About the Author

Ruthie Marlenée is the Mexican-American author of Agave Blues, Isabela's Island and Curse of the Ninth and is currently working on the sequel, And Still Her Voice. A Pushcart nominee, Marlenée's work can be found in several literary publications. She was born and raised in Orange County, California, and lives in Los Angeles and the desert in the Coachella Valley with her husband.

Reviews & Praise for
Agave Blues

“Marlenée wraps a touching mother-daughter reconciliation in a freewheeling road trip narrative.” – Publishers Weekly“Marlenée probes the undeniable bonds of family, the powerful rootedness in the land and the transformative essence of love…Set largely in Mexico where the magic of agave and the generational roots of the land bring its heroine home and into her true self.” – Suzanne M. Lang, NPR’s A Novel Idea“Agave Blues… is as illuminating as it is memorable, and its core themes — self-discovery and following your dreams — are timely for curious souls longing for newfound hope and purpose during existential times.” – Greg Archer, The Desert Sun“The book is a gripping family saga, poetry, and lesson in transformation.” – Lillian Ann Slugocki, Angels Flight . Literary West“An ode to magic realism and the storytelling that permeates Latin American culture, Agave Blues tackles complicated themes wrapped up family, faith, and healing.” – A.E. Santana, Kelp Journal"In the footsteps and spirit of Latin American magic realism masters, Ruthie Marlenée's Agave Blues transports readers on a journey of self-discovery. It's an exceptionally well-written tale of love, loss, family and following dreams. What a phenomenal book!"
– Rob Samborn, author of The Prisoner of Paradise“Ruthie Marlenée’s “Agave Blues” is distilled in secrets, ghosts and magic, a beautiful testament to the power of family, place and tequila.”
– Mary Camarillo, Author of The Lockhart Women

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Agave Blues

Coming 2/15/22Mix together a little family, drama, ghosts, and tequila, and you get a hell of a cocktail.

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Curse of the Ninth

Published January 19, 2020
Charley's problem is not just in his head.

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Isabela’s Island

Published October 26, 2004Isabela’s Island is a story of friendship, love, mystery, adventure, and humor. This ain’t no YaYa Sisterhood.

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Agave Blues

MIX TOGETHER A LITTLE FAMILY, DRAMA, GHOSTS, AND TEQUILA, AND YOU GET A HELL OF A COCKTAIL!Sometimes la sangre atrae “the blood calls you back” and when Maya gets the call to go back to her agave roots in order to claim the body of her long-missing father, her world changes forever. Set against the backdrop of her childhood Mexico, Agave Blues is the story of ailing Attorney Maya in a broken relationship and butting heads with her teenaged daughter, Lily. Maya swore never to return, but once she sets foot on the mystical grounds, she uncovers the turbulent history of her family and how tequila lies on top of secrets that have altered her life, both emotionally and physically. She realizes what’s been missing in her life-magic, mystery, art, unconditional love and the stories of her past, including the myth her father used to share with her about her grandfather, Pancho Villa. The fields seem to heal her and her relationships and so she extends her stay and further reconnects with her family. But when she comes in contact with the handsome, yet haunted Antonio, a childhood crush resurfaces, only to cause her more grief as she tries to learn the tequila business.TouchPoint Press, February 15, 2022E-book also available at:
Apple itunes Agave Blues
Barnes & Noble Agave Blues
Scribd Agave Blues

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What others say…

"Marlenée (Isabela’s Island) wraps a touching mother-daughter reconciliation in a freewheeling road trip narrative.“
-- Publishers Weekly"Marlenée keeps up a wondrous, life-affirming ambience."
-- Publishers WeeklyA tale of tequila and misplaced fathers, Agave Blue offers potent sips of magic and soars with memories of a half-forgotten childhood in Mexico. A charming read.”
– Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Author of The Puppet Turners of Narrow Interior, and Pretend Plumber"Fighting tooth and nail at work, in her love life, and in US culture, Maya is having a rough time. Despite her success as an attorney, she feels like an outsider, ashamed of her Mexican heritage. Called back to Mexico due to her father’s death, Maya rekindles her joy and revels in the deep well of mystery and magic in her culture, past, and history. She grapples with what has haunted and hindered her and heals parts of herself she didn’t know needed healing. By the end of this rich, evocative novel, you will come full-circle with Maya as she finds ‘home' in all ways possible. A wonderful read."
– Jessica Barksdale Inclán, author of 15 novels including The Play’s the Thing, The Burning Hour, Her Daughter's Eyes, The Matter of Grace, and When You Believe."In the footsteps and spirit of Latin American magic realism masters, Ruthie Marlenée's Agave Blues transports readers on a journey of self-discovery. It's an exceptionally well-written tale of love, loss, family and following dreams. What a phenomenal book!"
– Rob Samborn, author of The Prisoner of Paradise“Ruthie Marlenée’s “Agave Blues” is distilled in secrets, ghosts and magic, a beautiful testament to the power of family, place and tequila.”
–Mary Camarillo, Author of The Lockhart WomenMaya worked hard to disconnect from her past, yet blood called her into a dusty towns cantina whose bartender recognized her eyes to be her father’s. Drink in hand, her mind flashes back to the last time she saw him. She was 10 years old, sitting by river rocks as he told one of his elaborate cuentos as to why he drinks Tequila, and she wonders will she end up like him?Marlenée’s rhythmic writing creates ancestral notes between the past and the present ultimately rewriting the future. – Vanessa Chica Ferriera, Editor of What They Leave Behind: A Latinx Anthology"This has the feel of a Hallmark movie, but one of the better ones."
-- Publishers Weekly

Isabela's Island

Isabela’s Island is a story of friendship, love, mystery, adventure, and humor. Five quirky women married with children first meet in the Houston suburbs and become fast friends after sharing in common such things as loneliness and their love of tennis. Off on their eagerly-anticipated, yearly girls’ trip-this time to the Grand Caymans-they are temporarily free from husbands, kids, and PTA meetings. The sun, the sand, and ultimately, Enrique “Ricky” De La Joya, a beautiful green-eyed Cuban tennis player who defected from Cuba by walking away from a Davis Cup match in Mexico, serve to make this romantic weekend one that will change their lives forever. Now connected to a murder, the camaraderie that was formed out of loneliness, needless to say, the women’s circle of friendship changes dramatically. “This ain’t no YaYa Sisterhood,” Isabela surmises. With the help of the De La Joya family and their connections in Las Vegas, Declan O’Connor and Isabela Mason set out to tidy up the mess, but can their lives ever be neat?

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The Curse of the Ninth

In the fall of 1930, Charley, not yet born, knows what happened to his father Doc as he lay dying. Like a changing of guards upon his death, Doc transfers over his consciousness to his unborn son. Now sharing the life of his dead father, Charley has no choice except to carry out his father’s plans, including taking revenge on Doc’s killer. Despite the consequences. Charley floats in and out of juvie, jail, and finally ends up in the U.S. Naval Hospital’s mental ward as a perfect candidate for the government’s “Project Chatter.” Confused and threatened, Charley only wants to live like a normal person and marry the woman he loves, goals that feel impossible unless he can somehow get rid of his father’s beyond-the-grave influence.

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Contact

Don’t hesitate to reach out with the contact information below. We look forward to hearing from you!

Publiclity: Bradley Jones, [email protected]Publishers: WiDo Publishing, Touchpoint Press