Don J. Usner was born in Embudo and raised in Los Alamos and Chimayó. A cultural historian, writer, and photographer, he has authored and contributed to numerous books on New Mexico, including Benigna's Chimayó Cuentos from the Old Plaza, Chasing Dichos through Chimayó, Valles Caldera: A New Vision for New Mexico's National Preserve (with William deBuys), and ¡Órale! Lowrider: Custom Made in New Mexico. Usner is a founding board member of the Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association.