Victor Villaseñor, the three-time Pulitzer-nominated author, has announced several NFTs based on his works will be auctioned off, with part of the proceeds going to charities as well.
He is auctioning them off through ViciNFT, with bidders going to OpenSea and using Ether to bid. The auction begins on May 6 and ends on May 11th, starting at 9 AM EST and ending at 5 PM EST.
For those who do not know about Villaseñor — you already know his works. Here’s a refresher.
Macho!
His first published work, released in 1991, is a novel. The protagonist is 17-year old Roberto Garcia, who crosses the Mexican border to the US to California, going through the trials and tribulations an immigrant has to face when they cross the border.
Rain of Gold
Rain of Golds his bestseller, published in the same year as Macho! Rain of Gold is the story of his undocumented immigrant parents who escaped Mexico during the Mexican revolution. It’s available in over seven languages and is the result of 12 years of research from Villaseñor. Rain of Gold focuses on his mother’s side of the family.
Wild Steps of Heaven
Wild Steps of Heaven book, published in 1996, tells the story of his father’s side of the family. For those looking for a followup to Rain of Gold, Wild Steps of Heaven may be just what you’re looking for.
Thirteen Senses: A Memoir
Thirteen Senses is a book which continues his family story, exploring his parents’ marriage. Published in 2001, The book was published 10 years after his bestseller and is a good way to finish his family’s story.
The Frog and His Friends Save Humanity
Published in 2005, The Frog and His Friends Save Humanity is a book for young children about a group of animals who discover a mysterious, shelless creature in the forest. With beautiful illustrations, both parents and children will love this book
Burro Genius: A Memoir
Now, we learn about Victor’s story. Burro Genius describes him growing up in the 1940s, where he was an outcast who spoke little English. He also writes about his dyslexia, which he later used to his advantage as a writer.
Burro Genius, published in 2006, took Villaseñor 40 years to create, going through many drafts and iterations.
Lion Eyes
Lion Eyes is a 2008 book about the true story of Jan Milburn, who was lost in a snowstorm and was helped by a mountain lion.
Crazy Loco Love
Also published in 2008, Crazy Coco Love is a book about Victor’s teenage years and the struggles that come with it. As of right now, this is the last book published by Villaseñor.
Besides writing, Villaseñor is also known for speaking in public schools. You can find him speaking about the importance of heritage and world peace, all of which are elements that are important to him.
His Auction
Villaseñor’s auction is a celebration of his decades of writing. His NFT has a handwritten quote and signature by him, describing his inspiration from his grandmother.
The NFT designer is ViciNFT, which is a carbon-neutral service led by a man named Bill Gladstone. He is a literary agent and author with experience working with many different celebrities. Gladstone said he hopes the collaboration with Villaseñor will give way to other authors who want to express themselves.
The proceeds will go to an environmental charity. Charities are something Villaseñor is proud to support, be it local charities or his own. Villaseñor thanked his high school teacher, other writers, and all the other people over the years who have given him inspiration or support.
He expressed support of NFTs, hoping they will inspire writers of the future and help to fund charities that will allow other writers to flourish.
The Future of NFTs
As of right now, NFTs are still a new technology that has jumped in popularity as of late. It’s a way for artists to sell their works and for buyers to have something to prove they are the owner of the piece of art. While there is still work to be done on them, such as making the piece of art truly private, NFTs do show potential.
NFTs are in, supporting both local artists, and big-time names, and some are even creating an Author Trading Card, which might change the future of authors and publishing.
Villaseñor hopes to change the artist world, giving a voice to artists both big and small, rather than pursuing a monetary gain.
By participating in the auction, you are not only supporting a local author but helping to improve the tech that will support artists for the future.
