books:

the house of order–stories (2012)

Manito Ortiz sorts family truth from legend as broken as the steel industry and the rusting vehicles that line Spruce Street. The only access to his lost family’s story is his uncle, the unreliable Neto Ortiz.

little mocos–a novel in stories (2017)

Bea and Manito are curious and sensitive “little mocos” from Southern Colorado who must face the reality of dead fathers, absent mothers, and the notorious murderer Ray “Cornbread” Vigil.

reviews:

“These stories find John Paul Jaramillo hitting his stride as an acute observer and chronicler of hard and valuable lives. The writing conveys great warmth and understanding. This is a career to watch.” —Tracy Daugherty, author of One Day the Wind Changed

“Besides the razor-sharp writing which brings even those characters whom we meet only briefly vividly and memorably to life, what compelled me was my affection and concern for the narrator, who sets out to record the stories of his elders, and through them, to understand the forces that have shaped and directed his own experience. The result is a collection of stories that holds together like a shattered vessel, whose fragments have been gathered and expertly glued. Manito himself, battered by drink and drugs and the abuses of combat, barely holds together sometimes — but even at his lowest and darkest, the impulse remains in him to comfort and assist. It’s this that saves him, and that sets this collection apart — and above, in my opinion — less forgiving depictions of people struggling to take control of their lives.” —Jennifer C. Cornell, author of Departures

“If you like writing that is unpredictable and makes you think, this collection is for you.  These short stories have characters with complex, sometimes depressing, but always fascinating lives.” —Latino Stories.com 

“Raw and highly emotional at times, Jaramillo’s stories give a realistic look in to the lives of his characters as he presents short vignettes that hint at a deeper family saga. His style is easy to read and his concise wording retains a surprising amount of detail. All in all, The House of Order is a compelling set of stories and should Jaramillo continue to present such fantastic storytelling, there is no doubt he will gain many new readers.” —San Francisco Book Review

“Jaramillo is writing about working in Southern Colorado farm fields, driving and drinking beer and smoking pot; visiting family members in the state penitentiary; about tattooed pregnant girls, dirty kids in laundromats and their desperate mothers–and the pain-filled list goes on, back through several decades. What saves these stories is the grace in which they are written.”–Mary Jean Porter, Chieftain.com

“Each story in Jaramillo’s collection stands alone, but together they make a powerful combination, with vivid descriptions, realistic characters, and strong emotions that will make readers cry, laugh, cringe and hope.” —Latina Book Club

“The House of Order is an enticing read that shouldn’t be overlooked for those looking for a down to earth short fiction collection.” —Midwest Book Review

“The book is filled with beautiful moments, like shards of broken stained-glass window lying in the dirt. This book will open your eyes to a new way of life and will leave you with haunting images not soon forgotten. A worthy read.” —IndieReader

Jaramillo’s second novel in stories builds on his debut collection, and fans of that work will likely find much to enjoy here. His writing is crisp, concise, and realistic, with a gimlet eye for the details of his characters’ grim existences. —Kirkus Reviews 

“Little Mocos, as the cover artwork suggests, depicts a grey and hazardous world with only a flower of hope sprouting defiantly against all odds.” —Latino Book Review

selected stories:

“poca loca” Finalist Glimmer Train’s Very Short Fiction Contest

“highway motel” online at The Write Launch

“Crew of Boys” online at Nat. Brut the responsible future of art and literature

“Six Armed Cross at La Garita“ online at La Casita Grande

“Wrecks” at The Grief Diaries: A Magazine of Art and Writing About Loss

“Bear and Peaches” at Somos en Escrito the Latino Literary Online Magazine

“Little Mocos” online at Duende Literary

“Trip Home” online at Fogged Clarity Arts Journal

“Arkansas Flood 1964” in Pilgrimage Magazine

“Donoso’s Hell” in Antique Children Journal

“Grown-Ass Men” in Sleet Magazine

“Descansos” in Paraphilia Magazine

“Tattoos” in Flash Forward Press Anthology

“Penance” in Verdad Magazine

“Laundromat Story” in Crash Literary Journal

“Juanita’s Boy” in In-Digest Magazine

“Rabbit Story” in the Copper Nickel Review

“Driven to the Fields” in Antique Children Arts Quarterly

“Little Blue Box” in Antique Children Arts Journal

“Farmhouse in the Lanes” in the Acentos Review

bio:
Johnstories have appeared in numerous publications, including the Acentos Review, Palabra, A Magazine of Chicano and Latino Literary Art and Somos en Escrito. He is the author of the collection The House of Order, named a 2013 Int’l Latino Book Award Finalist; and the novel in stories Little Mocos from Twelve Winters Press. In 2013 Latino Boom: An Anthology of U.S. Latino Literature listed Jaramillo as one of its Top 10 New Latino Authors to Watch and Read.

contact: 5250 Shepherd Road / Dept. of Arts and Humanities / Lincoln Land Community College / Springfield, IL 62796 / 217-786-2897 /  john.jaramillo@llcc.edu / twitter /