Riley Perez

Riley Perez is the author of What Is Real? The Life and Crimes of Darnell Riley (Rare Bird Books, 2018) that details his incarceration from the first day going forward. Since the release of What Is Real? Riley has written for television and his latest book, Jose Marti: Versos Sencillos (F64 Books, 2023) is a collection of short stories, with the story of Jose Marti as the title of the book. In Jose Marti, Riley depicts a man who fully embodies the Cuban motto of ‘Patria o Muerte’ (‘Patriotism or Death’). Just like his parents, his grandparents, and generations of Cuban patriots before him who have pledged allegiance to the revolution, Jose knows the only way that he can truly live free is by fleeing his homeland for La Yuma, the USA, with his wife, Margara, and his close friends, Kiki, Juan, Mayuri, and Esteban.  Under the ever watchful eyes of the Castro regime they pull off the most daring heist against the government and spark the next revolution.