Miguel Santana was born in México. He holds a Ph. D. in Hispanic Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. The Marién Revelation is his first novel simultaneously written in Spanish and English. Prestigious publishing houses in Spain, Italy, and Poland have acquired the rights to When Alligators Sing, Miguel’s first novel. Miguel has worked as an editor for numerous educational publishers in the United States. He has been a Spanish teacher at both the university and grade school levels. Best known as a novelist, Miguel will soon present to internet readers the collection of poetry Traces of Waning Love and the play Head of the Baptist, inspired by Ramón del Valle-Inclán’s work of the same name and Oscar Wilde’s Salome.

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Miguel Santana Revealed

Written by Kenneth Kimball

When Miguel Santana’s first novel was presented in Spain, major publishers wanted to jump on the When Alligators Sing wagon. After a bidding war rarely seen for a first time author, the two finalists were international houses Alfaguara and Grijalbo. Either conglomerate could have been the right choice but in the end, the novel was released in the Spanish-speaking world by Grijalbo-Mondadori (a Random House subsidiary).

The novel earned Miguel Santana literary recognition; in addition to Spanish, the book was published in English and Polish, while Frasinnelli has purchased Italian rights. However, without the funds for promotion, Santana remained relatively unknown. Things seem different now. An aggressive campaign not often seen from a small publisher will certainly put Santana’s third novel, The Marién Revelation, on the map. Examiner.com has already ranked it among the 100 most anticipated novels of 2010.

The man

Miguel Santana is undeniably a product of the Mexican-American border. He was born in the late 60s, in an upper middle-class Mexican family that was both political and religious. From an early age, he was introduced to issues that shape the Mexican and American cultures. This input came from his mother, a woman only 15 years older than her son.

“My father was the typical Mexican macho man, womanizer. He was charming and women came to him easily. He married quite a few of them but stayed with my mother longer than with any other,” says the author. His father pushed the boundaries of the family without restrain. He owned cantinas, souvenir shops, bars, and, yes, brothels.

As his mother dealt with the alienation of her husband, she looked for validation in God. She was a Catholic but readily explored different religions. Her search led her to the Mormons, a group quite prevalent in Santana’s home state of Chihuahua. Miguel played an integral part in his family’s acceptance of Mormonism. “Of course, looking back, I now know my reasons were selfish and based on the attraction I developed for the beautiful blonde boy who became my first Mormon friend,” he explains in his blog.

Nonetheless, his mother found solace in the Mormon culture. She attended service every Sunday and became an active participant in the church. “It is paradoxical to consider how easily her tithes [Mormons pay 10% of their income to their church] were accepted even when the bishop knew they came from my father’s questionable businesses,” Santana says wryly.

While he did not share in their religious journey, his father did an admirable job in providing for his family. When it came to material items and privileges, Santana lived a pampered existence. He never wasted energy on yard work, housework or any other mundane middle class task. This offered him complete freedom to satisfy his intellectual curiosity. He became an avid reader and devoured encyclopedias as well as comic books.

The soul

Miguel watches, observes, listens, and evaluates everything. His most treasured beliefs and opinions are formed over years and years of search, study and meditation. His mind never rests. He is open to input from varied sources, from scrutinizing Simon Cowell’s body language on American Idol [one of his favorite shows], to the most sacred biblical texts. Despite the bold persona that is revealed in his writing, he is an extremely passive, old soul. However, when pushed, he is compelled to respond sharply and on point.

Santana’s intellectual and social dexterity is both baffling and inspiring. He has a talent for intimate settings. It is odd to watch such an academic frolic as he does when he is around young people. He is able to switch from a detailed debate on Spanish Literature to a discussion with a 15 year old about the items that inhabit their world. The young respond favorably to him.

Talking with some of those that know him best, Santana glows when he is in the classroom. He is open, caring, and gentle as he leads his students through a course of discovery. He has taught at many levels and he brings his subject matter to life, whether it is allowing middle school students to build a replica of an Ancient Egyptian villa or an Aztec Market in the classroom, or helping Spanish students at UT Austin learn Spanish subjunctives with Shakira’s pop music. He is adept at bridging the gap of knowledge in a way that brings the subject matter to life for the student and leaves them desiring more. “Are you doing the same with The Marién Revelation?” I asked, but only got a smile.

The Calling

Upon completing his junior year in the marketing program at The University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP), Miguel discovered the business world wasn’t his calling. In the summer before his senior year, he enrolled in a Creative Writing class. Professor Ricardo Aguilar (1947-2004), a well-known author in the Chicano literature arena, became his mentor as his writing workshop turn Santana’s world upside down. The professor told him that he had been blessed with a gift and inspired him to pursue it at all costs.There was no turning back. Santana went to his parents and notified them of his intent to change majors. His father told him that he would be given another year of support and then he would be on his own.

Undeterred, Miguel completed two years of work in one and graduated. He immediately reenrolled in the school’s graduate program in Creative Writing, this time with a scholarship that allowed him to afford in-state tuition.

Santana went on to complete a Ph. D. in Hispanic Literature in the University of Texas at Austin. Since graduation Miguel has been working either as an educator or in the publishing field. Recently, he left his full-time position as Executive Editor for a Miami publishing company to dedicate himself to The Marién Revelation.

The heart

Miguel Santana’s values are clear and unwavering. He in turn is drawn to the underdog, to those marginalized by society, or who cannot fend for themselves. In Santana, you would find an individual who does not delineate between human life and animal life. He would do anything for his dogs or other loved ones. He is, humane, respectful, and gentle. Nonetheless, he will stand up, without hesitation, when he senses an injustice. He has declared himself an activist for human equality.

Santana knows who he is. People are drawn to his strong personality. Last year, for example, at a fundraising event for an art house in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Santana met Academy Award Winner Alexander Payne. Payne had been mingling with other guests, however, after their introduction, he focused solely on Santana. Their conversation lasted until the screening began and ended with the director inviting Miguel to a more intimate discussion the following morning. He asked him to bring copies of his books. The next morning Payne was less subtle about his desire to continue where he had left off. He was quite cordial and informed the author that he had googled him. Upon leaving the studio, his words were “to be continued.”

Santana is no stranger to literary celebrities either. One of the first people to read the unfinished manuscript of When Alligators Sing was the author of Like Water For Chocolate, Laura Esquivel. The Polish edition of Miguel’s book quotes Esquivel on the cover: “The novel charms with the magic of its language and its rich imagination.”

The Marién Revelation’s journey may not be as easy as that of Santana’s first work. The novel has already stirred controversy on the web and a couple of publishing houses in Latin America won’t touch it because of a controversial subtopic. Whatever the outcome, in this novel, Santana has written thought-provoking, poetic literature. You can download Prologue and first chapter on the Downloads page of this site.