In 2016, I had an idea.

To start a small publishing company devoted entirely to South Florida.

Our first three books were published in late 2017.

In 2018, we launched The Jitney blog.

Nearly ten years later, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.

Twenty books, over 1,700 articles on the blog with over three million views; we’ve been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, PBS, NPR and many more outlets; our books are in Special Collections at The University of Miami and the Miami-Dade Public Library.

We have become one of South Florida’s leading independent voices covering theater, literature, music, visual art, and local culture.

We’ve done all of this without advertising. No paywalls, pop-up videos or clickbait.

We’ve also done this without any money, which is remarkable.

I’ve never made a dollar through Jitney Books. Whatever comes in, goes back into the Jitney.

The company has survived on volunteers, friendships, favors, community support, interns, a lot of freaking work and an irrational belief that Miami deserves its own literary voice.

Like the old jitney buses that still rumble up and down Northeast Second Avenue, we’ve kept moving, but we need gas. And it is time to ask for help.

Why We’re Asking Now

The truth is simple, we’ve reached the point where passion alone isn’t enough.

For years I’ve done almost everything: editing books, publishing books, running the website, writing articles, covering theater, managing social media, organizing events, handling distribution. It isn’t sustainable.

Last year, after finishing our twentieth book, I came dangerously close to burnout. Instead of slowing down, I’d rather build a team. That’s why we’re asking for your help.

Your Donation Will Help Fund

Every dollar goes directly back into Jitney Books and The Jitney.

Your contribution will help us:

• Hire a project manager to oversee social media, video content, and audience growth.

• Publish new books during 2026-27, including a memoir and a work of fiction.

• Produce our first anthology of South Florida short fiction.

• Hire a project manager to expand book distribution into museum gift shops, hotel lobbies, independent bookstores, and cultural institutions throughout Florida.

• Maintain a presence at the Miami Book Fair, including booth costs and staffing.

• Fund our amazing editor Dave Rolland, who keeps The Jitney running every week.

• Launch poetry publishing.

• Grow our international short story competition into a twice-yearly event.

• Hire a webmaster to handle the website and anything that goes wrong with the site.

• Pay the fees needed to keep the website up and running.

• Buy ISBN numbers.

Our Goal

Our goal is modest.

Raising $20,000 would allow us to stabilize operations and begin building the team we’ve always needed. Anything beyond that allows us to dream a little bigger.

Why This Matters

Miami is changing.

Every year, more longtime residents leave because of affordability. Every year, more outside money arrives. That’s not necessarily good or bad. But it does make one thing more important than ever. Miami deserves to tell its own stories not written from outsiders or transplants.

Stories written from here by the people who actually live here.

That’s always been the mission of Jitney Books.

And that’s why we’re asking for your support today.

Whether you give $25, $50, $100, $500, or more, you’re helping preserve an independent literary voice that belongs to this community. A little goes a long way.

The Jitney needs gas.

Thank you for believing in us.

With gratitude,

J.J. Colagrande
Publisher, Jitney Books