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Cover Reveal: Where Rivers Change Direction by L. Bundrock

We’d like to introduce you to the official cover of L. Bundrock’s forthcoming novel, Where Rivers Change Direction. This stellar cover was designed by creative partner and graphic designer Knic Pfost.

Here’s what the author has to say about the book design process:

“The recipe followed to cook-up the cover design for Where Rivers Change Direction was equal parts, inspiration, collaboration and determination, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.

Because design by committee can be tricky, though, I had trepidations about collaborating on the cover art. Here is how it went:

I used to have to take my delicate, elderly cat Pablo to the vet each week for fluids. One afternoon while we were waiting our turn in the lobby I witnessed an unprecedented kerfuffle among the otherwise poised staff. Every veterinarian, tech and staff member was on hand speaking to a couple of adults who had arrived sans pet. After hearing tidbits of what sounded like an elaborate strategy to get a wild animal from the parking lot to the examination room, I was convinced that they were about to wrestle a rabid tiger through the doors. I tucked Pablo’s carrier behind me and braced myself for the onslaught.

Two minutes later the door burst open and the pet owners appeared carrying two laundry baskets, each filled with wildly flopping bundles of fluff. A dozen golden retriever puppies tumbled with joy and almost spilled out of the baskets.

While I had braced for a tiger, the cover design process for this book, thanks to Knic and Christina, was a basket full of golden retrievers.”


Supporters of L. Bundrock and the press can preorder Where Rivers Change Direction here. And, we’d love to see each and every one of you at the book launches and events! Here’s what we’ve got lined up.

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We Need a Reckoning Book Launch

On December 30, 2021, we had the pleasure of launching one of our biggest book projects to date: We Need a Reckoning: Poetry, essays, and memoir by Women and Non-binary People of Color of the Tacoma, Washington region, edited by Gloria Joy Kazuko Muhammad. We held a virtual book launch and reading in which over 40 community members attended and celebrated publication with us. The event featured readings by former Tacoma poet laureate Kellie Richardson, Judy Cuellar, Jesi Hanley Vega, Janae Hill, and Katherine Felts; and musical storytelling of Kim Archer and DJ Pat Coleman.


Organized into five parts – wind, soil, water, sky, and breath – and featuring creative writing by thirty-one contributors, the collection is simultaneously a rallying cry for the land and people we build our homes in; a spell for strength and safe passage through tribulation; and a celebration of the power and brilliance of women.

The anthology features introductions by Krista Perez, founder of The Tacoma Women of Color Collective, and Brandi Douglas, owner of Multifaceted Matriarch. The anthology was partially funded by the Tacoma Arts Commission.

We Need a Reckoning contributors include  Kim Archer, Gaian Rena Bird, Phebe Brako-Owusu, Aleyda Marisol Cervantes, Judy Cuellar, Paula Davidson, Brandi Douglas, Chanel Athena Estrada, Katherine Felts, Marissa Harrison, Jasmine Hernandez, Janae Hill, Lauren Perez Hoogkamer, Isha Hussein, Eileen Jimenez, Kathleen Julca, Marisha McDowell, Stasha Moreno, gloria joy kazuko muhammad, Celia Nimura-Parmenter, Krista Perez, Lev Pouliot, Saiyare Refaei, Kellie Richardson, Katharine Threat, Kaia Valentine, Lydia K. Valentine, Tina Văn, Christina Vega, Jesi Hanley Vega, and Jami Williams.

Find out more about the book, and purchase a copy, here. In the meantime, enjoy our recording of the event!

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January 7th: Town Hall Seattle ft. We Need a Reckoning

Head to Town Hall Seattle for an evening of readings and discussions surrounding We Need a Reckoning, edited by gloria joy kazuko muhammad. The evening includes a panel discussion moderated by Blue Cactus Press publisher Christina Vega, contributors Krista Pérez, Katharine Threat, Lydia K. Valentine, and Jesi Hanley Vega. The authors will discuss their work, perform readings from We Need a Reckoning, and invite questions from audience members.

What: Town Hall Seattle: We Need a Reckoning

When: Jan. 7, 2022 @ 7:30pm

Format: In-person and virtual

Where: Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave (Entrance off Seneca St.)Seattle, Washington 98101

Cost & Registration: $5.00; Registration required, proof of vaccination required at the door.

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Find Our Books in Seattle

We’re UBER EXCITED to announce our expanded distribution into the Seattle book market! You can now find Blue Cactus Press books at Open Books and Third Place Books. More specifically, you’ll find:

Still Clutching Maps by Christina Butcher at Open Books: A Poem Emporium

There Is No Other Way to Worship Them by Samuel Snoek-Brown at Third Place Books in Seward Park

We’ll keep you updated over the next few weeks as we continue expanding into new markets AND with new books (hint hint). Stay tuned!

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Experimental Artist & Library Gangster, Nicole McCarthy

Prickly Pear Podcast Episode 4: Experimental Artist & Library Gangster, Nicole McCarthy

Put down the holiday cookies and pick up your headphones, friends, because we snagged an exclusive podcast interview with experimental artist Nicole McCarthy! Nicole is from the pacific northwest. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing & Poetics from the University of Washington Bothell. Her work has been performed and encountered through installation pieces throughout Seattle & Tacoma.

In this episode, Nicole chats about her artistic journey, her biggest influences, and how we can use art to rid ourselves of shame. She also explains how she became a library gangster. Literary journals we chat about in the podcast include: The Shallow Ends, Glass Poetry Press and Hugo House. Writers we shamelessly name drop include: C.A. Conrad, JM Miller and Harryette Mullen.