By Yolanda T. Marshall A Place Beyond The Heart Written by Iyioha Irehobhude. “A Place Beyond the Heart is a collection of short stories exploring issues at the intersection of war and love, terror and (dis)order, identity, gender, and sexuality. The stories capture people’s lives facing personal, societal and transcultural challenges that define, transform, and […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall My yearning for the traditional “treat” deepens as I grow older. After every meal, I always “feel for something sweet.” Halloween brings out the witches and evil pumpkins. But it also generates an abundance of sugary treats, and so does the celebration of Diwali. Diwali, often referred to as Deepavali, is […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall The Blackhurst Cultural Centre presents the Black and Caribbean Book Affair, which will be held from October 16th to October 19th. This year, the centre has curated an extraordinary program themed “Authors Writing into the AI Future.” Attendees can look forward to exciting book launches, engaging readings from renowned authors, and […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall This year, I attended Word on The Street (WOTS) in Toronto. Unlike previous years, the number of shoppers has decreased drastically. Vendors (publishers, bookstores, distributors, authors) pay annual fees ranging from approximately $500 to $10,000 to participate. This year, some publishers who didn’t get a booth didn’t lose out. Many of […]
By Neil Armstrong Toronto will soon be hosting book festivals that will feature several local and international authors of African, Black and Caribbean heritage. The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) at the Harbourfront Centre from September 19 to 29 invites readers to immerse themselves “in the joy of storytelling that spans boundaries, showcases fresh […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall Here are some traditionally published books by Canadian authors for your back-to-school shopping lists. Stars in My Crown Written by Antonio Michael Downing and illustrated by Richy Sánchez Ayala. “Author and musician Antonio Michael Downing’s debut picture book is about big changes and big feelings and speaks to all kids experiencing […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall This year’s Carnival season is drawing to a close. Kudos to all the Mas Bands, masqueraders, musicians, and the Festival Management Committee for their hard work. Our Caribbean community deserves recognition, and our culture should be preserved. Here are a few books highlighting our Caribbean experiences. ‘Membering Written by Austin Clarke […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall Are you ready to play mas? This year, I am not a masquerader as usual. While the parade graces the streets of Toronto and my ancestors receive the songs and dances of freedom, I will be at the Harbourfront Centre as a featured artist for ‘Island Soul’, educating children about our […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall Mello Ayo wrote a biography about Brother Adisa S. Oji. Mr. Ayo is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, leadership consultant, and advocate. He is the author of many books including “After Dark: The Anatomy of a People’s Struggle,” ” Stories We Don’t Tell,” “Love Rhapsodies and Blues,” “Good Morning, Afrika!,” and “I […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall Early this year, in April, I recommended two exceptional books by Sabrina Chetram, a Canadian-born author of Guyanese heritage. Sabrina is of Indo-Caribbean heritage and her books are filling a gap in the literary world. There is a demand for more cultured literature written by Indo-Caribbean authors and Sabrina is one […]
