Prose writers supporting Andrés Montoya

When this Initiative was conceived, the plan was to enlist the support, above all, of fellow literary artists. Thus far, most of these have been poets since the principle beneficiary of this gesture is Latino poetry's first book prize. But I wanted to take a moment and single out for a special expression of appreciation those prose writers (novelists, short story writers, and memoirists) who have stepped to the plate. My hope is that their numbers will gradually increase as we move forward toward our goal of selling out "Untitled" by Malaquias Montoya---inspired by the poetry of his son, Andrés. My heartfelt thanks to:

Michael Nava

Benjamin Alire Saenz

Helena Maria Viramontes

Sergio Troncoso

Daniel Chacón

Lorraine Lopez

Fred Arroyo

John Phillip Santos

Sandra Cisneros

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The Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize Initiative

Join us.

Daniel Chacón on the art of Malaquias Montoya

Daniel Chacón holding "untitled" by Malaquias Montoya

Daniel Chacón has posted a lively and moving account of his connection with the art of Malaquias Montoya over at his blog, "Chacón in Chuco." I say moving because it also, once again, touches upon his friendship with the late Andrés Montoya---the poet after whom the Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize is named. It's worth a read.

ANDRÉS MONTOYA POETRY PRIZE INITIATIVE

On publishing: Daniel Chacón

 [...]

"Recognition from the top doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if I'm invited to great ivory tower universities, where white men with patches on their sport-coat elbows stand in line to buy my book and later write papers about the many metaphorical possibilities of my landscapes.

What matters is to be recognized by the kids at Lynn Middle School.

What matters is that right now and for who knows how many years into the future, my book will be on the shelves of their homes, maybe even one of the few books in the house, and even if they don't read it now, even if it sits unopened for many years, it's there, in their homes. Maybe someday when when they're in high school or when they're adults, they'll open the book and release my spirit into their lives.

And I loved that I started my tour at a Middle School with a majority of Chicano students.

It was like the benediction that opens a poetry book.

It was like a blessing, 120 tiny hands on my head and shoulders blessing me for my journey, blessing my new book."


---Daniel Chacón, March 15, 2009

from "Unending Rooms: Book Tour Confessions (A Writer's Reality)"

And here's another interesting post, which references Andrés Montoya and a California Community College where he taught.