Ryane Granados ‘00, a First Year Seminar Writing Instructor for the Core Curriculum, recently won the 2023 Leapfrog Press Global Fiction Prize in the Young Adult and Middle Grade Category. This award guarantees global publication in the English-speaking world. Granados’ novel, The Aves, will be published in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Granados, an LMU alumna, credits her Jesuit education for inspiring her to return as an educator and for fostering her creativity.
“The vision of LMU aligns with my teaching and creative writing practice, largely because LMU classes invite students to explore the uniquely diverse ways they can show up on the page,” said Granados. “Through the Ignatian pedagogy, future writers are recognized for their talent, interests, cultural backgrounds, and creative work. As a student, I vividly recall being challenged in the halls of St. Robert’s to find the humanity in my characters, the authenticity in my voice, and the vision in my stories.”
The Aves centers around young protagonist, Zora, as she tackles the trials and triumphs of girlhood, sisterhood, absentee fatherhood, and most often the power of the Aves, a u-shaped borough that is her neighborhood.
“Leapfrog Press is a dream publisher of mine, and in light of what has been a challenging year across the globe, I am grateful to have a moment where I can share some good news. In its simplest and sincerest sentiments, I can unequivocally say that big dreams do come true!” said Granados.
