Out of Their Minds: The Incredible and (Sometimes) Sad Story of Ramon and Cornelio

God's favorite music is norteño corridos? A rockin' novel about Mexico, music, and the rock star lifestyle.

"Hey, what's up, come a little closer, I have something to tell you," God said to Cornelio. The deal was simple: God would be the silent partner in the norteño band that Cornelio had started with his best friend Ramon. Cornelio would sing and play the bajo sexto, Ramon the accordion, and God would write the songs. Cornelio agreed; he would sell his soul to God.

Success and disaster followed. The band went from playing bars in Tijuana to playing the biggest stadiums in Mexico. Women started fan clubs dedicated to their heroes Ramon and Cornelio. It seemed to Cornelio and Ramon that they had everything, but fame was a cruel mistress. Ramon and Cornelio's story has some loose parallels to a real Mexican band, but it's also the apocryphal story of the Beatles and the kids tuning up in the garage down the street.

Luis Humberto Crosthwaite was born in Tijuana, Mexico. A journalist and jefe at a small press called Yoremito, he has also worked on a number of highly acclaimed translations such as Olor a perfume de viejita and Still Dreaming/Seguimos Soñando. Whoever looks into his heart would see the Pacific Ocean--ah, those beautiful sunsets! He lives with his family in the same town that he was born.

Francisco Delgado, a fronterizo artist, was born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico in 1974. Throughout his life he has resided in both twin cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez. Delgado's artworks reflect the United States and Mexican Border life and speak to the working class of the barrios. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso and received his MFA from the Yale School of Art. His paintings have appeared on book covers, in national art exhibits, and in private collections and community institutions. His picture books include ¡Si, Se Puede! / Yes We Can!; Juanito Counts to Ten; and Birdie's Beauty Parlor. Francisco and his wife Barbara have three children. Find him on the web at franciscodelgado.weebly.com.

John Byrd, writer and editor, is the former president of Cinco Puntos Press. He co-edited Puro Border (Cinco Puntos/Lee & Low Books) and Lone Star Noir (Akashic Books). He also translated the children's book The Festival of Bones/El festival de las calaveras by Luis San Vicente and the novel Out of Their Minds by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite. He is now a Senior Editor at the Aerospace Center at the University of Texas in El Paso.