CURTAINS OF RAIN

Take this exhilarating journey through the vibrant landscapes of identity and resilience in Curtains of Rain. In this compelling narrative, the lives of intergenerational Latinx queer and gender queer individuals from a postcard bordertown intertwine, leading them to a reunion amidst the cultural tapestry of San Antonio, TX.

At its heart is Solitaria Gaviota-Alaniz, a fearless protagonist on a quest to thrive and love fully. Fifteen years after fleeing her hometown following an exorcism, Solitaria returns to confront the ghosts of homophobia that haunt her past. Supported by her queer familia of her gay tios, non-binary best friend Toni, and a diverse community of panederas and drag queens in San Antonio, Solitaria makes a search and rescue mission for her lost self.

As Solitaria navigates the complexities of familial relationships and confronts environmental racism, Curtains of Rain celebrates the generous ingenuity of the queer survivor. With courage and determination, Solitaria transforms trauma into triumph, redefining tradition, and finding home once again in a world where love knows no bounds.

Acclaim for ANEL I. FLORES’ 

Empanada 

“Flores daringly strips bare the societal, family, and self-imposed cover up of what is real and vulnerable, what is dangerous and taboo, what is  scary and seductive in her life.”  - Sara E. Cooper, Associate Professor , California State University, Chico  

“The narrator’s keen sense of smell quickly twists your stomach in a knot  and you realize there’s a lot at stake here.” - Lyle Rosdahl, Columnist and Editor, The Current 

“Empanada is a poetic feast of memory, mordidas of sweet and bitter  remembrance. ¡Provecho!” - Erasmo Guerra, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of  Between Dances and Once More to the River: Family Snapshots  of Growing Up, Getting Out and Going Back  

“An exploration of a young, Mexican-American woman’s world, a world  divided and united by the categories of food, sex, and religion. It is a  work that sings itself into being.” - Elena Georgiou, author of Mercy, Mercy, Me 

and Rhapsody of the Naked Immigrants 

“A blend of poetry and prose about living as a Latina lesbian, boasts  graceful writing and vivid imagery.” 

- Deborah Martin, Journalist, San Antonio Express-News