DAVID RICE splits his time between writing, mentorship, teaching, and community service.
His most recent collection of short stories, Crazy Loco,
was published in April 2001. It has received a wide variety of
prestigious recognition, including the American Library Association
“Best Books for Young Readers 2001” Award.
David Rice was born in
Weslaco, Texas, in 1964, and lived in Edcouch, Texas, for much of his
youth. Most of his stories are set in the Rio Grande Valley, a region
to which he feels much loyalty. David, who is Mexican-American,
inherited his surname from his adoptive grandfather, a poet and writer.
David always
wanted to be a writer, and although he studied business in college, he
also worked as an investigative journalist for his college newspaper.
At age 27, he decided to focus on developing his talents as a creative
storyteller, and began writing the stories which were published in his
first book: Give the Pig a Chance.
David Rice cites his
influences as Raymond Carver, whose blue-collar ethos he admires; and
Rolando Hinojosa, a fellow Mexican-American author from the Rio Grande
Valley. His writing has drawn praise from Hinojosa, and his work has
been anthologized in several publications.
David is a graduate of
Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. He divides his time
between Austin and the Rio Grande Valley, travelling frequently to
teach, mentor, and conduct creative writing workshops. His short
stories are required in over 60 high school English courses and
secondary institutions nationally.
David is currently working on his first novel.
