Prolific San Benito author Beto Conde will be the featured guest presenter at a book signing and author meet & greet on Saturday, June 14 at The Shop with A Little Bit of Everything in San Benito. The event is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include a reading, open Q&A, and book sales on site. (Courtesy photo/Beto Conde)
By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON
Special to the NEWS
A quiet celebration of stories—told, remembered, and lived—is taking place in San Benito this Father’s Day weekend.
On Saturday, June 14, The Shop with a Little Bit of Everything will host a book signing and meet-and-greet featuring local author Beto Conde. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include a reading, an open Q&A session, and on-site book sales.
Conde, who was born and raised on Biddle Street in San Benito, is expected to share selections from his work and connect with attendees through familiar threads of culture, memory, and place. His books, including America Down By The River, American Dream by the River, Memories in Green, and We Were Raza, will be available for purchase.
“I started writing when I returned from Vietnam so I wouldn’t forget my experience there and self-therapy,” Conde said. “Once I started writing about that, I got interested in writing about life growing up here in San Benito.”
Much of his work centers on real moments—ones lived firsthand or passed along through trusted voices. “They say when one writes, one should write about what one knows,” he stated. “So I mostly write about experiences I had or have heard about first hand. Living here in South Texas, and the whole Southwest US is a unique culture actually made up of two enmeshed cultures, so I mostly write about that and about my experience in Vietnam.”
The event, held inside the downtown shop that has steadily become known for its community presence, is part of a continued effort to bring local voices forward.
“The Shop has hosted Mr. Conde in the past as well as authors Ana Cavazos, David Lieja, children’s book local author & book illustrator Stevie Cortez,” said shop owner Iris Garcia. “Our doors are always open to host events that will highlight special individuals such as Mr. Conde.”
For Conde, events like these are a way to build connections between the written word and shared experiences. “Of course I look at the audience and try to guess what they would like to hear and something they themselves can relate to,” he explained. “Since I grew up here, I am aware of the many similar experiences we have had.”
Guests attending the reading can expect something familiar, even comforting. “They can expect to hear stories they might be familiar with in their own lives,” he said. “I am open to answer any questions they might have.”
But beyond the stories, there’s something deeper that Conde hopes to spark. “It is important that the local community realizes that their stories are interesting and important too,” he said. “Talking about these stories gives the community a sense of belonging. And I am glad to be part of that.”
The Shop with a Little Bit of Everything is located at 225 W. Robertson Street in San Benito. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
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