# Zach Hively

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**Zach Hively** (born 1985) is an American humorist, poet, creative nonfiction author, and publisher. His most recent works include the poetry collections *Desert Apocrypha,* recipient of the Reading the West Book Award for poetry,[1] *Owl Poems*, and *Wild Expectations*. He has written the Fool's Gold humor column since 2014, which has run in various alternative publications[2] in the US American West.

## Biography

Hively was born on September 21, 1985, in [Albuquerque](/source/Albuquerque,_New_Mexico), [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico). His family remained in Albuquerque, where he was raised. He attended college at the [University of New Mexico](/source/University_of_New_Mexico), graduating in 2007 with a degree in English-Philosophy. He undertook a [Fulbright](/source/Fulbright_Program) English Teaching Assistantship in [Olpe](/source/Olpe,_Germany), Germany, after graduation.[3]

He then attended the graduate program in creative writing at [Trinity College Dublin](/source/Trinity_College_Dublin)'s [Oscar Wilde Centre](/source/Oscar_Wilde_Centre). He served as managing editor for the centre's anthology, *A Thoroughly Good Blue*[4] and graduated with an MPhil in Creative Writing in 2013.

Hively then relocated to [Durango](/source/Durango,_Colorado), [Colorado](/source/Colorado), where he began writing for the *[Durango Telegraph](/source/Durango_Telegraph)* as a recurring columnist and reporter. He also contributed to *Edible Southwest Colorado*,[5] *Four Corners Free Press*,[6] and *Durango Magazine*.[7]

## Writing

Hively is an author and artist, known for writing, poetry, and nonfiction. His ongoing column Fool's Gold has appeared in numerous alternative newspapers, including the *Durango Telegraph*,[8] the *New Mexico Mercury*,[9] *Four Corners Free Press*,[10] and the *KC Post*. The column has received several nods from the [Society of Professional Journalists](/source/Society_of_Professional_Journalists)' Top of the Rockies awards, a regional, multi-platform contest for reporters and news organizations.[11] Fool's Gold earned first place in the Personal/Humor Column category in 2024,[12] 2022,[13] 2018,[14] and 2017,[15] and third place in 2021[16] and 2016.[17] Currently, Fool's Gold publishes monthly in the *Durango Telegraph* and the online-only *Abiquiú News*.

These columns were compiled in the 2024 book *Call Me Zach Hively Because That Is My Name*.[18]

Hively's poetry has been published both internationally and regionally, in publications like *Banshee*,[19] *Trickster*,[20] and *Conceptions Southwest*.[21] His second collection, *Desert Apocrypha*, received the 32nd annual Reading the West Book Award for poetry,[1] after being shortlisted by member bookstores in the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association.[22]

*Owl Poems*, published in 2022, was shortlisted for the 33rd annual Reading the West Book Award.[23]

Hively has published a number of shorter works as well, including the foreword to [V. B. Price](/source/V._B._Price)'s *Innocence Regained: Christmas Poems*[24] and several short stories.

Hively is the recipient of a 2021 New Mexico Writers grant to support work on a forthcoming creative nonfiction project.[25] He also earned a Maxwell Medallion from the Dog Writers Association of America in 2018 for his episode on The Raven Narratives podcast, "The Doggie Bucket List."[26]

## Recognition

- 2016 – Third place, Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies awards, in the Personal/Humor column category, for Fool's Gold[17]
- 2017 – First place, Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies awards, in the Personal/Humor column category, for Fool's Gold[15]
- 2018 – Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Maxwell Medallion, in the Radio, Podcast, or Other Audio category, for "The Doggie Bucket List" – The Raven Narratives[26]
- 2018 – First place, Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies awards, in the Personal/Humor column category, for Fool's Gold[14]
- 2021 – Finalist, New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards, New Mexico Poetry category, for *Wild Expectations*[27]
- 2021 – Third place, Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies awards, in the Personal/Humor column category, for Fool's Gold[16]
- 2021 – Recipient, New Mexico Writers grant[25]
- 2022 – First place, Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies awards, in the Personal/Humor column category, for Fool's Gold[13]
- 2022 – Winner, 32nd annual Reading the West Book Awards for the poetry collection *Desert Apocrypha*[1]
- 2023 – Shortlist, 33rd annual Reading the West Book Awards for the poetry collection *Owl Poems*[23]
- 2024 – First place, Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies awards, in the Personal/Humor column category, for Fool's Gold[12]
- 2025 – Winner, New Mexico Book Award (Humor category) for *Call Me Zach Hively Because That Is My Name*[28]

## References

1. ["Winners 2020-2029 – Reading the West"](https://readingthewest.com/winners-3/). Retrieved 2022-06-27.

1. ["New Mexico Mercury | Author Archives"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230618113638/http://newmexicomercury.com/author/295). *newmexicomercury.com*. Archived from [the original](http://newmexicomercury.com/author/295) on 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. ["UNM alum makes educational opportunities at Casa Urraca Press"](http://news.unm.edu/news/unm-alum-makes-educational-opportunities-at-casa-urraca-press). *UNM Newsroom*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. Centre, Oscar Wilde (2012). [*A thoroughly good blue : new writing from the Oscar Wilde Centre /*](https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000359234). Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing. ISBN 978-0-9568358-1-9.

1. ["Zach Hively"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220525031311/https://ediblesouthwestcolorado.com/author/zachhively/). *Edible Southwest Colorado*. Archived from [the original](https://ediblesouthwestcolorado.com/author/zachhively/) on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. ["Zach Hively | Four Corners Free Press"](https://fourcornersfreepress.com/category/zach-hively/). Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. ["Durango Magazine"](https://www.durangomagazine.com/). *Durango Magazine*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. Hively, Zach. ["Heeeeeeere's Zach! - Durango Telegraph"](https://www.durangotelegraph.com/opinion/la-vida-local/heeeeeeeres-zach/). *www.durangotelegraph.com*. Retrieved 2022-06-27.

1. ["New Mexico Mercury | Author Archives"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230618113638/http://newmexicomercury.com/author/295). *newmexicomercury.com*. Archived from [the original](http://newmexicomercury.com/author/295) on 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2022-06-27.

1. ["Zach Hively | Four Corners Free Press"](https://fourcornersfreepress.com/category/zach-hively/). Retrieved 2022-06-27.

1. ["Top of the Rockies"](https://coloradospj.wordpress.com/contest/). *Colorado Pro Chapter -- Society of Professional Journalists*. 2010-12-17. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. coloradospj (2024-05-05). ["SPJ Colorado Pro Chapter Announces 2024 Top of the Rockies Winners"](https://coloradospj.wordpress.com/2024/05/04/spj-colorado-pro-chapter-announces-2024-top-of-the-rockies-winners/). *Colorado Pro Chapter -- Society of Professional Journalists*. Retrieved 2024-05-23.

1. coloradospj (2022-04-10). ["Society of Professional Journalists Colorado Pro Chapter announce Top of the Rockies Award Recipients"](https://coloradospj.wordpress.com/2022/04/09/society-of-professional-journalists-announce-top-of-the-rockies-award-recipients/). *Colorado Pro Chapter -- Society of Professional Journalists*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. coloradospj (2018-04-25). ["Top of the Rockies and Region 9 conference 2018 overview"](https://coloradospj.wordpress.com/2018/04/25/top-of-the-rockies-and-region-9-conference-2018-overview/). *Colorado Pro Chapter -- Society of Professional Journalists*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. coloradospj (2017-04-15). ["Full Results 2017"](https://coloradospj.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/top-of-the-rockies-2017-results/). *Colorado Pro Chapter -- Society of Professional Journalists*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. coloradospj (2021-04-29). ["Top of the Rockies Winners Announced"](https://coloradospj.wordpress.com/2021/04/28/top-of-the-rockies-winners-announced/). *Colorado Pro Chapter -- Society of Professional Journalists*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. coloradospj (2016-04-22). ["Top of the Rockies winners"](https://coloradospj.wordpress.com/2016/04/22/top-of-the-rockies-winners/). *Colorado Pro Chapter -- Society of Professional Journalists*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. ["Call Me Zach Hively Because That Is My Name - essays"](https://casaurracapress.com/bookstore/p/call-me-zach-hively-short-essays). *Casa Urraca Press*. Retrieved 2026-03-14.

1. *Banshee #11*. Co. Cork: Banshee Press. 2021. p. 109. ISBN 9781838312619.

1. *Trickster*. Española, NM: Northern New Mexico College. 2020. pp. 55–58.

1. [""I Stepped Off the Trail""](https://indd.adobe.com/view/7aee7e76-ab26-492e-829c-0586f16fcced). *Conceptions Southwest*. 2021.

1. ["32nd Annual Shortlist Titles – Reading the West"](https://readingthewest.com/32nd-annual-shortlist-titles/). Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. ["33rd Annual Shortlist Titles"](https://readingthewest.com/33rd-annual-shortlist-titles/). *Reading the West*. Retrieved 2023-06-14.

1. Price, V. B. (2020). *Innocence Regained: Christmas Poems*. Abiquiu, NM: Casa Urraca Press. ISBN 9781735151625.

1. Staff, Pasa (25 June 2021). ["Art and Culture News"](https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/art-and-culture-news/article_4c5e047e-c868-11eb-9c54-3f4b379780fe.html). *Santa Fe New Mexican*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. ["2018 Nominees & Award Winners"](https://dogwriters.org/nominees/2018-awards/). *Dog Writers Association*. 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. ["2021Winners/Finalists"](http://nmbookcoop.com/BookAwards/2021Winners-Finalists/2021Winners.html). *New Mexico Book Co-op*. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

1. ["NM Book Awards 2025 Results"](https://nmwriters.org/nm-book-awards-2025/). *New Mexico Writers*. Retrieved 2026-03-14.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zach Hively](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Hively) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Hively?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.