Flying Solo

The publication of Conversations with Rudolfo Anaya was the first time I saw my name on the cover of a book, as co-editor. The feeling was exhilarating. I knew I wanted to repeat it, and often.

Thirteen years and five books later—including two novels—the day of a new release still remains a special moment.



In my previous publishing experiences I counted with the backing of respected publishers, mostly university presses. But this time I decided to publish Love Made Visible: Reflections on Writing, Teaching, and Other Distractions on my own. The reason may seem unsustainable by logic, but it just felt like the right thing to do. This collection of writings does not require an intermediary. Besides, with the revolutionary changes in the world of self-publishing—with Amazon having now become the world’s largest “publisher,” as well as easily accessible to every writer—the risks are low, thereby making the adventure worth pursuing.

I assure every reader who has found something of value in my previous works that the quality of my writing holds to the same standards as when I’ve worked with traditional publishers. Love Made Visible is definitely not a rush job: it took eight years to write. And, as usual, a great deal of the credit for the book being such a smooth read belong to Nina Forsythe and my wife Erinn, who were excellent editors of both of my novels. (My third beloved editor, Rhonda Patzia, couldn’t join us on this venture because of health reasons, but her voice was always present, urging me to express myself with honesty.)

Love Made Visible: Reflections on Writing, Teaching, and Other Distractions is, without a doubt, my most personal book. Within its pages, you’ll find many of my beliefs, feelings, and much of my life’s story.

I hope you enjoy the journey.