Valerie Chelangat
Founder, Tusome Books
Master of Fine Arts, 2023
Intentional reading means focusing on a specific subject area or theme. It’s about widening the scope of reading to incorporate underrepresented voices, voices of Black, Indigenous, queer and disabled authors, immigrant authors and authors from outside of North America.
As an immigrant who moved from Kenya to Winnipeg with her mother in 2010, Valerie Chelangat, MFA’23, founder of Tusome Books, shudders when she recounts some of the questions and comments she encountered. “There was so much ignorance about Africa,” she says. “[People asked] about flies on kids’ faces, poverty and people living in mud huts…. I used to get so defensive and angry.”
She has since opted to focus on facilitating understanding and education instead with a tool she calls “intentional reading.” It’s the foundation of Tusome Books, the online bookstore she launched in 2019, and of Seeing and Being Seen: A Woman’s Journey to Intentional Learning, the book she began while enrolled in King’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction program.
The motto of your bookstore is “Helping on your intentional reading journey.” What do you mean by “intentional reading”?
Intentional reading means focusing on a specific subject area or theme. It’s about widening the scope of reading to incorporate underrepresented voices, voices of Black, Indigenous, queer and disabled authors, immigrant authors and authors from outside of North America.
I am generally a problem solver, and I like to be challenged. You may have heard this idea that we shouldn’t put the work of educating people on the backs of people who are being oppressed. Those people have already gone through so much. But I decided to intentionally create this space where people who want to unlearn can come into the space and learn. I am very willing to help people on their learning journey.
Can you give an example?
Intentional reading is basically to expand the scope of your reading. For example, if you’re someone who likes to read romance, in addition to reading whomever your favourite author is, my suggestion is that you also pick up a book by an author you’ve never read before.
Have you heard of Uzma Jalaluddin? If you like romance, her book, Much Ado About Nada, puts a South Asian twist on Jane Austen’s Persuasion. She’s a Canadian author of South Asian descent who writes nuanced stories about South Asians and muslims.
What if historical fiction is your thing?
Then I would suggest novels by Afghan American author Khaled Hosseini—he’s one of my favourite authors. I recommend The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
With the bookstore existing online instead of as a storefront, how do you attract customers?
Social media and networking play a big role in my marketing strategy. I go to markets where I sell books and make connections with readers and other business owners. I’m always looking for events where I can interact with people and sometimes partner or collaborate with them. I’m a member of different organizations, like the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce. It’s really about forming relationships and showing up.
I have also built community through regular virtual activities and events. We have a virtual book club that meets once every month and a monthly newsletter. I organize online events. In February, we had a workshop, Ableism and Allyship, that was led by Adelle Purdham, MFA’22, author of I Don’t Do Disability and Other Lies I Told Myself.
Late last year on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women we had a panel discussion on gender-based violence featuring Toufah by Toufah Jallow. Kim Pittaway, Cohort Director, MFA in Creative Nonfiction, facilitated the conversation. I tap into the MFA program quite a bit.
I noticed on your website that you have audiobooks too.
Yes, I have audiobooks through a partnership with Libro.fm, a social enterprise, which basically serves the same purpose as Audible except that it shares its profits with independent booksellers.
How is your own book going?
It’s a work in progress. I slowed down since leaving the program to attend to other priorities but I am working on the manuscript again and I’ve joined a writing group to help keep up the momentum.
What made you decide to go to King’s?
I wanted to develop my craft as a writer and to grow a network with other writers trying to get their stories out there. I chose King’s specifically because the low residence program fit nicely into my life. Having a writers’ community to discuss with, having mentors, was so useful.
With your life as busy as it is, do you still have time to read?
I find pockets of time. I read when I’m breastfeeding my baby as she falls asleep, for half an hour before bed and early mornings when I wake up. I listen to audiobooks while I’m driving or doing chores. I can always read a little here and there throughout the day.
What book are you reading right now?
I always have several books going. There’s a print book by my bedside, an audiobook on my phone for on-the-go reading and an ebook as a backup for when I find myself without a book. I’m reading Our Women on the Ground edited by Zahra Hankir for my book club, and Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. I just finished Butter, Honey, Pig, Bread by francesca ekwuyasi.
