Southwestern Author Kathleen Alcalá is scheduled to visit EPCC on Sept. 27-28 at the ASC Boardroom.
On the 27th, after a short reception beginning at 6:30 p.m., Alcalá will sign books at approximately 7 p.m.
On the 28th, Alcalá will attend a scholarship fundraising luncheon at 11:30 a.m., and will read from her new book, The Desert Remembers My Name.
A native of the desert southwest, Alcalá has spent plenty of summers in Chihuahua, Mexico throughout her life. She said that comparing her visits to Mexico as a child and as an adult gave her a “duel vision” of the area, meaning that it has changed a lot over the years.
“Most of my work is not about my upbringing. It’s about history,” said Alcalá.
She has had five books published, four of which are fiction.
“This is the first time I’m sharing essays closer to home, and I feel strange about it because I usually can hide behind the characters,” said Alcalá.
Her work proves to be significant in celebrating Liberal Arts, according to long-time colleague and EPCC English instructor Richard Yañez.
“Kathleen’s work reminds us to dig up stories that are important to us and the community,” Yanez said.
“One of the things I tell my students is that everybody can use writing,” said Alcalá. “People need to tell their own stories and not rely on others to tell it because then the story changes.”
