Sergio Troncoso

Sergio Troncoso is the author of THE LAST TORTILLA AND OTHER STORIES, CROSSING BORDERS: PERSONAL ESSAYS, and the novels THE NATURE OF TRUTH and FROM THIS WICKED PATCH OF DUST. He co-edited OUR LOST BORDER: ESSAYS ON LIFE AMID THE NARCO-VIOLENCE. Please visit his website at SergioTroncoso.com.

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“Fragments of a Dream,” by Sergio Troncoso

Just received my contributor’s copy of New Guard Literary Review, Volume VII, with my story “Fragments of a Dream.” Thank you Shanna McNair, Chris Abani, Mark Doty and all the others who worked on this year’s review.

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Texas Institute of Letters: Literary Contests

The Texas Institute of Letters literary contests are now open with prizes totaling more than $22,000. Deadline is January 15, 2019. Twelve categories: the Jesse H. Jones Award for Fiction, the Carr P. Collins Award for Nonfiction, the Sergio Troncoso Award for Best Work of First Fiction, the Ramirez Scholarly Book Award, the Helen C. Smith Award for Poetry, the John A. Robertson Award For Best First Book Of Poetry, the Edwin "Bud" Shrake Award for Short Nonfiction, the Kay Cattarulla Short Story Award, the Fred Whitehead Award for Design of a Trade Book, the Jean Flynn Best Middle-Grade Book Award, the Texas Institute of Letters Best Young Adult Book Award, and the Texas Institute of Letters Best Children's Picture Book Award.

Eligibility for the awards requires that the author be born in Texas or have lived in Texas for at least five consecutive years at some time. A work whose subject matter substantially concerns Texas is also eligible.

http://www.texasinstituteofletters.org/awards/2018-contest-details.pdf

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“Eternal Return,” by Sergio Troncoso, Yale Review, 2018.

So proud to see my latest story, "Eternal Return," in the Yale Review. Over their long history, they have published so many of my favorites, like Virginia Woolf, Katherine Anne Porter, John Hersey, Eudora Welty, Joyce Carol Oates, Seamus Heaney, and even my old teacher, John Hollander. Thank you.

https://yalereview.yale.edu/eternal-return

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Review: Leaving El Paso

"Homelands performs a valuable service. Politics, after all, isn’t the only way that a disenfranchised and vilified community can counteract the stereotypes, misunderstandings, and even stupidities imposed by others. It can also do so if its expatriate sons and daughters, who have traveled far and succeeded, despite the odds, return to help. These voices, like Corchado’s, will make the voyage easier for those who will surely follow."

https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/alfredo-corchado-dallas-morning-news-nafta-border/

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Words on a Wire: Sergio Troncoso Interview

Today my interview on Words on a Wire aired. Daniel Chacon interviews me, and we talk about my abuelita, the naming of the public library in Ysleta and creating the Troncoso Reading Prizes. Finally we discuss "Passing Ambition," my new essay about 'trying to become a Harvard student' in Washington, D.C. (We Wear the Mask: Fifteen True Stories of Passing in America, Beacon Press) Thank you, Daniel.

http://ktep.org/post/words-wire-sergio-troncoso-1

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Sergio Troncoso Award for Best Work of First Fiction

Please help me spread the word. At the Texas Institute of Letters, I have permanently endowed the Sergio Troncoso Award for Best Work of First Fiction ($1,000).

The Troncoso Award will be given to a first novel or short-story collection by an author from Texas or writing about Texas. The publication date of the work must be in 2017. The deadline for submission is January 2, 2018.

Here are the basic rules for all TIL awards: Each year the Texas Institute of Letters awards more than $20,000 to recognize outstanding literary works in several categories. Eligibility for the awards requires that the author be born in Texas or have lived in Texas for at least two consecutive years at some time. A work whose subject matter substantially concerns Texas is also eligible.

2017 TIL Contests:

http://www.texasinstituteofletters.org/awards/2017-contest-details.pdf

Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction

Sergio Troncoso Award for Best Work of First Fiction

Carr P. Collins Award for Best Book of Non-Fiction

Ramirez Award for Most Significant Scholarly Book

Helen C. Smith Memorial Award for Best Book of Poetry

John A. Robertson Award for First Book Of Poetry

Edwin “Bud” Shrake Award for Short Nonfiction

Kay Cattarulla Award for Best Short Story

H-E-B/Jean Flynn Best Children’s Book

H-E-B Best Young Adults Book

Denton Record-Chronicle Best Children’s Picture Book

Soeurette Diehl Fraser Award for Best Translation of a Book

Fred Whitehead Award for Best Design of a Trade Book

Texas Institute of Letters:

http://www.TexasInstituteofLetters.org

Thank you.

Sergio Troncoso

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At Chicago's La Dieciocho (Pilsen) touring the neighborhood's murals and The National Museum of Mexican Art.

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Five Fresh Looks at Tejano/Mexicano Experience

In the Dallas Morning News, an article I wrote about five excellent books:

"Books about the Tejano/Mexicano experience have been booming lately. Here are five writers emblematic of the power in the literary voices of the Mexican-American community and their recognition in Texas and beyond."

https://www.dallasnews.com/arts/books/2017/09/15/five-fresh-looks-tejanomexicano-experience

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Visiting the Henderson Middle School Hornets in El Paso, TX today. So excited to talk to students and parents about creating a reading culture at home. #sergiotroncoso #reading

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Sergio Troncoso and Ana Castillo at the 2017 Yale Writers' Conference.

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One Book, One College: Sergio Troncoso

Thank you, Housatonic Community College and Eric Vasquez, editor of Horizons, for this article:

"The stories of his schooling, his Mexican heritage, his complicated relationship with his father, his mother’s unwavering faith, and his wife’s fight with cancer are all explored in his collection of essays, Crossing Borders.

'When I was writing this book I wanted to translate those immigrant values that were good for me at Harvard. I started writing stories with moral questions and philosophical questions that combined these worlds,' Troncoso said....

The most consistent theme throughout the afternoon talk was giving back. Troncoso stressed that whatever knowledge one gains in life it is his or her responsibility to impart that knowledge in a manner that helps someone."

http://housatonichorizons.com/2017/04/10/hccs-one-book-one-college-crosses-paths-with-author-sergio-troncoso/

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Housatonic Community College: One Book, One College

“One tremendous benefit for students is that Troncoso’s literary work creates space for thoughtful discussions, and a shared reading experience campus-wide. Troncoso is a dynamic speaker with a message of empowerment," said HCC Librarian Peter Everett. http://bridgeport.dailyvoice.com/lifestyle/ivy-league-author-to-speak-in-bridgeport-on-growing-up-poor-in-border-town/704774/

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One Book, One College: Sergio Troncoso

Part of a One Book, One College program, Troncoso’s writing workshop “Writing To, From, and Through Borders: A Latino Voice” will head the day-long public event: March 30, 2017, Housatonic Community College.

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Crossing-Borders-author-at-HCC-11017661.php

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Yale Writers’ Conference: Nonfiction Workshop, June 3-13, 2017

I’ll be teaching a Nonfiction Workshop at the Yale Writers’ Conference, June 3-13. We review student manuscripts, do craft exercises every day to improve your writing, and complete longer exercises to generate new work during the conference. The conference also includes Master Classes with visiting writers, panels with agents and publishers. Join us.

http://summer.yale.edu/academics/yale-writers-conference

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A Narcissist with Power

“A narcissist with power will attempt to prove in the world only what is already in his head. He can’t ‘see’ otherwise. For him, the 'outside world’ is not beyond him and does not question or challenge him and his ideas. He is the world. Others will assent to his distorted worldview, because he is powerful, not because he is believable. If he possesses any reflection, that will be exactly what will gnaw at the narcissist with power most of all: his 'truths’ are inauthentic, and he is a human being without integrity. The very narcissism and power he possesses prevent him from an ongoing relationship with the truth, which begins with self-humility and the curiosity this can create in a person.” ―Sergio Troncoso

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Winners of 2016 Troncoso Reading Prizes

Yesterday the staff of the Sergio Troncoso Branch Library and I presented the winners of the 2016 Troncoso Reading Prizes with certificates of achievement and gift cards from Barnes Noble. The winners also received a signed copy of one of my books, and we read their individual essays on their favorite books. I was so proud of all the winners. Parents, teachers, and school administrators attended the event at the library. I can't wait to do it again next year. Winners of 2016 Troncoso Reading Prizes: 9-12th grade category: 1st Place: Alejandra Mendoza, Del Valle High School; 2nd Place: Anais Madrid, El Paso Academy; 3rd Place: Jasmine Saldana Madrid, Valle Verde Early College High School. 5-8th grade category: 1st Place: Natalie Rivas, Presa Elementary School; 2nd Place: Isabel Batista, LeBarron Elementary School; 3rd Place: Adenike Herrera, LeBarron Elementary School. Every year, we award prizes for students who read the most books between September 15-November 15. The prizes are awarded only to students within the geographical area covered by the Sergio Troncoso Branch Library. A list of eligible schools is available at Troncoso Reading Prizes. First Place receives a $125.00 gift card, Second Place receives a $100.00 gift card, and Third Place receives a $75.00 gift card. All prizes are gift cards from Barnes and Noble Booksellers. A total of six prizes are awarded in the two categories every year. Each student also picks a favorite book from the books read and writes a short essay (100 word or less) on that book. We read those essays at the awards ceremony. Librarians at the Sergio Troncoso Branch Library register readers during the eligible period of the prizes. The library staff administers the prizes and makes final decisions on all the prizewinners. If you have any questions or to register next year, please contact the library staff at the Sergio Troncoso Branch Library, 9321 Alameda Avenue, El Paso, Texas, 79907. Telephone: [phone].