Gazing In Publishing, LLC
Gazing In Publishing, LLC was established in 2011 to publish books inspired from Africa, its Diaspora, children, ancient traditions, nature, and health.We are the proud publishers of two #1 bestselling books, and our books are distributed in school districts throughout U.S.A.Complete your book collection with: "Shango's Son," "Obatala's Daughter Discovers True Friends," and/or "Oshun's Flow." Our fourth ‘Yoruba Orisa Children’s Series’ picture book coming out in
2025.People in your school, library, home, business, and/or non-profit organization will love them!Gazing In Publishing is a black/African-American, female owned business.
Sales
Please visit any of these stores, or your favorite to find our books:Amazon
Books and Crannies
Indiebound
Ingram (is our distributor)
The Dock Bookshop
WalmartWHOLESALE bulk purchase options in addition to Ingram include: B&N, BAM, Green Apple, & Hudson.
The Yoruba Orisa Children's Series Books
The ‘Yoruba Orisa Children’s Series’ picture books feature the ever popular West African divine forces called “Orisa”. Acclaim for the first book led to the next two books being #1 new releases on Amazon.com!Dr. (and Iya) Winmilawe’s pioneering series is one of the first in children’s literature to feature the Orisa. Even more rare, she expertly adapted the stories directly from the ancient sacred Yoruba literature of Odu Ifa / Orisa."Shango’s Son", "Obatala’s Daughter Discovers True Friends," and "Oshun’s Flow" are colorful, adventurous, representations of historical-fiction, and are sometimes referred to as African folktales.All the books showcase: symbols of the Orisa, easy Yoruba vocabulary, and insightful fun lessons. The artists’ original paintings authentically express the best of this African society.The books are suitable for young children on up. They are distributed in school districts throughout the United States, and continue to sell internationally. The ‘Yoruba Orisa Children’s Series’ books are required reading for any fan of traditional culture!
Shango's Son
Shango's Son is a short story based on ancient African knowledge (Yoruba Ifa). Shango and Oya have a son who becomes Shango's companion and protector. The son has amazing abilities that help Shango succeed.The story, the colorful imagery, and even some African Yoruba vocabulary will enrich young and older readers alike.This is the first book in the “Yoruba Orisa Children’s Series.”
obatala's Daughter Discovers True Friends
This colorful children’s picture book is based on the ancient stories of the West African Yoruba people.Obatala encourages his daughter Kemi to look for friends with good character. She has an exciting journey in which she learns that being superficial can bring trouble. However, with clarity and courage Kemi finds joy at last.This is the second book in the “Yoruba Orisa Children’s Series.”
oshun's Flow
Oshun makes the water flow. The water makes everything grow! For this flow, Oshun needs respect and thanksgiving. The people of Osogbo remember this, but some people in the world do not. So can the water still flow everywhere?Find out how the children of Osogbo help Oshun, the water, and the world. Oshun (Ọ̀ṣun) is the West African Yoruba Goddess of fresh water and life. All the books in the ‘Yoruba Orisa Children’s Series’ come from the ancient sacred stories of Odu Orisa / Ifa!“Oshun’s Flow” helps readers appreciate African culture AND the environment!
This is the third book in the “Yoruba Orisa Children’s Series.”
The 4th book of the
Yoruba Orisa Children’s Series
is coming soon!
Our People
Publishing Director
Natalie Washington-Weik, PhD is the Senior Publishing Director of Gazing In Publishing, LLC.She supervises the acquisition, publishing, and circulation of our book projects. She enjoys
coordinating our many talented people. Dr. Washington-Weik came to Gazing In Publishing, LLC in 2011 because she saw the unique and dire need in the marketplace for trade books that positively depict African-related ideas.She has made a career of encouraging a general awareness that: Africa is great! Prior to
taking this position, Dr. Washington-Weik was a professor. She taught over a thousand students African, African-American, and Medical Histories. Past employers include: University of South Carolina, Benedict College, and Midlands Technical College.Dr. Washington-Weik has a PhD and an MA in African History, from the University of Texas at
Austin (UT, 2009), and the University of Florida (UF, 2002) respectively. She has a BA in Legal
Communications from Howard University (HU, 1997, minor African-American Studies).Dr. Natalie Washington-Weik lives in Columbia, SC and is a native of Philadelphia, PA. She also
is a consultant. You may contact her by messaging her on this site.
Author and illustrators
Dr. Winmiláwẹ̀ is a bestselling author, PhD in African History, healer, and longtime Yorùbá-Orisa Ọ̀ṣun priestess (an Ìyálòrìṣà). See her website: http://www.winmilawe.comSadiq Olajide is an illustrator, musician, and dance artist. He is Yorùbá, and lives in Ọ̀ṣun’ṣ city of Òṣogbo, Nigeria. Contact: olajide.sadiq [at] yahoo [dot] co.ukVirgo Evans is an illustrator, visual artist, clothing designer, teacher, wife, and Yorùbá-Orisa initiate of Ọbàtálá. Contact: soulchildclothing [at] yahoo [dot] comTewodross Melchishua is a professor at Bowie State University in Maryland, visual artist, award winning animator, filmmaker, designer, curator and creative consultant. See his website:
http://www.visualjazzmedia.net/We appreciate all of the external editors, image makers, designers, printers, and other publishing professionals we work with!
Contact
To purchase our books, see the "Sales" section above.To reach our authors or illustrators contact them directly.We do not accept unsolicited: manuscripts, art, nor resumes.Please use the contact form below for: announcements, media, events, awards, permissions, fan mail, etc.Thank you!