David Rice grew up in Edcouch and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Texas State University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He is the author of Give the Pig a Chance, Heart-Shaped Cookies, and the award-winning Crazy Loco. He is the author of feature films and plays. South Texas and his Mexican American culture are sources of his artistic inspiration.
He splits his time writing short stories about growing up and living in the Rio Grande Valley, mentoring and teaching high school students and developing local arts organizations. David’s collection of short stories, “Crazy Loco,” received the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Reader’s Award. Among his current projects are young-adult novels and screenplays. He currently lives in Austin, Texas.
David skillfully balances humor and sensitivity in his writing, and his imaginative tales and colorful characters appeal to young readers on many levels. Culture and place figure prominently in these narratives; most are set in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and explore issues encountered in contemporary Mexican American life near the border.
"Every word in a story, letter, and speech matters, because words have the power of holding greater meanings while conveying emotions from different points of view. The use of deconstruction with flash fiction is a method of teaching students how to analyze and discover information about characters, motivations, and outcomes in the story."
— David Rice
David Rice, MFA
EDUCATION
MFA, Creative Writing
Mexican American Studies Certificate.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas
BA, Major: English. Minor: Anthropology
Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
Austin Community College, Austin, Texas
Crockett High School, Austin, Texas
Edcouch Elsa High School, Edcouch, Texas
2015
1998
1982
1982
1978 - 1980
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Austin Community College
English Adjunct Associate Professor
College Classes Taught:
ENGL 1301 in Dual Credit, INRW Corequisite, and Ascender
ENGL 1302 in Ascender
ENGL 2322 in Dual Credit - Comp I and British Lit.
Crockett High School, Austin, Texas
Edcouch Elsa High School, Edcouch, Texas
Our Lady of the Lake University
Adjunct Professor
2023-2026
2003
Professional Association
Writer in Residence. Edcouch-Elsa High School. Llano Grande Center.
North Dakota Study Group
Nushank Theatre Collective, Austin, TX
UTRGV. College of Education. Evaluator/documenter of Education Grant.
Ascender Fellow. Faculty at ACC.
Awards
Raza Award, Dia de la Raza (Crazy Loco)
Recipient, Alfredo Cisneros de Moral Foundation (Crazy Loco)
Notable Books for a Global Society (Crazy Loco)
Finalist, Tomas Rivera Children’s Book Award, Texas State University (Crazy Loco)
Finalist, Pura Belpre Award, New York Public Library (Crazy Loco)
Finalist, The PEN USA Children’s Literature Award (Crazy Loco)
Winner, ALA Notable Book (Crazy Loco)
Nomination, Pushcart Prize (Crazy Loco)
Winner, Latino Literature Prize (New World: Young Latino Writers)
Nominee, National Book Critics Circle Award (New World: Young Latino Writers)
Austin Community College. Teaching and Leadership Excellence Award. 2026
WORK IN PROGRESS
Text Book, Heart Shape Cookie and Other Stories. ASU/Bilingual Press-Honor Education. 2024
The Last to Laugh, Young Adult Novel
Happy Saint. TV show.
NoStarsTV.
El Piñatero, Co-Writer (Feature Length Film)
Buscando Paraiso, Screenwriter (Feature Length Film)
Odessy One: Chicanos in Space, Screenwriter (Feature Length Film)
CuentoVille, Screenwriter (TV Series for Kids)
Target Julia, Co-Writer (Feature Length Film)
Crazy Loco, Textbook (High School), McGraw Hill
Motorcycle Documentary
Books
Heart-Shaped Cookies, Bilingual Press
Ten Miles from the Border, translation of Crazy Loco in Japanese
Crazy Loco, Dial Books, ALA Notable Book Award
Give the Pig a Chance & Other Stories, Bilingual Press
Textbooks
Crazy Loco, StudySynch (Elementary) Textbook, McGraw Hill
Crash Room, Inclass Reader Trek 3, McGraw Hill
Anthologies
Embrace. Los Muertos, Trinity University Press, San Antonio, TX.
God’s Plans for Wolfie and X-ray, Junvetud (ed. Rene Saldana), VAO Publishing
Tomboy Forgiveness, Arriba Baseball! (ed. Robert P. Moreira), VAO Publishing
Proud to be an American, Made in Texas (ed. Dagoberto Gilb).
Tomboy Forgiveness, Baseball Crazy, Dial Books
Death of a Writer, Guys Write for Guys Read, Viking Penguin Group
Tied to Zelda, Tripping Over the Lunch Lady (ed. Nancy Mercado), Dial Books
The Devil in the Valley, Fantasmas, Bilingual Press
God’s Plan for Wolfie and X-Ray, Twelve Shots, Bantam Doubleday Dell 1997.
The Crash Room, Working Days: Short Stories about Teens at Work, Persea Books
The Circumstances Surrounding My Penis, New World: Young Latino Writers, Delta
PUBLISHED STORIES
Embrace. Stories of Dia De los Muertos. Trinity University, Press. San Antonio, TX.
Estas Loco. Still Crazy About Movies. Latino Magazine. Austin, TX. July 2022.
Nothing But Blue Skies, University Interscholastic League (UIL) Journal, Austin, TX
Home is My Culture, The Thing Itself Issue 43, Our Lady of the Lake Literary Journal 2016
Internal Flame, La Llamda, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX
The Devil in the Valley, Llano Grande Journal 1998
El Sapo, Bilingual Review Press
Heart Shaped Cookies, Bilingual Review Journal
Heart Shaped Cookies, Persona, Texas State University Journal
PLAYS
She Flies, performed at Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
She Flies, sponsored by G.E.A.R UP and performed in DC, FL, NM, and TX
Valley Stories, performed at Jumpstart Theatre, San Antonio, TX
Just a Kid from Edcouch, performed at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
El Cucui and El Sapo, performed at Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX
Close Shave, performed at Santa Cruz Theater, Austin, TX
MOVIES
Letters of Sgt. Alfredo Gonzalez. Documentary. Screenwriter. 2022
La Gran Distancia, Executive Producer. 2018
Gone Hollywood, Co-Writer, Feature Film (Released September 2012)
Los Scavengers, Co-Writer, Feature Film (Released October 2016, Direct TV)
El Cucui, Screenwriter, Short Film. 1998
Odyssey One: Chicanos in Space. Screenwriter. Short Film 1999
MOVIE PRODUCER
Magic Valley Films, Co-Producer with Valente Rodriguez, and Mike Contreras
Pump House Films, Co-Producer with Valente Rodriguez, Dan Alesia, and David Garcia
TELEVISION
CuentoVille, Screenwriter and Producer (Pilot) 2011
HBO HABLA, Performer, Texas Edition Part 1 2010
HBO HABLA, Performer, Texas Edition Part 2 2010
RADIO INTERVIEWS. Pod Cast.
Pod Cast. Dr. Jay Saldivar.
Pod Cast. Akins High School/Texas Folklife
Talk of the Nation, Guest, NPR
Texas Matters, Guest, NPR/KSTX
Conversations, PBS KLRN, Guest, San Antonio, TX
WORKSHOPS
Houston City College. Co-Req Conference. Presenter. 2026 May 18th and 19th.
ACC. Content Exchange. Austin, TX. 2024/May 31st.
Ascender Conference. Dallas Community College. Dallas, TX. 2024/May 23rd.
Ascender Conference. South Texas College. McAllen, TX. 2024 March 21st.
ACC Humanities CLS Conference Austin, TX. 2024 March 1st.
Central Texas Writing Project. Texas State University. Workshop. 2023 June 22nd.
Weslaco Museum. Weslaco Texas. 2022 Oct 22nd.
Weslaco ISD. Weslaco, TX. 2022 June 9th.
Region One. ESC. Edinburg, TX. 2022 June 2nd & 7th.
Region One. Keys Academy. Harlingen, TX. April-May 2022. 2021-Aug 2022.
Faculty Workshop, Rio Grande City CISD, Rio Grande City, TX 2018/Jan 8th.
Faculty Workshop, Rio Grande City CISD, Rio Grande City, TX 2018/Jan 13th.
Faculty Workshop, Rio Grande City CISD, Rio Grande City, TX 2018/Jan 20th.
Faculty Workshop, Rio Grande City CISD, Rio Grande City, TX 2018/Jan 27th.
Faculty Workshop, Edinburg CISD, Edinburg, TX 2018/Jan 26th.
Faculty Workshop, Rio Grande City CISD, Rio Grande City, TX 2018/Feb 17th.
Central Texas Writing Project, Texas State University (Prof. O’Neal), Round Rock, TX 2018/Oct 24th.
Faculty Workshop, Donna ISD (Belinda Vega), Donna, TX 2016/Oct 31st.
Workshop for Teachers, Edinburg Public Library (Prof. Cummins), Edinburg, TX 2016/Aug 6th.
Faculty Workshop, Pharr San Juan Alamo ISD (Eduardo Guzman), Pharr, TX 2016/Sept 17th.
Faculty Workshop, Pharr San Juan Alamo ISD (Eduardo Guzman), Pharr, TX 2016/Aug 1
Faculty Workshop, Los Fresnos High School (Manuel Garces), Los Fresnos, TX 2016
Faculty Workshop, Write for Texas, Region 6, Huntsville, TX 2016/ Jul 25-26
Writing Workshop, North Dakota Study Group, McAllen, TX 2016
Faculty Writing Workshop, Region 13 (Susan Diaz), Austin, TX 2012
TEACHING K-12
North Carolina Cyber Academy. Middle School. Durham, NC. Student Emails. 2025/March
Lorenzo De Zavala Middle School. La Joya ISD. Zoom meeting with students. 2025/April 4th.
Akins High School. Mr. Joey Rodriguez Class. Austin, TX. 2024/October 18th.
Nixon-Smiley Middle School. 7th grade. Ms. Alexander. Nixon, TX. 2024/April 19th.
Substitute Teacher, K-12. AISD. Austin, TX. 2005-2020
Edinburg North High School. Mrs. Olmeda. 2022 /Oct 21st.
Keys Academy. Harlingen CISD. Zoom. 2022/Oct 13th.
Student Presentation. WISD. Zoom. 2022/June 16th.
Student presentation Harlingen Keys Academy. Mrs. Jackman. 2022 /Jan 21st.
Student workshops, College Station HS. Bryan, TX. (Krystal Lopez) 2021 /Dec 3rd
Substitute Teacher, K-12, AISD, Austin, TX 2005 – 2021
7th Grade Workshop, Migrant Camp, Rio Grande City CISD MS, Rio Grande City 2019 /Oct 22nd.
7th Grade Workshop, Migrant Camp, Rio Grande City CISD MS, Rio Grande City 2019 /Oct 23rd.
7th Grade Workshop, Migrant Camp, Rio Grande City CISD MS, Rio Grande City 2019 /Oct 24th.
Lecture, She Flies (Play), La Villa ISD High School, La Villa, TX 2019
UIL 2nd and 3rd Grade Competition, North Grammar Elementary, Rio Grande City, TX 2019/Nov 15th.
7th Grade, Veterans Middle School, Rio Grande City, TX 2019/Jan 25th.
Santa Maria Middle and High School (Manuel Garces), Santa Maria, TX 2018/Sept 7th.
Student Workshops, Liberty Middle School (Manuel Garces), Los Fresnos, TX 2018/May 18th.
Student Workshops, Excel Goodwill School (Charles Moody), Austin, TX 2018/May 2nd.
Student Workshops, Barrientes CISD Middle School (Martha Garza), Edinburg, TX 2018/Feb 21st.
Student Workshops, Kealing Middle School AISD (Eudoico Garcia), Austin, TX 2018/Feb 6th.
Student Workshops, Southwest High School (Jennifer Burden), Pharr, TX 2017/Nov 13th.
Student Workshops, Los Fresnos Middle School (M. Garces), Los Fresnos, TX 2017/Nov 7th.
Student Workshops, Robert Vela High School, Edinburg, TX 2017/Nov 6th.
Student Workshops, Ringgold Middle School (Jorge Pena), Rio Grande City, TX 2017/Nov 6th.
Read Out Loud, Del Valle ISD High School (Linda O’Neal), Del Valle, TX 2017/Feb 16th.
Student Workshops, Edinburg North High School (Farwa Naqvi), Edinburg, TX 2017/Feb 9th.
Student Workshops, Cuellar Middle School (Gracie Palacios), Weslaco, TX 2017/Feb 8th.
Student Workshops, Liberty Middle School (Manual Garces), Los Fresnos, TX 2017/Jan 19th.
Student Workshops, Del Valle ISD High School (Linda O’Neal), Del Valle, TX 2016/Nov 17th.
Student Workshops, LBJ Middle School America Arreguin, Pharr, TX 2016/Nov 1st.
Student Workshops, Trinity High School (Gloria Carter), Trinity, TX 2016/Oct 21st.
Student Workshops, Lincoln Middle School (Laura Smith), Coldspring, TX 2016/Oct 21st.
Student Workshops, Donna North High School (Javier Gallardo), Donna, TX 2016/Oct 11th.
7th Grade Workshops, Liberty Middle School (Manual Garces), Los Fresnos, TX 2016/Aug 25th.
Student Workshops, LBJ High School, Laredo, TX 2015/ Oct 29th.
Student Workshops, Camino Real Elementary, Buda, TX 2015/Oct 16th.
Student Workshops, Harmony Science, Austin, TX 2015/Oct 14-15th.
Student Workshops, Harmony Runberg (Erika Chody), Austin, TX 2015/Oct 13th.
Student Workshops, Ringold Middle School (Jorge Peña), Rio Grande City, TX 2015/Sept 23rd.
Student Workshops, Memorial High School (Juan Ozuna), McAllen, TX 2015
Writing Workshop, Cesar Chavez High School (Rene Sanchez), Houston, TX 2013
Amador R. Rodriguez Juvenile Boot Camp & Educational Center. 1 Month San Benito, TX 2004
TEACHING UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS
Guest Lecturer, Students, Texas State University (Prof. Rehbein), Round Rock, TX. 2020/Nov 12th.
Guest Lecturer, Grad Students, Texas State University (Prof. O’Neal), Round Rock, TX 2019/Nov 7th.
Guest Lecturer, Grad Students, University Texas RGV (Prof. Cummins), Edinburg, TX 2018/Feb 20th
Guest Lecturer, CUNY (Prof. Jewell), Brooklyn, NY 2018/Oct 17-18th.
Guest Lecturer, Texas State University (Prof. Rehbein), Round Rock, TX 2018/Nov 15th.
Guest Lecturer, Our Lady of the Lake University (Prof. Benavides), San Antonio, TX 2017/Feb 7th.
Guest Lecturer, Our Lady of the Lake University (Prof. Benavides), San Antonio, TX 2016
Guest Lecturer, Texas State University, Round Rock, TX 2016
Guest Lecturer, Grad Students, Texas State University (Prof. O’Neal), Round Rock, TX 2016/Aug 4th.
Guest Lecturer, Grad Students, University Texas RGV (Prof. Cummins), Edinburg, TX 2016/Sept 20th.
Guest Lecturer, Our Lady of the Lake University (Prof. Benavides), San Antonio, TX 2016/Sept 22nd.
Guest Lecturer, University Texas RGV, Edinburg, TX 2015/Sept 23rd.
Guest Lecturer, Our Lady of the Lake University (Prof. Benavides), San Antonio, TX 2015/Feb 3rd.
Guest Lecturer, Our Lady of the Lake University (Prof. Benavides), San Antonio, TX 2015/Sept 22nd.
Guest Lecturer, Grad. Students, Texas State University (Prof. O’Neal), Round Rock, TX 2015/Feb 2nd.
Guest Lecturer, University of Texas (Prof. Martinez), San Antonio, TX 2014
Guest Lecturer, University of Texas, Texas Writing Project, San Antonio, TX 2014
Professor of Screenwriting, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX 2012
KEYNOTE SPEAKER | MODERATOR | PANELIST
Austin Community College. Dual Credit Seminar . 2024/Sept 20th.
Region One. Special Ed. SPI. Presenter. 2022/June 15th.
The Texas Bilingual Association of Education. Presenter. 2022/Jan 15th.
Keynote, Central Texas Writing Project (Prof. O’Neal), Texas State, Round Rock, TX 2018/Oct 24th.
Panelist, Texas Association for Literacy Education, Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, TX. 2017 Moderator and Panelist, Texas Book Festival (Lopez/Saldaña), Austin, TX 2016/Nov 6th.
Keynote, Write Texas, Texas Education Association (TEA) Conference, Austin, TX 2014
Panelist, University of Texas RGV, Edinburg, TX 2013
Moderator, Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX 2012
Featured Author, Our Lady of the Lake University Literary Festival, San Antonio, TX 2012
Speaker, Festiba, University of Texas RGV, Edinburg, TX 2012
Guest Speaker, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX 2011
Keynote Speaker, AVID Program, University of Texas RGV, Edinburg, TX 2011
Featured Author, Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX 2011
Guest Speaker, Festiba, University of Texas RGV, Edinburg, TX 2007
Guest Speaker. Santiago Garcia Elementary. Edcouch, TX. 2007
Keynote Speaker, Project Lead Symposium, University of Texas RGV, Edinburg, TX 2007
Keynote, 10th Annual Texas State University Teachers Conference, San Marcos, TX 2007
Guest Speaker. Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas. Austin TX Chapter. 2007
Guest Speaker, Community Work, Columbia University (Prof. Steve Onken) 2006
Presenter, Hill Country Librarian’s Conference, Boerne, TX 2005
Panelist, Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX 2005
Guest Speaker, A Viva Voz, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, UT, Austin, TX 2004
Guest Speaker, Texas Library Association, Austin, TX 2004
Featured Author, National Book Festival, Washington DC 2004
Featured Author, AWP Conference, Austin, TX 2006
Featured Author, West Texas Book Festival, Abilene, TX 2004
Featured Author, National Book Festival, Washington DC 2004
Featured Author, Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX 2002
Featured Author, Rio Grande Hispanic Arts Festival, Region 1, Edinburg, TX 2002
Featured Author, Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX 2001
READINGS
Author Reading, It’s Time, Vortex Theater, Austin, TX 2018/ Aug 17th.
Author Reading, Café Luna, McAllen, TX 2017/Nov 10th.
Featured Author, Book Fair, Zavala Elementary, Austin, TX 2016
Featured Author, School Assembly, J. Houston Elementary, Austin, TX 2016
Featured Author, Literary Festival, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX 2012
Featured Author, Literary Festival, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Austin, TX 2010
Featured Author, Dallas Public Library Book Festival, Dallas, TX 2009
Speaker, Children’s Literature Symposium, The African American Museum Dallas, TX 2009
Featured Author, Dallas Public Library Book Festival, Dallas, TX 2007
Keynote, 10th Annual Texas State University Teachers Conference, San Marcos, TX 2007
Featured Author, Dallas Public Library Book Festival, Dallas, TX 2006
Author Reading, Galeria Sin Fronteras. Give the Pig a Chance. Austin, TX 1996
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Ballet Neplanta. Board Member. New York City. 2026
Book Spring. Board Member and Ambassador. Austin, TX. 2021-Present.
Founder, Llano Grande Center for Educational Research & Development, Edcouch, TX 1997-2014
Community Advisory Board Member, PBS/KLRU, Austin, TX 2008-2011
Gala Committee Member, Harry Ransom Center 50th Anniversary, Austin, TX 2006-2007
Committee Member, Austin Lyric Opera-La Noche de Opera, Austin, TX 2005-2011
Advisory Board Member, Armstrong Community School of Music, Austin, TX 2005-2008
Advisory Board Member, Narcisso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, San Benito, TX 2005-2007
Advisory Board Member, Texas Folklife Resource Center, Austin, TX 2005-2007
Committee Member, Texas Tales for Austin Public Library Foundation, Austin, TX 2004-2010
Bilingual Consultant, Wiley’s Way Book Project, TX State U., San Marcos, TX 2004-2006
Advisory Board Member, Texas Quiz Show, Austin, TX 2004-2006
Latino Advisory Board Member, PBS/KLRU, Austin, TX 2003-2007
Mentor, Valley Alliance Mentors, McAllen, TX 2001-2005
Advisory Board Member. Cine Las Americas, Austin, TX. 2011-Present.
Board President, Cine Las Americas, Austin, TX 2004-2011
Board Member, Cine Las Americas, Austin, TX 2001-2003