The San Juan College Library invites the community to an inspiring evening of poetry and celebration.
Blue Corn Tongue: Poems in the Mouth of the Desert
Welcome, author Amber McCrary.A Diné poet and zinester who currently resides on Akimel O’odham lands. She is Red House Clan born for Mexican people. Originally from Shonto, Arizona and raised in Flagsta , Arizona; she received her MFA in creative writing with an emphasis in poetry at Mills College. McCrary is also the owner and founder of Abalone Mountain Press, a press dedicated to publishing Indigenous voices. She is a board member of the Northern Arizona Book Festival. She is the AZ Humanities 2022 Rising Star of the year and a Native Arts and Cultures Foundation LIFT awardee. Her debut poetry collection, Blue Corn Tongue: Poems in the Mouth of a Desert is out now from University of Arizona Press. This 2025 Southwest Books of the Year title, was also recently shortlisted for Reading the West’s 36th Annual Book Award for Poetry.
During the presentation, Amber will speak about her journey while reading excerpts from Blue Corn Tongue: Poems in the Mouth of a Desert, including visual narratives. The event is free to attend, and copies of Amber McCrary’s poetry collection, zines, and stickers will be available for purchase.
Date
June 11, 2026
Time
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location
San Juan College Black Box Theater