Letter from the Editor

By Mario Joseph Montoya

Issue 42 • Fall 2020

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for reading Issue 42, dedicated to the memory of our beloved founder and fearless leader, Mr. Rudolfo Anaya. Without Mr. Anaya, the entire landscape of Southwestern literature would be different. Even outside of our region, he impacted the scope of American books, and world literature too. From award-winning novels to children stories, his voice resonates through generations. As a native Burqueño, I can tell you we hold our local heroes sacred. From Holly Holm to Johnny Tapia, Al Unser Jr. to Neil Patrick Harris, we are proud of our own. Mr. Anaya is certainly no exception. Here, love for him is astronomical. Albuquerque has an elementary school, as well as a public library, named after him. Annually, we honor October 30th as “Rudolfo Anaya I Love To Read Day.” To strengthen child literacy, there’s The Rudolfo Anaya Summer Reading Program, where students get awarded for reading books. He’s our wise, gentle abuelito sitting by the fire, offering biscochitos and a good story, a lesson. His tales have become a part of New Mexico as much as New Mexico influenced him.

Growing up, my role models were Tupac Shakur and Bo Jackson. But I loved to read books. I got my hands on Treasure Island and devoured it. I also read The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. At fourteen, I read A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harold Robbins, about a boxer from New York City. By then, I was noticing a common trend: none of the characters in these novels resembled me or the people around me. Setting, language, none of it was comparable to my world. I started believing Chicanas/os didn’t exist or belong in literature, besides maybe as villains, like in Hollywood. Then, my freshman year in high school, the instructor assigned a novel that changed everything, Bless Me, Ultima. I was amazed by the beautiful landscapes and colorful language, especially since the novel authentically depicted home. In it, there were adobe villas and farmworkers and a wise, old curandera. New Mexico dripped off every page. Finally, literature depicted me and my worldview. We existed. I was relieved. For me, Rudolfo Anaya proved we had stories, and that our stories mattered. And sometimes, we were the heroes of our plots.

Through Rudolfo Anaya, I discovered the work of Luis Valdez, Luis Rodriguez, Denise Chávez, and Ana Castillo. Eventually, I found Gloria Anzaldúa and local legend Jimmy Santiago Baca, from Blood In, Blood Out fame. Anaya’s work became my gateway to other Chicana/o authors. I uncovered my place in the literary world. Chicanos and Chicanas who looked and lived like me were writing great, critically acclaimed, award-winning material. Perhaps, so could I.

I’d like to thank everyone who made this issue possible, starting with our reliable, dedicated editorial staff. Jenn, Rhea and Mikaela. Without your long hours, we have no magazine. Thank you, Lisa Chavez, our Faculty Coordinator. To our judges, Amy, Eduardo, Denise. Your time and expertise were invaluable. A huge congratulations to our winners: Mary, Khanh, Tess, Jeremy, Kelly and Stephanie. Exceptional work. To our photo and art contributors, thank you dearly, for adding your visual touch. A special thanks goes to Melina Vizcaíno-Alemán, our foreword writer and Guest Editor, for her assistance with organizing and coordinating this issue. Lastly, thanks to Mr. Rudolfo Anaya, for years of innovation and inspiration. And for creating Blue Mesa Review, a magazine we all love and cherish, over thirty years ago. We hope this issue upholds Mr. Anaya’s honor and legacy.

Mil Gracias,

Mario Joseph Montoya

Editor-in-Chief, Blue Mesa Review

E.E. King

E.E. King is an award-winning painter, performer, writer, and biologist – She’ll do anything that won’t pay the bills, especially if it involves animals. Ray Bradbury called her stories “marvelously inventive, wildly funny, and deeply thought-provoking. I cannot recommend them highly enough.” She’s been published widely, most recently in Clarkesworld, Flametree, and On Spec. Check out paintings, writing, musings, and books at www.elizabetheveking.com and amazon.com/author/eeking.