Daniel Chacón, an award-winning fiction writer, is inspired by physics. Addressing a crowd of more than 100 people on Thursday afternoon at Napa Valley College, Chacón used the concept of string theory to encourage young writers to think beyond the familiar by tapping into the imagination.

Chacón — also a professor in the University of Texas at El Paso’s creative writing masters program — read excerpts from his published works, autographed students’ copies of his books and fielded questions from the audience about the writing process.

The Fresno native turned El Paso resident — who teaches at America’s first bilingual master of fine arts program, according to a press release from NVC — authored a book of short stories titled “Chicano Chicanery.” The book, published by Arte Publico Press in 2000, contains 13 tales of the survival of its Latino characters.

Chacón’s novel, “and the shadows took him,” was first published by Atria Books in 2004 and features an Hispanic-American family’s struggles in its quest for the American dream.

Chacón, 44, said he recently entered one of his newer short stories, “Calabi-Yau,” in a fiction contest offered by the Chicago Tribune. The contest elicited 1,700 entries and Chacón said his piece is in the final 11.

Chacón read the story for the audience after explaining that it is from his work in progress, “The Chicano Book of the Dead” — which is scheduled to be finished at the close of 2008.

“Calabi-Yau” features Brad, a prolific musician and composer who felt compelled to write a symphony upon turning 35. The character caught a glimpse into his future when he had a vision featuring an older white house and a beautiful, red-haired girlfriend. The story ended tragically and readers are left to decide whether the red-haired woman is a product of Brad’s imagination.

Next, Chacón read “Page 55” to the audience — a story about a man who developed a fixation on an antique book he bought at a shop in Poland. The character, who grows obsessed with reading more and more of the book, is convinced that doing so will somehow delay his death.

Chacón, who said he admires the work of Franz Kafka, Flannery O’Connor, Toni Morrison and others, has some advice for young fiction writers. “Don’t stop. We all have talent, but talent won’t get you there without persistence,” he said, adding that all writers benefit from reading as often as possible. Chacón said he typically writes between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and told students that a part of them already knows what career path they will choose.

“My soul knew it all along, even if I didn’t,” he said.