Bronx author and entertainment executive wins summer 2024 Pinnacle Book Award – Bronx Times

The National Association of Book Entrepreneurs (NABE) awarded Bronx author and entertainment executive Rafael Rivera the Summer 2024 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Best Biography.

Born in the mountains of central Puerto Rico, Rivera moved to the Bronx as a child in the 40s where he attended school and helped his mother in the family restaurant.

The book’s title, “Dream Chaser: Numbers!… Is Everything!” is about his life and is a nod to Rivera’s mother who used to remind him that everything in life is about numbers.

Growing up in the South Bronx, Rivera said he saw a lot of poverty. He took his mother’s words seriously: started working at an early age to earn money, got a scholarship to College and eventually graduated with a degree in business administration.

“She instilled the importance of two things: giving back to the community and getting educated and that’s how she said you get out of poverty,” Rivera said.

Rivera described the book as, “a road trip through all the wonderful experiences I’ve had.” He emphasized the places he lived and the life lessons he learned in each one.

“Puerto Rico, New York, and Hollywood.” Rivera said. “My three training grounds.”

The biography takes readers through Rivera’s life from the mountains of Puerto Rico, to Morris High School in the Bronx, to the Hollywood Hills. He found success with numbers in school, studying business and finance at Baruch College. He was part of a team that organized to bring Hostos Community College to an old tire factory on Grand Concourse in 1968. Rivera remains on The Hostos Community College Foundation Board of Directors, according to the foundation’s website.

Rivera relocated to Los Angeles in the 1980s where he began a successful career in entertainment. Rivera worked on award-winning films like, “On Golden Pond” and “Sophie’s Choice”. He also worked with Marvel Comics on animated television adaptations of “Spider Man”, “Iron Man” and “Fantastic Four” for FOX Children’s Television, according to Rivera’s biography.

After the 1994 LA earthquake, Rivera moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico to produce documentaries on Hispanic culture, film and politics.

Rivera said that he believes in the power of mentorship and would advise young Bronxites who also want to work in Hollywood to keep going.

“You need to dream,” Rivera said, “And you have to find ways to make those dreams a reality. Hollywood is a very difficult industry whether you’re an actor or behind the scenes.”