On Friday, fiction author Rene S. Perez II will be speaking about his new collection of short stories, Along These Highways, as well as signing copies of the book. The signing will take place at BookPeople on Lamar Boulevard.
Perez was born in Kingsville, Texas, and raised in Corpus Christi. He has a BA in English from the University of Texas, and a MFA in creative writing from Texas State. He teaches here in Austin.
Along These Highways is a collection of poignant short stories about the tragic and the hopeful lives of ordinary people in small town Texas. The characters are mostly Latino, but the themes of grief and of loss and of finding happiness are universal.
Acclaimed novelist and poet Sandra Cisneros said of the collection, “Perez shines a high beam on lives never in the spotlight. His stories abduct you, sweep you across an America you never knew existed, and in the end change you. Good stories do that. A wonderful debut.”
Booklist summarized Along These Highways by saying, “Surprise endings, irony, and dark humor ensure the success of this collection among short-fiction fans as well as readers in the Southwest.”
This event starts at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. BookPeople is located at 603 N. Lamar Blvd.