Poetry. Asian American Studies. In the preface to his first book, a lyrical epic on the violent convergences of colonialisms on Guam (Japanese and American), history, family, and language (Chamorro and English), Perez writes: "On some maps, Guam doesn't exist; I point to an empty space in the Pacific and say, 'I'm from here.' On some maps, Guam is a small, unnamed island; I say, 'I'm from this unnamed place.' On some maps, Guam is named 'Guam, U.S.A.' I say, 'I'm from a territory of the United States.' On some maps, Guam is named, simply, 'Guam'; I say, 'I am from Guam.'" Written in the spirit of Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's Dictee and Barbara Jane Reyes's POETA EN SAN FRANCISCO, Perez's book promises to add significantly to a growing canon of Pacific poetries.

Author City: Kailua Village, HI USA

Craig Santos Perez is the co-founder of Achiote Press and a member of the activist Chamorro organization Famoksaiyan. He is the author of several chapbooks—including All with Ocean Views, Constellations Gathered Along the Ecliptic, and Preterrain—and the books FROM UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY [HACHA] and FROM UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY [SAINA]. His writings have appeared in NEW AMERICAN WRITING, Pleiades, and Rain Taxi. A native Chamorro originally from the Pacific Island of Guåhan (Guam), he lives in Kailua Village, Hawaii.

Reviews and Other Links
Jake Kennedy in Eyewear
Stephen Vincent blog
Shadowy Duck in Asian American Lit Fans
Small Press Spotlight in Critical Mass
John Beer @ MAKE