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