Naben Ruthnum

{{short description|Canadian writer}}

Naben Ruthnum is a Canadian writer, who has published work under both his own name and the pen name Nathan Ripley.[https://quillandquire.com/authors/how-nathan-ripley-subverts-genre-conventions-in-his-debut-thriller-find-you-in-the-dark/ "How Nathan Ripley subverts genre conventions in his debut thriller, Find You in the Dark"]. Quill & Quire, January 2018.

He won the Journey Prize in 2013 for his short story "Cinema Rex",[https://quillandquire.com/awards/2013/11/21/mcadam-moore-both-winners-at-writers-trust-awards/ "McAdam, Moore both among winners at Writers’ Trust awards"]. Quill & Quire, November 21, 2013. and has since published the books Curry: Reading, Eating and Race (2017), a non-fiction essay collection about immigrant cultural identity in food and literature,[https://nowtoronto.com/art-and-books/books/jan-wong-naben-ruthnum-food-and-family/ "Toronto authors explore food and family in two wildly different books"]. Now, September 13, 2017. and two literary thriller novels, Find You in the Dark[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/review-nathan-ripleys-cracking-good-debut-thriller-find-you-in-the-dark/article38318925/ "Review: Nathan Ripley’s cracking good debut thriller Find You in the Dark"]. The Globe and Mail, March 22, 2018. and Your Life is Mine. Ruthnum's current novel, A Hero of Our Time, was published in January, 2022{{cite web | title=Naben Ruthnum's timely new novel "A Hero Of Our Time" catches us off guard | website=Toronto Star |author=Robert J. Wiersema |date=January 11, 2022 | url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/reviews/2022/01/11/naben-ruthnums-timely-new-novel-a-hero-of-our-time-catches-us-off-guard.html}} and a novella, Helpmeet, was published in May, 2022.

Originally from Kelowna, British Columbia, Ruthnum is of Mauritian descent.[https://library.ryerson.ca/asianheritage/authors/naben-ruthnum/ "Naben Ruthnum"]. Asian Heritage in Canada. He has a master's degree from McGill University, where he wrote his thesis on the role of Oscar Wilde in the development of the ghost story in British literature.

Ruthnum is also a former musician who was a guitarist for Bend Sinister, a Vancouver-based progressive rock band.{{cite web | website=CBC | url=https://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/naming_rites.html | title=Naming rites | last=Chong | first=Kevin | date=February 28, 2007 | archive-date=March 7, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307045912/https://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/naming_rites.html}}