It’s cold outside. It’s snowing. Christmas trees are popping up all over the place. Everyone is advertising for the holiday season. So it must be time for 2Leaf Press’ Spring 2019 catalog! It is also our first catalog published in conjunction with University of Chicago Press’ catalog.
We’ve been talking about DREAMS OF THE WATER CHILDREN, a memoir by Black Japanese scholar, Fredrick D. Kakinami Cloyd, for several years and it is finally being released to the world. I am especially pleased because it deservedly has the distinction of being our very first book published under our new distribution deal with University of Chicago Press. It is a book born from a 800 page manuscript that has gone through a couple of iterations and in the process, has been formed and perfected into a wonderful book of prose, poetry, photographs, Japanese writing and historical artifacts that sings to reader. I encourage you to read it. You will not be disappointed. MOTHER OF ORPHANS by Dedria Humphries Barker, and STRENGTH OF SOUL by Naomi Raquel Enright share mixed race stories from two different perspectives. MOTHER OF ORPHANS investigates the story of a white great grandmother, while STRENGTH OF SOUL explores what it is like growing up biracial in America. Distinct storytelling rhythms abound.
We are offering two great poetry collections in April during National Poetry Month: WOUNDS FRAGMENTS DERELICT by Carlos Gabriel Kelley, and RANSOM STREET by Claire Millikin. Kelley debuts with an engaging collection of love poems, while Millkin, who is publishing her third poetry collection with 2Leaf Press, continues to explore homelessness, poverty, and abuse.
THE EMERGENCE OF ECOSOCIALISM by Joel Kovel, is a collection of the late author’s essays, speeches and manifestos about ecosocialism and the movement’s relevance in today’s society. And we are pleased to reissue one of the first comprehensive studies of African American literature and culture, DESIGNS OF BLACKNESS by A. Robert Lee, in a 20th anniversary expanded edition. We are also celebrating the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein with Claire Millikin Raymond’s MONSTERS: MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN AND MATHILDA, who also provides commentary from a feminist perspective. And finally, I am publishing my first book with 2Leaf Press, TRAILBLAZERS: BLACK WOMEN WHO HELPED MAKE AMERICA GREAT, AMERICAN FIRSTS/AMERICAN ICONS, which has evolved into two volumes. It is a book that will inspire anyone who reads it. The second volume will publish this fall.
We are a small press with big ideas. Happy reading.
