One of the best things about San Antonio is the number of creative people who live here. Authors, dancers, musicians, actors and artists give San Antonio life. A bumper sticker you see around town reads, “Arte es vida.” (Art is life.) I couldn’t agree more, and I feel extremely fortunate to live in a city that celebrates and prioritizes the arts.

I’m beyond happy and grateful that my path crossed with one local author, who happened to be my bellydancing instructor at the TriPoint YMCA. Xelena González and her friend/illustrator, Adriana M. Garcia, have created a book that exemplifies San Antonio and its rich mestizo (Native American and Spanish) culture.

“All Around Us” is a celebration of the circle of life. Published by Cinco Puntos Press in October 2017, the book has been well received in more than 30 U.S. cities. Xelena and Adriana were both born and raised on the West Side of San Antonio, Texas. They’ve lived abroad in China (Xelena) and Spain (Adriana), but San Antonio calls them home.

Xelena lived in Guangzhou, China, over the past two years, working at an international school as a school librarian. We met over huevos rancheros at Maria’s Cafe to catch up on our lives. Unsurprisingly, our meal contained several circles (corn tortillas, the yolks of the fried eggs and our coffee cups). As Xelena’s book shows us, circles––connections––are everywhere. We just have to look.

For those who’d like to take their storytelling to the next level, I recommend San Antonio’s own Gemini Ink. I’ve taken several classes at Gemini. Two of my favorites were a Creative Nonfiction (Literary Journalism) course by Lee Gutkind and a Writers’ Workshop with Texas Monthly executive editor and San Antonio native Mimi Swartz.

Meanwhile, put “All Around Us” on your list of books to purchase. The DoSeum and The Twig both have signed copies. Whomever you give it to will be happy to have it! It’s beauty, both written and visual, inspires.

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!