BIPOC Writers Connect

Darby Minott Bradford is a hybrid form writer and translator based in Tio'tia:ke (Montreal). They are the author of the Dream of No One but Myself (Brick Books, 2021), which won the A.M. Klein QWF Prize for Poetry, and was a finalist for, among others, the Griffin Poetry Prize and Governor General Literary Awards. Their most recent book of poetry, Bottom Rail on Top, was a finalist for the Raymond Souster Award.

Photo: Sarah Bodri.

Kern Carter, based in Toronto, is an author, educator, and mentor celebrated for his captivating storytelling. With three books published and two more on the horizon for 2024, Kern has garnered critical acclaim and a devoted following. Beyond his writing, he champions emerging talent by creating online platforms that provide a supportive space for new writers to share their work and connect. Through partnerships with various organizations, he amplifies the voices of countless writers who may not have had the opportunity otherwise. Kern's dedication extends to teaching part-time at a local college and conducting workshops on writing craft and the business of being an author. Known for his engaging teaching style, he also offers personalized mentorship to aspiring writers, guiding them through skill development, craft refinement, and publishing challenges.

H Felix Chau Bradley is the author of Personal Attention Roleplay (Metonymy Press), which was a finalist for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and the Kobo Rakuten Emerging Writer Prize. Their writing has appeared in carte blanche, ESPACE art actuel, the Humber Literary Review, Maisonneuve Magazine, the Montreal Review of Books, PRISM International, Weird Era, Xtra, and elsewhere. They live in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), and work as an editor for Metonymy Press and This Magazine.

Francine Cunningham is an award-winning writer, artist, and educator who is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, and is also Métis, and has settler family roots stretching from as far away as Ireland and Belgium. Her debut book of poems On/Me (Caitlin Press) was nominated for the BC and Yukon Book Prize, the Indigenous Voices Award, and the Vancouver Book Award. Her debut book of short stories God Isn’t Here Today (Invisible Publishing) is out now and was longlisted for the inaugural Carol Shield’s Prize for Fiction, was a finalist for the 2023 Indigenous Voices Award, and won the 2023 ReLit award. Her first children’s book What if bedtime didn’t exist (Annick Press) is out now and was selected as one of the 2024 TD Summer Reads Program books. She was also the 2023/2024 Writer in Residence at the University of Calgary.

Angel Di Zhang was born in northeast China, and raised in China, England, Canada, and the United States. She was educated in the joint BA-MIA program at Columbia University, and is a painter and an internationally exhibited fine art photographer. Her debut novel, The Light of Eternal Spring, published with Random House Canada in 2023. She is the founder and host of the Angel Reading Series which showcases authors who have a recent or forthcoming book. Angel lives in a secret garden floating above Toronto.

Antonio Michael Downing was born in Trinidad and was also raised in Toronto, Kitchener, and Brooklyn. He is an author and performance artist. His memoir Saga Boy was shortlisted for the 2021 Speakers Book Award and Toronto Book Award. He was recognized by the Taylor Prize for Non-fiction as one of Canada's strongest Emerging Authors. His debut children's book Stars in My Crown (Tundra Books) will be available in Summer 2024. His debut novel Black Cherokee will be released by Simon & Schuster in North America in 2025. He writes and performs music as John Orpheus.

Derek Mascarenhas’s short story collection, Coconut Dreams, was called a "stunning debut" in Quill and Quire's starred review and The Globe and Mail named it one of the best reads from Canadian small presses. Derek’s first picture book, 100 Chapatis, was praised by Kirkus Reviews as “warm and reassuring,” and his second, The Mango Monster, arrives September 2024. Derek is also working on a speculative novel, and currently teaches at the University of Toronto SCS.

Danny Ramadan is a Syrian-Canadian author and LGBTQ-refugees advocate. His novels, The Clothesline Swing (Nightwood - 2017) and The Foghorn Echoes (Penguin - 2022) continue to receive accolades. His award-winning children’s series The Salma Books is released by AnnickPress. It includes picture book Salma the Syrian Chef (2020), and early chapters books Salma Makes a Home and Salma Writes a Book (2023). He released his memoir Crooked Teeth (Penguin) in 2024. His short stories and essays have appeared in publications across North America and Europe. Since his arrival to Canada, Ramadan has raised over $300,000 for LGBTQ+ identifying refugees.

Zenia Wadhwani is the author of Once Upon A Sari and ‘Twas the Night Before Diwali, stories inspired by her daughter and a desire to see greater diversity in children’s literature. Not surprisingly, she is a lover of books, an advocate for literacy and a promoter of emerging writers. Zenia’s days are spent working on matters related to equity and inclusion. She lives in Toronto with her family.

Amanda Ferreira is an editor with Random House Canada. She primarily edits adult commercial fiction, and is drawn to books with an early hook and YA crossover appeal. She acquires in every genre (except horror), with a special interest in fantasy, romance, and mystery. In particular, she strives to amplify BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices. Recent releases by her authors include Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love by Katrina Kwan, A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland, and The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin.

Nour Sallam is an associate literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency representing adult fiction and nonfiction. She has a BA in English Literature and Political Science from the University of British Columbia and studied publishing at Toronto Metropolitan University. As an Arab woman and an immigrant, she loves books that amplify joy and connection, and/or feature complex and nuanced histories, power dynamics, or underrepresented narratives. She represents upmarket and commercial fiction as well as select literary fiction. She also works on thrillers, mysteries, horror, and romance. In nonfiction, she is drawn to big-idea books and narratives on pop culture, art, and nature.

Yasemin Uçar is Editorial Development Director at Kids Can Press. She has been editing children’s books for nearly three decades, and has worked across all genres — picture books, fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels. Before joining KCP in 2012, Yasemin worked at Scholastic Canada, at Piccadilly Press in the UK, and as a freelance editor. She has worked with many popular and award-winning authors and illustrators, including Louise Rennison, Chieri Uegaki, and Ashley Spires.