The author has included an eclectic selection of short stores (autobiographical, humorous, mystery, romance, and science fiction). The bilingualism of his background is evident in the stories; however, ninety-nine percent of the text is in English. Illusion Devil is the story of a trickster devil and how the tables are turned on this diminutive prankster. The story comes from the imagination of the author using his Hispanic background as the foundation for the imaginary cultural beliefs. The cover alludes to the manner in which the illusion devil is deprived of his power. Using his experiences as a migrant worker, the author has included various short stories (Calling the Devil, Fresh Delivery, Labor Camp Pastimes, Maruca, Matriculation, The Trade), that provide an insight into the lives of this group of forgotten Americans. Calling the Devil is a true life account as seen through the eyes of a child of seven and reminds us of the terrifying images invoked through a mixture of alcohol and religion. Matriculation provides the most poignant passage when the author confronts racism while registering for school at the age of twelve. The author's active imagination is reflected in stories such as And Sister Makes Three, El Crucero del Gato, Damned if you do, damned if you don't, Diablo Ilusorio, The Lot, Selling Your Soul, Snake River Treasure, The Splitting Anaconda, and The Time Room. In And Sister Makes Three, the scheming Danielle receives her due in such a mysterious manner that it leaves the police and fire department personnel perplexed over the occurrence that brings about Danielle's demise. El Crucero del Gato, Diablo Ilusorio, Selling Your Soul and The Splitting Anaconda are reflective of the author's Hispanic cultural upbringing and provide in insight into that culture's long history of religious beliefs and folk tales. Showing his sentimental side, the author addresses touching relationships in Esperanza, Hipolito, and Nameless, The Second Rejection, and Sewing Couches. Esperanza involves the ten-year mourning of a man whose life revolves around the memories of his long dead wife. It is through a newly formed relationship and a parrot that he returns to the life of the living. Hipolito is reflective of society's perspectives (not just Hispanic society), of what constitutes a man, and the cruelty that leads to drastic and fatal decisions. The Second Rejection is a continuation of Matriculation, but as an adult and teacher, the author now finds his dreams dashed by his own people. Sewing Couches provides a sobering experience to anyone associated with the many sufferings caused by alcoholism. From a humorous perspective there is Cemetery Dating and Where is Heaven. From his personal experiences in Southwest Texas come The Checkpoint, Death of a Spider, A Green-eyed Cat and a Pink-eyed Rabbit and Torn Money.
About the Author: About the author: Born in Raymondville, Texas on February 3, 1953, to immigrant parents from Mexico, Sánchez first attend school in Colorado where the family lived until 1960. Sánchez was the second of four siblings that included two brothers and one sister. From 1961 to 1968 the family, now including two step-brothers and two step-sisters after his mother's separation and remarriage, traveled through most of the western states as migrant workers. Sánchez never completed a school year beyond the third grade, although attending through the first two six-weeks of the ninth grade. In 1972 he obtained his GED. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1973. In 1974 he married Angelita Carrasco. He was stationed in Texas until 1976. From 1976 to 1979 he was stationed on Okinawa, Japan from where he traveled to various places in the Far East. Stationed again in Texas in 1979, he spent three months on temporary duty assignment in Europe. He separated from the military in 1981 and made his residence in Uvalde, Texas. He obtained a bachelor's degree from Sul Ross State University in 1988, and a masters in 1992. From 1993 to 1996 he attended the University of Houston but failed to obtain the doctorate he was seeking. During the time he was in Houston he wrote for a bilingual newspaper (La Politiquera), whose owner, Alfredo Santos, established another paper in Uvalde (La Voz de Uvalde County), which Sánchez acquired in 2002 and operated until the end of 2013. In 2005 he returned to school and obtained a doctorate from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2009. He has written minor articles for the Handbook of Texas and the West Texas Historical Association Yearbook. He is married and has three children, Michael, Sophia, and Stacie. He co-authored Ethnic Realities of Mexican Americans: from colonialism to 21st century globalization, published in 2014. He is presently working on two manuscripts on the Ku Klux Klan and a manuscript of poetry.