Dancing in the Santa Ana Winds: Poems y Cuentos New and Selected contains twenty-five years of liz gonzalez’s best work. Set against the diverse landscapes of the San Bernardino Valley and Los Angeles, these richly textured straightforward and sometimes humorous real and imagined works illuminate the trials and beauty of girls’ and women’s journeys to reclaim themselves. She explores memories, pivotal experiences, and cultural influences that shaped her: The death of a young father, family relationships that nurture and challenge, and the joys and struggles of growing up as a nontraditional Catholic Mexican American.