Anywhere But L.A., Daniel A. Olivas's latest collection of short stories, ranges from contemporary narratives to more traditional cuentos de fantasma, giving us a vivid and honest portrait of modern Latinos in search of their place in the world. Funny yet poignant, Olivas's characters frequently amuse, sometimes disturb, and often remind us of our own vulnerability. People who on the surface appear to be ordinary and uncomplicated reveal their deepest secrets and anxieties related to a variety of issues, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and the human condition in general.
Daniel A. Olivas is the author of Devil Talk: Stories, Assumption and Other Stories, The Courtship of Maria Rivera Pena, and the children's book, Benjamin and the Word / Benjamin y la palabra. He is editor of Latinos in Lotusland: An Anthology of Contemporary Southern California Literature, which brings together 60 years of Los Angeles fiction by Latino writers. He has written for many publications including the Los Angeles Times, the El Paso Times, Tu Ciudad, Exquisite Corpse, THEMA, California Lawyer, and The Jewish Journal. He shares blogging duties on La Bloga which is dedicated to Chicano and Latino literature.
Olivas is the grandson of Mexican immigrants and is the middle of five children. Born and raised near downtown Los Angeles, he converted to Judaism in 1988. Olivas received his degree in English literature from Stanford University, and law degree from UCLA. By day, he is an attorney in Los Angeles.
