About Sylvana

I’m a writer and former journalist. I published the award winning Viva Dallas! Magazine in the 90s, receiving the Ford Hispanic Salute for “quality education and literacy”. After two decades of working in the arts and education, I've decided to return to my writing roots and publish Viva Texas! Blog.

I’ve lived in many places including Lubbock, where I attended TTU. I studied Mass Communications and worked for El Editor Newspaper. Lubbock holds a special place in my heart. I have also lived in Austin, Houston, Cockrell Hill, and currently reside in Dallas.

Crystal City is my hometown and that's where the heart is. My parents live there along with family – six generations of Avila and Flores. I have roots in Eagle Pass, Laredo, Uvalde, Bracketville, Del Rio, and Coahuila, Mexico.

I’ve visited every part of Texas and plan to travel our great state. Expect to read about everything under the big Texas sky.

Sylvana Flores Avila, Publisher

Viva Texas! Blog

Sylvana Flores Avila, Publisher

About Viva Texas!

Welcome to the Viva Texas! Blog.

I'm very excited to be writing about Texas because there's so much to write about. I'll be sharing my perspective on topics you may be familiar with and some that may be new to you. My plans are always grand and I like to live large. So, it's fitting that I chose to write about Texas. The slogan, "Everything under the big Texas sky" is not new, but few can truly reflect its grandness.

The four characteristics that best describe Texas, listed below, will be my guide as I write about and photograph our great state:

The Culture - with deep roots in Native and Hispanic heritage - Tex-Mex food & drink; Spanglish; Tejano & Conjunto music; Fiestas and more.
The People - conviction and passion for community, faith, family, friendship, and love.
The Place - few places are as unique and diverse as Texas: with cities, rural communities such as pueblos, small towns, urban cities and suburbs that add contrasts; destinations with beaches, rivers, lakes, hill country, and the border.
The Spirit - the values that guide us, can-do attitude, and always giving back.