Fans of fiction and magical realism will have first dibs on a new novel by J.J. Wilson, Writer-in-Residence at Western New Mexico University, during a book signing on Friday, October 2 in Light Hall Theater.
The 5:00 p.m. event will include a short presentation and the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of Damnificados, Wilson’s first novel.
Damnificados is loosely based on the real-life occupation of a half-completed skyscraper in Caracas, Venezuela, the Tower of David. Wilson’s idea to write the book originated during a visit to Venezuela in 2013.
The Tower of David was erected in 1990 and abandoned in 1994 when the Venezuelan government ran short of funds to complete the project due to the country’s banking crisis. More than 2,500 people moved into the structure until they were eventually relocated in phases through July 2015.
In this fictional version, 600 “damnificados” – vagabonds and misfits – take over the tower and set up a community including schools and stores. Their struggle for survival is detailed through magical realism including avenging wolves, biblical floods and multilingual ghosts.
Wilson is a prize-winning author of more than 20 books about language and language learning. His short fiction has been published by Penguin, Johns Hopkins University Press and several literary magazines in England and the United States.
The book will be available for purchase in the University Bookstore.