Valleysong is a “must-read” for those who know and love the Rio Grande Valley, or for those who are just plain curious about what life is like on Texas’ bicultural southern border with Mexico. It is a collection of short stories, poems and essays which drum out the steady rhythm of life in “The Valley” and capture its distinctive cadence in words which are at times poignant, at times humorous, but always entertaining. The song emerges from the influence of The Valley’s Hispanic and Anglo cultures, its semi-tropical flora and fauna, its gentle winters and brutal summers, and the love shared by family and friends. The stories are told by 15 local writers who recount the history and nature of this developing land, as it has evolved from a frontier region into a modern society, without losing its laid back charm. Grackles and ghosts, hurricanes and hunting, the VTC and HEB, bandanas and the Basilica, floozies and folklore—you’ll find them all here, plus much more.