POETRY
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Deft, deep, divine. The finely layered poems in this debut book fulfill the poet’s "wish to be so tenderly freed.” Here are poems de la indigena, the migrant, those exiled in their own land, those of the great crossing, “from the half that runs”—as “each spring we follow / the bloodstains of those that ran before us." Here are poems for those “mixed like mole poblano / metamorphed under the grind” with “25 million slaughtered / ancestors in (our) genes." These Chicana poems, “verdant brown,” are simply excellent—and healing.
—Lorna Dee Cervantes
Seminal Chumash-Chicana poet & activist, Multi-award-winning author of Emplumada In the debut poetry collection we see the poet’s origins, “Born of maize heritage kernels,” and travel with her to the United States, where they “…stopped speaking Spanish / on the other side.” These are poems of celebration, survival and sound where, “The tumbleweeds make music,” and we become aware of the poet’s resistance and acknowledge her loss, “There, we knew how to cook for the dead,” and “…With molcajetes, we mashed hearts / stuffed with the blood of truths omitted while loving.” Throughout we see poems for her family and nature, and with the poet learn hard truths. There are many beautiful lines in these poems and snapshots of what it means to live in two worlds, “…hypervigilant for the sky falling.”
-- Angie Trudell Vasquez
Madison Poet Laureate 2020-2024, Macondo Fellow |
SOMOS XICANAS ANTHOLOGYWinner of the Dolores Huerta Best Cultural & Community Themed Book
and the Best Women’s Issues Book at the 2025 International Latino Book Awards. |
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ISBN : 978-1-961717-23-7
Release Date: December 14, 2024 PUBLISHER: Riot of Roses Publishing House LLC |
"A beautiful and inspiring anthology that celebrates the Chicana woman in all her power. Keep it on your nightstand permanently for daily inspiration."
Reyna Grande
author of The Distance Between Us An essential text and instant classic, Somos Xicanas gathers in lyrical solidarity the voices of a wide range of Chicana identities, all fearlessly exploring the Anzalduan nepantla and its roots in once-repressed indigeneity. Powerful poems and prose by established and emerging voices alike become, in the editors’ deft hands, brilliant threads woven together into a multi-hued rebozo that, through its beauty and utility, leave the reader wiser and more prepared for la lucha, as the words of women—in cihuatlahtolli—have always done for those willing to listen.
--David Bowles
Award-winning author of They Call Her Fregona & The Prince & the Coyote |
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Release date: June 2026
PUBLISHER: Flowersong Press |
"Anger is a Gift: An Anthology of Resistance and Response Poems to the 2024 Elections" is edited by Adrian Ernesto Cepeda & Edward Vidaurre and offers a compelling collection of over 80 poets and artists grappling with the sociopolitical landscape following the 2024 elections .
This anthology serves as a vital resource for exploring themes of resilience, dissent, and the channeling of collective anxieties in contemporary American society. The diverse voices within this volume articulate both the despair and the enduring hope that characterize our present moment, providing rich material for classroom discussions on civic engagement, artistic expression as social commentary, and the power of language in times of political upheaval. Inspired by Ismail Kadaré's assertion that writing can be an act of resistance, Anger is a Gift not only reflects the spirit of defiance but also encourages readers to consider their own roles in fostering critical dialogue and creative action within their communities and the nation. |
NEPANTLA DIVINA
Release date: November 2026
PUBLISHER: Riot of Roses Publishing House LLC |
NEPANTLA DIVINA: Reclamation and Resistance in Xicana Flor y Canto is an art and ekphrastic poetry anthology Curated by Dulce Stein and Edited by Brenda Vaca. This collection features the powerful art work of 58 artists paired with 58 poets, which explores Xicanisma, Arte, Cultura, y Palabra.
From the Introduction by Curator Dulce Stein: "This collection was born from relationships, trust, and a shared belief in the power of creative practice to transform our lives and our communities . . . Ekphrastic practice invites us to look closely. It asks us to listen. It encourages us to slow down long enough to witness what is present and what remains unsaid. Through these exchanges between visual artists and poets, we discover that art is never a solitary act. Every image contains a story. Every poem becomes a bridge. Together they create spaces where meaning unfolds in unexpected ways." |
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