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 Hometown: Kailua Village, HI USA



About the author: 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:
Jake Kennedy in Eyewear
Stephen Vincent blog
Shadowy Duck in Asian American Lit Fans
Small Press Spotlight in Critical Mass
John Beer @ MAKE