Episode 106 Notes and Links to Daniel Olivas’ Work
On Episode 106 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Daniel Olivas, and the two talk about…well, everything. They discuss, among other things, Daniel’s childhood in Los Angeles, pochismo, formative and unforgettable reads, his family’s stories, his work as a lawyer and his myriad writing and genres, the difference between fiction and nonfiction with regard to truth, as well as his just-released short story collection.
Daniel A. Olivas is the author of ten books and editor of two anthologies. His books include How to Date a Flying Mexican: New and Collected Stories (University of Nevada Press, 2022), The King of Lighting Fixtures: Stories (University of Arizona Press, 2017), Crossing the Border: Collected Poems (Pact Press, 2017), and Things We Do Not Talk About: Exploring Latino/a Literature through Essays and Interviews (San Diego State University Press, 2014).
Daniel's plays have been produced for the stage and readings by Playwrights' Arena, Circle X Theatre Company, and The Road Theatre Company.
Widely anthologized, Daniel has written for many publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, El Paso Times, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Huffington Post, High Country News, La Bloga, BOMB, and the Jewish Journal.
Buy Daniel Olivas' How to Date a Flying Mexican
Daniel Olivas' Website
Buy Daniel Olivas' Books
Daniel Olivas’ Page at Los Angeles Review of Books
Waiting for Godinez Play Information and Praise
"Turning the Page"-Daniel's beautiful tribute to his father from Stanford Magazine
At about 2:50, Daniel gives his family background, including his father’s experiences with writing and education, as well as Daniel’s schooling and educational experiences
At about 10:10, Daniel responds to Pete’s questions about writing and artistic influences for Daniel’s father
At about 11:40, Daniel talks about bilingualism in his family and a meaningful comment from his mother about his writing
At about 16:30, Daniel talks about family roots in Ocotlán, Jalisco, and its influence on his writing
At about 17:40, Daniel highlights his fictionalized city of Dos Cuentos and the ways in which he uses the city in his work
At about 18:50, Daniel talks about early reviews of his story collection and the ways in which they often add “trigger warnings” and what those warnings reinforce for him
At about 19:40, Pete asks Daniel about John Fante and Daniel talks about Fante as a great chronicler of the immigrant experiences
At about 21:45, Pete and Daniel talk about shared roots in Jesuit high schools and Daniel gives background on connections to Father Greg Boyle
At about 23:30, Daniel responds to Pete’s questions about important texts that Daniel gravitated to, as Daniel talks about how long it took him to think about writing himself and being inspired by Juan Rulfo, Sandra Cisneros, and Rivera’s And the Earth Did Not Devour Him, and laments missing taking a class with José Antonio Burciaga
At about 26:00, Pete and Daniel fanboy over Villarreal’s Pocho, and Daniel talks about the evolving meanings of “pocho”
At about 29:40, Daniel talks about “shaming” over the ways that Mexican Catholic customs were manifested
At about 32:25, shout out to Pete’s beloved uncle
At about 33:30, Pete wonders about turning points in Daniel’s route to becoming a professional writer, including early publication with The Stanford Chaparral, and unfortunate grief bringing inspiration through his first novel dealing with joy and pain
At about 40:30, Daniel details the publication of Assumption and Other Stories with Bilingual Press
At about 41:15, Daniel talks about how his career trajectory and writing style may differ from what his work would have been like had he gone the MFA route; he also quotes Stewart Dybek
At about 43:00, Daniel talks about keeping his work fresh
At about 44:30, Daniel references an ar