My love affair with words began before I could write; I savored the texture of words in my mouth and in my ears, and marveled at the magic of sound and meaning. The love affair was consummated once I could shape words on the page and move them around. I look for beauty and truth in what I write and what I read. 

Has just completed a fantasy/fairy tale novel for middle graders, and is working on a second. Seeking agent representation.Received first prize in the Chicago Poetry dot com summer contest, and placed third in the Frieda Stein Fenster Award, as well as sundry other poetry awards throughout the US. My poems and short stories have been published in print and online in the US and across the world, including in India and China.

My poetry chapbook 'thought-fish' was published by Moon Journal Press in spring 2009. You can read the award-winning title poem at www.Chicagopoetry.com or on my web site www.penruan.com I'm chair of the Naperville Writers Group, and emcee a monthly open mic at Barnes & Noble in Bolingbrook, Illinois. I also feature regularly at various venues in and around Chicago. It's great to be able to encourage writers and poets to bring their words off the page and into the air; it gives the work a different kind of life and energy, invigorating the community both of writers and readers/listeners(one hopes). I'm an assistant fiction editor for the Fifth Wednesday Journal www.fifthwednesdayjournal.com

The Naperville Writers Group
One of the liveliest, and most successful, writers' groups in the Chicago suburbs. Over 20 years running ...

Chicago Poetry dot com
Let's you know what's happening, when and how in the Chicago Poetry scene

The Illinois Poets Society
News about poets and poetry happenings in Illinois, USA

Pen Ruan
my web site please visit it for details about my new book, 'thought-fish'