2Leaf Press authors Abiodun Oyewole, J. L. Torres, Jesús Papoleto Meléndez, and Lynn Levin have signed up with Jodi F. Solomon Speaking Bureau.

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/24/2015 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce an exclusive arrangement between Jodi F. Solomon Speaking Bureau and 2Leaf Press to book its authors for speaking engagements.

The first roll out of 2Leaf Press authors are Abiodun Oyewole, J. L. Torres, Jesus Papoleto Melendez, and Lynn Levin. We look forward to seeing more 2Leaf Press authors added to Jodi Solomon's roster in the near future.

It would be easy for Publisher Gabrielle David to take full credit for the Jodi Solomon deal, but in fact, the idea was the brainstorm of poet Jesus Papoleto Melendez. In a casual conversation, Melendez talked about how difficult it was for authors to approach and get deals with speaking bureaus, and suggested that David create a package deal for its authors through the press. "When Papo suggested a package deal for 2Leaf Press authors, it was like a thunderbolt," exclaimed David. "It was a great idea that came about organically, and actually, was quite brilliant on his part. So I set out to investigate speaking bureaus that had a track record of promoting multicultural writers, and after considerable research and inquires, I decided to go with Jodi Solomon."

As one of the premier boutique lecture agencies in the country, Jodi F. Solomon Speaking Bureau's goal has been to create change through conversation. Their roster of independent thinkers (e.g., Andrei Codrescu, Suzan Shown Harjo, Daisy Hernandez, Michael Mann, Ntozake Shange, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Nikki Giovanni, Charles Johnson and Hassan Abbas), puts 2Leaf Press authors in great company.

"One of the things I'm pushing is that poets should not be confined to just poetry readings," explains David. "They're thinkers, intellectuals, and well-read experts in a number of areas, whether it's politics, history, cultural or literary issues, with many of them having worked as teachers and professors for over a dozen years. I think, some of the best poets are the ones who are well-grounded in world events. In fact, I believe that in order for them to create meaningful work they would have to be critical thinkers that write with an open heart and an open mind. We need more people like that, and I hope Jodi Solomon will help our authors find a wider audience that will appreciate their wisdom."

Jodi F. Solomon Speaking Bureau was founded in 1989, and has been bringing its clients a unique, multicultural roster of presenters who are dedicated to educating, entertaining and enlightening audiences on issues that we face every day. Adds Bill Fargo, Vice President of Jodi Solomon, "There is a synergy created when several organizations, or creative minds, get together for a common purpose. The results are often greater than what the individual parts could have produced on their own." It is Fargo's vision, along with Jodi Solomon's dedication to promoting multicultural and multi-faceted writers that helped broker this amazing deal for 2Leaf Press' authors.

"And before people begin to gossip and buzz as they no doubt will," continues David, "there is no 'kick-back' to 2Leaf Press. The only obligation our writers have to us is to promote books published with us as they would with any of their other books. The benefit of this arrangement is that the more exposure our writers get, the more 2Leaf Press will get, making this partnership a win-win situation all the way around."

For more information about booking 2Leaf Press authors, contact Bill Fargo at Jodi Solomon Speaking Bureau at 617-266-3450.

About 2Leaf Press
Launched in 2012 with a vision of publishing extraordinary culturally diverse writers, 2Leaf Press is an imprint of The Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a NY-based nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

2Leaf Press authors Abiodun Oyewole, Odi Gonzales, Not4Prophet, Ana Rossetti, Shirley Bradley LeFlore and others are now available in eBook format at major vendors (including Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Google Play) around the globe.

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/21/2015 -- It has been a long-time coming but the day has finally arrived. The bulk of 2Leaf Press print books are available for sale at Amazon-Kindle, B&N Nook http://bit.ly/2lp-barnes-noble, Kobo and Google Play, with books coming to iTunes in the near future. As an added plus, our eBooks are available for distribution for libraries in the U.S. and Latin America through Odilo based in Spain, and Simplicissimus Book Farm an Italian-based company under their distribution program, StreetLib (formerly Stealth), to popular international stores to smaller local bookshops in Europe.

2Leaf Press's books are now available on Scribd, an ebook subscription service, joining the ranks of over 1,000 publishers, which include HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Harlequin, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Macmillan, Bloomsbury, Workman, Lonely Planet, Perseus Book Group and Wiley. Readers can either purchase books outright, or sign up and pay a monthly fee to access unlimited ebooks, including those published by 2Leaf Press.

The books are beautifully formatted ePubs in accordance to IDPF (International Digital Publishing Forum) standards, so as the industry standards change and evolve, so will its eBooks.

2Leaf Press has also expanded its print distribution with YBP Library Services to distribute 2Leaf Press print books to academic libraries in the US and abroad, with most of its books available to bookstores through Ingram. 2Leaf Press is expanding its distribution channels so that its books are readily accessible to markets around the globe.

About 2Leaf Press
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Inspired by Buddhism, Indic thought, THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS by Patrick Colm Hogan is an epic, narrative poem that is a moving account of affection, personal loss, and grief.

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/19/2014 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS, A POEM IN TWELVE CANTOS by Patrick Colm Hogan. THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS is an epic, narrative poem that is a moving account of affection, personal loss, and grief. Inspired by Buddhism, Indic thought and Hogan's reading of the BHAGAVAD GITA, the central figures of THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS are two lovers who refuse to accept unjust social hierarchies and suffer separation and death for that choice. THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS is available on Amazon.com.

In this groundbreaking narrative, Hogan sets out to re-synthesize ancient Indian philosophy and myth, with a beauty and literary feeling (called "rasa" in Sanskrit) that are the central aspects of this poem. THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS is richly metaphorical and written in an innovative form where Hogan makes liberal use of the musical features of verse—rhyme, assonance, and alliteration—that combines aspects of formal patterning with the unexpectedness of free verse. There are no spare words—each line is crafted with careful accuracy, cutting with a surgeon's precision. David Colon, Associate Professor of English and Latino/a Studies at Texas Christian University says, "To read THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS is an act of walking-with, an accompanied meditation—Patrick Colm Hogan's epic poem is the record of a trance. Mythology made human, humanity made divine, divinity made mythology, a cycle of epiphanies . . . . a tribute to poetry: the task of harnessing the aether." These unifying tie-ins make THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS an excellent literary achievement to be read by serious poetry lovers and students in mythology or epic literature alike.

Visit our website and preview THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS

Check out Patrick Colm Hogan's Press Kit for more information.

Available on Amazon.com and other online outlets.

THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS
Paperback, $16.99 | 132 pp., 5" x 8"
ISBN: 978-1940939346 (pbk.)
Release Date: October 1, 2014

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Find out why everyone is talking about Ezra E. Fitz' debut novella, THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL.

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/17/2014 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL by novelist and literary translator Ezra E. Fitz.

Inspired by William Faulkner's classic novel, THE WILD PALMS, Fitz asks readers: What if you anted up and kicked in everything you had on a belief, a hope, a dream, on faith, and you lost? This is one of the questions facing Willie and Mo, the two insecure, incomplete protagonists in THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL. Fitz's translations of contemporary Latino literary giants such as Alberto Fuguet and Eloy Urroz, coupled with living and studying in New York City for a number of years, is the inspiration behind his Latino and Black characters that are authentic and compelling. Says Fitz, "This story takes place on street corners, and I wanted those street corners to sound as accurate and honest as possible." While his characters tackle issues important to their respective communities, they also deal with issues any American family can relate to, which makes THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL a universal novel. In fact, Eloy Urroz, author of FRICCION and THE OBSTACLES, says "There's something of Ishiguro in this novel: it's introspective, brooding, heartrending, yet never pretentious. In the end, it is an excellent first novel. I wish I had written something like this."

Visit our website and preview THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL

Check out Ezra E. Fitz's Press Kit for more information and sign-up to download a digital copy of his book to review.

Available on Amazon.com and other online outlets.

THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL
Paperback $16.99 | 162 pp., 6" x 9"
ISBN: 978-1940939261 (pbk.)
Release Date: October 1, 2014

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Find out what people are saying about PUERTO RICAN FOLKALES, the first definitive collection in over 50 years.

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/17/2014 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the publication of PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES/CUENTOS FOLCLORICOS PUERTORRIQUENOS by Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez, the first collection in nearly 50 years of traditional Puerto Rican folktales and legends presented in a bilingual edition.

Rendered as wonderful short stories for both children and adults alike, author Sanchez Gonzalez researched these colonial stories and updated them from a contemporary perspective with the beauty, humor, and urgent honesty they deserve. With translations by Bayrex and beautiful illustrations by Teolilo Olivieri, PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES is 2Leaf Press' first hardcover, 4-color book. PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES is available for sale on AMAZON.COM.

With a history spanning millennia, Puerto Rico is steeped in a multicultural storytelling tradition that comes from its Taino indigenous beginnings and is heavily influenced by the Spanish Conquest and African slavery. As a result there is an elaborate tapestry of tales that help shaped Boricua culture as we know it today. PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES is being hailed by scholars, librarians and teachers as a "vibrant and imaginative retelling of tales" that "recovers and redresses astoundingly beautiful Puerto Rican folklore in the shape of these stories." Isabel Espinal, past President of REFORMA, says; "Wepa! So much fun to read! These tales hail from Puerto Rican imagination and the Puerto Rican experience spreading from the island in the Caribbean to places such as Chicago and Connecticut and hopefully will land in your own library soon. Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez completely brings old folktales to life, right up to our lives and our languages today, in a magical mix of street smart and folklore." PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES will transport, transform, and translate to readers a whole new universe of a quintessentially Caribbean culture that's alive and well in Puerto Rico and its diaspora.

Visit our website and preview PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES. Check out Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez's Press Kit for more information. Available on Amazon.com and other online outlets. Bookstores can order through Ingram.

PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES/CUENTOS FOLCLORICOS PUERTORRIQUENOS
Hardcover, $29.99 | 194 pp., 8.5" x 8.5"
ISBN: 978-1940939124 (hdc.)
Release date: October 1, 2014

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Ezra E. Fitz publishes his first novel, "The Morning Side of the Hill," with an introduction by award-winning novelist, Ernesto Quiñonez. Pre-order on Amazon.com today!

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/16/2014 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL by novelist and literary translator Ezra E. Fitz. In THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL, Fitz asks readers: What if you anted up and kicked in everything you had on a belief, a hope, a dream, on faith, and you lost? This is one of the questions facing Willie and Mo, the two insecure, incomplete protagonists that was inspired by William Faulkner's classic novel, THE WILD PALMS. THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL will release on October 1, 2014 and is available to pre-order on AMAZON.COM

Like Faulkner's novel, THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL unfolds in two parallel stories told in alternating chapters that subtly illuminate one another. In the first, set in uptown Manhattan, a disillusioned graduate student who's just a little too familiar with the neighborhood drug dealer and a lonely woman appears doomed to a disastrous end. In the second, set in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, a soft-spoken parolee looking to reassemble the broken pieces of his former life meets a young, withered yet surprisingly ebullient cancer patient that eventually puts his one final chance at freedom at risk. As you read on, the twin tales gather like a storm to an exhilarating ferocity, culminating in a violent flood of passions that none of the characters can control, and which threatens to drown them all. Faulkner fans may think they know what the end holds for these four characters, but rest assured . . . the culmination of THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL exposes an unexpected coincidence that Faulkner may have hinted at but never fully explored.

NEW YORK TIMES best selling author, Sara Shepard, says THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL is "A love letter to Morningside Heights and to Crown Heights and so many places in between." Fitz's translations of contemporary Latino literary giants such as Alberto Fuguet and Eloy Urroz, coupled with living and studying in New York City for a number of years, is the inspiration behind Latino and Black characters that are authentic and compelling. Says Fitz, "This story takes place on street corners, and I wanted those street corners to sound as accurate and honest as possible." While his characters tackle issues important to their respective communities, they also deal with issues any American family can relate to, which makes THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL a universal novel. In fact, Eloy Urroz, author of FRICCION and THE OBSTACLES, says "There's something of Ishiguro in this novel: it's introspective, brooding, heartrending, yet never pretentious. In the end, it is an excellent first novel. I wish I had written something like this."

About Ezra E. Fitz
Ezra E. Fitz' short stories and translations have appeared in numerous publications, notably THE BOSTON REVIEW, HARPER'S MAGAZINE, and WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS. He is an Affiliate Faculty member at University of Illinois Center for Translation Studies.

Visit our website and preview THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL

THE MORNING SIDE OF THE HILL
Paperback $16.99 | 162 pp., 6" x 9"
ISBN: 978-1940939261 (pbk.)
Release Date: October 1, 2014
Pre-Order on AMAZON.COM

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lisa Sánchez González’ long-awaited PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES/CUENTOS FOLCLÓRICOS PUERTORRIQUEÑOS is the first comprehensive bilingual collection of Puerto Rican folktales published in nearly 50 years. Pre-order on Amazon.com today!

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/16/2014 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the publication of PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES/CUENTOS FOLCLORICOS PUERTORRIQUENOS by Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez, the first collection in nearly 50 years of traditional Puerto Rican folktales and legends presented in a bilingual edition. Rendered as wonderful short stories for both children and adults alike, author Sanchez Gonzalez researched these colonial stories and updated them from a contemporary perspective with the beauty, humor, and urgent honesty they deserve. With translations by Bayrex and beautiful illustrations by Teolilo Olivieri, PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES is 2Leaf Press' first hardcover, 4-color book. PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES will release on October 1, 2014 and is available to pre-order on AMAZON.COM

With a history spanning millennia, Puerto Rico is steeped in a multicultural storytelling tradition that comes from its Taino indigenous beginnings and is heavily influenced by the Spanish Conquest and African slavery. As a result there is an elaborate tapestry of tales that help shaped Boricua culture as we know it today. Some legends in PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES serve as warnings, while others are stories of love, but the primary purpose of these folktales is to help people grasp an understanding of where Boricuas come from. Says author Sanchez Gonzalez; "Folklore teaches its readers about culture, history, and the world around them. In doing so, it also teaches ethics. So each storyteller will render a tale in a way that she or he thinks will be not only entertaining but instructive." In PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES, readers discover the real story of Yuisa and Pedro Mejias, a tale of a girl who goes on an adventure and rides home triumphantly on a magical horse with a rainbow tail, and talking trees, plants and magical machetes.

PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES is being hailed by scholars, librarians and teachers as a "vibrant and imaginative retelling of tales" that "recovers and redresses astoundingly beautiful Puerto Rican folklore in the shape of these stories." Isabel Espinal, past President of REFORMA, says; "Wepa! So much fun to read! These tales hail from Puerto Rican imagination and the Puerto Rican experience spreading from the island in the Caribbean to places such as Chicago and Connecticut and hopefully will land in your own library soon. Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez completely brings old folktales to life, right up to our lives and our languages today, in a magical mix of street smart and folklore." PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES will transport, transform, and translate to readers a whole new universe of a quintessentially Caribbean culture that's alive and well in Puerto Rico and its diaspora.

About Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez
Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez is a professor, scholar and folklorist. She is the author of BORICUA LITERATURE: A LITERARY HISTORY OF THE PUERTO RICAN DIASPORA (2001) and THE STORIES I READ TO THE CHILDREN: THE LIFE AND WRITING OF PURA BELPRE (2013)

Visit our website at www.2leafpress.org and preview PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES

PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES/CUENTOS FOLCLORICOS PUERTORRIQUENOS
Hardcover, $29.99 | 194 pp., 8.5" x 8.5"
ISBN: 978-1940939124 (hdc.)
Release date: October 1, 2014
Download Author's Press Kit
Pre-order on AMAZON.COM

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Patrick Colm Hogan publishes the epic poem, THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS, inspired by Buddhism, Indic thought and the BHAGAVAD GITA, with an Introduction by Rachel Fell McDermott. Pre-order on Amazon.com today!

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/16/2014 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS, A POEM IN TWELVE CANTOS by Patrick Colm Hogan. THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS is an epic, narrative poem that is a moving account of affection, personal loss, and grief. Inspired by Buddhism, Indic thought and Hogan's reading of the BHAGAVAD GITA, the central figures of THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS is two lovers who refuse to accept unjust social hierarchies and suffer separation and death for that choice. Pre-order on Amazon.com today!

In this groundbreaking narrative, Hogan sets out to re-synthesize ancient Indian philosophy and myth, with a beauty and literary feeling (called "rasa" in Sanskrit) that are the central aspects of this poem. THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS is richly metaphorical and written in an innovative form where Hogan makes liberal use of the musical features of verse—rhyme, assonance, and alliteration—that combines aspects of formal patterning with the unexpectedness of free verse. There are no spare words—each line is crafted with careful accuracy, cutting with a surgeon's precision.

David Colon, Associate Professor of English and Latino/a Studies at Texas Christian University says, "To read THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS is an act of walking-with, an accompanied meditation—Patrick Colm Hogan's epic poem is the record of a trance. Mythology made human, humanity made divine, divinity made mythology, a cycle of epiphanies . . . . a tribute to poetry: the task of harnessing the aether." These unifying tie-ins make THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS an excellent literary achievement to be read by serious poetry lovers and students in mythology or epic literature alike.

About Patrick Colm Hogan
Patrick Colm Hogan, a Professor at the University of Connecticut, is the author of sixteen books, including his best-known book, THE MIND AND ITS STORIES: NARRATIVE UNIVERSALS AND HUMAN EMOTION (2003). Hogan has published fiction in THE JOURNAL OF IRISH LITERATURE and poetry in MINNESOTA REVIEW, KUNAPIPI, THE JOURNAL OF COMMONWEALTH AND POSTCOLONIAL STUDIES, and elsewhere.

Visit our website, preview THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS and download Hogan's Author's Press Kit today.

THE DEATH OF THE GODDESS
Paperback, $16.99 | 132 pp., 5" x 8"
ISBN: 978-1940939346 (pbk.)
Release Date: October 1, 2014
Author's Press Kit
Pre-order on AMAZON.COM

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

2Leaf Press Publishes Fresh New Faces and Exciting New Books in April 2014 During National Poetry Month

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/28/2014 -- Gabrielle David is pleased to announce the publication of 2Leaf Press titles during National Poetry Month in April 2014. Featured poets include Abiodun Oyewole, Samuel Diaz Carrion, J.L. Torres, with bilingual editions by Odi Gonzales and Ana Rossetti. Rounding out the poetry collections is Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez' long-awaited bilingual edition, PUERTO RICAN FOLKTALES/CUENTOS FOLCLORICOS PUERTORRIQUENOS, the first offering in nearly 50 years of traditional Puerto Rican folktales and legends presented in book form.

2Leaf Press Fall 2013 releases will be available as eBooks this April as well, with books by Brandi Dawn Henderson, A. Robert Lee, Not4Prophet and Sean Frederick Forbes. Readers and reviewers are encouraged to download 2Leaf Press' first book catalog to find out more information, and get a "sneak peak" at our Fall 2014 lineup. 2Leaf Press catalogs are available online at ISSUU.COM

Says David, "We're very excited about our first Spring releases and releasing our Fall 2013 print books as eBooks. In a sense, we're also celebrating our first two years of survival. What started out as a few writers has blossomed into a press that many people want to be affiliated with. In fact, by the end of the year, we will have published 22 books. Along the way, we're developing a reputation of publishing high quality books and giving writers the attention they need to grow and develop their craft. By the same token, as we continue to organically build our audience, like most small presses we struggle with money and marketing. But on the upside, we have a small group of dedicated folks who donate their time and energy developing 2Leaf Press because they believe in our mission and, they are passionate about the written word. In that regard, we are truly blessed."

2Leaf Press' Spring titles will become available around April 15 and available for sale online at Amazon.com and other online outlets. Books are distributed through Ingram and 2LP Distribution Direct. All 2Leaf Press authors are available for readings and interviews, and reviewers are encouraged to request 2Leaf Press digital review copies at bookreviewer@2leafpress.org.

According to David, "Small presses play an important role as an alternative to the big publishing houses because we're willing to take on authors that are often overlooked in the mainstream market. 2Leaf Press' niche is to publish offbeat, innovative multicultural writers who produce high quality work. We're also building a reputation for publishing translations, and a willingness to reissue out-of-print books. This super-charged Spring schedule is just one of many exciting options for readers as we continue to promote our backlist as well as our forthcoming books for Fall 2014. We're having a great time publishing some really exciting writers."

About 2Leaf Press
Launched in 2012 with a vision of publishing extraordinary culturally diverse writers, 2Leaf Press is an imprint of The Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a NY-based nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy. Its founding was made possible with funding by a group of poets, writers, scholars, artists and activists, with profits ploughed back into future publishing. To learn more about a "small press with big ideas," visit 2Leaf Press online at www.2leafpress.org.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the release of British poet A.Robert Lee’s fourth poetry collection, IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES.

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/05/2013 -- IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is A. Robert Lee's latest collection of poetry published by 2Leaf Press.

IMAGINARIUM explores the "Sightings," Galleries" and "Sightlines" of one's imagination. The term "imaginarium" refers to a "place" devoted to stimulating and cultivating the imagination, towards scientific, artistic, commercial, recreational, or a spiritual end. In this collection, Lee explores two connecting keynotes: imagination and sight that explores the way we go about imagining as much as seeing reality.

Lee goes about this using an ekphrastic approach by commemorating a dozen or so celebrated visual artists and their works, among them J.M.W. Turner and Frida Kahlo. He extends the usual meaning of the term to include vantage-points like a French archeological cave, and then expertly frames a run of personal encounters within the heights and widths of buildings and landscapes.

Early reviews for IMAGINARIUM are promising. Anne Waldman, the author of more than 40 collections of poetry and poetics, says: "A voyage with the ever present panoramic A. Robert Lee-- poet, cultural historian, critical writer. This collection is a cartography, a call and response, a resonance and a celebration of "meticulous horizontals", "Einsteinian screams" and other luscious optics and beloved poetries. I appreciate the close reading, scholarship, and delight of these imaginariums."

A. Robert Lee is a retired English Professor who has taught in Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. Internationally-known for both his academic works in multicultural literature. IMAGINARIUM is his fourth book of poetry. British-born, he currently lives in Murcia, Spain.

One part biographical and one part historical re-imagining, IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is a delightful yet informative collection that invites readers into a two-way exchange, imagination as seeing, seeing as imagination.

IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is available in paperback on Amazon.com for $16.99 and other online outlets. An eBook edition will be available in January 2014.

About 2LEAF PRESS
2LEAF PRESS publishes grassroots writers who are injecting new blood into the contemporary literary scene. We have a growing reputation for producing quality work in a wide variety of genres by ethnically and racially diverse authors. 2LEAF PRESS is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Sean Frederick Forbes debut poetry collection, PROVIDENCIA, consists of 49 lyrical poems largely inspired by the physical boundaries of Providencia, a small island off the coast of Columbia in South America against a Jamaica, Queens, New York landscape, and the fragile webs that intertwine human relationships in the poet’s quest for self.

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/05/2013 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the long-awaited publication of Sean Frederick Forbes' debut poetry collection, PROVIDENCIA.

In PROVIDENCIA, Forbes embraces life's joys and complexities, wherever they appear, with deeply personal poetry that digs beneath the surface of family history and myth. This coming-of-age narrative traces the experience of a gay, mixed-race narrator who confronts the traditions of his parents' and grandparents' birthplace: the seemingly idyllic island of Providencia, Colombia against the backdrop of his rough and lonely life in Southside Jamaica, Queens.

While PROVIDENCIA started out as part of a doctorial dissertation, over the years it has been developed into a fully realized collection, rich with imagery that readers will find riveting. Written in both free verse and traditional poetic forms, PROVIDENCIA captures the subtlety of Forbes' personae in an enlightening way that draws readers into each of the 49 poems for inclusion in this volume. Forbes, who teaches writing and poetry at The University of Connecticut, opens doors onto a third space for the speaker, one that does not isolate or hinder his sexual, racial, and artistic identities.

Early reviews for this debut collection are promising. Award-winning poet Kimiko Hahn, the author of nine poetry collections, says: "In PROVIDENCIA, Sean Forbes presents poetry that is rich in a kind of spare aesthetics. Spare, as in clear, as in extra and its opposite, sparingly, as in leave uninjured, as in can-you-spare-a-dime yes, especially that sense of provide. In the "Bone" sequence, a retelling of a folktale, the reader is drawn into parallel worlds of family violence as devastating as they are fascinating. In "The Map to the Pirate's Treasure Is Woven into the Women's Hair," Forbes provides an historical retelling that weaves cultures and centuries. A marvelous debut collection."

The collection includes a preface by Forbes, who shares with readers the genesis of the poems, and an informative introduction by award-winning poet V. Penelope Pelizzon that helps readers understand the literary and historical context of Forbes' poetry.

PROVIDENCIA conjures numerous voices, images, and characters to explore the struggles of self-discovery. As a whole, the collection is real and accessible, which contains episodes and observations that all readers can identify with.

Providencia is available in paperback on Amazon.com for $16.99 and other online outlets. An eBook edition will be available in January 2014.

About 2LEAF PRESS
2LEAF PRESS publishes grassroots writers who are injecting new blood into the contemporary literary scene. We have a growing reputation for producing quality work in a wide variety of genres by ethnically and racially diverse authors. 2LEAF PRESS is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Our 2Leaf Press Fall/Winter 2013 Fundraiser is underway and in order to reach its goal we need help to promote, market and distribute out forthcoming books. Without your help, 2Leaf Press is sunk.

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/27/2013 -- 2Leaf Press, a small independent press that publishes grassroots writers who are injecting new blood into the contemporary literary scene, has launched an emergency fundraiser to promote, market and distribute its books.

2Leaf Press is run primarily by African American and Latino volunteers who are pushing the multicultural envelop by publishing writers from all different stripes and colors. 2Leaf Press is earning a growing reputation for producing quality work in a wide variety of genres by emerging and established ethnically and racially diverse authors. The press has published Jesus Papoleto Melendez, Shirley Bradley LeFlore and Tony Medina. Forthcoming titles for Fall/Winter 2013 are Abiodun Oyewole, not4Prophet, Brandi Dawn Henderson, Sean Frederick Forbes, A. Robert Lee, Samuel Diaz Carrion and Usha Akella, with a few surprises in between. Check out the website at 2leafpress.org for more information about 2Leaf Press and its writers.

2Leaf Press needs money to publish books and sustain its existence. Here's how you can help: Simply visit our campaign page, at FUNDLY (http://bit.ly/18WOagE), check out the video and additional information about the fundraising campaign, and donate. Any amount will help make a difference. 2Leaf Press is an imprint of The Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS) (www.theiaas.org), a NY-based nonprofit organization, so your donation is TAX DEDUCTIBLE. And be sure to spread the word through FACEBOOK, TWITTER and email so it can meet its goal!

By donating to 2Leaf Press, you'll help a minority-owned press innovate, create and provide great works of stunning diversity that will thrill book readers everywhere. 2Leaf Press is proof of the vibrancy of small presses, and of their vital integration in the book reading experience. Book lovers everywhere applaud and support small presses, and by helping to sustain 2Leaf Press, there will always be a treasure of books just waiting to be discovered and loved and shared.

2Leaf Press is a small press with big ideas! Thanks for your support.

About 2LEAF PRESS
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Poet Shirley Bradley LeFlore hits a home run with the publication of her debut poetry collection, BRASSBONES & RAINBOWS, and her play, RIVERS OF WOMEN accompanied with photographs by Michael J. Bracey.

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/19/2013 -- Legendary poet Shirley Bradley LeFlore holds the distinction of publishing two books simultaneously with 2Leaf Press, her debut poetry collection, BRASSBONES & RAINBOWS, and her stage play, RIVERS OF WOMEN accompanied with photographs by award-winning, Chicago-based photographer, Michael J. Bracey.

BRASSSBONES & RAINBOWS is a personal odyssey centered on LeFlore's life growing up and living in St. Louis, Missouri. LeFlore weaves the fabric of verse through jazz, blues and gospel in an easy going, smooth and soothing Southern American dialect mixed with African American Vernacular that rolls off the reader's tongue. The collection includes a foreword by Amina Baraka, an introduction by Gabrielle David, historical photos of the poet, with cover art by Frank Frazier. BRASSSBONES & RAINBOWS is available in both print and ebook editions.

RIVERS OF WOMEN is a play that is based on LeFlore's signature poem, "Rivers of Women," alongside some of LeFlore's most prolific works of poetry rooted in the stories and voices of women, which also incorporates music and dance. Bracey matches his images with LeFlore's poetry, adding a visual dimension that succeeds in endowing every poem with an added sense of depth and emotionality through his unique mode of multilayered conceptualization. RIVERS OF WOMEN is available in print edition only.

LeFlore has been writing, performing and publishing poetry for nearly five decades. An original member of the Black Artists Group (BAG) (an artistic collective in St. Louis committed to a collaborative interweaving of diverse artistic mediums), LeFlore has collaborated with musicians, dancers and visual artists around the globe. As an oral performer, LeFlore has blended the vocal texture of her poetry with the music giants of jazz, blues, gospel/spirituals and classical music, performing with jazz and blues greats such as Oliver Lake, J.D. Parran, and Hammiet Bluiet. Her play, "Rivers of Women," which premiered at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis in 2012, marks the directorial debut of National Bestselling author and producer, Lyah Beth LeFlore, the poet's daughter.

Check out the poetry of Shirley Bradley LeFlore in both print and eBook editions,and be amazed.

About 2Leaf Press
2Leaf Press (www.2leafpress.org) is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy. www.theiaas.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

2Leaf Press publishes Kindle Edition of Historical Bilingual Poetry Collection by Nuyorican poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/14/2013 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce its first Kindle publication, "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" by Nuyorican poet Jesus Papoleto Melendez. Besides being the first major contemporary poet to publish his works bilingually in the U.S., he is also the first to publish his collected works as an eBook on Amazon Kindle.

The 386-page bilingual print edition published in October 2012, is currently available for sale on Amazon.com and other online outlets. The collection, comprised of three previously published books, "Casting Long Shadows" (1970), "Have You Seen Liberation" (1971), and "Street Poetry & Other Poems" (1972), consist of 60 poems about growing up Puerto Rican in New York City's El Barrio.

Born and raised in New York City from parents who migrated from Puerto Rico, Melendez notes, "Back then, it was a different experience being a Puerto Rican in New York City. The sense of not belonging to Puerto Rico and not belonging in the United States is something everyone was going through. Writing gave me a chance to prove that I was a human being and in doing so, I became part of a movement that connected me to my heritage." Melendez has long been considered one of the founders of the Nuyorican Movement.

The Spanish translations, which appear alongside the English, have been superbly rendered by Adam Wier, Carolina Fung Feng, and Marjorie Gonzalez. The collection includes a forward by Samuel Diaz and Carmen M. Pietri-Diaz, a commentary about the translation process by Wier, an introduction by Sandy Maria Esteves, and an afterword by Jaime "Shaggy" Flores, as well as historical photos of Melendez and an exclusive interview, edited by Gabrielle David and Kevin E. Tobar Pesantez. All of this material has been retained and is available on the Kindle edition as well.

Very few literary publishers have committed to publishing poetry in an eBook format," says Gabrielle David, publisher of 2Leaf Press. "The first problem is the budget, being able to afford qualified people to convert the books properly into a stable digital format that's readable across numerous devices. The biggest problem is figuring out the best way to format the work without losing the spacing or formatting of the poems. We've been looking at this closely for the past two years and feel confident that by using HTML formatting techniques with clean code, and paying special attention to line breaks and spacing, for the most part, we can maintain the aesthetics of the author's poetry."

The press has decided to break out its eBook titles with Amazon's Kindle before expanding its market to Nook and Kobo. "For the benefit of anyone reading this," explains David, "you don't have to own a Kindle to read our books. You can download one of the free Kindle Apps on Amazon.com for your Android phone or tablet, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows 8 PC or tablet, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone." 2Leaf Press plans to upload titles directly to Barnes & Noble and KoboBooks in the immediate future.

Whether it's in print or eBook format, 2Leaf Press encourages readers to pick up a copy of "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition." It is a collection to be devoured as a single sustained narrative, from the first page to the last; a worthy addition in anyone's library.

AMAZON PRINT EDITION || AMAZON KINDLE

2Leaf Press || NUYORICAN WORLD SERIES || ISBN: 978-0988476301 || LCCN: 2012951817

About 2Leaf Press
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy. www.2leafpress.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/22/2013 -- It seems as if it was only yesterday when 2Leaf Press published its first book, HEY YO! YO SOY! collected works and bilingual edition by Jesus Papoleto Melendez in October 2012. Since then, we've published Shirley Bradley LeFlore's debut poetry collection, BRASSBONES & RAINBOWS and her groundbreaking play, RIVERS OF WOMEN. featuring a photographic essay by Michael J. Bracey; and Tony Medina's poetry collection BROKE BAROQUE.

We're publishing ebooks, and just developed 2LP Direct Distribution so that bookstores can order books directly from 2Leaf Press, coupled with a strong direct marketing mail campaign. We plan to expand our distribution to retail outlets, academic institutions and libraries beginning September 1, 2013.

We're actually one of the few small presses to produce book videos for our authors. Vagabond Beaumont, video director and photographer, is responsible for directing and editing our fantastic videos. So far, we've got two under out belt: Jesus Papoleto Melendez and Tony Medina, with more on the way.

We've also created a system where blog and book reviewers can download digital review copies of our books (PDF, Kindle and ePub) to let readers know about our authors and their books. And we've got a great line-up of  poets and writers in store for our Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 releases. We're publishing grassroots cross-cultural literary fiction, poetry and nonfiction by writers who are injecting new blood into the contemporary literary scene, with plans to publish some of those books under our 2LP Series, specifically, TRANSLATIONS and NUYORICAN WORLD SERIES.

You could say we're on a roll. And it's all due to the hard work done by a handful of amazing people who are deeply committed to 2Leaf Press and its cause to produce multicultural literature, so a special shout-out to our incredible 2Leaf Press A-Team: Vagabond Beaumont, Carmen Pietri, Naydene Brickus and Angela Sternreich, our invaluable IAAS board liaison, Stephanie Agosto Negron, and the support of all of the IAAS board members..

Stay tune for more updates!

We're 2Leaf Press. A small press with big ideas!

About 2LEAF PRESS
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/22/2013 -- 2Leaf Press poet Shirley Bradley LeFlore is set to appear at the St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly Branch as part of their Authors @ Your Library presents program on August 1, 2013, 7:00PM – 8:30PM.

A native of St. Louis and a local celebrity in her own right, LeFlore will discuss the publication of her books, BRASSBONES & RAINBOWS and RIVERS OF WOMEN, perform her poetry and sign books that will be available for purchase courtesy of Left Bank Books.

Published by 2Leaf Press, BRASSBONES & RAINBOWS, is LeFlore's debut collection of poetry, and RIVERS OF WOMEN, is a play that is based on some of her most prolific works of poetry rooted in the stories and voices of women.

LeFlore is an oral poet/performance artist and retired adjunct professor of women's and ethnic literature. She has taught at various colleges and universities throughout the country, has read and performed her work on stage, television and radio, and has published in numerous anthologies and magazines. If you live in the St. Louis area, please be sure to check in and check out Shirley Bradley LeFlore. Admission is free.

ABOUT 2LEAF PRESS
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Poet Tony Medina has the distinction of being the first 2Leaf Press author to simultaneously publish a print and Kindle edition.

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/22/2013 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the publication of poet, professor and activist Tony Medina's latest poetry collection, BROKE BAROQUE, with a powerful introduction by MacArthur-winner, author, and Professor Emeritus at University of Berkeley, Ishmael Reed. BROKE BAROQUE is available for sale on Amazon.com and other online outlets.

With razor-sharp scatological whimsy, Medina's iconic ironic existential every man — Broke — bears witness to the plight of homelessness from his curbside porch, torching the capitalist system and its myriad societal contradictions. In BROKE BAROQUE, the poetry is peppered with subtle images that talks about Broke's existence and life experiences on the streets of "Any City" through tall tales, anecdotes, episodes, rants and jokes that eloquently convey his marginalization in an unaccommodating society.

By using humor and sardonic wit, Medina's hopes BROKE BAROQUE will "get people to acknowledge the growing number of homeless men, women and children" that are multiplying in communities around the country, and take some kind of action. To learn more about BROKE BAROQUE directly from the author, readers can check out Medina's book video on 2Leaf Press' website and YouTube channel.

Medina has the distinction of being the first 2Leaf Press author to simultaneously publish a print and Kindle edition. The Kindle version is available as a KDP Select title, which allows Amazon Prime customers to borrow the book through Kindle Owners' Lending Library. Amazon customers can download Kindle apps for smartphones, computers and tablets (such as iPod, Nook and Kobo). 2Leaf Press' ebooks will be also be made available directly through Kobo and Nook once it completes its KDP Select program in the Fall 2013. Bookstores can order BROKE BAROQUE through 2Leaf Press' 2LP Direct Distribution program, which can be found on its website.

With a stunning cover design by Miriam Ahmed that features a painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat, BROKE BAROQUE is a poetry collection to be devoured as a single sustained narrative, from the first page to the last; a worthy addition in anyone's library.

ABOUT 2LEAF PRESS
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

2Leaf Press publishes the long-awaited historically and socially relevant poetry collection, "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" translated from the English to the Spanish for a U.S. and Pan-Latino market.

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/05/2012 -- 2Leaf Press publishes its first book, "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" by renowned Nuyorican poet Jesus Papoleto Melendez. It is one of the few books published in the U.S. that has been written in English and then translated into Spanish for a simultaneous release in both the U.S. and Pan-Latino markets.

A compilation of three previously published books, "Casting Long Shadows" (1970), "Have You Seen Liberation" (1971), and "Street Poetry & Other Poems" (1972), "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! is a 386-page collection that consists of 60 poems about growing up Puerto Rican in New York City's El Barrio. Melendez has long been considered one of the founders of the Nuyorican Movement and the political, intellectual and linguistic topics he approaches in his work remain extremely relevant to this day. This historical collection is available for sale on Amazon.com and other online outlets.

A bilingual edition of Melendez' poetic achievements has never before been published and was made possible by 2Leaf Press, an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance and Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy that publishes the quarterly publication, "phati'tude Literary Magazine."

Gabrielle David, Executive Director of the IAAS, felt it essential that such an influential Nuyorican poet be published in both English and Spanish, thereby allowing the work to reach an even wider audience. "What makes this collection both historical and unique is not only the content of the work," explains David, also an editor of the collection, "it is, to my knowledge, the first time that a Nuyorican writer whose native language is English, has translated and published a bilingual edition for both an American and Pan-Latino market."

Translated by Adam Wier, Carolina Fung Feng, and Marjorie Gonzalez, the Spanish translations, which appear alongside the English, have been superbly rendered and readable for s Spanish-speaking market in Europe, Latin American and beyond. The collection includes a forward by Samuel Diaz and Carmen M. Pietri-Diaz, a commentary about the translation process by Wier, an introduction by Sandy Maria Esteves, an afterword by Jaime "Shaggy" Flores, and an exclusive interview of Melendez, also fully translated. This material, both Melendez' original work and the new translations and critical work, has been brought together for the first time by editors David and Kevin E. Tobar Pesantez.

"Hey Yo! Yo Soy!" chronicles the evolution of Melendez' relationship with his community, and his political and social awakening as a poet, writer and activist. Born and raised in New York City from parents who migrated from Puerto Rico, Melendez notes, "Back then, it was a different experience being a Puerto Rican in New York City. The sense of not belonging to Puerto Rico and not belonging in the United States is something everyone was going through. Writing gave me a chance to prove that I was a human being and in doing so, I became part of a movement that connected me to my heritage." It is this social commitment and activism that serves as the defining characteristic of the Nuyorican Movement and is evident in "Hey Yo! Yo Soy!"

From the profound to the poignant to the comedic, Jesus Papoleto Melendez provides an important, historical look at a pivotal period in American society. "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" is a collection to be devoured as a single sustained narrative, from the first page to the last; a worthy addition in anyone's library.

About 2Leaf Press
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy. (wwww.theiaas.org)

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez, long considered one of the founders of the Nuyorican Movement, publishes his long-awaited historically and socially relevant masterpiece, "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition." Available for sale on Amazon.com and other online outlets.

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/23/2012 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the publication of its first book, "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" by Nuyorican poet Jesus Papoleto Melendez. This 386-page collection, comprised of three previously published books, "Casting Long Shadows" (1970), "Have You Seen Liberation" (1971), and "Street Poetry & Other Poems" (1972), consist of 60 poems about growing up Puerto Rican in New York City's El Barrio. Melendez has long been considered one of the founders of the Nuyorican Movement and the political, intellectual and linguistic topics he approaches in his work remain extremely relevant to this day. This historical collection is available for sale on Amazon.com and other online outlets.

The Spanish translations, which appear alongside the English, have been superbly rendered by Adam Wier, Carolina Fung Feng, and Marjorie Gonzalez. The collection includes a forward by Samuel Diaz and Carmen M. Pietri-Diaz, a commentary about the translation process by Wier, an introduction by Sandy Maria Esteves, and an afterword by Jaime "Shaggy" Flores, as well as historical photos of Melendez and an exclusive interview. All of this material, both Melendez' original work and the new translations and critical work, has been brought together for the first time by editors Gabrielle David and Kevin E. Tobar Pesantez.

"Hey Yo! Yo Soy!" chronicles the evolution of Melendez' relationship with his community, and his political and social awakening as a poet, writer and activist. Born and raised in New York City from parents who migrated from Puerto Rico, Melendez notes, "Back then, it was a different experience being a Puerto Rican in New York City. The sense of not belonging to Puerto Rico and not belonging in the United States is something everyone was going through. Writing gave me a chance to prove that I was a human being and in doing so, I became part of a movement that connected me to my heritage."

Melendez is referring to the Nuyorican Movement that critiqued and challenged the social and political institutions and policies that were hindering Puerto Ricans' life opportunities in New York City. Consequently, a Nuyorican literature emerged from a handful of writers whose main preoccupation was the survival, inspiration, and pride of their fellow community members. It is this social commitment and activism that serves as the defining characteristic of Nuyorican poetry and is evident in "Hey Yo! Yo Soy!"

A bilingual edition of Melendez' poetic achievements has never before been published and was made possible by the Intercultural Alliance and Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy that publishes the quarterly publication, "phati'tude Literary Magazine." Executive Director of the IAAS and Editor-in-Chief of "phati'tude," Gabrielle David felt it essential that such an influential Nuyorican poet be published in both English and Spanish, thereby allowing the work to reach an even wider audience.

Today's Puerto Rican writers continue the Nuyorican tradition of cultural resistance that speaks for the community and for those unheard voices within the United States. However, this tradition has expanded to include influences that range from minimalist poetry to code-switching, from Afro-Caribbean music to concrete poetry in a literature of resistance which continues to explore political and social issues of an international dimension. "Hey Yo! Yo Soy!'s" greatest legacy is the inscription of a new Pan-Latino identity of American literature that embraces the past, present and future writers of the Nuyorican Movement.

From the profound to the poignant to the comedic, Jesus Papoleto Melendez provides an important, historical look at a pivotal period in American society. "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" is a collection to be devoured as a single sustained narrative, from the first page to the last; a worthy addition in anyone's library.

About 2Leaf Press
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The IAAS Announces launch of 2Leaf Press imprint with its first book, a bilingual collection of poetry by Nuyorican poet-activist Jesús Papoleto Meléndez set to publish October 26, 2012

New York, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/04/2012 -- The Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), the NY-based nonprofit organization that publishes "phati'tude Literary Magazine," announces the launch of its new imprint, 2Leaf Press.

2Leaf Press' goal is to create well-designed, award-winning books, that take full advantage of the technology by publishing hard copies using print-on-demand, and on digital venues such as Kindle, iPad and Nook. Books will be available online as well as brick and mortar outlets, and will be promoted to libraries for purchase in the U.S., Europe and Canada. 2Leaf Press is committed to publishing literary works, specifically poetry, memoir, narratives and non-fiction; anthologies and collections of essays and short stories; and novels and historical works as they pertain to literature.

"Many of the writers we publish in phati'tude Literary Magazine are always asking us to publish their books," says Gabrielle David, Executive Director of the IAAS and an editor of both the magazine and 2Leaf Press. "In fact, we've been wanting to do an imprint since the early days, but I've always believed the stars needed to be in just the right alignment. Well, they're still not in perfect alignment and may never will be, but we felt this was a good time to go ahead with it. For one thing, we've gleamed tons of experience from publishing "phati'tude Literary Magazine" using the latest digital technology and have expanded our mission to include translations, so we feel have something tangible to offer our writers and the reading public."

It is in that spirit that 2Leaf Press is publishing its first book, "¡Hey Yo / Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" by Nuyorican poet Jesus Papoleto Melendez. This 300-page collection, comprised of three previously published books, "Casting Long Shadows" (1970), "Have You Seen Liberation" (1971), and "Street Poetry & Other Poems" (1972), consist of stories about growing up Puerto Rican in New York City's El Barrio. Melendez has long been considered one of the founders of the Nuyorican Movement and the political, intellectual and linguistic topics he approaches in his work remain extremely relevant to this day. The Spanish translations, which appear alongside the English, have been superbly rendered by Adam Wier, Carolina Fung Feng, and Marjorie Gonzalez.

Set to publish on October 26, 2012, on that same day, Melendez will present "¡Hey Yo / Yo Soy!" at The Puerto Rican Studies Association for Research Advocacy and Education, Inc. (PRSA) Conference at State University of New York (SUNY), Albany. PRSA is a nonprofit organization brings together scholars, educators, public policy experts, artists, community activists and students from diverse fields of knowledge whose work focuses on Puerto Ricans in the United States and on the Island. Melendez will participate in a panel discussion, read his poetry and have books available for sale and book signings.

"¡Hey Yo / Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" will be available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other online outlets on October 26, 2012; with digital editions available on January 1, 2013.

2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm