'American Book Award' goes to Stephen Gutierrez for collection of Hispanic stories

• September 21, 2010 5:00am

Stephen D. Gutierrez, professor of English and director of creative writing, has been awarded an “American Book Award” from the Before Columbus Foundation for his collection of short stories, “Live from Fresno y Los” (Bear Star Press, 2009). 

“Stories from Fresno y Los” was nominated by Rudolfo Anaya, author of “Bless Me, Ultima,” who praises the book's "refreshing, cinematic prose style," "eye for detail" and "narrative voice."  

"This is one of the most compelling collections of short stories I've read in a long time," Anaya writes, "Gutierrez raises important questions in his fiction. Writers like Gutierrez make the old veteranos proud."  

Gutierrez received his B.A. from CSU Chico, and a master of fine arts from Cornell University. His first book, “Elements,” won the Charles H. and N. Mildred Nilon Excellence in Minority Fiction Award. His stories and personal essays have appeared in many journals, and four plays penned by Gutierrez have been produced in the Bay Area.

He introduced “Stories from Fresno y Los” to the CSUEB campus last October as the year’s first presenter in the English Department’s Distinguished Writers Series.

Among other writers receiving awards at the 31st Annual American Book Awards ceremony on September 19 were Dave Eggers, Amiri Baraka, Quincy Troupe, and Katha Pollitt.

DD