The El Paso Matters Book Club gathered Tuesday, July 2, at the El Paso Public Library Westside Branch for a discussion with author Daniel Chacón about his book “The Last Philosopher in Texas: Fictions and Superstitions.”

The event highlighted the club’s mission to promote local authors and showcase the talent within the border community. The discussion was led by Jeff Sirkin, an associate professor in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso and author of the poetry collection “Travelers Aid Society.” He introduced Chacón, a professor and chair of the Creative Writing Department at UTEP. Sirkin provided an overview of Chacón’s extensive body of work, which includes “Kafka in a Skirt: Stories from the Wall,” “The Cholo Tree,” “Hotel Juárez: Stories, Rooms, and Loops,” and more. He also mentioned Chacón’s literary radio show on KTEP, “Words on a Wire.”

Chacón shared insights into his writing process, explaining that he writes stories the way he sees reality. In a recent interview, he said that understanding abstract, metaphysical, and intellectual forms of realism allows one to “more effectively predict the future and direct energy” in ways that some might perceive as “magical.”

The characters and fictional short stories in “The Last Philosopher in Texas” are born from that crossover of ideas. The discussion delved into the themes and narratives of Chacón’s book.

The event concluded with announcements from the El Paso Matters team. They revealed the next book for the club, “Retablos” by Octavio Solis, a memoir about growing up near the U.S.-Mexico border. Solis, an acclaimed playwright, is known for works that both draw on and transcend the Mexican-American experience. His most recent play, “Mother Road,” premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California.

To learn more about the El Paso Matters Book Club and sign up for our free newsletter, visit the El Paso Matters Books page.