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= Verónica Reyes = thumb| Verónica Reyes Verónica Reyes is a Chicana jota poet. She was born in 1969 and currently lives in East Los Angeles, California. She did not realize her passion for writing poetry until she took a writing course in her college days. Noticing the lack of Chicano poetry as well as varying sexual orientations, she writes to be able to represent those that aren't able to express themselves. She is the author of ''Chopper! Chopper!'' a collection of poems that was published in 2013. She is currently working on balancing her life as an educator and poet as well as participating in speaking events.

Early Life
Verónica Reyes was born and raised in the Maravilla area in East Los Angeles, California. She began writing when she was 14 or 15 years old and wrote what came to her mind although, she did not consider it poetry. She attended Hammel Street School, Belvedere Jr. High School and Garfield High School. At 18 years old, her mother passed away and she credits the loss for making her the educator and poet she is today.

University and Writing
Verónica attended San Diego State University, California State University Long Beach, where she earned a Bachelor's and the University of Texas at El Paso, where she earned an MFA in Creative Writing. It was during her college career that she took her first creative writing class. It was that class that helped her realize her passion for poetry. It was also around that time that she noticed the lack of Chicano poetry. Being a lesbian Chicana, she wanted to push those limits to be able to represent not only Latinos but also, those of varying sexual orientations. She began writing her poetry as she was going through her college career.

After graduating, Verónica focused on balancing her life as an educator and poet. She struggled with not only finding time to write but also, for about ten years, to find a publisher that would accept her manuscript. She finally got a yes after sending her manuscript to about 50 different presses. Eloise Klein Healy, the Publisher and editor of Arktoi Books, emailed her and her first poetry collection, Chopper, Chopper was published in 2013. Currently, she juggles reading events as well as interviews with teaching. She is still writing and is trying to finish some projects, she just needs to find the time.

Themes of Literary Work
Her poems have themes of family, identity, and intimacy. She writes to be able tp represent not only Chicanos but also those who are from different sexual orientations. Verónica says, "' I write for my communities: Mexican, malfloras, la jotería, immigrants, writers, academics, y familia. I write to bridge and fill in the gaps in the literary world. I write so that queer youth, straight kids, neighbors, Mexicanas/os can see a reflection of themselves in literature. I write to give voice to my jota experience. I am a poet for el barrio. I am the East LA Poet. '"

Awards and Grants

 * Winner for Best Poetry Book in English from the 2014 International Latino Book Award
 * Winner for Best Poetry from Golden Crown Literary Society Awards, Goldie Award 2014
 * Finalist for Lambda Literary Awards 2014
 * Second Place for Best Book Cover Design from the 2014 International Latino Book Award
 * Lucas Artist Fellowship for Montalvo Arts Center (May 2013)
 * Fellowship for Ragdale Foundation (April-May 2011)
 * Scholarship for Macondo Writers' Workshop. Macondo Foundation. (July 2010)
 * NEA Fellow for Virginia Center for the Creative Arts(April-May 2009)
 * Scholarship for Napa Valley Writers’ Conference 2008
 * Artist Grant for Vermont Studio Center(April 2008)
 * Emerging Artist Poetry Award for Astraea Lesbian Action Foundation (2001)
 * AWP Intro-Journal Project 1999, “El Diablo” (2000).