Ruland is the author of the award-winning novel "Forest of Fortune" and the short story collection "Big Lonesome.” He is the co-author of "My Damage" with Keith Morris, founding member of Black Flag, Circle Jerks and OFF!, and "Giving the Finger" with Scott Campbell, Jr. of Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch. Ruland runs the Southern California-based reading series Vermin on the Mount, now in its thirteenth year.