SAN ANTONIO - “Hush, dad. I’m talking.”
Selena to Abraham. On the bus. In Austin. She was in control. Says Joe Nick Patoski, the man who wrote the book “Selena: Como La Flor.”
At the time, Patoski was writing a story on Selena’s burgeoning stardom for Texas Monthly. And the book that wasn’t even on the radar; that only came after her death.
Patoski spoke to News 4, along with many others close to Selena Quintanilla-Perez, in reflection of her passing. [Editor’s note: Patoski spoke to us just before the pandemic.]
In this interview, Patoski reflects on Selena’s rise in the music industry, but also explains her other dream and all that was lost in March 1995. He also describes how Yolanda Saldivar, still imprisoned for Selena’s murder, befriended the Tejano singer.
The aftermath of Selena’s death revealed a lot about Texas, says Patoski. Those who didn’t know her. And those completely devastated by her sudden passing.
Patoski has written about Texans for decades. He’s also written books on Stevie Ray Vaughan and Willie Nelson. Patoski was a staff writer at Texas Monthly for 18 years and has also written for the Texas Observer, People Magazine, National Geographic and The New York Times.