WAR AGAINST ALL PUERTO RICANS
In April 2015, Nation Books will publish Denis’s War Against All Puerto Ricans, a study of the Nationalist revolution of 1950 in Puerto Rico. The book uses previously classified FBI documents, archival and university research, and over thirty years of personal interviews to document this little-known chapter in American history.
The book also details the greatest gunfight in Secret Service history, the attempted assassination of President Harry Truman, the arrest of 3,000 Puerto Ricans, and the bombing of two towns (Jayuya and Utuado) by the US government — the only time in history that the US ever bombed its own citizens.
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
El Diario/La Prensa is the largest and oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper in New York, and the oldest Spanish-language daily in the United States.
As its editorial director, Denis published over 300 editorials covering local, national and international news, as well as politics, business and technology, health, entertainment, and human interest stories.
Denis’s work was recognized by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists with multiple awards for “Best Editorial Writing,” political and cultural reporting, and feature writing.
In addition, Denis published feature articles, book and film reviews, and cover stories in the Harvard Political Review, New York Daily News, New York Newsday, andthe New York Sun.
SCREENWRITER
Denis received the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Fellowship for his film Hound Dog, and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Fellowship for his screenplay Lenny’s Prayer.
He also wrote and directed the feature film comedy Vote For Me! which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and screened at over a dozen others throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The film was well received:
The New York Times declared it “reminiscent of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, but with a lighter touch.”
The Boston Globe found it “ebullient…politically charged…mixes quirkiness and cultural poignancy.”
The New York DailyNews called it “a media sensation.”
PLAYWRIGHT
Denis’s Radio Box premiered at the Theatre For a New City, and had an extended run at the Chelsea Theatre Center in New York (now known as the Westside Theatre).
Denis’s courtroom drama Every Man For Himself was produced by the Theatre Off Park in New York City, and moved to the Little Theatre Off Broadway.
His one-act plays Doorkeeper and El Alcalde Machuchal were produced at the Trumbull Theatre at Yale University.
Denis was a member of the playwright’s unit at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, the INTAR Theatre, and a playwright-in-residence at the Shaman Repertory Theatre.
TEACHER
Denis has passed on his writing experience to students at the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), the NYU Graduate Film School, Touro College, the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, Shaman Repertory Theatre, Grosvenor Neighborhood House, Teachers and Writers Collaborative, and Poets in the Public Service.
SELECTED EDITORIALS
Lift the Cap on Charters; New York Daily News (4/5/2010)
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/lift-cap-charters-article-1.174607
Albany’s Political Club; New York Sun (12/21/06)
http://www.nysun.com/opinion/albanys-political-club/45540/
Late blooming woes to plague on-time budget; New York Daily News (4/12/05
http://finance.tc-library.org/Content.asp?uid=1048
Reforming Albany takes more than talk; New York Newsday (1/22/07)
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/reforming-albany-takes-more-than-talk-1.573232
Los legisladores aprobaron un McBudget; El Diario La Prensa(5/12/05)
History still Roils Puerto Rico; New York Daily News (9/23/99)
La Crisis de Vivienda Publica; El Diario La Prensa (12/14/95)
Justicia para Julia de Burgos; El Diario La Prensa (10/8/95)
Silver screen tarnished for Latinos; New York Daily News(5/26/95)
Beware Primrose Pathmark; New York Daily News (4/24/95)
Nelson Antonio Denis 
Francisco Dominguez
/ August 24, 2017Mr. Denis, your book had a resounding effect on me. I’m a recent university graduate, and this book has changed the trajectory of my future career/research. Could we correspond as I brainstorm how to realize these newfound goals?
John Davenport
/ September 12, 2015Interesting New York times article. But we could sure use Puerto Rico as a state! This would probably make a permanent change in control of the US Congress. Would it not necessarily lead to repeal of the Jones Act too? Did the island not vote for statehood in 2012?
Yolanda Hernandez
/ May 17, 2015Hi Mr. Denis, My husband is very interested in your books but he is blind and I would like to know if there are audio books in Spanish of these publications.