Daniel Ruefman – författare

Ruefman''s debut chapbook interrogates the personal and cultural histories, opening wounds in the hopes that he might more effectively suture his wounds. From his reflections on his first experience holding a dead man''s head as a child, to the thoughts sparked by the scarred land of an oil boom town a century after the bust, this collection seeks to "share the truths of how our lives are woven, torn and mended," reminding us that sometimes the best thing we can do is to breathe.

Ruefman''s volume, Sleep Bringer, is raggedly emotional, humane, and accessible. Interrogating themes of parenthood, child loss, and disillusionment with the world around him, these poems journey to some desperate existential places as he, "the sleep bringer," seeks to keep his children safe in dangerous world where newborn infants can die inexplicably. Through these poems, this collection engages compassionately with frailty and loss, while still maintaining a generosity of spirit.

This memoir shares the unique coming of age story of a young college student, utterly devoid of confidence, until he is "recruited" as a semi-professional mascot for a junior hockey team. After a year on the ice, a new opportunity draws him into the world of Minor League Baseball. As the unexpectedly humorous, heartwarming, and (at times) hazardous experiences unfold, the young man finds himself sitting in the hospital with his future wife, weighing the risks of one more season against the potential of one day going pro.