Aaron Abeyta is originally from Antonito, Colorado and currently teaches English at Adams State College. A graduate of the CSU M.F.A. program in creative writing, Abeyta's first book Colcha was recently announced as an American Book Award winner for 2002. Additionally, he won the Colorado Council on the Arts Fellowship for Poetry in 1998 and the Grand Prize for his the poem "Colcha" from the Academy of American Poets. He has also had work published widely in literary journals and magazines.

Of Abeyta and his poetry, Ruth Heide writes that his work attempts "to preserve a culture and way of life." She cites the strong element of storytelling in his work and Abeyta explains, "I just grew up with a real strong oral tradition, especially with my grandparents. My grandparents told really good stories…To me, they were like history lessons, learning a history that's not in books. It's a cultural history."

---

Site Main Page | Site Archives | Greyrock 2002 Home | About the 2003 Site