LIONEL GARCÂA is the author of four award-winning novels, Leaving Home (Arte PÃblico Press, 1994), A Shroud in the Family (Arte PÃblico Press, 1994) , Hardscrub (Arte PÃblico Press, 1994) and To a Widow with Children (Arte PÃblico Press, 1994), and a collection of autobiographical sketches, I Can Hear the Cow Bells Ring (Arte PÃblico Press, 1994). He is the recipient of the Texas Institute of Letters Best Novel Award and the Southwestern Booksellers AssociationÃs Texas Literary Award. His work has received considerable critical praise, including comparisons by the Los Angeles Times to Gabriel GarcÃa MÃ rquez. Born and raised in San Diego, Texas, he currently practices veterinary medicine in Seabrook, Texas.