Victor Villaseñor (born May 11, 1940) is an American writer, best known for the national bestselling book
''
Rain of Gold''. Villaseñor's works are often taught in American schools. He went on to write ''
Thirteen Senses: A Memoir'' (
2001
The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
), a continuation of ''Rain of Gold''. His book ''
Burro Genius: A Memoir'' (
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
) describes his life. The author has received awards and endorsements, including an appointment to serve as the founding
Steinbeck Chair at
Hartnell College
Hartnell College is a public community college in Salinas, California. Established in 1920 as Salinas Junior College, Hartnell is one of 115 schools that constitute the California Community Colleges, one of the three higher education systems i ...
and the
National Steinbeck Center
The National Steinbeck Center is a museum and memorial dedicated to the author John Steinbeck, located at the California State University, Monterey Bay#Other locations, California State University, Monterey Bay at Salinas City Center building at ...
in
Salinas, from February 2003 to March 2004.
Lecturing
Villaseñor is also a
public speaker
Public speaking, is the practice of delivering speeches to a live audience. Throughout history, public speaking has held significant cultural, religious, and political importance, emphasizing the necessity of effective rhetorical skills. It all ...
, giving
lecture
A lecture (from ) is an oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject, for example by a university or college teacher. Lectures are used to convey critical information, history, background, theo ...
s with his candid perspective on a number of universal themes, including pride in heritage, strength of family, the power of the written word, dedication to education and personal achievement, and
world peace
World peace is the concept of an ideal state of peace within and among all people and nations on Earth. Different cultures, religions, philosophies, and organizations have varying concepts on how such a state would come about.
Various relig ...
.
He founded the
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
Snowgoose Global Thanksgiving to help promote peace and harmony throughout the world. Villaseñor's
self-published book, ''
Snow Goose: Global Thanksgiving'', describes his
philosophy
Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
toward that eventuality.
Victor Villaseñor lives on the ranch where he grew up, in
Oceanside, California
Oceanside is a beach city in the North County (San Diego area), North County area of San Diego County, California, United States. The city had a population of 174,068 at the 2020 United States census, making it the most populous city in the Nort ...
. He is
Mexican-American
Mexican Americans are Americans of full or partial Mexican descent. In 2022, Mexican Americans comprised 11.2% of the US population and 58.9% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexican Americans were born in the United State ...
.
See also
*
List of Mexican-American writers
Bibliography
* ''
Macho!'', Houston: Arte Publico Press, 1991 edition .
* ''
Rain of Gold'', Houston: Arte Publico Press, 1991 .
* ''
Wild Steps of Heaven'', New York: Delacorte Press, 1996 .
* ''
Thirteen Senses: A Memoir'', New York: Rayo, 2001 .
* ''
Burro Genius: A Memoir'', New York: Rayo, 2006 .
* ''
The Frog and His Friends Save Humanity (La Rana y Sus Amigos Salvan a la Humanidad)'', (Spanish translation
Edna Ochoa), Houston: Pinata Books/Arte Publico Press, 2005 .
* ''
Lion Eyes'', Random House Digital, Inc., 2008 .
* ''
Crazy Loco Love'', Houston: Arte Publico Press, 2008 .
Bibliographical Resources
https://faculty.ucmerced.edu/mmartin-rodriguez/index_files/vhVillasenorVictor.htm
References
External links
Victor Villasenor Official WebsiteEl Paso Public Library - Archives of Past EventsSnowgoose Global Thanksgiving WebsiteReadingGroupGuides - Excerpt from ''Thirteen Senses: A Memoir''* at
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University (SSU, Sonoma State, or Sonoma) is a public university in Sonoma County, California, United States. It is part of the California State University system. Sonoma State offers 92 bachelor's degree programs, 19 master's de ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villasenor, Victor
1940 births
Living people
20th-century American novelists
21st-century American novelists
American male novelists
American memoirists
American writers of Mexican descent
People from Carlsbad, California
Hispanic and Latino American novelists
American male short story writers
20th-century American short story writers
21st-century American short story writers
20th-century American male writers
21st-century American male writers
Novelists from California
20th-century American non-fiction writers
21st-century American non-fiction writers
American male non-fiction writers