Daniel Olivas

Daniel A. Olivas, the grandson of Mexican immigrants, is a fiction writer, poet, playwright, book critic, and attorney. He is the author of 12 books and editor of two anthologies. Daniel's books include My Chicano Heart: New and Collected Stories of Love and Other Transgressions (University of Nevada Press, 2024), Chicano Frankenstein: A Novel (Forest Avenue Press, 2024), How to Date a Flying Mexican: New and Collected Stories (University of Nevada Press, 2022), Crossing the Border: Collected Poems (Pact Press, 2017), and Things We Do Not Talk About: Exploring Latino/a Literature through Essays and Interviews (San Diego State University Press, 2014). Daniel's plays have been produced for the stage or readings by Playwrights' Arena, Circle X Theatre Company, Garry Marshall Theatre, The Road Theatre Company, and the Instituto Arte Teatral Internacional (IATI). ​Widely anthologized, Daniel has written for many publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, El Paso Times, Los Angeles Times, Alta Journal, Los Angeles Review of Books, Latino Book Review, High Country News, La Bloga, Zócalo, BOMB, The Rumpus, and the Jewish Journal. Daniel is co-editor (with poet León Salvatierra) of the new book series from the University of Nevada Press, The New Oeste: Literatura Latinx of the American West in the 21st Century. Daniel grew up near downtown Los Angeles and now makes his home in Pasadena with his wife; they have an adult son. He received his degree in English literature from Stanford University and law degree from UCLA. By day, he is an attorney.