Victor Villaseñor Inspires Many at Libreria Martinez

As Villaseñor began to speak, his lively and positive character embraced the room. He briefly touched on memories of living in Carlsbad as a child as he faced language and cultural barriers, heavy discrimination, and a reading problem that caused him to drop out of high school. "These are all of the things that have made me who I am," he said. It was after moving to Mexico that he discovered a wealth of Mexican art, literature and music that helped him recapture and understand the richness of his heritage. 

After giving a brief introduction about who he is, Villaseñor spoke about his latest book, Lion Eyes. The book is based on a true story of a love-deprived boy named Jan Milburn, who comes face to face with his totem and becomes transformed. Jan Milburn got lost in a snowstorm in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California and a huge mountain lion led him safely home, which sets him on a course for a miraculous life. The book advocates the idea that "our global future not only lies in our politics and religious beliefs, but also in our unwavering love and our forgotten native wisdom that once we find our totem, everything falls into place, even amidst chaos." 

Villaseñor also discussed his very productive 2011. Not only has he been busy traveling to promote his newly published book, but he has also received offers from HBO to make a miniseries on his trilogy of memoirs, Rain of Gold, Wild Steps of Heaven, and Thirteen Senses. Villaseñor's inspiring discussion also touched on the power of language, the strength of family, pride of heritage, the importance of education and world harmony. It was yet another great book signing at Libreria Martinez, but not the last: next up is author Luis Rodriguez, scheduled for Nov. 5. See you there!