By Mario Acevedo
Posted on September 11, 2025
The Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors, an organization representing Colorado Latino writers as its name implies, boasts that one of its recent accomplishments is that its inaugural publication, Ramas y Raíces, a celebration of members’ work, was selected as a finalist in the Anthology category for the 2025 Colorado Book Awards.
The origin for the Anthology occurred during a planning meeting in 2021, where CALMA members discussed various proposals that could both attract new members and promote the literary talent of existing members. One such proposal was an anthology of works provided by CALMA members. Mario Acevedo mentioned that he had relevant experience, having been the senior editor of two anthologies. It was then by unanimous consent that Acevedo was chosen as the jefe of a forthcoming and as of yet, untitled CALMA anthology.
In consultation with the CALMA Board, discussion on the anthology emphasized the need for a title that reflected CALMA’s mandate to recognize and promote the work of Latino writers in Colorado, a segment of the state’s literary tradition that has been largely ignored. After much back-and-forth, the Board decided on Ramas y Raíces: The Best of CALMA, An Anthology from the Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors.
In their search for a cover image reflective of the anthology’s theme, the editorial committee decided on an image from the art of the late Stevon Lucero, referred to as a guajiro cháman and recognized for his works blending Neo-Precolumbian, Metarealism, and Classical Religious iconography. His wife, Arlette Lucero, generously offered CALMA the use of the selected image, that of a tree set against a rising sun.
Not surprisingly, for such an ambitious venture from an organization still searching for its financial footing, editor Acevedo realized that CALMA did not have the funds to produce a quality book in time to meet the initial publication date of September 12, 2023. While volunteers had carried much of the production load, monies were needed to pay for a professional copy-editor, a formatting editor, and a cover designer. At this point, the focus of the anthology committee switched to fund raising. Christina Montoya stepped forward to help create a GoFund Me. The crowd-source funding effort succeeded thanks to donations from the community and CALMA accumulated sufficient monies to proceed with the anthology. The September 29, 2024, publication date was celebrated with a well-attended book launch signing and reading at the Lakewood United Methodist Church. The success of Ramas y Raíces promises that there is more literary fruit to come from CALMA. For more information on CALMA visit calmaco.org.
Upcoming events with CALMA authors:
–Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club (latinolit.com) announced Ramas Y Raices: The Best Of Calma as its Conversations With Book for September along with Book of the Month, The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and will hold their monthly Live Author Podcast on September 29, 6pm MT to talk to the authors about their books. Register for the teleconference: https://latinolit.com/join-teleconference/
-The Denver Network of Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club invites you to an in-person meeting September 21, at 1:00pm MT, at Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Library, 1498 N. Irving St. 2nd Floor, Denver, CO 80204 to discuss September Books of the Month.
–Love Poetry of Latin America, A bilingual presentation by CALMA Poet Dr. Ricardo J. Bogaert-Alvarez, September 16th at 6:00pm at JCPL-Belmar Library, 555 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, CO. No registration required.
–Antonio Faras Book Launch, September 16, 2025 5:30 pm, Tattered Cover Aspen Grove, 7301 S Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO. CALMA Author Antonio Farias is pleased to announce his debut novel, In the Company of Wolves, which will be published by Arte Público Press on September 9th!
–Author Panel at Auraria Library Café, September 17, 2025 noon-1:30pm. Open to the public. Corner of 10th/Lawrence St. Denver featuring: YA Writers: Mario Acevedo, Frederick Aldama, Antonio Farias.
–2025 Get Lit! Literary Festival, Sept. 19 & 20 in Trinidad, CO featuring two CALMA Authors: Renee Fajardo and Juan Morales presenting writing workshops, plus more. More info: trinidadcreativedistrict.org/
–2025 Colorado Gold Writers Conference Sept. 26-28 in Aurora, CO featuring two CALMA Authors: Andre Gonzalez and Natasha Gonzalez presenting writing workshops. More info: rmfw.org/conference/
–Latino/a/x Book Festival, September 27 in Pueblo, CO at Rawlings Library, 10am 4:00pm. Event will feature CALMA Author Presentations and CALMA Author Book Sales and Signings. More info: pueblolibrary.org/latinobookfestival
Mario Acevedo, author and board member of Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors. Mario was a faculty member in the Regis University Mile-High MFA program and Lighthouse Writers Workshops and was the editor of Ramas y Raíces: the Best of CALMA, an anthology from the Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors.
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