s b del llano
Writer, poet, educator, and author of Once Wild, a collection of short stories
His fiction, poetry, and non-fiction appear in The New Guard, Sojourn, Hindsight Journal, and Reunion: The Dallas Review.
Buy s b del llano's Books - Coming October 20, 2026!
s b del llano’s Latest Release
“Once Wild heralds a profound, incisive literary voice reminding us that storytelling is not simply entertainment; it's the basis of cultural humanity and the fertile soil in which we might grow ourselves.”
“Once Wild heralds a profound, incisive literary voice reminding us that storytelling is not simply entertainment; it's the basis of cultural humanity and the fertile soil in which we might grow ourselves.”
From the rainforests of Amazonas to the snowy streets of Manhattan, Once Wild is a breathtaking collection that refuses to look away.
del llano's luminous stories plunge into the most raw and defining moments of human experience — a son unearths a haunting family secret, a refugee lawyer delivers a devastating truth to a grieving family, a widow smuggles her poet husband's ashes across the seven seas.
Each tale arrives with the force of lived truth: visceral, compassionate, and shot through with unexpected humor. Written with the lyrical precision of a master, Once Wild is a stunning testament to resilience — proof that our most fracturing moments are also, somehow, the ones that make us whole.
“Once Wild heralds a profound, incisive literary voice reminding us that storytelling is not simply entertainment; it's the basis of cultural humanity and the fertile soil in which we might grow ourselves.”
Susan Ayotte Norman, author
The Best of their Blunders
The BookLife Prize
“Bold colors, characters bursting with life, and large gestures abound. The title story - and the title itself - is a perfect example with heartbreaking tragedy against a backdrop of raw, beautiful, and terrifying nature. And what range! This is a world tour of culture in one volume, the planet is his canvas. del llano is an incredible new voice in literary fiction.”
Matt Bondurant, author
North Country
"Once Wild is a stunning collection that creates a mosaic of pain, grief, and human connection. Each vignette is distinct in setting, voice, and tone, yet all are moving and emotive, digging into trauma, self-acceptance, mental health, and more—at times through conventional settings and at others through a fantasy lens. del llano's writing is graceful and polished, melding magic with the everyday while evoking powerful imagery and sensory detail."
“Transporting readers to diverse global settings, characters from various backgrounds are all seeking belonging and refuge. del llano's prose is lyrical - balancing humor and tragedy leaving us with a lasting emotional impact.”
Julie Price Carpenter, author
Things Get Weird in Whistlestop