THE EL PASO RED FLAME GAS STATION
AND OTHER STORIES
by
J. REEDER ARCHULETA
Genre: Fiction /Short Stories / Coming of Age
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing, LLC
Date of Publication: December 8, 2017
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing, LLC
Date of Publication: December 8, 2017
Number of Pages: 132
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These short stories are about coming of age in rural far West Texas. The stories are about the people who have come to stay in a remote part of Texas with a climate that can be harsh and unpredictable and that is demanding and unforgiving. The stories are told through the eyes of Josh, a young boy, who finds himself alone in a small farm and ranch community and who realizes that he will have to make his own way in this place. Along the way he meets a group of characters with different takes on life. Some try to help shield him from the chaos of the world, some try to add more chaos. But all of them, in their own distinct way, through jobs, advice, or actions, play a part in his life.
PRAISE FOR THE EL PASO RED FLAME GAS STATION:
“Punchy, plainspoken dialogue…colorful and charismatic characters…The result is an atmospheric Texas…reminiscent of Larry McMurtry’s “The Last Picture Show.” -- Kirkus Reviews
“The universality of Josh’s journey gives it a timeless quality…a rich tapestry…The stories are conveyed in lean, elegant prose reminiscent of Annie Proulx and Cormac McCarthy” -- Blue Ink Review
“Archuleta’s collection offers poignant and hopeful stories of determination in the face of need. Thoroughly engaging…narrated with passion and eloquence…” -- The Clarion Review
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Interview with Author J. Reeder Archuleta
How has being a Texan influenced your writing?
I left Texas to follow a job after college. I lived all over the U.S. and worked in other parts of the world. When I would run into another Texan no matter where, we would fall into telling stories about Texas. I realized that all the Texas history and mystique that I grew up with was a big part of me, so I began writing these stories in whatever part of the world I happened to be in as a way of keeping a foot in Texas.
Where did your love of books and storytelling come from?
In the small high school I attended, there was an English teacher, an older woman who was somewhat aloof. But she realized very quickly that the bunch of rowdy ranch and farm boys in her class would be more apt to read stories and poems of adventure and derring-do, so she steered us on to Stephen Crane, Steinbeck, and others. She also taught us how to be more critical readers and to see beyond words on the pages. I will never forget her. Also, working on farms and ranches there was no TV, radio, or phones. So spare time was spent telling stories. The older hands who had been around had stories of their life experiences, and many were so well told that story-telling became second nature. To this day, I don’t know how many of those stories were true, but it doesn’t really matter. They were good stories.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing off and on since college.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing?
I am definitely a part-time writer. This gives me time to develop the ideas for my stories and only after I have almost completed the story in my head, do I sit down and begin writing. I am not a disciplined writer. I don’t have specific routines or methods, or locations set aside for writing.
What projects are you working on at the present?
At present, I am working on a sequel to Rio Sonora and digging more short stories out of my trunk.
What do your plans for future projects include?
I have two novels sketched out that take place between World War I and World War II. I also have a batch of short stories that do not take place in Texas but are based on my experiences elsewhere.
The author was raised in far West Texas and five generations of his family are in their final resting place there. His great-grandfather is buried in Concordia Cemetery in El Paso within spitting distance of the grave of John Wesley Hardin.
║Website ║
║ Amazon Author Page ║
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
READ & SIP! TWO WINNERS EACH WIN A SIGNED COPY OF
THE EL PASO RED FLAME GAS STATION +
A $5 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD
APRIL 17-26, 2018
(US ONLY)
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║ Amazon Author Page ║
-------------------------------------
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
READ & SIP! TWO WINNERS EACH WIN A SIGNED COPY OF
THE EL PASO RED FLAME GAS STATION +
A $5 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD
APRIL 17-26, 2018
(US ONLY)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
4/17/18 | Promo | |
4/17/18 | Bonus Post | |
4/18/18 | Review | |
4/19/18 | Author Interview | |
4/20/18 | Review | |
4/21/18 | Excerpt | |
4/22/18 | Promo | |
4/23/18 | Review | |
4/24/18 | Notable Quotable | |
4/25/18 | Character Interview | |
4/26/18 | Review |
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