Macbeth is an iconic story told throughout English classes. Through hard work and many hours, English teacher Dr. Joel Morris continued that story by publishing his book “All Our Yesterdays” in 2024 and won the Colorado Humanities Book Award for Historical Fiction.
“I didn’t even know if I could get it published, and so getting it published was the first victory,” Morris said. “Then to have [Colorado Humanities] say, ‘we thought this was our best of the crop of historical fiction novels this year in the state.’ Man, it feels amazing.”
The book didn’t come easily to Morris. He chose to treat the book similarly to a job, dedicating certain periods of time just to prioritize the book.
“If something wasn’t working, a scene, chapter, or character, that’s where I would hit a wall and have to think, what do I do? And [there] was a lot of problem-solving or puzzle-solving about that,” Morris said.
That kind of behind-the-scenes effort didn’t just shape Morris’s writing but also earned him recognition across campus, especially in the English department.
”Authors are kind of our rock stars. To be able to know someone who’s here at Cherry Creek High School is incredibly impressive, and I couldn’t be happier for him.” library coordinator Michelyne Gray said.
Before the recognition on campus came long hours, drafts, and uncertainty.
“I’m working on a computer. It’s just the words that you’re trying to craft the best way you can,” Morris said. “Before I published it, I didn’t even know if anybody would read it. I didn’t even know if I could get it published.”
His success didn’t go unnoticed by those closest to his academic journey.
“I think he has an incredibly supportive department at the English Department, who know the challenges, the time it takes to write, and just to even get started with writing,” Gray said. “So I think they all felt very proud of him in his accomplishment, and it’s amazing,”
Due to recent federal funding cuts, Colorado Humanities’ 2026 ceremony isn’t confirmed. The contest has been a yearly tradition since 1991.
“Humanities are in jeopardy right now,” Morris said. “I hope they continue to exist. That’s another question about whether there’s a future for groups like that who are trying to promote creativity, and the arts in general.”
