Author Description

Intense and gritty, this authentic coming-of-age tale about a Texas farm boy and the life-long incident that his sons and family will remember for ages insightfully illuminates a little-understood corner of America and its vast culture. Partway a reflection on the culture of San Fernando Valley and partway an insight into the author's boyhood spent on his dad's ranch, which he loved to visit and spent time at, this book probes into the durable bond between the author, his sons, and his dad. It features a cast of striking characters, counting his dad's ranch hand, Mingo, Sheriff Gonzales, and ‘the Tattooed guys’ — Ryder, Scotty, Birdman, and Crook. Arthur de Anda light-heartedly provides a glimpse into the partiality within society and how one mistake can land us into a big problem. Appealing, tender, and enlightening, Down, In the Valley narrates a memorable incident of the author's life with a mix of excitement and examination of the upsets and pleasures of growing up in South Texas and the often abysmal costs that can result from a small blunder.