Bee Lehman

Publisher Highlight: Sixteen Rivers Press

Posted on April 14, 2026April 13, 2026 by Bee Lehman

In 1999, a group of seven “San Francisco writers” founded Sixteen Rivers Press as a not-for-profit “Northern California Poetry Collective.” The collective’s idea and structure was premised on Alice James Books, which was founded in the 1970s in Boston. The structure is focused on shared-work, with a voluntary board of directors committing for a three-year period and (usually) meeting once a month on Zoom. Most of the Press’ publications are single-author compilations, at least two each spring, although they occasionally publish multi-author anthologies

A not-for-profit and community group, part of Sixteen Rivers Press’ board’s directives is to encourage local, Northern California poets. The Press does that in part through its ever-changing board, which tries bringing in one-or-two new people a year. Sixteen Rivers hopes thereby to keep the board active with voices representing different perspectives, particularly as the Press often publishes that member’s volume of poetry in their second year of service.[1]

Sixteen Rivers Press also encourages and supports community poetry with series including To the Human Race: Hope River (link to vol. 3). For that series, the Press’ board selects a series of Northern CA, “young teens’” poems. The board members also visit classrooms and offer mentorship.

The press further tries to capture specific moments in U.S. and Northern California with anthologies on topics such as America, We Call Your Name: Poems of Resistance and Resilience (store page) as well as call backs such as Waking Up: Teen Poets Respond (store page)

Readers can follow the Press’ active news page or check out what they’re up to on Instagram.

Recent Titles in the UC Library System

Cover to The Department of Peace — Bonnie Wai-Lee Kwong, The Department of Peace (2025), Paperback.

Cover to If We Are the Forest the Animals Dream — Patrick Cahill, If We Are the Forest the Animals Dream (2025), Paperback.

Cover In the Eye of the Elephant — Moira Magneson, In the Eye of the Elephant (2025), Paperback.

Cover to Women Twice Removed — Christina Lloyd, Women Twice Removed (2024), Perfect-bound paperback.

Cover to Songbirds of the Nine Rivers — Joseph Zaccardi, Songbirds of the Nine Rivers (2023), Paperback.

Cover to All Tomorrow’s Train Rides — Matthew M. Monte, All Tomorrow’s Train Rides (2023), Paperback.

More in the UC System

To find additional Sixteen Rivers Press’ titles in the UC System, check out the UC Berkeley Library Search and search specifically for the press’ name in the Advanced Search under “Publisher” (sample search).

Notes

[1] “About,” Sixteen Rivers Press, accessed April 13, 2026, https://sixteenrivers.org/about.

Publisher Highlight: Jaded Ibis Press

Posted on April 7, 2026April 7, 2026 by Bee Lehman

Jaded Ibis Press only became a California press five years ago. Debra DiBlasi founded the press in 2008 in the midwest. Wanting to produce significant literature to enlighten, emphasizing empathy and respect, DiBlasi planned on “Ibis Productions” after the James Hurst short story “The Scarlet Ibis.” Frustrated with the state of contemporary literature and the rejection of what DiBlasi thought were “superlatively original books” as unmarketable, they added “Jaded” to the name.[1] While the press’ foundation had been laid, it wasn’t until DiBlasi moved the press to Seattle, Washington, in 2010 that the press took flight. Over the next three years, the press would publish almost two dozen books, featuring memoirs, poetry, and prose.

From its founding, Jaded Ibis Press has focused on mixing media, including visual arts, music, and the written word. Their volumes frequently include collaborations between authors, illustrators, photographs, and other visual artists. They also experiment with technology, producing interactive works for ereaders.[2] In addition, the press currently runs a podcast and the bi-monthly, online literary journal/blog Scarlet.

Today, under Board President Elizabeth Earley and based out of San Francisco, Jaded Ibis continues its mandate to enlighten and encourage. The Press self-defines as a “feminist press” with emphasis on works by people of color, queer individuals, and/or those with disabilities who engage with social justice as an artistic practice.[3]

Books at UC Berkeley’s Doe Library

Cover to Protection from Erasure — Samuel Miranda, Protection from Erasure (2023).

Cover to Resting Place — Gianella Ghiglino, Resting Place of Survival: Poems (2025).

Cover to Dandelion — Danielle Bainbridge, Dandelion: A Memoir in Essays (2025).

Cover to Curtains of Rain — Anel I. Flores, Curtains of Rain = Cortinas de Lluvia (2025).

Cover to All Water has a Perfect Memory — Nada Samih-Rotondo, All Water Has Perfect Memory: A Memoir (2023).

Cover to Year of the Cicada — Mei-Mei Holland, Year of the Cicada (2023).

Cover to A Line Meant — Dasha Hamilton Kelly, A Line Meant: A Commemorative Collection (2025).

Cover to Dancer in the Bullpen — Chana Shinegba, Dancer in the Bullpen (2024).

Additional Books in the UC System

To find additional books from Jaded Ibis Press in the UC System, do an advanced search for the press under “Publisher” and limit the Material Type to “Books.” Here’s the base search!

Notes

[1] Liz Axelrod, “DEBRA DIBLASI and SAM WITT of Jaded Ibis Press with Liz Axelrod,” Brooklyn Rail, August 19, 2024, https://brooklynrail.org/2012/12/books/debra-diblasi-and-sam-witt-of-jaded-ibis-press-with-liz-axelrod/; tim, “Jorge Armenteros, Tom Bradley, Carol Ciavonne, Matthew Cooperman, and Marius Lehane: A Jaded Ibis Press Feature,” Counterpath, September 19, 2014, https://counterpathpress.org/leslie-mcgrath-jorge-armenteros-tom-bradley-carol-ciavonne-matthew-cooperman-and-marius-lehane-a-jaded-ibis-press-feature-friday-september-19-2014-7-p-m.

[2] Debra Di Blasi, “Scenes: Jaded Ibis Press: An Interview with Debra Di Blasi,” American Book Review 33, no. 5 (2012): 31–31.

[3] “About,” Jaded Ibis Press, accessed April 6, 2026, https://jadedibispress.com/about/; “Myriam Gurba with Elizabeth Earley,” Library Foundation SD, accessed April 6, 2026, https://libraryfoundationsd.org/events/gurba.

Publisher Highlight: HINCHAS Press

Posted on March 31, 2026April 10, 2026 by Bee Lehman

Yago Cura founded HINCHAS Press in Los Angeles in 2016. The press comes out of Cura’s Hinchas de Poesia Literary Journal (founded in 2009), a journal Cura began with financial support from one James Foley. Foley, a war journalist, died in 2014 after being detained by ISIS for two years. To memorialize Foley’s support and “honor Jim’s spirit,” Cura collaborated with several writers who also knew Foley to write the anthology Ghazals for Foley (HINCHAS Press, 2016) – the first of HINCHAS press’ books.

From its start as a literary journal, HINCHAS Press has focused on poetry, library science (Cura is themself a public librarian), and zines. The Press is a “bilingual literacy laboratory,” publishing works in English, Spanish, in translation, and/or Spanglish. Honoring its founding, topics continue to focus on social justice and advocacy with recent volumes focused on stories from “Black and Brown writers from around the globe” (e.g., Amorphaville: Stories Outside Time) as well as LA specific authors (e.g., X LA Poets). The Press aims to produce four volumes a year.

Readers can find more about the press on their website or on their Instagram page.

Books in the UC System

Cover to California Southern: Writing from the Road, 1992-2025 — Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, California Southern: Writing from the Road, 1992-2025 (2025).

Cover to Tlacuilx: Tongues in Quarantine — Yago Cura et al., Tlacuilx: Tongues in Quarantine (2021).

UC Berkeley also recently put in an order for several of their additional texts. We also plan on going on a bit of a hunt in the Fall for some of their out of print titles.

Publisher Highlight: Kelsey Street Press

Posted on March 24, 2026March 24, 2026 by Bee Lehman

In 1974, a small group of women founded Kelsey Street Press in the basement of group member Patricia Dienstfrey’s home on Kelsey Street in Berkeley, while another member–Rena Rosenwasser–committed to set type. At the time, Dienstfrey and other women authors were frustrated with the lack of space in the Bay Area for women’s poetry or artistic voices. In response, five members (including Dienstfrey) of the Berkeley Poets Co-op decided to found a press.[1] Their explicit goal was to provide Bay Area women writers “who felt compelled to address the historical marginalization of women writers by mainstream publishers” a space to release their work.[2] Both Rosenwasser and Dienstfrey would dedicate their time and efforts to the press for 50 years, with other members coming in and out. Today, Dienstfrey has stepped back and Rosenwasser is taking a background role while Ching-In Chen, Emgee Dufresne, and Carla Hall steer the Press.

Kelsey Street works with their authors to produce poetry, prose, experimental writing, and collaborative works tying together poetry or prose with the visual arts. Among the first of the latter, Rena Rosenwasser and Kate Delos Simulacra, which is mutual exploration in narrative poetry and drawing of Roman murals.

In their more than 50 years of work, the press has continued to think about their mission and commit to provide space for marginalized women. To promote their efforts, the House held a prize for “FIRSTS!” celebrating first-time authors. In the last few years, the House has held the “QTBIPOC Book Contest” for “QTBIPOC-identified, feminist, innovative writers/poets.” The 2023 award went to Jennifer Perrine for Beautiful Outlaw.[3]

To follow the Press and see their contests or celebrate the winner, readers can check their webpage or their Instagram page.

Recent Titles at UC Berkeley Library

Cover to If an Elsewhere: The Burrow — Cybele Lyle and Jocelyn Saidenberg, If an Elsewhere: The Burrow (2025).

Cover to The Redesignation of Paradise — Denise J. Newman, The Redesignation of Paradise (2024).

Cover for Swing at Your Own Risk — Metta Sáma, Swing at Your Own Risk (2019).

Cover to Extratransmission — Andrea Abi-Karam, Extratransmission, Firsts (2019).

Cover for Recombinant — Ching-In Chen, Recombinant (2017).

Cover to Instructions for Banno — Kiran Bath, Instructions for Banno (2024).

Cover to Deposition, Dispossession — Marthe Reed, Deposition, Dispossession: Climate Change in the Sundarbans, with Angela Hume and Mg Dufresne (2021).

Cover to New and Selected Poems — Cecilia Vicuña, New and Selected Poems (2018).

In the UC System

For more titles from Kelsey Stress Press in the UC System, check out our UC Library Search with limit to “Publisher” as “Kelsey Stress Press” in the Advanced Search (sample search).

Notes

[1] Holly McDede, “Berkeley’s Kelsey Street Press Celebrates 50 Years of Experimental, Feminist Poetry,” Berkeleyside, October 30, 2024, https://www.berkeleyside.org/2024/10/30/berkeleys-kelsey-street-press-celebrates-50-years-of-experimental-feminist-poetry.

[2] “The Kelsey Street Press,” text, Poets.Org, February 3, 2005, https://poets.org/text/kelsey-street-press.

[3] “Contests,” Kelsey Street Press, accessed March 23, 2026, https://www.kelseystreetpress.org/contests.

Publisher Highlight: North Atlantic Books

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Bee Lehman

When founding a press in 1974 in Vermont, Richard Grossinger and Lindy Hough claimed the name North Atlantic Books (NAB). They then promptly moved to the Pacific coast and began operating the press out of Berkeley, where they are registered as a not-for-profit. Committed to social justice and community engagement, the press puts its money where its mouth is and pays their “annual Shuumi Land Tax to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust for their continued work in the rematriation of the land upon which we live and work.”[1] They also contribute to initiatives like the Prisoners Literature Project and Alameda County Community Food Bank, among others.[2]

No longer a two-person operation, the North Atlantic Books is run by a diverse board of directors.[3] Now under that diverse board, the House has been publishing poetry and memoirs as well as books on social justice, health and yoga, anthropology, and spiritual growth. The literature which the House shepherds often tackle topics such as grief, climate change, and wellness.

In addition to their main lines, North Atlantic Books has developed a series of imprints, including Blue Snake Books, one of the largest publishers of internal and historical martial-arts books in the world.

Readers can find out more about the press and their publications through the press’ website or on their Instagram page.

Recent Titles

Cover for The Great Bay — Dale Pendell, The Great Bay: Chronicles of the Collapse (2010).

Cover to Catching Light — Joanna McClure, Catching Light: Collected Poems of Joanna McClure, with Christopher Wagstaff (2013).

Cover for the Truth Demands — Abby Reyes, Truth Demands: A Memoir of Murder, Oil Wars, and the Rise of Climate Justice (2025).

Cover to Microcosmic God — Theodore Sturgeon, Microcosmic God, with Paul Williams, Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon ; v. II (1995).

Cover to Restoring the Kinship Worldview — Donald Trent Jacobs and Darcia Narváez, Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth (2022).

Cover to Plumb Line — Steve Luttrell, Plumb Line: Poems (2015).

Note

[1] “Who We Are,” North Atlantic Books, accessed March 17, 2026, https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/who-we-are/.

[2] Wendy Werris, “North Atlantic Books Transforms with the Times,” PublishersWeekly.Com, September 28, 2012, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/54169-north-atlantic-books-transforms-with-the-times.html.

[3] Anisse Gross, “With New Leaders, North Atlantic Books Looks Ahead,” PublishersWeekly.Com, April 10, 2015, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/66228-with-new-leaders-north-atlantic-books-looks-ahead.html.

Publisher Highlight: Desert Palm Press

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Bee Lehman

Founded in 2014, R. Lee Fitzsimmons established Desert Palm Press (DPP, webpage with Pen Light) in Watsonville, CA. At the time, Fitzsimmons was dissatisfied with the limited access LGBTQ+ community members generally–lesbians specifically–had to the publishing world. They created the Press in part to provide women with spaces to be heard. To this day, the Press seeks to present its readers with material that “accurately and respectfully” reflects lesbian and other LGBTQ+ community members’ lives.[1] To meet that goal, the Press publishes across multiple genres, ranging from romance and horror, speculative fiction, and biography. Last year, On January 1, 2025, Jodi Zeramby and Peggy Zeramby took over publishing duties for the Press.[2]

Desert Palm Press is an active participant in the Southern California writing scene. For multiple years, they have supported and/or participated in the Left Coast Literary Conference in Palm Springs. They also have an active Facebook page.

Recent Titles in UC Berkeley Library

Cover to The Queen’s Eye — Jane Alden, The Queen’s Eye, vol. 2, A Cass & Ari Adventure (2024).

Cover to Fatal Spores & Fiery Paths — Kellie Doherty, Fatal Spores & Fiery Paths, vol. 4, Broken Chronicles Book (2025).

Cover to Blazing Centaurs — K. L. Mitchell, Blazing Centaurs , vol. 3, Kalazad (2024).

Cover to Rare Vintage — Dee Rismiller, Rare Vintage (2025).

Cover to Big Cross Dead — Ann Tonnell, Big Cross Dead (2024).

Cover to Helen Highwater and the Burning Eye — K. L. Mitchell, Helen Highwater and the Burning Eye (2025).

More in the UC System

To find more books from Desert Palm Press in the UC Library System, take a look at the UC Library Search with a publisher limit to “Desert Palm Press” and a material type to book.

Notes

[1] R. Lee Fitzsimmons, “Scenes: Desert Palm Press An Interview with R. Lee Fitzsimmons,” American Book Review 43, no. 3 (2022): 195–96, Project MUSE, https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/17/article/884796.

[2] “Desert Palm Press About Us | Empower LGBTQ+ Voices — Discover More,” Penlight Press, accessed March 10, 2026, https://penlightpress.com/dpp-about.

Publisher Highlight: Black Mask Studios

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Bee Lehman

Black Mask Studios, based in Los Angeles, saw its start in 2012 with the publication of the kickstarter-funded Occupy Comics anthology under leadership of Steve Niles, Brett Gurewitz, and Matt Pizzolo. The three started the publishing house with experiences ranging from punk rock (Bad Religion), to horror comics (30 Days of Night) and film, and business (HALO 8 Entertainment), to name only a few of their efforts. Each with roots in various punk scenes, the three wanted to bring their experiences to start a house that could introduce punk rock values into comics and emphasize the involvement of comics in counterculture.[1]

Since their founding, Black Mask has contributed to the comics scene with some influential titles including Black (Kwanza Osajyefo and Jamal Igle, 2016), Godkiller (Matteo Pizzolo and Anna Muckcracker Wieszczyk, 2016), and Calexit (Matteo Pizzolo and Amancay Nahuelpan, started 2018). As fitting with punk values, the stories frequently explore push-back against cruelty (Liberator, Matt Miner, Javier Aranda Sanchez, Joaquin Pereyra, and Crank; 2014) and government corruption (Clandestino, Amancay Nahuelpan, 2018), and self-expression (Alice In Leatherland, Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli, 2022).

Readers can follow Black Mask on their website or their Facebook page.

Titles at UC Berkeley

Cover to Kim & Kim — Magdalene Visaggio, Kim & Kim: This Glamorous, High-Flying Rockstar Life, vol. 1, with Eva Cabrera et al. (2016).

Cover to Eternal — Ryan K. Lindsay (writer), Eternal, with Eric Zawadzki (illustrator) et al. (2018).

Cover to Calexit — Matteo Pizzolo, Calexit, vol. 1, with Amancay Nahuelpan (2018).

Cover to Clandestino — Amancay Nahuelpan, Clandestino (2018).

Cover to Sex Death Revolution — Magdalene Visaggio, Sex Death Revolution, with Rebecca Farrow et al. (2020).

Cover to Pirouette — M. L. Miller and Carlos Granda, Pirouette (2020).

Cover to Godkiller — Matteo Pizzolo (writer), et al., Godkiller: Walk Among Us Complete Collection (2016).

Cover to Black — Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3, Black, vol. 1, with Jamal Igle (2017).

For more in the UC Libraries

To find additional titles, take a look at the UC Library Advanced Search with a limit to publisher (sample). Note, however, that some of Black Mask Studio’s titles are released in collaboration with Simon and Shuster.

Notes

[1] Borys Kit, “‘John Wick’ Filmmaker Chad Stahelski Tackling California Rebellion Comic ‘Calexit’ (Exclusive),” The Hollywood Reporter, July 23, 2025, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/john-wick-filmmaker-chad-stahelski-calexit-1236326587/; Scott Thill, “Black Mask Studios’ ‘Old Punks’ Occupy Comics, Creators Rights,” Tags, Wired, March 20, 2012, https://www.wired.com/2012/03/black-mask-studios-occupy-comics/; Steve Foxe, “Black Mask Studios Founders Talk Creator Rights, Punk Ethics and a Very Busy 2015,” Paste Magazine, March 25, 2015, https://www.pastemagazine.com/comics/black-mask-studios-founders-talk-creator-rights-pu.

Publisher Highlight: Montag Press

Posted on February 24, 2026February 24, 2026 by Bee Lehman

With a webpage dating back to 2010, Montag Press is an Oakland publishing collective focused on experimental literature with an emphasis on original fiction and drama. Their house has titles in speculative fiction, horror, as well as science and historical fiction.

The group does have an Instagram page, but their website is more active.

Recent Titles at UC Berkeley

Cover to The Swordman — David McLeavy, The Swordman, Revised and expanded edition (2024).

Cover to Morocconomics — Walker Zupp, Morocconomics: A Fairy Tale, Brave New Pulp (2025).

Cover to Jitterbuggin’ with the Renaissance: A Jazz Age Epic — Don Swaim, Jitterbuggin’ with the Renaissance: A Jazz Age Epic (2024).

Cover to Blood of the Witness Tree — Jeff Vande Zande, Blood of the Witness Tree (2025).

Cover to The Craziest Book Ever Written — Mr W, The Craziest Book Ever Written, Brave New Pulp (2024).

Cover to The City Knows — Jason Schneider, The City Knows (2025).

More in the UC Libraries

The UC Library system does not hold a complete collection of the Montag Press Collective’s works, but we do have a respectable array. Check out several dozen of the House’s titles through our UC Library Search with a limit in material types to “books” and a publisher search for “Montag Press.”

Notes

“About,” Montag Press, accessed February 24, 2026, https://www.montagpress.com/about.

Publisher Highlight: Aunt Lute Books

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Bee Lehman

Founded in 1982, Aunt Lute Books has spent forty years contributing to the shape of literature across the continent. Their books–novels, poetry, essays, as well as an array of non-fiction works–are consistently on lists of must-read titles and taught across the world. Those influential books from the self-described “intersectional, feminist press” include Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza (first published in 1987) and The Cancer Journals (1980).

Aunt Lute Books is considered a Bay Area establishment, but Barb Wieser and Joan Pinkvoss initially established it in Iowa City. Four years later, the Press moved to San Francisco to partner with the small lesbian press Spinsters Ink. The two would separate again in 1990, when Aunt Lute Books would begin operation under the newly founded Ant Lute Foundation. Spinster Ink, still a lesbian press, would eventually move away from the coast. Perhaps amusingly, Spinsters Ink would eventually move away from SF, while Aunt Lute continues in the city.

To this day, the House continues to print “literature that voices the perspectives of women from a broad range of communities.” Readers can find out some information about the House through their webpage and Instagram page.

Recent Titles

Cover to Caramelle & Carmilla — Jewelle Gomez and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Caramelle & Carmilla (2025).

Cover to Doll Seed: Stories — Michele Tracy Berger, Doll Seed: Stories (2024).

Cover to Forced by Circumstance — Norma Alarcón, Forced by Circumstance: Chicana Feminist Essays (1981-2024) (2025).

Cover to Keep A’Livin’ — Kathya Alexander, Keep A’Livin’ (2024).

More in the UC Libraries

You can find Aunt Lute Book’s publications across the UC Library system in just about every edition. To find their books specifically at UC Berkeley, readers can use the UC Library Search with a focus on “UC Berkeley catalog” and a limit by publisher (click here for the search).

Notes

[1] “About Us,” Aunt Lute Books, accessed February 9, 2026, https://www.auntlute.com/about-us.

Publisher Highlight: Atopon Books

Posted on February 10, 2026February 10, 2026 by Bee Lehman

With its first books appearing in 2023, Atopon Books is a newer press based out of Santa Monica. This not-for-profit press focuses on “poetry and literary fiction,” releasing new literary publications as well as releasing new editions of classic novels. Building its catalog, the Atopon is more interested in literature that “demystif[ies] moral as well as aesthetic concern[s]” than in worrying about genre distinctions.[1]

Atopon Books does have a Facebook page, but this Literatures Librarian does not and cannot say what’s on it.