Selena

A lovingly documented biography of music superstar Selena Quintanilla's life, work, and musical legacy.

Selena Quintanilla was a vibrant musical performer, wildly pouplar in the growing field of Tejano music. But her rising star suddenly fell when she was murdered at the age of 23.

At the time of her death, Selena was poised to break into the mainstream music scene. But as she enjoyed professional success beyond her wildest dreams, her personal life had more than its share of troubles. There was family tension surrounding her marriage to guitarist Chris Perez, and mounting pressure between her and the manager of her fashion boutiques, Yolanda Saldivar.

Bestselling author Jo Nick Patoski recounts both the ups and downs of Selena's life, as well as her stunning transformation into a sensual Latina superstar. Most of all, he pays tribute to the life of this one-of-a-kind talent and a young life cut short by murder, but one that will never be forgotten.

Joe Nick Patoski writes about Texas and Texans. A former cab driver and staff writer for Texas Monthly magazine, and one-time reporter at the Austin American-Statesman, he has authored and co-authored biographies of Willie Nelson, Selena, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the Dallas Cowboys, and collaborated with photographer Laurence Parent on books about the Texas Mountains, the Texas Coast, and Big Bend National Park. He wrote essays for the 2015 book Homegrown: Austin Music Posters, 1968-1982 and Conjunto by John Dyer with Juan Tejeda. He has covered conservation in the book Generations on the Land: A Conservation Legacy and the state religion of Texas in the book Texas High High School Football: More Than the Game.