Interested in checking out the 2023 Santa Fe International Literary Festival May 19-21 but are overwhelmed by the choices and not sure how to navigate the array of options? Fear not — this handy preview can serve as your guide.
But first, a note about book banning: This year’s festival will celebrate the life and writing of Rudolfo Anaya, godfather of Chicano literature. The late New Mexico author has seen his Bless Me, Ultima, the most acclaimed Chicano novel of all time, banned a hundred times. In fact, the novel, published in 1972, made the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office list of books that were under review in the fall of 2022.
kAm$@ :7 J@F 2C6 23=6 E@ 2EE6?5 @?=J @?6 24E:G:EJ 2E E96 76DE:G2=[ E96? >2<6 DFC6 :E’D “#64F6C5@D J #6DA6E@i w@>286 E@ #F5@=7@ p?2J2” @? |2J a_[ =65 3J {2D rCF46D 2FE9@C s6?:D6 r9áG6K 2?5 |6I:42? p>6C:42? A@6E {F:D p=36CE@ &CC62] ~? |2J aa[ J@F 42? 42E49 2 7C66 D4C66?:?8 @7 E96 3@@<’D a_`a 4:?6>2E:4 252AE2E:@? 2E y62? r@4E62F r:?6>2 @C E2<6 E96 =:EE=6 @?6D E@ @?6 @7 E96 7C66 C625:?8D @7 p?2J2’D 3@@<D 7@C 49:=5C6? @776C65 3J E96 $2?E2 u6 !F3=:4 {:3C2CJ $2EFC52J[ |2J `b[ 2?5 %F6D52J[ |2J `e]k^Am
kAmk6> DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `]`f6>jQmkDEC@?8m(92E :D $2?E2 u6 {:E u6DE a_abnk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am
kAm%9:D D64@?5 2??F2= 6G6?E :D 2 >F=E:4F=EFC2= 2?5 >F=E:86?C6 =:E6C2CJ 76DE:G2=[ 2?5 E96 3C2:?49:=5 @7 4@\7@F?56CD 2?5 4FC2E@CD r2C>6==2 !25:==2[ |2C< qCJ2?E[ 2?5 r=2C6 w6CE6=] %96 >2:? A2CE @7 E96 76DE:G2= CF?D |2J `h\a` 2?5 :?4=F56D ab 2FE9@C 6G6?ED 24C@DD D:I DE286D 2E E96 $2?E2 u6 r@>>F?:EJ r@?G6?E:@? r6?E6C 2D H6== 2D EH@ DA:C:E E2DE:?8D 2?5 2FE9@C 6G6?ED 2E =@42= G6?F6D]k^Am
kAm%96 76DE:G2= 762EFC6D 2 ?F>36C @7 7C66 J@FE9 2?5 :?E6C86?6C2E:@?2= 6G6?ED 2C@F?5 E@H? @? |2J a_ 2?5 a` 2D H6== 2D 7C66 W2?5 @?6 A2:5X AC6\ 2?5 A@DE\76DE:G2= 4@>>F?:EJ 6G6?ED E92E H:== E2<6 A=246 @? %9FCD52J[ |2J `g[ 2?5 |2J aa] %96 =2EE6C 6G6?ED :?4=F56 2 =:E6C2CJ +6? 9:<6[ 2? 6I6C4:D6 :? @C2= DE@CJE6==:?8[ E96 >28:4 @7 566A C6DE[ 2?5 2 C625:?8 3J x?DE:EFE6 @7 p>6C:42? x?5:2? pCED |up HC:E6CD]k^Am
kAmk6> DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `]`f6>jQmkDEC@?8m!:4< J@FC A2DD:@?k^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am
kAm(:E9 >@C6 E92? ad 5:776C6?E =@42=[ ?2E:@?2=[ 2?5 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 2FE9@C E2=<D E2<:?8 A=246 @G6C E9C66 52JD[ 49@@D:?8 H9:49 E@ 5@ 2?5 H96? H:== 36 E96 92C56DE A2CE @7 E96 76DE:G2= H66<6?5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mv@ H:E9 E96 7=@Hik^DEC@?8m u66=:?8 2?I:@FD 23@FE D66:?8 6G6CJE9:?8n *@F 42? DE2CE J@FC =:E6C2CJ H66<6?5 >@C?:?8D H:E9 2 D:>A=6 >65:E2E:@? 2?5 86?E=6 2FE9@C E2=<] #@D9: y@2? w2=:72I — qF559:DE E62496C[ 2FE9@C[ 2?5 D@4:2= 24E:G:DE — H:== DA62< @? |2J a_ 23@FE 96C 3@@< k6>m$E2?5:?8 2E E96 t586k^6>m 2?5 6IA=@C6 762C 2?5 4@FC286] ~? |2J a`[ }2E2=:6 v@=536C8[ 36DED6==:?8 HC:E6C 2?5 +6? AC24E:E:@?6C[ H:== 96=A J@F 62D6 J@FC >:?5 2?5 492E 23@FE k6>m%9C66 $:>A=6 {:?6Dk^6>m[ 96C ?6H 3@@< @? E96 2CE @7 w2:<F]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!@6ECJ 2?5 4@>>F?:EJik^DEC@?8m |66E }2E24966 |@>252J vC2J[ $2?E2 u6 z:@H2^pA2496 A@6E 2?5 2CE:DE[ H9@ C646?E=J AF3=:D965 k6>m$:=G6C q@Ik^6>m[ 2 566A=J A6CD@?2= A@6ECJ 4@==64E:@?] $96 9@A6D E92E 76DE:G2= 8@6CD 82:? “2 566A F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 E96 >28:4 E92E H6 92G6 96C6” 2?5 H:== ;@:? 76==@H =@42= A@6ED @? E96 r@>>F?:EJ $E286 2E 2 =F?49 6G6?E @? |2J a_ 2?5 a`]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 H:=5 D:56ik^DEC@?8m x7 J@F @3D6DD 23@FE J@FC 5@8 @C 42E @C A2CC@E[ @C C625 2== E9:?8D D4:6?46[ 4964< @FE 2FE9@CD t5 *@?8 @? |2J a` 2?5 s2G:5 "F2>>6? @? |2J aa 2D E96J E2=< D4:6?46 2?5 ?2EFC6 HC:E:?8 2?5 2?:>2=D[ 3@E9 5@>6DE:4 2?5 H:=5] *@?8[ 2 !F=:EK6C !C:K6 H:??6C 2?5 C6A@CE6C 7@C k6>m%96 pE=2?E:4k^6>m[ H:== 5:D4FDD 9:D k6>mp? x>>6?D6 (@C=5k^6>m 2?5 6>A2E9J 7@C 2?:>2=D — 6G6? E96 H6:C5 @?6D] ~? $F?52J[ "F2>>6? 5:D4FDD6D HC:E:?8 k6>mqC62E9=6DDk^6>m[ 2 7:?2=:DE 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= q@@< pH2C5 :? }@?7:4E:@? 23@FE E96 C246 E@ 7:?5 2 r~'xs\`h G244:?6[ 2?5 23@FE k6>m%96 w62CE362E @7 E96 (:=5k^6>m[ 2? FA4@>:?8 4@==64E:@? @7 9:D 3:886DE k6>m}2E:@?2= v6@8C2A9:4k^6>m DE@C:6D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mr=:>2E6 5:D4@FCD6ik^DEC@?8m *@F >2J 92G6 ?@E:465 E92E @FC A=2?6E :D 3FC?:?8[ 5CJ:?8 @FE[ @G6C962E:?8[ 2?5 7=@@5:?8] |66E *G@? r9@F:?2C5 @? |2J a`[ 2 HC:E6C[ 24E:G:DE[ 2=A:?:DE[ 2?5 7@F?56C @7 !2E28@?:2[ H9@ 82G6 FA 9:D 3:==:@?2:C6 DE2EFD =2DE $6AE6>36C 3J 8:7E:?8 2== E96 D92C6D E@ 9:D 4@>A2?J E@ 2 ECFDE 2?5 ?@?AC@7:E E92E 7:89ED E96 4=:>2E6 4C:D:D 2?5 5676?5D ?2EFC6] w6 H:== 36 :? 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 =686?52CJ HC:E6C 2?5 25G6?EFC6C y@? zC2<2F6C] x7 J@F 42C6 23@FE E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[ E9:D :D @?6 ?@E E@ >:DD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp>6C:42? x?5:2? :DDF6Dik^DEC@?8m v6E J@FC 9:DE@CJ 724ED DEC2:89E] s2G:5 %C6F6C H:== E2=< |2J a_] w6 :D ~;:3H6 x?5:2? 7C@> {6649 {2<6 #6D6CG2E:@? :? ?@CE96C? |:??6D@E2[ 2D H6== 2D 2 4C:E:4[ ;@FC?2=:DE[ 2?5 24E:G:DE[ 2?5 96 H:== 5:D4FDD 9@H 96 HC@E6 23@FE }2E:G6 9:DE@CJ 2?5 C6A9C2D65 :E E9C@F89 E96 =6?D @7 DFCG:G2= 2?5 C6D:=:6?46] w:D ?6H6DE 3@@<[ k6>m%96 w62CE362E @7 (@F?565 z?66k^6>m[ :D 2 }2E:@?2= q@@< pH2C5 u:?2=:DE]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mx>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 C24:D>ik^DEC@?8m $E@CJE6==:?8 96=AD 4@>>F?:E:6D 962=] ~? |2J a_[ ;@:? {2:=2 {2=2>:[ |@C@442?\3@C? H:??6C @7 E96 p>6C:42? q@@< pH2C5[ 2D D96 5:D4FDD6D 96C ?6H 3@@<[ k6>mr@?5:E:@?2= r:E:K6?Dk^6>m[ 2?5 E96 C62=:E:6D @7 :>>:8C2E:@?] ~? |2J a`[ 6I2>:?6 D9@CE 7:4E:@? 2D 2 4@?5F:E 7@C D@4:2= 4@>>6?E2CJ H:E9 |2?F6= |Fñ@K — 9:D ?6H D9@CE DE@CJ 4@==64E:@?[ k6>m%96 r@?D6BF6?46Dk^6>m[ 56A:4ED E96 =:G6D @7 :>>:8C2?E 72C>H@C<6CD H9@ =23@C :? E96 D925@H @7 {2 |:8C2] %96?[ 962C +2>3:2? HC:E6C }2>H2=: $6CA6== @? |2J a` E2=< H:E9 r9:42?2 76>:?:DE D49@=2C !2EC:4:2 %CF;:==@ 23@FE $6CA6==’D k6>m%96 uFCC@HDk^6>m[ 96C =2E6DE ?@G6= :? H9:49 D96 6IA=@C6D >6>@CJ 2?5 >@FC?:?8[ C24:D>[ 2?5 2=E6C?2E6 C62=:E:6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{@4<65 FAik^DEC@?8m %9:?< @FC AC:D@? DJDE6> H@C<D ;FDE 8C62En %9:?< 282:?] }2?2 zH2>6 p5;6:\qC6?J29’D ?6H ?@G6= k6>mr92:?\v2?8 p==\$E2CDk^6>m C6G62=D 2 5JDE@A:2? H@C=5 — ?@E E@@ 72C @77 7C@> @FCD — :? H9:49 :>AC:D@?65 H@>6?\EFC?65\8=25:2E@CD 7:89E 7@C E96:C 7C665@>] p5;6:\qC6?J29 H:== E2=< |2J a_ 23@FE >2DD :?42C46C2E:@?[ F?4964<65 42A:E2=:D>[ 2?5 H62G:?8 D@4:2= 2?5 A@=:E:42= 4@>>6?E2CJ :?E@ 7:4E:@? H:E9 A@6E 2?5 4F=EFC2= 24E:G:DE w2<:> q6==2>J]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp D6C:@FD 4C:D:Dk^DEC@?8mkDEC@?8mik^DEC@?8m x?G6DE:82E:G6 C6A@CE6C 2?5 HC:E6C q6E9 |24J H:== 492E |2J a` H:E9 9:DE@C:2? 2?5 HC:E6C w2>AE@? $:56D 23@FE k6>m#2:D:?8 {2K2CFDk^6>m[ |24J’D =2E6DE 3@@< 23@FE E96 ?2E:@?’D @A:@:5 255:4E:@? AC@3=6>[ 4FCC6?E=J @?6 @7 E96 8C62E6DE p>6C:42? 962=E9 4C:D6D @7 @FC E:>6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 4=2DD:4Dik^DEC@?8m %H@ 8:2?ED @7 =:E6C2CJ 7:4E:@? H:== E2<6 E96 DE286 — r@=F> |4r2?? @? |2J `h 2?5 y@9? xCG:?8 @? |2J a_] |4r2?? :D 2? xC:D9 HC:E6C H9@D6 H@C< 92D H@? 5@K6?D @7 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 2H2C5D 2?5 366? EC2?D=2E65 :?E@ c_ =2?8F286Dj 96 H:== 5:D4FDD 9:D >@G6 7C@> 7:4E:@? E@ ?@?7:4E:@? 7@C 9:D FA4@>:?8 3@@<[ k6>mp>6C:42? |@E96Ck^6>m] %96 7@==@H:?8 6G6?:?8[ xCG:?8 H:== E2=< 23@FE E96 HC:E:?8 =:76 2?5 9:D =2E6DE ?@G6=[ k6>m%96 {2DE r92:C=:7Ek^6>m[ H:E9 =@42= 2?5 ?2E:@?2= =:E6C2CJ EC62DFC6 s@F8=2D !C6DE@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:E6C2EFC6 7C@> E96 4@C2Kó?ik^DEC@?8m ~? |2J a_[ 962C {F:D p=36CE@ &CC62[ 8C@F?5H3C62<:?8 2?5 =2C86C\E92?\=:76 r9:42?@ HC:E6C[ 5:D4FDD 9:D =2E6DE 3@@<[ k6>mv@@5 }:89E[ xC6?6k^6>m] %96 ?@G6= :D 32D65 @? &CC62’D >@E96C[ H9@ H2D 2 s@?FE s@==J :? tFC@A62? 4@>32E K@?6D 5FC:?8 ((xx] %96? ;@:? r@=@>3:2?\3@C? x?8C:5 #@;2D r@?EC6C2D @? |2J a` 2D D96 492ED 23@FE 96C ?6H >6>@:C[ k6>m%96 |2? (9@ r@F=5 |@G6 r=@F5Dk^6>m[ 2 }2E:@?2= q@@< pH2C5 7:?2=:DE]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mrC:>6 E:>6ik^DEC@?8m $2==J s6?E@?[ :?G6DE:82E:G6 C6A@CE6C 2?5 HC:E6C @7 5:DEFC3:?8 ECF6 4C:>6 DE@C:6D[ 2?5 |:4926= |4v2CC:EJ[ 7@C>6C 56AFEJ D96C:77 EFC?65 4C:>6\DFDA6?D6 >2DE6C[ H:== E2=< E@86E96C |2J a_ 23@FE :?G6DE:82E:?8 4@AD 2?5 E96 DE2E6 @7 @FC 4C:>:?2= ;FDE:46 DJDE6>] %96 7@==@H:?8 52J[ v:==:2? u=J??[ :?E6C?2E:@?2= 36DED6==:?8 2FE9@C @7 k6>mv@?6 v:C=k^6>m[ H:== 492E 23@FE A=@E EH:DED[ E96 HC:E:?8 AC@46DD[ 2?5 252AE:?8 4C:>6 2?5 E9C:==6CD 7@C %' 2?5 E96 4:?6>2]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8msJDE@A:2Dik^DEC@?8m (@?56C:?8 H92E px 2?5 r92Ev!% 92G6 :? DE@C6 7@C FDn y@:? !F=:EK6C !C:K6 H:??:?8 2FE9@C y6??:76C t82? 2D D96 5:DD64ED 96C ?6H ?@G6=[ k6>m%96 r2?5J w@FD6k^6>m] t82? H:== E2=< 23@FE HC:E:?8 4C27E 2?5 E649\32D65 5JDE@A:2D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=2?56C:D9ik^DEC@?8m k6>m~FE=2?56Ck^6>m 72?D[ C6;@:46i s:2?2 v232=5@? H:== E2=< |2J a` 23@FE k6>mv@ %6== E96 q66D E92E x p> v@?6k^6>m 2?5 96C A=2?D 7@C E96 k6>m~FE=2?56Ck^6>m D6C:6D] !=FD[ D96 >2J 492E 23@FE 96C 25G6?EFC6D :? %' 252AE2E:@? 2?5 — :7 H6’C6 =F4<J — 23@FE E96 24E@CD H9@ A=2J y2>:6 2?5 r=2:C6]k^Am
kAmk6>mp?:2 wF== :D 2 HC:E6C[ ;@FC?2=:DE[ 2?5 65:E@C H9@ H2D 7@C>6C=J 32D65 :? w@?8 z@?8 2?5 4FCC6?E=J =:G6D :? p=3FBF6CBF6] $96 HC:E6D 23@FE E96 2CED[ 3@@< 4F=EFC6[ D@4:2= ;FDE:46[ :>>:8C2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 7@C 2 G2C:6EJ @7 AF3=:42E:@?D]k^6>mk^Am