CTN PEER MENTOR, TRONCOSO, EDITS MEXICAN AMERICAN ANTHOLOGY

CTN Peer Mentor, Sergio Troncoso, edited an anthology of Mexican American literature, “Nepantla Familias,” a collection of the memories of writers who, according to the Austin American-Statesman, “have experienced a culture that hovers between cultures.” Troncoso said he wanted “to create an anthology that focused on the liminal existence that is so essential to the Mexican American experience: living between worlds, languages, cultures and even psychologies.” This “middle ground” of Nepantla deserves its own authenticity and recognition, and is a place that can unleash as much creativity as it does frustration when navigating and choosing your identity. Nepantla is also a universal experience, so this idea of the middle ground should appeal to readers even if they are not Mexican American.”

 “I asked these writers to write new work — 25 of the 30 works in this collection are appearing in the anthology for the first time — and to write about Nepantla as it happens within families. Because it is in these personal spaces that identity is negotiated, thwarted, created as you balance many different worlds, including the traditional values of parents and the new values you might adopt as an “American.” So, the “intensely personal” nature of these narratives, whether nonfiction, poetry or fiction, is due to the subject matter. Writing about families is about as personal as it gets for any writer,” commented Troncoso. (Austin American-Statesman)