Keith Kumasen Abbott taught at Naropa University in Colorado as an Associate Professor Writing & Poetics, Visual Arts. He studied philosophy at the University of Washington, and received his BA at San Francisco State followed by his MA at Western Washington State University. Several of Keith’s works of fiction as well as his memoir of Richard Brautigan were translated and published in Europe. His novella Racer, translated by Günter Ohnemus and first published in Germany by MaroVerlag and later by dtv, was short listed for the Berlinale Film Conference 2007. Keith was an ordained lay monk in the Soto Zen lineage. A complete list of Keith’s written works as well as recent publications such as Mordecai of Monterey (2024) may be found in this website. His five part essay on Ken Kesey’s 1994 Naropa summer workshop is available here.
The Mystery of the Missing Archival Materials
Where are Keith’s missing archival materials?
After his death in Longmont Colorado in 2019, some of Keith’s archives reached the University of Western Washington at Bellingham as was his intention and wish but, unfortunately, not all. The Abbott family is deeply pained by this and searching for the materials that were not received by the University. Please contact topersephoneabbott@gmail.com
Meanwhile Keith’s ghost is looking for his notebooks in Longmont Colorado so come look with Keith and his pals from the Rhino Ritz Dectective Agency…maybe they will strike gold.