Luis J. Rodriguez
Luis J, Rodriguez is author of 16 books in poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and nonfiction. He’s best known for the bestselling memoir Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Day’s in L.A. The sequel, It Calls You Back: An Odyssey Through Love, Addiction, Revolutions & Healing was a 2012 finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. He’s also founding editor of the renowned small press, Tia Chucha Press, and co-founder of the comprehensive arts & literacy space, Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley. From 2014 to 2016, he served as the official Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. Luis has worked on three TV shows as a script consultant, including for FX’s Snowfall. His play based on Always Running sold out every weekend in 2019 for three months at Casa 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. His last poetry book is Borrowed Bones. His latest book is From Our Land to Our Land: Essays, Journeys & Imaginings from a Native Xicanx Writer.
Why I Write: Books Were My Saving Grace
Luis J. Rodriguez is the July 2022 California Book Club author.
Excerpt: ‘Always Running’
Read the opening pages of Luis J. Rodriguez’s classic memoir, the July CBC pick.
Excerpt: Monsters of Our Own Making
Luis J. Rodriguez shares an excerpt from From Our Land to Our Land: Essays, Journeys, and Imaginings from a Native Xicanx Writer.
‘Make a Poem Cry’
Luis J. Rodriguez was poet laureate of Los Angeles from 2014 to 2016. He’s the author of eight books of poetry and the founding editor of Tia Chucha Press.