Mijail Lamas, poeta, traductor y crítico, egresado de nuestra Maestría en Escritura Creativa en El Paso, conversa con nosotros sobre su trayectoria. Nacido en Culiacán, Sinaloa, Lamas ha publicado numerosos poemarios y se ha adentrado en la traducción poética. En esta entrevista, reflexiona sobre su relación con la poesía y la riqueza de su formación en UTEP.

Mijail Lamas, a poet, translator, and critic, and graduate of our MFA in Creative Writing program in El Paso, speaks with us about his career. Born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Lamas has published numerous poetry collections and has delved into poetic translation. In this interview, he reflects on his relationship with poetry and the richness of his education at UTEP.

In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Will Rose sits down with author Luis Jaramillo to discuss his novel The Witches of El Paso. Jaramillo delves into his connection to El Paso, a city that has inspired his storytelling through family history, cultural richness, and a sense of magic woven into everyday life. He shares insights into his writing process, the influence of the region’s bicultural and historical landscape, and how the supernatural elements in his book reflect the blurred borders—both literal and figurative—that define the city.

Luis Jaramillo is also the author of the award-winning short story collection The Doctor’s Wife. His writing has appeared in LitHub, BOMB Magazine, Los Angeles Review of Books, and other publications. He is an assistant professor of creative writing at The New School. He received an undergraduate degree from Stanford University and an MFA from The New School.

In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón sits down with investigative journalist and author Lise Olsen to discuss her chilling yet deeply compelling book, The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston’s Lost Boys. The book unearths the harrowing story of the Candyman Killer, Dean Corll, who preyed on teenage boys in 1970s Houston, and the relentless efforts of forensic anthropologist Dr. Sharon Derrick to identify his forgotten victims.

Olsen delves into the failures of law enforcement, the systemic neglect of missing boys from working-class neighborhoods, and the power of scientific persistence in the face of injustice. She also reflects on her own journey reporting on serial crimes and forensic investigations, revealing how one woman’s determination brought long-overdue names to the nameless.

Part true crime, part investigative triumph, this conversation explores the intersection of forensic science, journalism, and justice. A must-listen for those who believe that every victim deserves to be remembered.

In this episode of The Storykeeper, from Words on a Wire, host Tim Z. Hernandez sits down with author Cristina Herrera to discuss her book Welcome to Oxnard: Race, Place, and Chicana Adolescence in Michelle Serros's Writing. The conversation delves into the legacy of Michelle Serros, an influential writer whose work captured the complexities of growing up in Oxnard, California. They explore themes of belonging, assimilation, and the power of storytelling in shaping cultural narratives.

Cristina Herrera was born and raised in Oxnard, California, and is now professor and director of Chicanx/Latinx studies at Portland State University. She is the author of ChicaNerds in Chicana Young Adult Literature: Brown and Nerdy and editor of Nerds, Goths, Geeks, and Freaks: Outsiders in Chicanx and Latinx Young Adult Literature, which won the 2022 Children’s Literature Association Edited Book Award.

In this special Words on a Wire episode, hosts Daniel Chacón and Tim Z. Hernandez sat down with painter, writer, professor, and cultural historian Maceo Montoya at a recent public event at the University of Texas at El Paso. With a live audience in attendance, the trio discusses Montoya’s upbringing in a small California town, his dynamic artistic career, and the ever-evolving narratives of the Chicano and Latinx experience. From his rebellious mural-making days at Yale to his reflections on identity, storytelling, and community, Maceo’s insights will leave you inspired and ready to think deeply about the power of art and narrative.

Maceo Montoya has published books across various genres. His first novel, The Scoundrel and the Optimist (Bilingual Review, 2010), earned the 2011 International Latino Book Award for "Best First Book," and Latino Stories recognized him as one of its "Top Ten New Latino Writers to Watch." In 2014, the University of New Mexico Press released his second novel, The Deportation of Wopper Barraza, while Copilot Press published Letters to the Poet from His Brother, a hybrid book that combines images, prose poems, and essays. Montoya’s third work of fiction, You Must Fight Them: A Novella and Stories (University of New Mexico Press, 2015), was a finalist for Foreword Review's INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award. Additionally, Montoya is the author and illustrator of Chicano Movement for Beginners, a work of graphic nonfiction. His most recent novel is Preparatory Notes for Future Masterpieces (University of Nevada Press, 2021).

In this episode of The Story Keeper, from Words on a Wire, host Tim Z. Hernandez welcomes visual artist and educator Lorena Williams. Lorena shares deeply personal stories of her family's history, including the impact of the Mexican Repatriation and the intergenerational effects of migration on identity and belonging. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, Lorena's art reflects the narratives of her community and heritage. The conversation touches on her journey as an artist, the importance of preserving family stories, and her reflections on contemporary issues of migration and identity.

In this episode of The Writer and the Brain, from Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón welcomes author Richard Z. Santos to discuss his novel Trust Me and its rich exploration of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santos reflects on the city’s paradoxical energy, where ancient history meets contemporary wealth, and how this unique environment inspired his storytelling. Together, they delve into the challenges of navigating multiple characters’ perspectives and balancing plot with poetic nuance.

The conversation spans themes of Latinx storytelling, the haunting weight of cultural history, and the deep imprints of Santa Fe’s layered past. Santos also shares his personal experiences of launching a book during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the lockdown reshaped traditional literary events. Listeners will enjoy anecdotes about his favorite music, including an unforgettable concert by Jay-Z and Kanye West, and a serendipitous moment involving Willie Nelson’s hat.

In this captivating episode of The Writer and the Brain, a Words on a Wire production, host Daniel Chacón sits down with poet and artist Octavio Quintanilla at the Texas Book Festival to explore his latest poetry collection, The Book of Wounded Sparrows. This deeply personal collection delves into themes of family separation, dislocation, and the transformative power of memory and time. Octavio reflects on his journey as a poet, from his debut collection If I Go Missing to this profoundly intimate new work, revealing how his growth as an artist mirrors his evolution as a human being.