Rudy Ruiz

Last updated

Rudy Ruiz
Rudy R 018-headshot.jpg
BornRodolfo Ruiz
Brownsville, Texas
OccupationAuthor, entrepreneur
NationalityAmerican
Education
Notable worksAdelante, Seven for the Revolution, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez, Valley of Shadows
Notable awards
  • International Latino Book Award for Best Popular Fiction
  • International Latino Book Award for Best First Book (Fiction)
  • Gulf Coast Prize in Fiction
  • Rudolfo Anaya Award for Best Latino Focused Fiction Book
  • International Latino Book Award for Best Audiobook
  • Texas Institute of Letters Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction
  • International Latino Book Award for Best Mystery
  • Member of the Texas Institute of Letters
Website
rudyruiz.com

Rudy Ruiz is an American writer, advocate, and social entrepreneur. Ruiz is known for writing The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and Valley of Shadows, magical realism novels which received critical acclaim and literary awards. [1] [2] In 2014, Ruiz authored Seven for the Revolution, a book that explores the "hard lives of Latinos and the fraught relations between their native and adoptive countries." [3] The book won Best Popular Fiction–English and Best First Book in Fiction at the 2014 International Latino Book Awards. [4] Ruiz is also a regular special contributor to CNN [5] [6] and co-founder of Interlex, an advertising and marketing agency whose work is focused on "public sector, non-profit, and socially conscientious marketing for multicultural audiences." Interlex is one of the 50 largest U.S. Hispanic advertising agencies, according to AdAge. [7]

Contents

Early life

Rudy Ruiz was born in Brownsville, Texas, a bilingual and multicultural city along the border of Mexico. [8] He is the son and grandson of Mexican immigrants. [9] [10] After graduating from St. Joseph Academy in 1986, Ruiz went on to Harvard University. [10] [11] 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. [10] [8] While at Harvard, Ruiz participated in Raza, Harvard's Chicano students organization. [12] He was also part of Harvard's Undergraduate Council. [13]

Career

In 1995, Ruiz co-founded Interlex with his wife Heather in San Antonio, Texas. [14] Interlex is an advocacy and cause-related advertising and marketing firm that has worked with clients such as the Pan American Development Foundation, Tracfone Wireless’ SafeLink brand, American Express, Texas Department of Transportation, AARP, American Heart Association and Center for Science in the Public Interest. [15] [16] [17] [18] Interlex is one of the 50 largest U.S. Hispanic advertising agencies. [7] Ruiz is the president and chief executive officer of the firm. [19]

Interlex acquired Californian advertising agency SenaReider in 2012. [17] SenaReider was relocated to San Antonio and spun off from Interlex in 2013. [20] Heather Ruiz is SenaReider's CEO. [20]

Literary career

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," [8] and received four prizes at the 2014 International Latino Book Awards, [21] along with another three awards at the Latino Books into Movies Awards including first place in the Action & Adventure category. [22] Ruiz's fiction writing has also appeared in literary journals such as the Pushcart Prize-winning Ninth Letter . [23] In 2017, Ruiz was awarded the Gulf Coast Prize for fiction. [24]

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 is highly critical of President Trump's border and immigration policies. [25]

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." [26]

In 2019, New Texas, a Journal of Literature and Culture, published two of Ruiz's short stories, "Ports of Entry" and "The Limes." The stories are both installments in a border bildungsroman Ruiz is writing. [27] [28]

In 2020, Ruiz's short story, "The Limes," originally published in New Texas, was named a Finalist for the Texas Institute of Letters’ Kay Cattarulla Best Short Story Award. [29] Also, his short story, "Oblivious," was selected – and published – as a Finalist for the Texas Observer Annual Short Story Award. [30] 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. [31]

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. [32]

In 2022, Ruiz’s novel, Valley of Shadows, was released by Blackstone Publishing. [33] Valley of Shadows was selected as the winner of the 2023 Texas Institute of Letters' Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction. [34] The novel went on to win Ruiz’s seventh and eighth International Latino Book Awards. [35]

Ruiz was elected as a member of the Texas Institute of Letters in 2024. [36]

Advocacy

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. [5] [6] 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. [37]

He was also the founding editor of RedBrownandBlue.com, a multicultural political commentary website. [5]

In support of diverse communities and perspectives, Ruiz created the Harvard College Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fund and is an active member of PEN America, the International Society of Latino Authors, Writer’s League of Texas, Harvardwood, and the Texas Institute of Letters. [36] [38]

Bibliography

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References

  1. "San Antonio author Rudy Ruiz talks about his debut novel 'The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez'". San Antonio Express-News. September 16, 2020.
  2. "Watch: Rudy Ruiz discusses his new book, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez". Rio Grande Guardian. August 28, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Seven for the Revolution". Kirkus Reviews. September 4, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Victoria Brito (July 20, 2014). "Local author wins big at Latino book articles". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Rudy Ruiz (October 5, 2014). "Commentary: A fat tax is a healthy idea". CNN. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Rudy Ruiz (July 24, 2014). "Opinion: Shift U.S. priorities closer to home". CNN. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "50 Largest Hispanic Agencies". Adage. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 Thompson, Nicole Akoukou (April 16, 2015). "Award-Winning Author Rudy Ruiz Finds Inspiration By Offering Slices and Snapshots of the Latino Experience". Latin Post. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  9. Steve Bennett (August 1, 2014). "S.A. writer's stories inspired by border issues". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Victoria Brito. "Brownsville author recognized as award finalist". The Monitor. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  11. Richard Diaz (November 16, 1994). "Contemporary duo keeps Eye on success". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  12. Steven J. Glick (November 3, 1988). "Chicano Students Fast For Nationwide Protest". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  13. "Undergraduate Council". The Harvard Crimson. October 10, 1989. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  14. "Interlex Communications". NSIDE Texas. July 2010. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
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  18. W. Scott Bailey (March 23, 2011). "Alamo City's Interlex to help D.C. group fight beverage battle". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  19. Andi Rodriguez (June 6, 2014). "SAMA wants to put a little Matisse in your life". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  20. 1 2 Andi Rodriguez (December 6, 2013). "Turf's up at Generations Federal Credit Union". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
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  22. '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.
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  26. Frank, Nicholas (December 30, 2018). "San Antonio Author Rudy Ruiz Seeks to Build Bridges, Not Walls, Through Fiction".
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  28. "Ports of Entry".
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  30. "Oblivious". October 14, 2020.
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  34. 1 2 "TEXAS INSTITUTE OF LETTERS ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2023 LITERARY AWARDS" (PDF). Texas Institute of Letters.
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