Here is a list with very short notes of some of my favorite New Mexico authors. Much more information can be gotten on each of them by doing a web search. Each, in my opinion, has made significant contributions to the literature of New Mexico. There are many more and I realize there are the usual and unfortunate omissions but I only add in the writers that I have read and enjoyed. More will be added later.
Fabiola Cabeza de Baca – 1894 to 1991, raised on her father’s ranch near Newkirk, NM. Her writings, especially We Fed Them Cactus, reflected her traditional New Mexico upbringing. This is an indispensable work for anyone interested in life as it was in eastern Guadalupe County. She also wrote Historic Cookery and The Good Life.
Joe Sando – 1923 to present, Native American scholar, historian and author, born in Jemez Pueblo and received his education at Eastern New Mexico University and Vanderbilt. He has written extensively about the Pueblo Indians in general and about his native tribe in specific. His latest book is Pueblo Profiles : Cultural Identity Through Centuries of Change. He is an important authority on ancient and modern Pueblo culture.
Alfonso Ortiz – 1939 to 1997, Native American scholar, anthropologist and author, born in San Juan Pueblo. His book The Tewa World: Space, Time, Being and Becoming in a Pueblo Society is a must read for all who wish to have some understanding of the culture of the Northern New Mexico Tewa speaking pueblos.
Norman Zollinger – 1921 to 1999, Albuquerque bookstore owner and prolific writer. He wrote a series of books about a fictional New Mexico county called Chupadera which was actually parts of Lincoln County.
Tony Hillerman – 1925 to present, taught journalism at the University of New Mexico and is a very prolific writer whose books do a good job of capturing the modern day Navajo Nation Police Force. Three of his books, Skinwalkers, A Thief of Time and Coyote Waits have been made into movies.
N. Scott Momaday – 1934 to present, Native American writer of Kiowa ancestry but partially raised at Jemez Pueblo.. He has written many books but his first big breakthrough was House Made of Dawn based largely on his knowledge of events at Jemez Pueblo.
Frank Waters – 1902 to 1995, a famous writer about southwestern and Native American themes. His Book Of The Hopi is possibly his best non-fiction work.
Jimmy Santiago Baca – 1952 to present, a New Mexico Hispanic writer born in Santa Fe he began his writing career after a stint in prison. One of his best works is MartÃn & Meditations on the South Valley, a pair of narrative poems that captures a part of northern New Mexico life to perfection.
Paul Horgan – 1903 to 1995, attended New Mexico Military Institute and was a writer of importance on New Mexico and southwestern themes. His most famous non fiction work was Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History.
Simon J. Ortiz – 1941 to present, a Native American author he was born and raised at Acoma Pueblo. He attended Fort Lewis College and the University of New Mexico. His works give an invaluable look into native ways.
Rudolfo A. Anaya – 1937 to present, a noted New Mexico hispanic author and first of the modern Chicano writers. He was born in Pastura, New Mexico and his wonderful fictional work, Bless Me Ultima, gives much insight into the native hispanic culture of Guadalupe County, New Mexico. It is used in classrooms all over the state as a textbook.
Leslie Marmon Silko – 1948 to present, a Native American writer of Laguna Pueblo and Anglo American ancestry. Her most aclaimed work was Ceremony, a look at the difficulties Native American veterans had reintegrating into traditional native society.
Eugene Manlove Rhodes – 1869 to 1934, partially raised on a ranch in the San Andres Mountains he was one of the ultimate cowboy authors. His stories give an accurate picture of Anglo American life in south central New Mexico during territorial times.
Oliver La Farge – 1901 to 1963, a writer and anthropologist. His first book about New Mexico was Laughing Boy, a sympathetic look at the Navajo Nation.
Pablita Velarde – 1918 to 2006, born and raised in Santa Clara Pueblo she is a very prolific Native American artist and author and a true trailblazer for Native women artists. Old Father Story Teller is an important retelling of Santa Clara Pueblo legends.
Fray Angelico Chavez – 1910 to 1996, born in Wagon Mound and schooled in Mora he was the first native New Mexican Hispanic Franciscan priest. He wrote the definitive work, Origins of New Mexico families: a genealogy of the Spanish colonial period, on the ancestry of the descendants of the Spanish settlers in New Mexico and his My Penitente Land: reflections on Spanish New Mexico is an excellent look into the soul of Hispanic northern New Mexico.
Michael McGarrity – Age and birthdate unknown, a former Santa Fe policeman he started writing later in life. He has written a series of great mystery novels that take place in New Mexico. His novels are remarkable in the locational detail given and most places are readily recognizable to New Mexicans who know their state. He is an excellent writer.
Steven F. Havill – Age and birth date unknown, he is the author of a series of wonderful mystery novels that take place in fictional Posadas County in southwestern New Mexico with endearing characters. The county is made up of parts of Luna and Hidalgo Counties. He has also has written several books about the West in general.
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