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Author Biography:

Rudolfo Anaya Born October 30, 1937 to Rafaelita Mares and Martin Anaya, Rudolfo Anaya had vivid memories of his childhood. He was told how La Grande (a curandera) helped with his birth, and how he crawled toward the pencil and paper, choosing education over the life of a vaquero or farmer. His father was a vaquero, a rancher to roam the llano; his mother's family were farmers working sunup to sundown. In addition to his parents, his family consisted of him, 4 sisters and 2 brothers who spent his childhood fighting in W.W.II. His childhood was surrounded by sisters, and the neighboring Chavez brothers. With the Chavez boys he would swim, fish (in lakes with beautiful golden carp), fight and swear like animals. Rudolfo grew very close to an aunt who lived with them, and who died during his childhood. More...

http://www.ed.psu.edu/k-12/ultima/biog.htm (Anaya: similarities between Bless Me, Ultima and his life)