May 25, 2013

Lecture Topics

A gifted and accomplished speaker, Victor Villaseñor, in his candid and heartfelt manner, brings a fresh perspective to a number of universal themes, including pride in cultural heritage, strength of family, the power of the written word, dedication to education and personal achievement, and world harmony and peace.

 

For Students/Parents/Community/ Organizations and Private Events

  • Tools of Genius: Using the whole brain, decision making, and expanding our consciousness beyond the limiting world of five senses
  • Biography & Autobiographic Writing: Finding the courage and skill to write your own unique, wonderful, genius-story
  • One Race, the Human Race: At one time we were all indigenous people – fearless and wild of heart!
  • Family and Quality of Life: Pride in heritage, family, and the power of personal achievement through vision, education, and perseverance.
  • Herstory Instead of History: How . . . if women of substance had written the story of humanity, we would see we aren’t the species that we think we are.
  • Have Victor join your family reunion or private event.

“I expected you to give us a long, boring lecture and I have to apologize for having such a wrong inclination. I was so stunned that you had effected everyone who listened to you speak. You have no idea how much I appreciate your visit . . .”

- Lorna Brennan
9th Grade Class

“After hearing you speak my husband started to question his denial of his heritage. Your words truly reached him in a way that no therapist or I have been able to.”

- Carolyn Reed




Teacher Training and Workshops

  • Promoting Genius: How to access the Genius in yourself, and in your students
  • Cultural Diversity & Response Time: High expectations for all students to succeed and tools to reach them
  • Herstory: Her-story and His-story through balanced energies
  • Dyslexia: Living and learning through the gift of dyslexia
  • Legends: How to make your own personal story into a living legend of indestructible power

“After hearing him, I was invigorated to get back into my classroom, to embrace my role as an educator with a tighter hug than ever before.”

- Kelly Featherstone

“Your speech and your talk at the luncheon have changed the path of my career. I will go on June 10th and take my certification for ESL and History. I am beginning training in the fall to become a reading specialist.”

- Lori Lucas
Seventh Grade Language Arts




Did you know that . . .

RAIN OF GOLD is on the CA State Board of Education recommended reading list for grades 9-12

BURRO GENIUS is on the New York Public Library Recommended Books for the Teen Age List of 12 to 18 years old

Students at a Los Angeles high school were caught reading WALKING STARS, RAIN OF GOLD, and BURRO GENIUS at recess and after school at the bus stop, and even during lunch.

One student at a Bay Area continuation high school, who’d never read a book in his life before, was told that if he just read the first three chapters of RAIN OF GOLD he wouldn’t have to do anything else for the rest of the semester. After reading the first three chapters, he asked if he could read the whole book and he became so excited upon finishing the book, that he had his friends read it and then had his teacher send a letter to Victor to come to their school. Victor went. And now this previously troubled gang member is in college, studying to become a teacher.

Please send us your own “Did you know”!

  • Lindsay Fernandez

    Hello this is Lindsay Fernandez. I am currently a community college student at Palomar College in San Marcos, CA. Ever since i can remember i have seen my mom and my older sister read all of Victor Villasenor’s books. As i got older i started to read some of his books as well and i loved them! I think my favorite is Burro Genius. Right now i am currently taking a chicano studies class at Palomar and was thinking about how great it would be to have Victor Villasenor come to my class as a guest speaker. I know that he might be very busy but i was wondering if there was anyway that he could be able to come to Palomar on May 1st and talk about our culture and he thoughts on why many chicanos don’t have much political power. It would be a great honor if he could come and give his thoughts about the subject. Thank you.

    • lindavillasenor

      Thank you so much for thinking of having Victor visit your class, and for appreciating his work. A class visit would need to go through your professor. My contact info in on the website. Another thought is to mark your calendar and come to Victor’s annual potluck at the rancho in Oceanside. It’s always the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Info at http://www.snowgoose.org

      _____

  • Arod578

    My question and one I have wondered for years…is why hasn’t Rain of Gold been turned into a MOVIE? This one of my all time favorite books and I just took it off the shelf again to introduce it to my husband so I am re reading it all over again. These books would make a fantastic movie series!!

    • lindavillasenor

      It is being made into an HBO 7 hour miniseries. Filming will begin this late fall/early winter. We are very excited – thank you for asking!

      _____

  • Verosilva

    I just finished Rain of Gold and I loved it, I could not put it down. I would love to be able to see more pictures of your parent’s and grandparent’s. I am truly proud to be Mexican. Rain of Gold should be a book everyone should read especially teenagers, so many young people take life for granted not knowing our history. This is one of the greatest books I have read. I only wish I lived in your area because it would be an honor to meet you.

    • lindavillasenor

      Gracias. Thank you for the kind words; for appreciating Victor’s work, and nuestra familia. We’re so looking forward to the 7 hour HBO mini series to reach many more, and as you say, especially our teens and youth.

      There are more photos in the sequel, Thirteen Senses, and in the prequel, Wild Steps of Heaven. Some in Burro Genius and Crazy Loco Love.

      _____

  • Judi

    Saludos Señor Victor!
    I just finished reading Rain Of Gold! Just this minute! A month ago I was in a discussion with my younger sister in El Paso,Texas about Pancho Villa. I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas in 1960. My first language was Spanish when I entered school I had to learn English. I am presently married and living in Anaheim Hills, Ca. I have been married for 32 years now to a man from Iran. My ethnic background is Mexican Indian, Spaniard, German, Scotish, and English. As you can see I am quite a mix. My mother’s family come from Chihuahua and New Mexico, by father’s from Imigrants from Spain and from Germany.

    My sister recommended I read your book and I have. I truly loved it! I loved your message, the honesty, and I truly believe that all life is a gift and everyone has a purpose in this world. I have been telling so many people about your book and I was hoping that you did have it in Spanish too. Thank you for sharing your story with the world. I will continue to read your wonderful work and I have full intention to gift your books to those I love.

    Mother Theresa once said that the reason we have no peace in this world is because we forget that we belong to each other.

    • lindavillasenor

      Hi Judi,

      I’m Linda, Victor’s sister. Thank you for writing; hello to your sister. FYI Rain of Gold is available in Spanish: Lluvia de Oro. The sequel Thirteen Senses also – Trece Sentidos. The prequel, Wild Steps of Heaven is only published in English. Since you live close to Oceanside maybe you/familia/amigos would like to come to Victor’s annual potluck. It’s always the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Please mark your calendars. Info at http://snowgoose.org/ which goes along with your Mother Teresa quote. Victor’s motto is ‘we’re all one race, the human race’

      Hope to meet you then!

      _____

  • DCamacho

    Will Mr. Villaseñor be anywhere near Los Angeles in 2012? Would love to get my book autographed!

    • lindavillasenor

      Nothing coming up in Los Angeles. Maybe you can come to his annual potluck the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It’s at the rancho our parents built in Oceanside.

      _____

  • Gloria H. Herrera

    I had the prilvilage to meet Mr. Villasenor several years ago, and I have continued to keep inspired by how much of our culture goes into his work. I have read several of his books and look forward to many more. He is a great inspiration to us all.

    Gloria Herrera
    Yakima Wa

    • lindavillasenor

      Thank you, Gloria. He’s just wrapped up another book; will be out next year. ?Have you read Lion Eyes yet?

      _____

  • Matthew Palomera

    Saludos Sr. Villseñor de parte de Matthew quisiera saber cuando tiene conferencias en Los Angeles Ca. Me gustaria ir a una y tener el placer de conocerlo.tengo 14 años pero nunca me imagine que al leer este libro hiba a tener “good complements”.Mi papa lo leyo cuando tenia 20 años y siceramente me “exigio” leerlo y me dijo que no hiba a parar de leerlo por que me hiba a gustar mucho.lo saco de la libreria y me dio un mes para terminarlo de leer.El libro Rain of Gold es mi libro favorito,en la calle la gente me decia que es un excelente libro.Lo que mas me llamo la atencion fue en la clinica White Memorial un Sr. mayor de edad me dijo que lo conocia a usted pero no me pudo decir su nombre porque lo llamo la enfermera.Desde que la gente me empezo a decir cosas buenas del libro y de usted no pare de leerlo.Ahora en mi escuela Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School 1200 Cornwell Street Los Angeles, CA 90033-1417
    (323) 227-4400 la señora de la libreria me dijo que tenia casi 2 años tratando de cominicarse haber si nos hacia el favor de venir aa dar una conferencia alos estudiantes.Le dije que hiba a tratar yo tambien haber si tenia suerte.Asi que mi Sr. Villaseñor de parte de toda la escuela Bravo lo invito a que nos de una conferencia a todos los estudiantes y ami para conocer mas de usted.Muchas grasias.Todavia me quedan 3 años mas para seguir insistiendo.Le voy a mandar un correo personal con mi informacion mi nombre es MatthewGrasias por sus conocimientos.

    • Anonymous

      Gracias por preguntar – please let the librarian know to contact me about having Victor present at your Magnet HS. I can be reached at Linda@victorvillasenor and/or 760-722-1463

      _____

  • Jose Castillo

    Señor Villaseñor, un estimado saludo. Me gustaria saber si vendra a Phoenix, AZ en este año. Yo soy de las personas que no me gusta leer mucho, pero cuando lei su libro “Rain of Gold” no podia dejar de leer. Tengo el libro en ingles y español y ademas compre su otro libro “Thirteen Senses”. Tambien hace varios años vi la pelicula “The ballad of Gregorio Cortez”. Me gusta mucho su trabajo, lo felicito. Saludos, Jose Castillo.

    • admin

      Hola Jose:

      Gracias por comunicarte con nosotros. No tenemos planes de visitar Arizona durante el 2011 pero como tu estas muy cerca a California, tenemos un evento especial durante el primer domingo anterior a el thanksgiving llamado SNOW GOOSE, puedes encontrar mas informacion en este sitio en un tiempo futuro. Esperamos poder tenerte a ti y a tu familia como invitados especiales. Favor de mantenerte en contacto con nosotros en caso de que se habra alguna fecha de presentacion en AZ.