REFLECTION & REASON

I was happy to have quiet time to read  Michelle Richards-Graham 's book "It Could Never Happen To Me" today. The Canadian young adult novelist, who currently resides in Oshawa, Ontario, has written a very important piece of work and I'm grateful for the time and space I had to read it. It was long overdue. I'm the type of reader that doesn't always like to see the back-cover copy before getting into a piece of fiction. I tend to do this with movies too, because I like to be surprised by the plot. As long as I know the general genre and what demographics the characters fall into, I'm good to go without the synopsis. So when I discovered that the "it" in this story was sexual abuse by a family member, I really had to applaud Ms. Richards-Graham before the book was even completed. I believe Michelle initially composed this novel when she was a young teen, so to see her approach this sensitive subject matter so well, my heart went out to the...

These are some interesting times. In fact, this is probably the most ambiguous moment most of us have ever experienced. When we look back at history, this will be a significant marker. Whatever this is. I don't even want to type the name. The ailment. The entity responsible for all of this, whatever "this" is. Whether it be a complete paradigm shift, or a major economic and manufacturing transition of society (insert theory here)...we will most likely be very different on the other side of this ordeal than we were coming in. When the time comes, and we enter back into some form of normalcy and consistent routine...we are going to have an abundance of lessons learned, judgements made, and will move forward in a new way. When the time comes. The universal time out is an interesting one, to say the least. It has provided a lot of time for reflection--both inward, and outward--and a lot of time to analyze our surroundings, our leaders, and the way in which our social ec...

Cleveland author Jameel Davis is not normal. I mean this in the most respectful, and endearing, and celebratory of ways. After reading his book " In Between These Sheets " (that I drove all the way to Cleveland, Ohio to pick up hot off the presses in the summer of 2019), it only reinforced my positive opinion of this brother. He is not normal...he's definitely outstanding. The thoughts, the wisdom, the insight, the honesty, the maturity, the social awareness...none of this is standard. The sheer volume that he is able to produce as a writer: also not normal. In the pages of this book, Jameel Davis touched on topics, themes, personal anecdotes, and a range of subjects that make him not only a significant contributor to the ongoing cultural dialogue surrounding these topics, but also a damn good writer. I know Jameel personally, so it's hard to not be impressed by this 30-year-old African-American young man. He's educated. He's kind. He's insightfu...

Every author has a sense of purpose that propels their thinking, brainstorming, and eventual documenting of sentences and phrases. For Jamaican author Andre L. Simpson , the actual thoughts are what motivates him to write and create for publication. A 37-year-old resident of Kingston, he has written two novels to date, is currently finalizing his third book, and is also working towards completing his fourth. In addition to his fiction composition, his "Higher Thinka" brand of quotes and inspirational writings is naturally developing, simultaneously. In his early twenties, Andre went through a period where he consumed a great amount of novels--American urban fiction in particular. Captivated by the power of the written word, the complexities of the stories, and the passion with which the writers created their works, he became inspired by the art form and a curiosity formed. He started to believe that he, too, could record his thoughts and develop characters and scenario...

In what has become an annual tradition, Kya Publishing partnered with Cleveland's Elevated Waves Publishing to present a special Writing Workshop for the Toronto Public Library last week, in association with their Black History Month programming. Over the years, the workshop has evolved from discussing the idea of Urban Fiction, to providing information about Urban Fiction...and then with increased participation, we established a format of having a panel discussion followed by one-on-one author chats in the latest editions of the cultural writing workshop. One thing has been consistent, and that is our dedication to letting writers know about the importance of staying true to their authentic voices, and also honouring their personal experiences. Whether writing Urban Fiction, Black Narratives, or developing cultural writing projects, all writers have entered the environment and left with the same spirit: one of increased creativity. This year's workshop highlighted a pan...

Audi SQ5 These are indeed "Transformative Times" (the theme of this year's show)...what's not to love? Beautiful cars under brilliant lights, the excited faces of car enthusiasts, and dozens of opportunities to take in the design, feel, and essence of creativity through North America's favourite auto brands at the Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS). Kya Publishing was thrilled to take part in the CIAS auto show this year for their Media Day on Thursday, February 13, and were reminded of the innovation in the auto industry and the ways technology and science inform, influence, and guide our transportation options. Taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (both North and South buildings, with a shuttle available between the two) from Friday, February 14, through the Family Day long weekend in Ontario, and finishing up on Sunday, February 23, the auto show caters to car lovers and the industry that moves them. Spanning over 650,000 square feet...

It's terrible. It's completely devastating. It's been less than 24 hours since first hearing about the passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and it still somehow doesn't feel real. We have experienced the passing of many public figures as of late...but this one hits different. He was born the same year as me, 1978. We have watched him progress in real time, and he has always been at the forefront of my generation's experiences. Yes, I miss Whitney, and Michael, Prince, and even Nipsey. Tupac and Biggie...we have had other "celebrities"/public figures pass away for various reasons, and most of the incidents have been heartbreaking. Before their time. Whether they are celebrities or "common folk"...death is never an easy road to navigate. We're not talking about family, or a personal friend here...but we are talking about someone who has had the blessing of influence, and mass appeal, and someone who possesses exceptionally transformational gi...