El Martillo Press at Brewtal Coffee in Rosarito, B.C., MX

El Martillo Press co-founders Matt Sedillo and David A. Romero are joined by friends of the press Aideed Medina and Karla Lamb at Brewtal Coffee in Rosarito, B.C., MX!

Brewtal Coffee

C. 5 de Mayo 300-A,

Machado Sur, 22703

Playas de Rosarito, B.C., Mexico

Free

Matt Sedillo

David A. Romero

Karla Lamb

Aideed Medina

Matt Sedillo:

Matt Sedillo has been described as the "best political poet in America" as well as "the poet laureate of the struggle." His work has drawn comparisons in print to Bertolt Brecht, Roque Dalton, Amiri Baraka, Allen Ginsberg, Carl Sandburg,  and various other legends of the past. Sedillo was the recipient of the 2017 Joe Hill Labor Poetry award, a panelist at the 2020 Texas book festival, a participant in the 2012 San Francisco International Poetry Festival, the 2022 Elba Poetry Festival, and the recipient of the 2022 Dante's Laurel. Sedillo has appeared on CSPAN and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Axios, the Associated Press among other publications. Sedillo has spoken at Casa de las Americas in Havana, Cuba, at numerous conferences and forums such as the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education, the National Association of Chicana/Chicano Studies, the Left Forum, the US Social Forum, and at over a hundred universities and colleges, including the University of Cambridge, among many others. Matt Sedillo is the author of Mowing Leaves of Grass (FlowerSong Press, 2019) and City on the Second Floor (FlowerSong Press, 2022). Both of which are taught at universities throughout the country. Sedillo is the current literary director of The Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles.

David A. Romero

David A. Romero is a Mexican-American poet, novelist, and publisher from Diamond Bar, CA. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of El Martillo Press. Romero is the author of the novel The Enemy Sleeps (El Martillo Press, 2026) and the books of poetry My Name Is Romero (FlowerSong Press, 2020) and Diamond Bars 2 (Moon Tide Press, 2024). Romero has received honorariums from nearly a hundred colleges and universities in thirty-four different states in the USA and has also performed live in Mexico, Italy, and France. His poem, "You Were Born a Tree" was sent to the Moon by NASA in 2025 as part of the Lunar Codex. Romero's work has been published in literary magazines and anthologies in the United States, Mexico, England, Scotland, Cuba, Canada, and Hungary. Romero has opened for Latin Grammy winning bands Ozomatli and La Santa Cecilia. Romero's work has been published in anthologies alongside poets laureate Joy Harjo, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Luis J. Rodriguez, Jack Hirschman, and Tongo Eisen-Martin. Romero has won the Uptown Slam at the historic Green Mill in Chicago; the birthplace of slam poetry. Romero's poetry deals with family, identity, social justice issues, and Latine culture. 

Aideed Medina

Aideed Medina is a Pushcart Prize nominated poet, award-winning spoken word artist and a playwright. She is a California Naturalist and practices "flor y canto" as part of her poetic process and exploration of California's natural history. Her work has appeared in Fresno State's Club Austral Literary Magazine, Chicano Writers and Artists Association Journal, La Bloga, Poets Responding, Art of the Commune, Split This Rock, Nueva York Poetry Review, Di-Liio Revista Literaria, Artivista Anthology, as part of a collection of original art songs composed for The Opera Remix, Fresno Grand Opera, and co-writer of Eclectic Collective plays: Encounter Intuitive and Artista Invisible. Aideed Medina is the author of Segmented Bodies (Prickly Pear Press) and 31 Hummingbird (Xingao).

Karla Lamb

Karla Lamb is a queer poet, host, line producer, copy writer, and community leader deeply passionate about fostering creativity and connection within L.A.’s queer and literary circles. They focus on curating grassroots queer poetry events that amplify diverse voices and experiences. Their monthly event is called Verse4Verse. V4V is more than just a sapphic poetry open mic; it’s a space where individuals can share their stories, find solace, and foster a sense of belonging.

IMAC Rosarito

Municipal Institute of Arts and Culture (Instituto Municipal de Arte y Cultura – IMAC), an arts and culture space offering workshops, events and activities designed to promote and encourage creativity.  

El Martillo Press:

Founded by Matt Sedillo and David A. Romero, El Martillo Press publishes writers whose pens strike the page with clear intent; words with purpose to pry apart assumed norms and to hammer away at injustice. El Martillo Press proactively publishes writers looking to pound the pavement to promote their work and the work of their fellow pressmates. El Martillo is the builder of bridges and the destroyer of walls. https://www.elmartillopress.com/