Rudy Ruiz

Rudy Ruiz is a writer, advocate, and social entrepreneur. 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."[1] The book won Best Popular Fiction–English and Best First Book in Fiction at the 2014 International Latino Book Awards.[2] Ruiz is also a regular special contributor to CNN[3][4] 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.[5]

Rudy Ruiz
Born
Rodolfo Ruiz

Brownsville, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Alma materHarvard University
OccupationEntrepreneur, author
Websiterudyruiz.com

Early life

Rudy Ruiz was born in Brownsville, Texas, a bilingual and multicultural city along the border of Mexico.[6] His parents, Rodolfo Ruiz and Lilia Zolezzi Ruiz, were Mexican immigrants.[7][8] After graduating from St. Joseph Academy in 1986, Ruiz went on to Harvard University.[8][9] 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.[8][6] While at Harvard, Ruiz participated in Raza, Harvard's Chicano students organization.[10] He was also part of Harvard's Undergraduate Council.[11]

Career

In 1995, Ruiz co-founded Interlex with his wife Heather in San Antonio, Texas.[12] 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.[13][14][15][16] Interlex is one of the 50 largest U.S. Hispanic advertising agencies.[5] Ruiz is the president and chief executive officer of the firm.[17]

Interlex acquired Californian advertising agency SenaReider in 2012.[15] SenaReider was relocated to San Antonio and spun off from Interlex in 2013.[18] Heather Ruiz is SenaReider's CEO.[18]

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,"[6] and received four prizes at the 2014 International Latino Book Awards,[19] along with another three awards at the Latino Books Into Movies Awards including first place in the Action & Adventure category.[20] Ruiz's fiction writing has also appeared in literary journals such as the Pushcart Prize-winning Ninth Letter.[21] In 2017, Ruiz was awarded the Gulf Coast Prize for fiction.[22]

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.[23]

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.” The novel is scheduled for release in 2020.[24]

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.[25][26]

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.[3][4] He sits 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..[27]

He is also the founding editor of RedBrownandBlue.com, a multicultural political commentary website.[3]

Bibliography
  • ¡ADELANTE!: una guía personal del éxito para usted y su familia (2003) – A guide for success for immigrants.[28]
  • Going Hungry: writers on desire, self-denial, and overcoming anorexia (2008) (Contributor) – A collection of essays about anorexia.[29]
  • Seven for the Revolution (2014) – A series of short stories that explore the lives of Latinos in America.[1] Winner of Best Popular Fiction–English and Best First Book in Fiction at the 2014 International Latino Book Awards.[2] Also won second place Most Inspirational Fiction Book and Honorable Mention Best Cover Design.[30] According to Kirkus Reviews, the book contains "[w]ell-executed stories that offer fresh perspectives on long-standing societal problems."[1]
  • 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.[31]

References
  1. "Seven for the Revolution". Kirkus Reviews. September 4, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. Victoria Brito (July 20, 2014). "Local author wins big at Latino book articles". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  3. Rudy Ruiz (October 5, 2014). "Commentary: A fat tax is a healthy idea". CNN. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  4. Rudy Ruiz (July 24, 2014). "Opinion: Shift U.S. priorities closer to home". CNN. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  5. "50 Largest Hispanic Agencies". Adage. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  6. 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.
  7. Steve Bennett (August 1, 2014). "S.A. writer's stories inspired by border issues". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  8. Victoria Brito. "Brownsville author recognized as award finalist". The Monitor. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  9. Richard Diaz (November 16, 1994). "Contemporary duo keeps Eye on success". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  10. Steven J. Glick (November 3, 1988). "Chicano Students Fast For Nationwide Protest". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  11. "Undergraduate Council". The Harvard Crimson. October 10, 1989. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  12. "Interlex Communications". NSIDE Texas. July 2010. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  13. Danielle Drolet (March 22, 2011). "Advocacy group taps Interlex to combat sugary drink consumption". PR Week US.
  14. Andi Rodriguez (November 18, 2011). "Meals on Wheels TV is seeking to capture Thanksgiving spirit". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  15. W. Scott Bailey (September 26, 2012). "Interlex acquires California advertising agency". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  16. 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.
  17. Andi Rodriguez (June 6, 2014). "SAMA wants to put a little Matisse in your life". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  18. Andi Rodriguez (December 6, 2013). "Turf's up at Generations Federal Credit Union". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  19. Seven for the Revolution "Books into Movies" Award-Winner. November 27, 2015. Latin Heat Entertainment. December 29, 2015
  20. '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.
  21. "Fiction Summer 216". Ninth Letter. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  22. "Announcing the Winners of the 2017 Gulf Coast Prizes". Gulf Coast Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  23. "Review: "Vexing Gifts" by Rudy Ruiz". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  24. Frank, Nicholas. "San Antonio Author Rudy Ruiz Seeks to Build Bridges, Not Walls, Through Fiction".
  25. "The Limes".
  26. "Ports of Entry".
  27. "Board Members - Center for Science in the Public Interest". Center for Science in the Public Interest. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  28. Adelante! : una guía personal del éxito para usted y su familia. WorldCat.org. OCLC 51931772. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  29. Gina Bellafonte (September 19, 2008). "Disappearing to Be Seen". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  30. "2014 Int'l Latino Book Award Winners PR.pdf". International Latino Book Awards. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  31. Terrazas, Lauren; Martinez, Norma (March 29, 2019). "Rudy Ruiz Asks Readers To 'Walk In Someone Else's Shoes For A Few Pages'". www.tpr.org.
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