TEXAS TALES: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

In The Bullet Swallower, an epic family saga of two generations—the legendary bandido El Tragabalas in 1895 and his descendant, Jaime Sonoro, a renowned actor and singer in 1964—author Elizabeth Gonzalez James reminds us that neither the past or the future are as far away as we think. The Blueprint spans 1880s Louisiana and 2030 Texas, where in the near-future, an algorithm determines Solenne’s life as a Descendant of Slavery. Echoed in her story is that of her enslaved ancestor, Henriette. Rae Giana Rashad pens a reminder of how to draw strength and wisdom from the past and paths of ancestors. These two novelists will discuss writing past, present and future Texas stories, and balancing ancestors, identity, and what we owe to one another.