Our Team
Camari Carter Hawkins, Founder and Editor-in-Chef*
CAMARI CARTER HAWKINS is a poet and writer from South Central, Los Angeles. She is the author of Death by Comb (2016, World Stage Press) and guided journal Write Back to You. Camari’s works have appeared in Rise: An Anthology of Power and Unity (Vagabond Press), The Best of The Poetry Salon 2013-2018, The Dillydoun Review, Obsidian, Poets Choice, GenreUrbanArts, and elsewhere.
Camari founded Mama’s Kitchen Press ™ in 2021 while in her grandmother’s kitchen. Mama's Kitchen Press dropped into her heart while having a heartfelt conversation with her mother and grandmother. The mission of Mama’s Kitchen Press is to use storytelling to affirm our humanity™. MKP currently publishes up to 2 books a year and has a goal to double efforts with 4 to 6 full-length books and 4 youth chapbooks a year.
When she’s not writing or publishing books, she’s sitting on her patio with something cozy to drink or trying out tasty foods in Austin, TX. Connect on socials @camaricreative and www.camarihawkins.com
Anea Michelle, Book Production Administrator and PR Assistant, Sous Chef
Anea Michelle, a recent graduate with a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Texas State University. Her recognition as a Torch Literary Arts content creative fellow and her contributions as an editor and writer for Porter House Review highlight her dedication and skill. Anea is not only passionate about writing but is also a fervent cheerleader for other writers, consistently encouraging and guiding them towards achieving their literary goals.
Krystle May Statler, Graphic Designer, Sommelier
Krystle May Statler (she/her) is a Black-multiracial artist and designer living in Portland, OR. Her works are featured in Fugue Journal, Fourteen Hills, Sixfold, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Poetry from Instructions, poetry.onl, among others or are forthcoming. Her design experience is diverse, with an emphasis on poetry and hybridity while also designing logos, marketing materials, children’s books, and more. Over the last eight years, Krystle has worked as a freelance designer for self-publishing clients, the Book Production Manager for World Stage Press, a graphic designer for the Community Literature Initiative, and a typesetting assistant for Otis Books/Seismicity Editions.
When she’s not designing books, Krystle can be found volunteering with the Portland Grief House as the Fundraising Board Chair and Epiphany Magazine as a poetry reader, working as the Director of Operations at The Pathfinder Network, or nurturing life with her partner Kevin, their plant babies, and oodles of loved ones.
Prayer for Relief, Krystle’s first full-length collection of poems, will be published in March of 2024. To see more of her work, visit: krystlemaystatler.com
Emily Anne Photons, Graphic Designer, Sommelier
Emily Anne Evans' passion lies in helping others bring their visions and voices to life — particularly through publishing. In addition to books and publications, she designs identity and promotional materials for a variety of freelance clients. Along with more than 20 years of independent contract work as a designer, photographer, and writer/editor, Emily has run multiple small arts-based businesses, including a marketing agency, record label, and artist co-op. While receiving her BFA in Photography and Visual Communications from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she won multiple national awards for her work with the student publication. Her current "day job" is with Community Literature Initiative, where she is the Poetry Publishing Class Book Production Manager and World Stage Press Press Manager.
Anne Marie Wells, Copy and Content Editor, Pastry Chef
Anne Marie Wells (she/they) is an award-winning Queer poet, playwright, and memoirist navigating the world with a chronic illness. She is the author of Survived By (Curious Corvid Publishing), Happy Iceland (Wild Dog Press, and Mother, (v).(Cinnamon Press). Learn more at AnneMarieWellsWriter.com or @AnneMarieWellsWriter
