Jamii is Community.
Our Newest Books – Now Available
The Sun Will Not Harm You by Day, Nor the Moon by Night
Praise for The Sun Will Not Harm You by Day, Nor the Moon by Night.
Victoria’s collection of poetry reads like a love letter to her family and community. Her tender and often humorous accounts of family histories, coming of age, identity, and the richness of her culture emphasize the love and complexity of her Mexicana/Chicana experiences…. Victoria (Vicky) M. Bañales (she/her/ella) is the 2025-2027 Watsonville Poet Laureate. A Chicanx writer, teacher, and mother, she is a member of the Writers of Color-Santa Cruz County Collective and the founder of Xinachtli Journal (Journal X), a literary arts magazine focused on social justice, which was awarded the Superior Distinction by the National Council of Teachers of English. Her poetry, stories, and essays have appeared in various journals and anthologies. The recipient of two poetry awards and a teaching excellence award, she holds a Ph.D. in Literature and Feminist Studies from the University of California-Santa Cruz. The proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, she now calls Watsonville home, having transplanted from Santa Barbara, California. She teaches Chicanx/Latinx literature, fiction writing, and English composition at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz County. The Sun Will Not Harm You by Day, Nor the Moon by Night is her debut poetry collection. More at vickybanales.com
Black Girl, Brown Soul: Africana-Americana Poetry
Desiree McCray
Black Girl, Brown Soul: Africana-Americana Poetry represents a love letter to Blackness, a kaleidoscope of hues celebrating the richness of diasporic heritage. It’s a rallying cry against injustice, a fist raised in resistance against those who dare to dim our collective, uplifting light. Still, it is also a tender exploration of self-discovery and self-affirmation, a stilled meditation on finding beauty and vulnerability, and strength amid struggles.
Desiree McCray (she/they) hails from Chicago, Illinois. As a womanist preacher, activist, author, spoken word artist, and poet-playwright, she channels her creativity into crafting poetry, delving into themes of race, gender, bodies, and Black religion, and culture.
Give Me My Flowers
by Victoria Danielle
In Give Me My Flowers Richards explores Black womanhood, what makes “us”; strong, and how we’ve mastered the art of growing – with and without light. This is a collection of questions “how many flowers will my sister lose by the time she becomes,” and observations “water, dirt, sun and a Black woman’s hands.” Each poem pulls you into the natural world of gardens, church fans, and joy – then welcomes you to the other side….. Victoria Danielle is a former high school English teacher and an English studies doctoral student at Rice University, where she combines her passion for teaching with her scholarly pursuits. Her dedication to the craft of writing has been recognized through support from Tin House Summer Workshops in 2022, an experience that significantly shaped her creative process. Victoria’s poetry has been published in the Porter House Review. In 2023, she furthered her artistic journey by securing a residency with Fernald Studios, an opportunity that has been instrumental in advancing her poetry manuscript. This residency allowed her to delve deeper into her creative work, contributing to her growth as a poet. Outside her academic and literary endeavors, Victoria indulges in a unique and creative hobby: crafting elaborate charcuterie boards. Victoria Danielle continues to hope to inspire and influence both her students, community and literary peers.
Songs to Senses and Souls
Martha Darr
Come listen to the sweet sounds and colorful emotions from Martha Darr’s latest collection of poetry. Here your ears will rejoice from the celebrations of self, experience, passion, pain and joy. These poems truly sing!
- Nikia Chaney, Author of “Lady Bug” Inlandia Institute 2023
MARTHA DARR
Martha Darr is a poet with training in the humanities and fieldwork experience in parts of Africa and the Americas. Some of her recent work has or will appear in Wild Seeds On The Beach Anthology, IWWG Open Mic Anthology, Obsidian Journal, Tokyo Poetry Journal, Typehouse Literary Magazine, Star*Line Magazine and FIYAH Literary Magazine.
Keepers of the Malicgong Rice Terraces
by Elbina Batala Rafizadeh
In Give Me My Flowers Richards explores Black womanhood, what makes “us”; strong, and how Keepers of the Malickong Rice Terraces by Elbina Batala Rafizadeh is a vibrant collection of unique cultural moments translated into universal wisdom. Elbina’s work really resonates with me both as a Pinoy artist, having recently visited my family homeland, and as a daily lover of those dreamy Salinas fields. Thank you, Poet. Keep it moving. Mabuhay. Peace.–Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour, Artist and Spoken Word Poet, Bay Area….When Elbina Batala Rafizadeh she was seven, Elbina Batala Rafizadeh immigrated with her family from the Cordillera Mountains of Northern Luzon, Philippines. After her father retired from the Army, her family settled in Salinas. She retired from public health nursing with clients in Watsonville and Pajaro, California, where she worked for twenty-five years. She then transitioned to academic teaching and published research after receiving her PhD in Health Care Leadership and Nursing Science from the University of California, Davis. She has written poetry most of her life, and now, semi-retired, she can devote time to poetry and essays, photography, and gardening.
OUR LATEST BOOKS
Jamii Publishing’s Community Partners!
Saltwater: A Wild Seed Poetry & Arts Collective Anthology
In May of 2024, with a generous grant from the California Arts Council, Jamii Publishing partnered with Wild Seed PAC to organize a black writer’s retreat in Oceanside, CA. 19 Poets and writers spent 4 days writing and creating art. This event culminated in an anthology and art exhibit at Riverside Arts Museum.
This anthology was part of the Wild Seed Poetry and Arts Collective retreat.
Various Authors
What happens when a group of creatives gather on the beach for a long weekend of communion? In May 2024 that is what happened. And after days of being in the space that suited them well, overlooking the ocean – the rhythm of her heart beating in the background against the ragged, rocky shore– they laughed, they cried, they shared with one another things that needed to be shared. They walked together, sat together and wrote together. And if all went as planned, they left that space rejuvenated and inspired. On these pages, share a glimpse of what happens when wild seeds gather.
Inspired by the fierce work of dynamic Black women in poetry, literary, visual and performing arts Wild Seed Poetry & Arts Collective was born. Building a safe space to explore and challenge each other and the scope of our craft to create new and innovative works. We are a collective of women who support and encourage each other. We are cultivating wild seeds who must, as is their destiny, break free and grow. Wild Seed Poetry & Arts Collective is founded by and entirely led by Black women.
Women Who Submit Anthologies!
Jamii Publishing is so pleased to partner with Women Who Submit!
From the Women Who Submit website:
Women Who Submit seeks to empower women and nonbinary writers by creating physical and virtual spaces for sharing information, supporting and encouraging submissions to literary journals, and clarifying the submission and publication process. Women Who Submit began with the idea of a submission party—the brainchild of founding member Alyss Dixson—as a response to the VIDA count. Other founding members, Ashaki Jackson and Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo, were brought in to help plan the first ever submission party held in Xochitl-Julisa’s mom’s kitchen (thanks, mom!) in July 2011. On that day six women ate quiche, created a sharing library of lit journals, set goals, asked for feedback on cover letters, and sent off submissions. Our Facebook page, Twitter feed, YouTube channel, and blog are tools WWS uses to continue its mission to empower women writers to submit their work to literary magazines for publication. It is completely open to any writers who are seeking online support and information. We also use these outlets to promote future projects and public events.
Our Women Who Submit Anthologies!
