Victor Villaseñor

Infobox Writer
name = Victor Villaseñor


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birthdate = Birth date and age|1940|5|11
birthplace = Carlsbad, California, USA
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occupation = Author
nationality = American
ethnicity = Mexican American
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genre = Fiction, Non-fiction
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notableworks = "Macho!" "Rain of Gold" ""
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website = http://www.victorvillasenor.com/
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Victor Edmundo Villaseñor (born May 11, 1940) [California Birth Index, Name: Victor Edmundo Villasenor, Birth Date: May 11, 1940, Gender: Male, Mother's Maiden Name: Gomez, Birth County: San Diego.] is an American author. His fiction and non-fiction literary works center on the Mexican American experience. His first published novel, "Macho!" (1973), was compared to the works of Steinbeck in the "Los Angeles Times". ["Los Angeles Times", Sep. 23, 1973, "Working Outward From Within the Secret," p. O4.] His book "Rain of Gold" (1991), which tells the story of his family, became a bestseller on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Villaseñor's acclaimed works are often taught in American schools. He went on to write ' (2001), a continuation of "Rain of Gold". His book ' (2004), which describes his life, became a national bestseller and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. The author has received awards and endorsements, including an appointment to serve as the founding Steinbeck Chair at Hartnell College and the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, from February 2003 to March 2004.

Early life

Villaseñor was born in the barrio of Carlsbad, California, the son of Juan Salvador Villaseñor (August 18, 1904–March 14, 1988) and Maria Guadalupe "Lupe" Gomez (May 30, 1911–June 2, 2000). His siblings are Salvador Joseph Villaseñor (December 18, 1932–May 24, 1949); Flora Linda Villaseñor (born July 1, 1944); and Maria Theresa Villaseñor (born December 29, 1950). He was raised on a ranch at nearby Oceanside. His parents were both natives of Mexico, and Villaseñor spoke only Spanish until he started going to school.

After years of language and cultural barriers, heavy discrimination and coping with an untreated learning disability and reading problem that caused him humiliation and abuse at the hands of his teachers, Villaseñor dropped out of high school in the eleventh grade and moved to Mexico, where he discovered Mexican literature, art and music that helped him understand the dignity and richness of his cultural heritage.

At age 20, Villaseñor returned to Southern California. Frustration and rage returned as he again witnessed disregard toward poor and uneducated people, especially toward the Mexicans. A chance encounter with James Joyce's novel "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" then changed his life, giving him a desire to confront through literature the problems associated with his heritage that continued to trouble him. While making a living as a construction worker, he began to write.

Writing career

Villaseñor wrote nine novels and 65 short stories, and received 265 rejection letters, before he sold his first book, "Macho!" (1973), which the "Los Angeles Times" compared to the works of Steinbeck.

He has written a number of non-fiction books, including "" (1977), which details Villaseñor's interviews with the jurors who convicted Corona of mass murder. Villaseñor also wrote a screenplay, "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez" (1982) starring Edward James Olmos, which he adapted from the book about Cortez by Américo Paredes titled "With His Pistol in His Hand".

At age 44, Villaseñor was finally diagnosed with an extreme case of dyslexia, which would explain his childhood educational problems. He then became an advocate for children with learning disabilities.

Villaseñor's bestselling book "Rain of Gold" (1991) was published in seven languages and has been used by thousands of teachers and school systems throughout the United States as required reading. "Rain Of Gold" tells the story of his family, taking the reader from war-torn Mexico during the Revolution to the present day. His other works include "" (1994), a collection of short stories to inspire young people, and the trilogy "Wild Steps Of Heaven" (1996).

Lecturing

Villaseñor is also a public speaker, giving lectures with his candid perspective to a number of universal themes, including pride in heritage, strength of family, the power of the written word, dedication to education and personal achievement, and world peace.

He founded the non-profit organization Snowgoose Global Thanksgiving to help promote peace and harmony throughout the world. Villaseñor's self-published book, "", describes his philosophy toward that eventuality.

Victor Villaseñor lives on the ranch where he grew up at Oceanside, California.

ee also

*List of Mexican American writers

Bibliography

*"Macho!", Houston: Arte Publico Press, 1991 edition ISBN 1-55885-027-9.
*"Rain of Gold", Houston: Arte Publico Press, 1991 ISBN 1-55885-030-9.
*"", New York: Rayo, 2001 ISBN 0-06-008686-6.
*"", New York: Rayo, 2004 ISBN 0-06-052612-2.
*"The Frog and His Friends Save Humanity (La Rana y Sus Amigos Salvan a la Humanidad)", (Spanish translation Edna Ochoa), Houston: Pinata Books/Arte Publico Press, 2005 ISBN 1-55885-429-0.

References

External links

* [http://www.victorvillasenor.com/ Victor Villasenor Official Website]
* [http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/archive/2004/news080904.asp El Paso Public Library - Archives of Past Events]
* [http://www.snowgoose.org/ Snowgoose Global Thanksgiving Website]
* [http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/thirteen_senses3.asp ReadingGroupGuides - Excerpt from "Thirteen Senses: A Memoir"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BseETeAN2M YouTube - Victor Villasenor "Genius in all of Us" Lecture] at Sonoma State University