Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Mojo Rising |
2017 |
Buy |
Collections#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You: Stories |
2021 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| We Cast a Shadow |
2019 |
Buy |
| The American Daughters |
2024 |
Buy |
Maurice Carlos Ruffin grew up in New Orleans and has set much of his fiction in and around the city. His debut novel, We Cast a Shadow (2019), is a satirical near-future story about a Black father who goes to extreme lengths to protect his biracial son in a society where racial prejudice has been codified into law. The book drew comparisons to the work of Ralph Ellison and Paul Beatty.
His short story collection, The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You (2021), returns to New Orleans for stories about people navigating love, loss, and displacement. His second novel, The American Daughters (2024), is a historical novel set during the era of slavery. Ruffin teaches creative writing at Louisiana State University and has been a fellow at the Aspen Words program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Maurice Carlos Ruffin written?
Maurice Carlos Ruffin has written four books across three series.
What was Maurice Carlos Ruffin's first book?
Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s first book is Mojo Rising, published in 2017.
What awards has Maurice Carlos Ruffin won?
His debut novel We Cast a Shadow was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. His short story collection The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You was a finalist for the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence.