Rolando Ortiz was born in Commerce, California to Mexican immigrant parents. After serving time in correctional facilities as a minor and an adult for gang involvement, he turned his life around with the help of an older gang member and mentor who encouraged him to read as much as he could. Thus was born his passion for reading and writing. Ortiz’s first work was published in The Bandana Republic and in two forthcoming anthologies: Angels with Broken Wings and Street Smarts (2011. He conducts writing workshops and speaks to troubled youth and asserts: “Reading and writing saved my life.”
Contact: Rolando Ortiz
