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Bootstrap Publications Author CJ Spears Awarded Hudson Valley Writers Residency to Finalize Afro-Surrealist Debut

  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



TAHOE CITY, CA - Bootstrap Publications, dedicated to amplifying voices that challenge the status quo and foster deep cultural connection, is proud to announce the upcoming completion of "The Book of Cadence" by Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears (CJ). This Afro-surrealist climate fiction brings CJ’s background as a revolutionary thinker, yoga teacher, and ecological advocate to the forefront, offering readers a powerful exploration of Black womanhood, magic, and liberation in the face of a changing world.


Drawing on CJ’s unique insights into the intersection of spirit and ecology, she presents a transformative narrative that offers hope and visionary solutions to the specific challenges of post-capitalistic survival and environmental collapse.


“I am building worlds that feel like rain falling over this forest fire we call capitalism,” CJ said in her artist statement. “I’m excited for what will be born here [in the residency], and I’ll be sharing updates as the work unfolds.” — She further shared on her socials.


Key Highlights of her upcoming book:

  • Afro-Surrealist Vision: A "purple sky" world that explores the intersection of ancient nature connection and futuristic speculative fiction.

  • Matriarchal Frameworks: A centralization of Black womanhood and ancestral wisdom as the primary tools for navigating a dystopian setting.

  • Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi) Innovation: The first in a planned trilogy exploring the Ocean as the mother of all life and the rise of indigenous post-capitalistic societies.


CJ will be spending the first week of March (March 1st–8th) in residence at the Hudson Valley Writers Center in New York. Staying in the historic James Baldwin room, they will complete the final manuscript due for submission on March 10th.


"The Book of Cadence" introduces readers to a world where ecology and spirit blend to shape new realities, providing a compelling narrative that empowers readers to "surrealize" the world as a means of survival and transformation.


About CJ Spears: Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears (CJ) is an imaginative writer whose words bloom at the intersection of poetry and speculative fiction. With their work in the Black Seeds Bloom collective, CJ has helped connect the writing process with community building and revolutionary healing, creating lasting change through ancestrally informed storytelling. They are also known for their self-published poetry collection, "Becoming Friends With Trees & Other Creative Prophecies."


Connect with CJ Spears:

Learn more about Bootstrap Publications: https://www.bootstrappublications.com/ 


For more information on The Book of Cadence or to schedule an interview with CJ Spears, please contact:info@bootstrappublications.com



Industries: Book Publishing, Literary Arts, Environmental Justice, Wellness & Spirituality, Social Change, Creative Arts




Bootstrap Publications Welcomes Three Authors to its Growing Literary Community

  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read

Tahoe City, CA - Bootstrap Publications, in its ongoing mission to publish impactful and meaningful works, is proud to formally welcome three distinct voices to its established community of authors: Carolyn Meers, N. E. Weisberg, and Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears (CJ). This collaboration brings together a scholar, a speculative visionary, and a creative survivor to offer readers a range of perspectives on resilience, history, and healing.


A Triptych of Perspectives


Carolyn Meers: Creative Healing and Restorative Wonder An England-born artist, musician, and mother, Carolyn Meers brings a narrative voice shaped by empathy, recovery, and purposeful living. A breast cancer survivor and six years sober, her path is defined by hard-earned self-awareness and a belief that love and creativity can conquer the greatest of challenges. A "drummer at heart," Meers utilizes rhythm as a tool for transformation, while her handmade fairy wands reflect her deep-seated belief in wonder and intention. As a proud mother to a trans son and a steadfast LGBTQ+ ally, her work serves as a compassionate voice for the marginalized, human and animal alike.


N. E. Weisberg: Historical Allegory and Speculative Depth A dedicated educator and historian, N. E. Weisberg offers a literary voice informed by a background in history and psychology. His upcoming novel, The Space Pirate King, evolved from a deconstruction of science-fiction tropes into a political drama focused on the "home front" of a galactic frontier. Drawing inspiration from the historical resistance of non-Western nations against colonialism—such as Japan, Ethiopia, and Iran—Weisberg explores the cultural and economic consequences of first contact and unprecedented threats from space.


Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears (CJ): Afro-Surrealism and Revolutionary Healing Born and raised in the Bay Area, CJ Spears creates at the intersection of poetry, Afro-surrealism, and "ancestral world-building." As a Yoga teacher and co-founder of the Black Seeds Bloom collective, CJ crafts stories where ecology and spirit blend to envision life beyond the "forest fire" of capitalism. Bootstrap Publications supports the development of CJ’s climate fiction trilogy, beginning with The Book of Cadence. Rooted in themes of tel-empathy and matriarchal liberation, her work centralizes Black womanhood and organic patterns in nature to re-envision indigenous societies within dystopian settings.


About the Authors


  • Carolyn Meers is a multi-media artist and vegan advocate who finds joy in drumming, gaming, and her cherished cats, Luna and Corn Chip. Her creativity emerged as a form of restoration, proving that healing is possible when we accept our past as part of our power.


  • N. E. Weisberg is a middle school social studies teacher and family man. When not in the classroom or his study, he shares his home with a cherished rabbit and remains committed to the complexities of the human experience.


  • CJ Spears is the author of the poetry collection Becoming Friends With Trees & Other Creative Prophecies. Their work is informed by Afro-surrealism, daydreams, and the silent growth of trees.


About Bootstrap Publications


Bootstrap Publications is dedicated to discovering and championing authors who provide compelling narratives of survival, scholarly insight, and imaginative spirit. By collaborating with these three authors, the press continues to provide readers with the tools to find their own "superpower" in the stories of everyday life and the worlds beyond.


Connect with Carolyn Meers:

Connect with N.E. Weisberg:


Connect with CJ Spears:

Learn more about Bootstrap Publications: https://www.bootstrappublications.com/ 

For more information on our book collection or to schedule an interview with the authors, please contact: info@bootstrappublications.com


Tags: Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Creative Healing, Historical Allegory, Afro-Surrealism, Sobriety & Recovery, Cancer Survivorship, LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Military Sci-Fi, Colonialism Resistance, Climate Fiction, Ancestral World-Building, Black Womanhood, Matriarchal Societies, Political Drama, Multi-media Art, Veganism, Social Studies Education


Industries: Book Publishing, Education & Academia, Arts & Culture, Mental Health & Wellness, Advocacy & Non-Profit, Science Fiction & Fantasy




Sacramento Attorney and Author Miles Whitney Wins 2025 New Feathers Award for “Artifact of Death, Artifact of Life”

  • Feb 15
  • 2 min read


Tahoe City, CA - Bootstrap Publications is proud to announce that author Miles Whitney has been named the first-place winner of the 2025 New Feathers Award. Selected by the editorial team at New Feathers Anthology, Whitney’s winning nonfiction piece, “Artifact of Death, Artifact of Life,” was honored for its profound emotional resonance and masterful use of historical imagery.


“Artifact of Death, Artifact of Life” provides a powerful exploration of identity and survival. A queer, trans, Jewish research attorney based in Sacramento, Whitney channels his passion for justice into both the legal field and his creative work. The winning piece weaves together the haunting history of "bone music"—clandestine Soviet-era records pressed onto discarded X-ray film—with a contemporary narrative of the trans experience. Drawing on his unique ability to connect personal vulnerability with global history, Whitney presents a compelling look at the search for safety and the "indestructible music" of the human spirit.


“This is such an honor. There were so many other great works this year. Here's to a year with lots of great creativity, reading, and appreciating art!” — Miles Whitney


Key Highlights of “Artifact of Death, Artifact of Life”:

  • 2025 First Place Winner: Distinguished as the premier entry in the annual New Feathers Award cycle, selected from a competitive field of nominees across fiction, poetry, and art.

  • The Symbolism of "Bone Music": A central exploration of how banned art survived on radiographic film—literally turning images of death into vessels for music.

  • A Timely Narrative: A poignant reflection on the Passover story, drawing parallels between ancient flight and the modern challenges facing the trans community.


Since its publication in the Summer 2025 issue of New Feathers Anthology, the piece has moved readers and critics alike. This milestone arrives as Whitney prepares for the 2026 release of his debut novel with Bootstrap Publications, Midlife Musical, a richly layered exploration of art, memory, and the courage it takes to live authentically.


About Miles Whitney: Miles Whitney is an attorney, author, and advocate. With his work in the legal field and the literary arts, Whitney explores themes of grief, identity, and resilience—themes he has championed since the loss of his daughter, Isabel, in 2022. His writing has appeared in Slate, Freedom Fiction Journal, and Homo Works. Outside of writing and law, he enjoys reading Torah and training dogs in Northern California, weaving together his love for storytelling, faith, and community.


Connect with [Author Name]:

For more information on Midlife Musical or to schedule an interview with Miles Whitney, please contact:info@bootstrappublications.com


Tags: Miles Whitney, New Feathers Award, Nonfiction, Trans Literature, Midlife Musical, Sacramento Authors, Bootstrap Publications

Industries: Publishing, Literature, Social Justice, Legal



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