"THE SOUTHLAND tells the story of three unauthorized Mexican immigrants living in Los Angeles: Luz works multiple jobs to provide for herself and her teenage son Eliseo. Nadia, a former journalist with PTSD, fled Mexico and tries to stay hidden from the dangerous men that she exposed in Sinaloa. Ostelinda works as a laborer in a garment factory, having been deceived by coyotes and imprisoned in the same building since her arrival. Their lives intersect through terrifying circumstance that clarify and contrast the horrors of existence"-- Amazon.com
Johnny Shaw Book order
Johnny Shaw crafts narratives deeply rooted in the vibrant and often gritty atmosphere of the Calexico/Mexicali border, a setting that profoundly shapes his storytelling. His writing delves into the complexities of life on this frontier, exploring themes of identity, survival, and the blurred lines between right and wrong with a distinctive, unflinching voice. Shaw's fiction is characterized by its raw energy and potent blend of literary depth and pulpy excitement. His background in screenwriting further informs his ability to construct taut, compelling plots and memorable characters that resonate with readers.





- 2020
- 2014
Plaster City
- 337 pages
- 12 hours of reading
"Jimmy Veeder and Bobby Maves are back at it, two years after the events of Dove Season--they're not exactly the luckiest guys in the Imperial Valley, but, hey, they win more fights than they lose. Settled on his own farmland and living like a true family man after years of irresponsible fun, Jimmy's got a straight life cut out for him. But he's knocking years off that life thanks to fun-yet-dangerous Bobby's booze-addled antics--especially now that Bobby is single, volatile, profane as ever, and bored as hell. When Bobby's teenage daughter goes missing, he and Jimmy take off on a misadventure that starts out as merely unfortunate and escalates to downright calamitous. Bobby won't hesitate to kick a hornets' nest to get the girl to safety, but when the rescue mission goes riotously sideways, the duo's grit--and loyalty to each other--is put to the test"--Publisher's website.
- 2011
Jack Veeder is dying. Soon. And that impending event brings his son Jimmy back to the Imperial Valley of southern California just north of the Calexico/Mexicali border. Jimmy hopes he can spend what time his father has left laughing and reminiscing. But Jack's got one dying request. He needs Jimmy to find a Mexican prostitute named Yolanda. Enlisting the help of his boyhood friend Bobby Maves, the pair stumbles through the violent, the exploited, and the corrupted of Mexicali. It doesn't take long before they're in over their heads. And as Jimmy tries to survive the dangers of the Mexicali underworld, he unwittingly uncovers truths about his father he never imagined, forcing Jimmy to come to terms with the man he thought he knew, and to decide just what sort of man he wants to become. " Johnny Shaw] is excellent at creating a sense of place with a few deft strokes... he moves effortlessly between dark comedy and moments that pack a real emotional punch, and he's got a knack for off-kilter characters who are completely at home in their own personal corners of oddballdom." - Tana French, author of In the Woods, Faithful Place
- 2002
Starting out: the Queen's Gambit
- 144 pages
- 6 hours of reading
In this easy-to-read guide, the author goes back to the basics of the Queen's Gambit Declined, studying the key principles of its many variations. This book is part of the Starting Out series, which also includes: The Sicilian, The Nimzo Indian, The French, The King's Indian, and The Caro-Kann.
- 1984
The Nature Photographer´s
Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques
From one of America's most gifted photographers comes this field-tested handbook. Stunning color photographs and a well-written text cover everything photographers need to know.