Poetry and Celebration with Amber McCrary

The San Juan College Library invites the community to an inspiring evening of poetry, storytelling and visual art featuring acclaimed Diné poet and zinester Amber McCrary.

During the presentation, McCrary will share her personal and creative journey while reading excerpts from her debut poetry collection, Blue Corn Tongue: Poems in the Mouth of a Desert, accompanied by visual narratives that deepen the themes and imagery of her work.

Amber McCrary is 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 Flagstaff, Arizona, McCrary earned her MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in poetry from Mills College.

In addition to her literary work, McCrary is the founder and owner of Abalone Mountain Press, an independent press dedicated to publishing Indigenous voices. She also serves as a board member of the Northern Arizona Book Festival.

McCrary was recognized as the Arizona Humanities 2022 Rising Star of the Year and is a recipient of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation LIFT Award. Her debut collection, Blue Corn Tongue: Poems in the Mouth of a Desert, published by the University of Arizona Press, was named a 2025 Southwest Books of the Year title and was recently shortlisted for Reading the West’s 36th Annual Book Award for Poetry.

Copies of McCrary’s poetry collection, zines and stickers will be available for purchase during the event.

Event Details
Date: Thursday, June 11th
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Location: SJC Black Box Theater
Admission: Free