In these short stories, men and women confront evil in all its forms, drama, and even humor against a backdrop of Chicano and Mexican culture. Situations range from the bizarre to the very real. In "Sight," a young man is allowed to see exactly what his girlfriend is doing when she leaves their home. A botched robbery in "Jorge, Get the Gun" leads to murder the same day JFK is buried. In the end, Devil Talk shocks, amuses, and tantalizes as it explores human passions and the corruption we valiantly attempt to avoid as we wander through life. These twenty-six stories bring us to a place once inhabited by Rod Serling . . . only the accents have changed. This is Latino fiction at its edgy, fantastical best.
Daniel A. Olivas (www.danielolivas.com) is the author of "The Book of Want: A Novel" (University of Arizona Press, 2011); "Anywhere But L.A.: Stories" (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 the children's book, "Benjamin and the Word / Benjamin y la palabra" (Arte Publico Press, 2005).
Olivas is editor of the landmark "Latinos in Lotusland: An Anthology of Contemporary Southern California Literature" (Bilingual Press, 2008), which brings together 60 years of Los Angeles fiction by Latino writers.
Olivas has written for many publications including the Los Angeles Times, the El Paso Times, Exquisite Corpse, THEMA, California Lawyer, and The Jewish Journal. His writing is featured in many anthologies including "Sudden Fiction Latino" (W. W. Norton, 2010); "Hint Fiction" (W. W. Norton, 2010); "Mamas and Papas" (City Works Press, 2010); "Fantasmas: Supernatural Stories by Mexican American Writers" (Bilingual Press, 2001); and "Love to Mama: A Tribute to Mothers" (Lee & Low Books, 2001). He shares blogging duties on La Bloga (http://labloga.blogspot.com) which is dedicated to Chicano and Latino literature.
Olivas is the grandson of Mexican immigrants and is the middle of five children. Born and raised near downtown Los Angeles, he converted to Judaism in 1988. Olivas received his degree in English literature from Stanford University, and law degree from UCLA. By day, he is an attorney in Los Angeles with the California Department of Justice in the Public Rights Division where he has practiced law since 1990. Olivas makes his home in the San Fernando Valley with his wife and son.
