Hinojosa, the Ellen Clayton Garwood Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Texas at Austin, is the author of the Klail City Death Trip Series of novels, which examine relations between Mexican Americans and Anglo Americans in the fictional Rio Grande Valley town, Klail City, Texas. He is the recipient of numerous literary awards, including the most prestigious prize in Latin American fiction, Case de las Américas, for the best Spanish American novel in 1976. Several of his novels have been translated into German, and The New York Times Book Review has compared him to William Faulkner, saying: "Although his sharp eye and accurate ear capture a place, its people and a time in a masterly way, his work goes far beyond regionalism, He is a writer for all readers."

Rolando Hinojosa was selected as an Arte Público Press "Author of the Month" on KUHF Houston Public Radio's Web site.  His interview with radio host Eric Ladau can be found here.