What lies behind my current books?
Why I write. My passion is to write about social issues and respond to injustices, but I do so through the art of literature in a way that even the unjust will not seek revenge on me. I aim to write clearly, logically, objectively, and non-confrontationally to change hearts, souls, and minds for a better cause. Easier said than done, but why not aspire and take a chance for the greater good? My three books are: Children of the Cotton Fields, non-fiction, is about my experiences working in cotton and vegetable fields in Texas starting at age five, highlighting the culture, poverty, and suffering endured by disadvantaged—both legally and illegally Mexican Americans—from the 1920s to the 1970s—a significant percentage of whom were children exploited by racist European Americans in the area. My second book, The White House of San Benito, also non-fiction, tells the story of an old, architecturally distinctive house that was abandoned and decaying. My wife and I bought it with our last dollar, saving it from condemnation by the city, and later restored it to its former glory. My third book, The Windblower/El Soplavientos, is an epic adventure novel spanning centuries, suggesting a plausible explanation for the development of cartels and violence in Mexico from 2010 to 2015. It crosses continents, is mainly set in Mexico and the U.S., and features two memorable, endearing main characters who will touch everybody’s heart. I don’t write merely to entertain, but to hopefully make bold, world-changing statements that affect us in the present and historically, making it a better and safer place for all.
The city of San Benito condemned an older house with architectural character, once known as the haunted house. A couple interested in culture and preserving history bought it with their last penny, and the process of restoring it became both an unforgettable experience and a nightmare.
Children of the Cotton Field is the story of Mexican American Children picking cotton, vegetables, and fruit in the USA during the 1950s and 60s. It is also a commentary on the sociopolitical landscape of the Lower Rio Grande Valley between 1910 and 1970.
The Windblower / El Soplavientos (see below)
In 1947, Scott and Jeff, archaeology students from Michigan, discovered a hidden civilization high in La Sierra Madre. It wasn’t the discovery that fascinated them, but something else they could have never imagined.
In the 16 century, the Spanish Conqueror Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán invaded an indigenous nation, and Tzupilali, the daughter of their ruler, survived the massacre. Centuries later, it is her descendants that greet Scott and Jeff. They band together with Chema, the current leader of the Tonallíns, and by the 1980s, what Scott and Jeff could have never imagined, makes this indigenous nation worth billions.
The plot centers around Adán, a seven-year-old orphan in 1987 who is forced to uncover his unknown heritage, facing danger in every direction to save everything he holds dear. He is a brilliant individual whose only dream is to play trumpet in a mariachi band.
This over 1200-page epic adventure (based on historical events) unfolds in 4 volumes––Book One to Book Four––spanning centuries and countries.
Chicano Migrant Farm Worker
Continuing from Children of the Cotton Field, this book tells the story of Chicano families who traveled over a thousand miles away from home to pick crops. They were close-knit, optimistic people who saw life as one great adventure.
