Episode 25: The Storykeeper: A talk with artist Lorena Williams

01/27/25 • 30 min

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.

Previous Episode

Episode 24: Richard Z. Santos on Trust Me: Writing Santa Fe’s Paradoxes and Navigating Creativity

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.

Next Episode

Episode 26: Maceo Montoya

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).