Two-time recipient of the Haines & Friends Visual Arts Grant for her mixed-media installation, Latina Geniuses Are Everywhere, and celebrated restaurateur of Tlalli, will celebrate the release of her debut collection of poetry.
(Ashland, OR) On October 20, 2026, Legalize My Mother: A Collection of Poems, Prayers, and Chants by Manya Yana Herrera was published by Riot of Roses Publishing House. A book launch celebration is planned for November 11, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the author’s restaurant, Tlalli Mesoamerican Kitchen in Ashland, OR.
Listen to an interview with Jefferson Public Radio
Victoria Bañales, 2025-2027 Watsonville Poet Laureate & author of The Sun Will Not Harm You by Day, Nor the Moon by Night says of the book: “Legalize My Mother…is a decolonial reclamation of divine femininity and sensuality, her spells and chants build momentum, unapologetic and fierce. Dazzling with ancestral light, the collection simmers with epazote, cinnamon, cardamom, and other yerbas and spices. As the author writes, ‘Yes, I can be a liberated Xicana and make tortillas.’ Her words—electrifying, hypnotic, medicinal—will awaken your senses and linger on your tongue long after you’ve devoured them, leaving you hungry for more. This book will empower and heal you.”
Find and follow author Manya Yana Herrera on @manyayanaherrera on Instagram and follow her adventures at Tlalli @tlalli.astreet. Pick up your copy of Legalize My Mother to enjoy this harvest season.
About Manya Yana Herrera
Manya Yana Herrera is a Xicana poet, multidisciplinary artist, educator, and mother creature. She has been published in Ofrenda magazine, We’Moon, & The Jefferson Journal, Main Squeeze & Essential Oil Volume 1 & 2. She is the author of two chapbooks, Blue Corn, Mixed Masa, and the Occasional Magic Trick and A look of defiance. Radiant. She is a two-time recipient of the Haines & Friends Visual Arts Grant for her mixed-media installation, Latina Geniuses Are Everywhere. Manya received her MFA from Pacific Northwest College of Art.
