Fiction. Latino/Latina Studies. ANYWHERE BUT L.A. ranges from contemporary narratives to more traditional cuentos de fantasma, giving us a vivid and honest portrait of modern Latinos in search of their place in the world. Funny yet poignant, Olivas's characters frequently amuse, sometimes disturb, and often remind us of our own vulnerability. People who at first seem ordinary and uncomplicated reveal their deepest secrets and anxieties related to a variety of issues, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and the human condition in general. We glimpse into the complex emotions and attitudes of characters who are trying to cope with the mysteries of life. These stories ring with humor, insight, and power, and like the cities they describe, they shift and slide and refuse to be pinned down as they drive the reader to the very core of human existence through the colorful mural of a thriving Latino community.
Author City: Los Angeles, CA USA
Daniel A. Olivas is the editor of LATINOS IN LOTUSLAND: An Anthology of Contemporary Southern California Literature (Bilingual Press, 2008) and the author of ANYWHERE BUT L.A. (Bilingual Press, 2009), Devil Talk: Stories (Bilingual Press, 2004), ASSUMPTION AND OTHER STORIES (Bilingual Press, 2003), The Courtship of Maria Rivera Pena (Silver Lake Publishing, 2000), and a children's book, Benjamin and the Word (Arte Publico Press, 2005). He has written for numerous publications, including the Los Angeles Times, MacGuffin, Thema, Exquisite Corpse, La Bloga, the El Paso Times, and the Jewish Journal. Since 1990 he has practiced law with the California Department of Justice. Olivas makes his home in the San Fernando Valley with his wife and son.
Reviews and Other Links
http://www.danielolivas.com/
"Like the cities they describe, the stories in ANYWHERE BUT L.A. shift and slide and refuse to be pinned down. Daniel Olivas is an exciting writer, whose prose rings with humor, insight, and power."
—Daniel Alarcón, author of Lost City Radio and War by Candlelight
"In this collection of short stories, Olivas gives us a vivid and honest portrait of modern Latinos as they search for their place in the world. Funny yet touching, these skillfully rendered characters remind us of our own vulnerability. Individually, the stories are punchy and sharp; collectively, the stories create a colorful mural of a thriving Latino community."
—Kathleen de Azevedo, author of Samba Dreamers
"Daniel Olivas has mastered the knack of telling intricate tales that are natural, never labored, and a genuine pleasure to read."
—Manuel Ramos, author of The Ballad of Rocky Ruiz