports stardom. Shades of Black by Carlos Anthony | Shades of Black is an honest and authentic portrayal of life as a young Black male teen in today’s culture and environment at an urban school in Toronto’s Etobicoke neighbourhood... Additional Lorimer titles from African Canadian writers Johnny Boateng, Dirk McLean, Wanda Taylor, and Eric Howling are also available. We encourage you to view their full catalogue for a range of powerful and culturally reflective narratives and characters! DANCEHALL REBEL // Available in February In the YA novel Dancehall Rebel, a teen shares her dad’s vibrant Caribbean musical legacy but is burdened by the homophobia that comes along with it. She needs to find a new path for the music and for herself. Author: Stacey Robinson Publisher: James Lorimer & Company Ltd. Publication Date: February 13, 2024 ISBN: 9781459418141 OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITERS // YA Fiction James Lorimer & Company Ltd. is an independent publishing house based in Toronto that publishes children's and teen fiction (and non-fiction) focusing on reluctant and struggling readers. Their titles are widely recognized and recommended by children's book reviewers in Canada and the U.S., with an adult list also focusing on contemporary Canadian social and political issues. Authors! If you are interested in writing a story for young adults and teens, please visit the Lorimer website to review their submission guidelines and see if your idea will be a good fit!  TORONTO TALES // Growing up in the 90s Documenting the young adult culture and style of the 90s, Kya Publishing offers a collection of fictional novels and short stories reflecting a range of interpersonal experiences for African Canadian characters. LEARN MORE “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” – CW Elliot VIDEO // International Writers' Workshop Have you seen the recap video from the most recent IWW, the Black Writers' Wellness Check-In? This past summer, the event featured a panel discussion with authors Stacey Ann Berry and Kamilah Haywood, spoken word performances from Lalaa and Glowz, and opportunities for attendees to network and meet with presenting artists. Authors from Kenya (Mutendei Writes), Barbados (Wilmont St. Cyr), and Jamaica (Andre L. Simpson) joined us virtually, along with a special opening from Robin Rice and an informative online presentation from Dr. Dobijoki Emanuela Bringi. Sponsored by the Toronto Arts Council, the session was hosted by Cleveland author Jameel Davis, and took place at the Lauft flexible co-working and event space. Take a look! LEARN MORE

FIND YOUR VOICE // Online Writing Workshop - September 30

TORONTO, ONT (September 2023) - Toronto publishing and communications company Kya Publishing is co-sponsoring the upcoming Find Your Voice writing workshop presented by the TU Book Expo, Incarcerated Voters of Ontario, and sponsored by the Toronto Arts Council. The first of three online workshops will take place on Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm via the Zoom platform. Registration is free, and available through TUBookExpo.com.

Find Your Voice was first introduced as a special session at the Myseum Intersections festival in April 2022 (Confinement and Contagion). September will be the sixth edition of the workshop, that continued to run in the fall of 2022 until winter 2023.

Additional sessions are scheduled for October 28 and November 25 of 2023.

The Find Your Voice workshop guides 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 share constructive and uplifting insight about each other’s work to encourage growth in their creative journeys.

Guided by facilitators authors Kamilah Haywood (Kwoodz) and Gloria O'Koye (Glowz), and prisoners' rights advocate Lindsay Jennings (Incarcerated Voters of Ontario), the workshop will also feature an opening from Robin Rice, and a special guest presenter at each session: September will highlight digital creator Kamal Hakim.

Within this safe space, participants can connect and create in honour of their lived experiences. Newly released participants requiring programming hours are encouraged to sign up. Priority will be given to previously-incarcerated artists, entertainers, and/or writers.

For more information, or to register, please visit the event website at TUBookExpo.com/FindYourVoice. Registration is free, and all welcome to attend. Please contact kamilah@kyapublishing.com for details, or if you have requests for accessibility/accommodation during the online session.

Upcoming International Writers' Workshop Venue Sponsored by Lauft Workspace Network

(July 2023) The upcoming TU Book Expo's International Writers' Workshop (IWW) is taking place on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Lauft (Shops at Don Mills location, 21 Karl Fraser Rd. # N 007) in Toronto from 2:00pm to 4:00pm EST. International participants are also encouraged to join the workshop online.

For those who live in the Greater Toronto Area, the workshop also presents an opportunity for guests to spend time in one of the Lauft locations, and to learn more about their features, availability, and the convenience the workspace can provide for professionals looking for a quiet place to work, room rentals, or a change of scenery.

Lauft's model is centered around an on-demand app that features hourly and daily rates for users; this "flexible approach to remote work" is a great option for writers in particular, who may have unconventional work schedules or a variety of needs for office space.

Some of the features available for rental/use include: SmartDesks, boardrooms, and Lauft can be easily accessed through locations in Ajax, Burlington, Castlefield, Don Mills, and Vaughan, Ontario, Canada.

There are no leases or memberships required to access Lauft's modern spaces. "With the ability to book hourly, daily, or monthly, we're on a mission to empower everyone to do their best work in the most consistent, convenient, and professional way possible." ~ Lauft

"We look forward to connecting with local writers at the Don Mills location; Lauft is a wonderful resource for writers and entrepreneurs," said Kya Publishing's Stacey Robinson. "Having a comfortable work environment is an important part of being productive, and Lauft is ideal for independent practitioners who need an occasional office to work from."

The theme for the 5th edition of the writers' workshop is "Black Writers' Wellness Check-In," and will feature a panel discussion, spoken word performances, and opportunities for writers to network and meet with presenting authors.

Registration/admission is free, and available online via EventBrite. There is an optional $15 workbook available for both in-person and virtual attendees featuring resources and exercises to support writing processes.

International participants are encouraged! Readers, writers, and literary supporters from all communities are welcome to attend!

The IWW is co-sponsored by the Toronto Arts Council, Toronto's Kya Publishing, Nairobi's Mutendei Writes, Cleveland's Elevated Waves Publishing, and Toronto's Bstellar® Group Inc.

Contact: tube@kyapublishing.com | Information: TUBookExpo.com