sin cesar

without stopping

without doubts

without kings or masters

sin cesar (formerly Dryland) is an independent print literary journal from South Central Los Angeles established in 2015. We seek to publish the best in Black and Brown poetry, fiction, and non-fiction from established, emerging, and never-before-published writers around the world.

Past contributors include: Tongo Eisen-Martin, Harry Gamboa Jr., Vickie Vertiz, Barbara-Jane Reyes, Mimi Tempestt, Josiah Luis Alderete and countless more. We’ve published authors from Mexico, China, India, South America, and the UK, to name a few. We’ve also featured known and emerging artists across all mediums like Patrick Martinez, Mr. Pintamuro, EastLosHeart, Iurhi Peña, Anthonyxyz, and Henry Lara of AngelenoHeart.

Contributors have gone on to start their own journals, publish debut poetry collections, win awards such as PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship (Michelle Dorame) and the Voices of Our Nations Arts Fellowship (Jenise Miller). We also nominate authors for awards like the Pushcart Prize or the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. Authors have also been offered representation by literary agencies after being discovered in the journal.

We publish a new issue once a year. We are an independent publication, not a non-profit, and plan to remain so. We are funded directly through the support of our readers, contributors, supporters and grants from allies.sin cesar is mainly sold in bookstores, cafes, & record stores, across Los Angeles, like at Patria Coffee in Compton, Cruzita’s in Huntington Park, the MOCA museum store in Downtown LA, Amoeba Music in Hollywood as well as bookstores in the Bay Area and at Casa de Las Americas in Cuba. We operate from our headquarters in Boyle Heights, California at Re/arte Centro Literario bookstore and art gallery.

MASTHEAD

Viva Padilla

Founding Editor-in-chief

Viva Padilla is a bilingual poet, translator, writer, editor, and publisher born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She’s the founding editor-in-chief of sin cesar (formerly Dryland), and Hombre Lobo, an intergenerational book series documenting paranormal/supernatural stories experienced by Xicanx. She is also the owner of bookstore and art gallery Re/Arte Centro Literario in Boyle Heights. Padilla is a first-generation Chicana, a daughter of immigrants who crossed the border from Colima, Mexico. Viva’s work has been featured in the LA Times, PBS, LA TACO, Brooklyn & Boyle, Cultural Daily, PANK, The Acentos Review, wearemitú, and many more online and print journals/magazines. She currently works for Tia Chucha Press and lives on the Eastside in Los Angeles.

Amanda Orozco

Associate Editor

Amanda Orozco gained a breadth of experience in academic publishing, publicity, subsidiary rights, and agenting. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Physiological Science and an English minor and worked as a fine art instructor and freelance editor for several years before moving to New York to complete the NYU Masters of Science in Publishing: Digital and Print Media. As part of the sin cesar (formerly Dryland) team she aims to amplify marginalized voices from the literary underground.

are you interested in an internship with us?

We could always use more help! We are currently looking for graphic designers and social media savvy POC.

No experience is required but some exposure is preferred.

Get in touch

sin cesar is happy to answer any questions, contact Adrian Villareal at adrian[at]drylandla.org

• Twitter
• Instagram

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Founding Editor-in-chief Viva Padilla is available for workshops, panel discussions, and other appearances. Contact Amanda at amanda[at]transatlanticagency.com