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

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AMPPI: Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize Initiative: moving forward

In addition to raising funds to help ensure the sustainability of one of our flagship programs, AMMPI also aims to put into print colón-ization---a posthumous volume of poetry by Andrés Montoya, edited by his good friend Daniel Chacón. Bilingual Press has agreed to co-publish the volume with Letras Latinas.


But another positive outcome of this initiative, in my view, is that a number of Latino/a writers are becoming the proud owners of this silkscreen print by Malaquias Montoya. "Untitled," as I've said here before, is the result of Malaquias' engagement with his late son's poetry. It's not unlike what took place with Poetas y Pintores---another Letras Latinas multidisciplinary project involving visual art and poetry. Among the writers who have become owners of the print (in no particular order):


Fred Arroyo
Valerie Martínez
Paul Martínez Pompa
Sandra Cisneros
Richard Blanco
Daniel Chacón
Benjamín Alire Sáenz
Francisco Aragón

I'd like to think that a particular community is steadily growing---around this print, as the Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize Initiative moves forward: a community of artists who have stepped to the plate for a worthy cause. And so....it's with great appreciation that we welcome:

John Phillip Santos

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Last year I had the pleasure of reviewing The Farthest Home is in an Empire of Fire for the Notre Dame Review. It was the basis--this book was---of John's featured reader status at AWP last February in DC, as well as his Notre Dame campus visit last month. Lauro Vasquez will be contributing a post and some pics of this visit, soon.

ANDRES MONTOYA POETRY PRIZE INITIATIVE