A Radical Imprint of The Chicory Project

Ironweed Pub grows where others won’t take root.
Named for the resilient native plant that heals fractured ecosystems, Ironweed Pub publishes stories that thrive in rocky soil.

As The Chicory Project’s dedicated imprint, we amplify marginalized voices crafting works of defiance, ancestral alchemy, and untamed truth. Our books are not just bound pages - they’re seeds of revolution.

Our mission & purpose

  • Radical Authenticity: Prioritizing works by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and economically marginalized creators.

  • Ancestral Continuity: Projects that bridge tradition and innovation.

  • Ecosystem Healing: Books as tools for collective liberation, mental wellness, and cultural preservation.

  • Literary Soil: Specializing in:

    • Memoir-manifesto hybrids

    • Illustrated resistance narratives

    • Intergenerational wisdom texts

Our inaugural release:

Bearded Thoughts: Affirmations, Mantras & Stray Hairs of Wisdom
by Jamaal "Black Root" Collier

A Hip Hop artist’s guide to resilient tenderness. Through 51 affirmations and wisdom strands, Collier transforms his beard into a compass for Black self-discovery.

"A majestic mirror where we see beauty no matter how dark the day." - B. Sharise Moore, Foreword Author

Available Sept. 2025

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“We exist To cultivate stories that mainstream publishing neglects but our communities need.”

— Devlon Waddell, Executive Director of The Chicory Project

Submission Guidelines

Opening Fall 2026

    • Genres:

      • Literary nonfiction

      • Poetry collections

      • Hybrid memoir/essay

      • Illustrated narratives

    • Themes:

      • Healing justice

      • Ancestral reclamation

      • Community ecosystems

      • Radical joy as resistance

  • Prepare to submit:

    1. Query letter (describe your book’s "ecosystem impact")

    2. Full synopsis + chapter breakdown

    3. First 3 chapters or 20 pages

    4. Artist statement: How your work aligns with Ironweed’s Pillars:

      • Roots (ancestral ties)

      • Resilience (narrative tenacity)

      • Regrowth (community healing)

    • 📅 Submissions Open: January 15, 2026

    • 📅 Deadline: April 30, 2026

    • 📅 Responses: By August 2026

    Note: We particularly seek creators from the Baltimore region.

Questions? ironweedpub@thechicoryproject.org