The Enemy Sleeps at Cerritos Public Library

Cerritos Public Library welcomes author David A. Romero for a signing of his latest book, The Enemy Sleeps!

Cerritos Public Library

18025 Bloomfield Ave,

Cerritos, CA 90703, USA

The Enemy Sleeps

Who killed Eliza Vazquez? As a Mexican-American family moves from Boyle Heights, Los Angeles into the sleepy suburban town of Harper they are met with suspicion. Who is the so-called "Harper Murderer?" Is it Michael Martinez, a construction supervisor with a quick temper and an anti-immigrant bias, Robert Parsons, a known racist with a number of secrets kept from his family and community, or Kenton Weaver, a disgraced former teacher who is haunted by the ghost of one of his students? Grievances both new and old emerge as members of the Martinez family, the Parsons family, and Weaver become tangled in a disastrous chain of events before a shocking conclusion.

David A. Romero

David A. Romero is a Mexican-American poet, novelist, and publisher from Diamond Bar, CA. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of El Martillo Press. Romero is the author of the novel The Enemy Sleeps (El Martillo Press, 2026) and the books of poetry My Name Is Romero (FlowerSong Press, 2020) and Diamond Bars 2 (Moon Tide Press, 2024). Romero has received honorariums from nearly a hundred colleges and universities in thirty-four different states in the USA and has also performed live in Mexico, Italy, and France. His poem, "You Were Born a Tree" was sent to the Moon by NASA in 2025 as part of the Lunar Codex. Romero's work has been published in literary magazines and anthologies in the United States, Mexico, England, Scotland, Cuba, Canada, and Hungary. Romero has opened for Latin Grammy winning bands Ozomatli and La Santa Cecilia. Romero's work has been published in anthologies alongside poets laureate Joy Harjo, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Luis J. Rodriguez, Jack Hirschman, and Tongo Eisen-Martin. Romero has won the Uptown Slam at the historic Green Mill in Chicago; the birthplace of slam poetry. Romero's poetry deals with family, identity, social justice issues, and Latine culture. 

Cerritos Public Library

The Cerritos Library is operated by the City of Cerritos and serves the informational, educational, professional, recreational and general interest needs of the community. The award-winning Cerritos Library is the world's first "Experience Library," incorporating themed spaces to stimulate patrons' imagination. Cerritos Library offers an extensive collection of physical and digital resources, museum-quality exhibitions and an exciting collection of artwork. The Cerritos Library is proud to be a Smithsonian Affiliate.

El Martillo Press

Founded by Matt Sedillo and David A. Romero, El Martillo Press publishes writers whose pens strike the page with clear intent; words with purpose to pry apart assumed norms and to hammer away at injustice. El Martillo Press proactively publishes writers looking to pound the pavement to promote their work and the work of their fellow pressmates. El Martillo is the builder of bridges and the destroyer of walls.

https://www.elmartillopress.com/product-page/the-enemy-sleeps-by-david-a-romero