Rudy Ruiz

Rudy Ruiz was born in Brownsville, Texas, a bilingual and multicultural city along the border of Mexico.{{cite web| url=http://www.latinpost.com/articles/47978/20150416/social-entrepreneur-and-the-award-winning-author-rudy-ruiz-creates-thunderous-nuanced-stories-that-are-socially-and-politically-conscious.htm| title=Award-Winning Author Rudy Ruiz Finds Inspiration By Offering Slices and Snapshots of the Latino Experience| last=Thompson| first=Nicole Akoukou| date=April 16, 2015| publisher=Latin Post| access-date=May 25, 2015}} He is the son and grandson of Mexican immigrants.{{cite news |title=S.A. writer's stories inspired by border issues|author=Steve Bennett|date=August 1, 2014|publisher=San Antonio Express-News|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/San-Antonio-writer-Ruiz-s-stories-inspired-by-5660756.php|accessdate=November 23, 2014}}{{cite news |title=Brownsville author recognized as award finalist|author=Victoria Brito|publisher=The Monitor|url=http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/brownsville-author-recognized-as-award-finalist/article_c7ecb39e-eab0-11e3-bc6e-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm|accessdate=November 23, 2014}} After graduating from St. Joseph Academy in 1986, Ruiz went on to Harvard University.{{cite news |title=Contemporary duo keeps Eye on success|author=Richard Diaz|date=November 16, 1994|publisher=Brownsville Herald|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/texas/brownsville/brownsville-herald/1994/11-16/page-29|accessdate=November 23, 2014}} He graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in government and a master's degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government. While at Harvard, Ruiz participated in Raza, Harvard's Chicano students organization.{{cite news |title=Chicano Students Fast For Nationwide Protest|author=Steven J. Glick|date=November 3, 1988|publisher=The Harvard Crimson|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1988/11/3/chicano-students-fast-for-nationwide-protest/|accessdate=November 23, 2014}} He was also part of Harvard's Undergraduate Council.{{cite news |title=Undergraduate Council|date=October 10, 1989|publisher=The Harvard Crimson|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1989/10/10/undergraduate-council-padams-p1-jane-rangel/|accessdate=November 23, 2014}}

Ruiz's first works were published in literary publications while he attended Harvard. His first book, ¡Adelante!, was published in 2003 by Random House. Ruiz also wrote an essay covering stereotypes and eating disorders called "Ghost of Gordolfo Gelatino," which was published in the book Going Hungry.

In 2014, Ruiz authored Seven for the Revolution, a collection of short stories about the experiences of seven characters as they immigrate to the United States. The book was named as one of "The Top Ten Fiction Books by Latino Authors for 2014" and received four prizes at the 2014 International Latino Book Awards.[http://www.latinheat.com/spotlight-news/seven-for-the-revolution-books-into-movies-award-winner/ Seven for the Revolution "Books into Movies" Award-Winner]. November 27, 2015. Latin Heat Entertainment. December 29, 2015 The novel also earned three awards at the Latino Books into Movies Awards, including first place in the Action & Adventure category.[http://www.latinpost.com/articles/95221/20151116/seven-for-the-revolution-author-rudy-ruiz-honored-at-the-los-angeles-latino-book-family-festival.htm 'Seven for the Revolution' Author Rudy Ruiz Honored at LA Latino Book & Family Festival]. Nicole Akoukou Thompson. November 16, 2015. Latin Post. December 29, 2015.

Ruiz's fiction writing has also appeared in literary journals, such as the Pushcart Prize-winning Ninth Letter.{{cite web| url=http://www.ninthletter.com/web-edition/summer-2016/summer-2016-fiction/155-ruiz| title=Fiction Summer 216| publisher=Ninth Letter| access-date=December 18, 2016}} In 2017, Ruiz was awarded the Gulf Coast Prize for Fiction.{{cite web| url=http://gulfcoastmag.org/contests/2017/| title=Announcing the Winners of the 2017 Gulf Coast Prizes| publisher=Gulf Coast Magazine| access-date=August 4, 2017}}

During the Fall of 2018, the Notre Dame Review published Ruiz's short story, "Vexing Gifts." Reviewed as "vivid" and "palpable," the magical realism satire was highly critical of President Trump's border and immigration policies.{{cite web| url=https://riograndeguardian.com/review-vexing-gifts-by-rudy-ruiz/| title=Review: "Vexing Gifts" by Rudy Ruiz| date=November 24, 2018| publisher=Rio Grande Guardian| access-date=November 28, 2018}}

In December 2018, it was announced that Blackstone Publishing signed a multi-book contract with Ruiz. His first novel, titled The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez, explores "not just the physical border between two countries, but borders between life and death … and past and present."{{cite web|url=https://therivardreport.com/san-antonio-author-rudy-ruiz-seeks-to-build-bridges-not-walls-through-fiction/|title=San Antonio Author Rudy Ruiz Seeks to Build Bridges, Not Walls, Through Fiction|last=Frank|first=Nicholas|date=December 30, 2018 }}

In 2019, New Texas published two of Ruiz's short stories, "Ports of Entry" and "The Limes." The stories were both installments in a border bildungsroman Ruiz wrote.{{cite web|url=http://www.newtexassulross.org/fiction/the-limes/|title=The Limes}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newtexassulross.org/fiction/ports-of-entry/|title=Ports of Entry}}

In 2020, Ruiz's short story, "The Limes" was named a Finalist for the Texas Institute of Letters’ Kay Cattarulla Best Short Story Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.lonestarliterary.com/content/texas-institute-letters-announces-2020-literary-awards/|title=The Limes|date=March 2020 }} Also, his short story, "Oblivious," was selected – and published – as a Finalist for the Texas Observer Annual Short Story Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/short-story-finalist-oblivious/|title=Oblivious|date=October 14, 2020 }} In September 2020, his novel, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez, was released by Blackstone Publishing. The novel won two Gold Medals at the 2021 International Latino Book Awards.{{cite web |title=International Latino Book Awards 2021 |url=https://www.chicano.ucla.edu/files/news/2021%20Intl%20Latino%20Book%20Award%20Winners%20PR%20v1.pdf}}

In 2021, Ruiz’s short story, “Allegiance,” received Honorable Mention for the Dillydoun Review’s International Fiction Prize. It was subsequently published in the Dillydoun Review International Fiction Prize Anthology.{{cite news|url=https://thedillydounreview.com/contests/2021-dillydoun-international-fiction-prize/rudy-ruiz-fiction-prize/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511154104/https://thedillydounreview.com/contests/2021-dillydoun-international-fiction-prize/rudy-ruiz-fiction-prize/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 11, 2022|title=Allegiance|work=The Dillydoun Review}}

In 2022, Ruiz’s novel, Valley of Shadows, was released by Blackstone Publishing.{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/shireenwrites/new-thrillers-and-mystery-books-fall-2022|date=September 8, 2022|title=20 New Mystery And Thriller Novels Coming Out This Fall|work=Buzzfeed}} Valley of Shadows was selected as the winner of the 2023 Texas Institute of Letters' Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction.{{cite news|url=https://texasinstituteofletters.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Press-Release-contest-winners-1.pdf|title=TEXAS INSTITUTE OF LETTERS ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2023 LITERARY AWARDS|work=Texas Institute of Letters}} The novel went on to win Ruiz’s seventh and eighth International Latino Book Awards.

Ruiz was elected as a member of the Texas Institute of Letters in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://texasinstituteofletters.org/twelve-new-members-elected-to-til/|date=March 3, 2024|title=Twelve New Members Elected to TIL|work=Texas Institute of Letters}} Also in 2024, Ruiz’s novel, The Border Between Us, was released by Blackstone Publishing. Following the novel’s release, Ruiz was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, which is awarded to “an author of national consequence".{{cite news|url=https://www.newliteraryproject.org/whats-new/joyce-carol-oates-prize-longlist-announced|date=December 4, 2024|title=Joyce Carol Oates Prize Longlist Announced|work=New Literary Project}}{{cite news|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/The-Border-between-Us-/pid=9795405|title=The Border Between Us|work=Booklist}}

As an advocate, Ruiz has regularly contributed to CNN on issues such as comprehensive immigration reform, and tighter regulation and taxes on sugary drinks and unhealthy foods. His essays on the history of social injustice on the U.S.-Mexico border – “How Rudy Ruiz and His Neo-Western Aim to Change the Conversation About the U.S.-Mexico Border” and “Rudy Ruiz is Remembering the Past” - respectively appeared in LitHub’s CrimeReads and Publishers Weekly.{{cite news|url=https://crimereads.com/rudy-ruiz-neo-western-border/|author=Rudy Ruiz|date=September 27, 2022|title=How Rudy Ruiz and His Neo-Western Aim to Change the Conversation About the U.S.-Mexico Border|work=CrimeReads}}{{cite news|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/91049-rudy-ruiz-is-remembering-the-past.html|author=Rudy Ruiz|date=December 2, 2022|title=Rudy Ruiz Is Remembering the Past|work=Publishers Weekly}}

He served on the board of directors of Center for Science in the Public Interest, a leading non-profit nutrition advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.{{cite web |title=Board Members – Center for Science in the Public Interest|publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest|url=http://www.cspinet.org/about/board.html|accessdate=November 23, 2014}} He was also the founding editor of RedBrownandBlue.com, a multicultural political commentary website.

In support of diverse communities and perspectives, Ruiz created the Harvard College Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fund. He is an active member of PEN America, the International Society of Latino Authors, Writers' League of Texas, Harvardwood, and the Texas Institute of Letters.{{cite news|url=https://www.hastybooklist.com/blog/author-interview-rudy-ruiz|title=Rudy Ruiz|work=Hasty Book List}}

{{Main|Interlex}}

In 1995, Ruiz co-founded Interlex together with his wife Heather Ruiz in San Antonio, Texas.{{cite news|title=Interlex Communications|date=July 2010|publisher=NSIDE Texas|url=http://www.getnside.com/sa/magazine/business/072010/profiles/1649-INTERLEX_COMMUNICATI|accessdate=November 23, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129050105/http://www.getnside.com/sa/magazine/business/072010/profiles/1649-INTERLEX_COMMUNICATI|archivedate=November 29, 2014}}{{cite news |title=Advocacy group taps Interlex to combat sugary drink consumption|author=Danielle Drolet|date=March 22, 2011|publisher=PR Week US}}{{cite news |title=Meals on Wheels TV is seeking to capture Thanksgiving spirit|author=Andi Rodriguez|date=November 18, 2011|publisher=San Antonio Business Journal|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2011/11/18/meals-on-wheels-tv-is-seeking-to.html?page=all|accessdate=November 23, 2014}}{{cite news |title=Interlex acquires California advertising agency|author=W. Scott Bailey|date=September 26, 2012|publisher=San Antonio Business Journal|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/09/interlex-acquires-california.html?page=all|accessdate=November 23, 2014}}{{cite news |title= Alamo City's Interlex to help D.C. group fight beverage battle |author= W. Scott Bailey |date= March 23, 2011 |publisher=San Antonio Business Journal |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2011/03/alamo-citys-interlex-to-help-dc.html?page=all |accessdate= November 23, 2014}} Ruiz is the president and CEO of the firm.{{cite news |title=SAMA wants to put a little Matisse in your life|author=Andi Rodriguez|date=June 6, 2014|publisher=San Antonio Business Journal|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2014/06/06/sama-wants-to-put-a-little-matisse-in-your-life.html?page=3|accessdate=November 23, 2014}}

• ¡ADELANTE!: una guía personal del éxito para usted y su familia (2003) – A guide for success for immigrants.{{cite book |title=Adelante! : una guía personal del éxito para usted y su familia|publisher=WorldCat.org|oclc=51931772|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51931772|accessdate=November 23, 2014}}
• Going Hungry: writers on desire, self-denial, and overcoming anorexia (2008) (Contributor) – A collection of essays about anorexia.{{cite news |title=Disappearing to Be Seen|author=Gina Bellafonte|date=September 19, 2008|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/books/review/Bellafante-t.html?_r=1&|accessdate=November 23, 2014}}
• Seven for the Revolution (2014) – A series of short stories that explore the lives of Latinos in America. Winner of Best Popular Fiction–English and Best First Book in Fiction at the 2014 International Latino Book Awards. Also won second place Most Inspirational Fiction Book and Honorable Mention Best Cover Design.{{cite web |title=2014 Int'l Latino Book Award Winners PR.pdf|publisher=International Latino Book Awards|url=https://app.box.com/s/n5jar49ckpbzltfv2umc|accessdate=November 23, 2014}} According to Kirkus Reviews, the book contains "[w]ell-executed stories that offer fresh perspectives on long-standing societal problems."
• The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez: A Novel (2020) – A novel, largely inspired by the stories of Ruiz's father, about a son of immigrants in a border town during the 1950s.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tpr.org/post/fronteras-extra-rudy-ruiz-asks-readers-walk-someone-elses-shoes-few-pages |title=Rudy Ruiz Asks Readers To 'Walk In Someone Else's Shoes For A Few Pages' |last1=Terrazas | first1=Lauren | last2 = Martinez | first2=Norma |date=March 29, 2019 |website=www.tpr.org |language=en}} ALA's Booklist named it one of the Ten Best Debut Novels of 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://www.yorkcounty.gov/732/Top-Ten-First-Novels)|title=Top Ten First Novels | York County, VA }} In February 2021, it was longlisted for the Reading the West Book Awards.{{Cite web |url=https://readingthewest.com/nominees/|title=Nominees – Reading the West }} It was also named a Finalist for the 2021 Spur Award for Best Contemporary Novel by the Western Writers of America.{{Cite news |url=https://westernwriters.org/2021/03/western-writers-of-america-announces-2021-spur-award-winners/|title=Western Writers of America announces 2021 Spur Award winners |newspaper=Western Writers of America |date=March 8, 2021 }} The novel won two Gold Medals at the 2021 International Latino Book Awards: the Rudolfo Anaya Best Latino Focused Fiction Book and Best Audiobook.
• Valley of Shadows (2022) – A magical realism novel set in West Texas in the 1880s.{{cite web |last=Decuir |first=Marissa |title=INTERNATIONAL LATINO BOOK AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR RELEASING NEWEST WORK OF MAGICAL REALISM IN PAPERBACK THIS FALL |date=September 13, 2021 |url=https://booksforward.com/international-latino-book-award-winning-author-releasing-newest-work-of-magical-realism-in-paperback-this-fall/}} It was released in September 2022 by Blackstone Publishing. ALA’s Booklist gave it a starred review, and LitHub’s CrimeReads named it one of the Best Horror Novels of 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Valley-of-Shadows-/pid=9764679|title=Valley of Shadows|work=Booklist}}{{cite news|url=https://crimereads.com/the-best-horror-fiction-of-2022/|author=Molly Odintz|date=December 21, 2022|title=THE BEST HORROR FICTION OF 2022|work=Crimereads}} The novel was awarded the 2023 Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction by the Texas Institute of Letters. It also received two International Latino Book Awards, for Best Mystery Novel and Best Audio Book.{{cite news|url=https://www.latinobookawards.org/uploads/b/7bf35910-027b-11ea-bb26-f1fe282c6469/1c2ea230-7320-11ee-b8f7-73c402c635b6.pdf|author=Kirk Whisler|title=The 25th Annual International Latino Book Awards Recognized A Record Number of Books|work=International Latino Book Awards}} It was named a New York Times Book Review Paperback Row Selection and was included in the Los Angeles Times' Map of Great American Novels.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/09/29/books/review/new-paperbacks-aviv.html|author=Shreya Chattopadhyay|date=September 8, 2023|title=6 Paperbacks to Read This Week|work=New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-05-28/american-novels-1001-literary-geography-map-states|author=Susan Straight|date=May 28, 2023|title=Opinion: A map of 1,001 novels to show us where to find the real America|work=Los Angeles Times}}
• The Border Between Us: (2024) - A Bildungsroman set along the U.S-Mexico border and in New York City, was released in August 2024 by Blackstone Publishing. ALA’s Booklist gave it a starred review and Kirkus Reviews called it: “A moving story of one family’s toil amid a cultural struggle, told with precision and authenticity." Audible named the Spanish-language version one of the Ten Best Audiobooks of 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/article/rudy-ruiz-border-between-us-18299002.php|author=Peter L. Scarmardo II|date=August 20, 2023|title=Rudy Ruiz's new book reflects on growing up along Texas-Mexico border|work=My San Antonio}}{{cite news|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rudy-ruiz/the-border-between-us/|date=August 27, 2024|title=THE BORDER BETWEEN US|work=Kirkus Reviews}}{{cite news|url=https://www.audible.com/es_US/ep/best-of-the-year-editorial-2024|title=Nuestro top 10|work=Audible}}

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• [http://www.rudyruiz.com Official site]

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Category:American writers of Mexican descent

Category:Living people

Category:People from Brownsville, Texas

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:American male writers

Category:21st-century American writers

Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni

Category:Saint Joseph Academy (Brownsville, Texas) alumni

Category:Writers from San Antonio

Category:Magic realism writers

Category:Harvard College alumni