Esmeralda Santiago

Esmeralda Santiago is the eldest of eleven children. She came to the United States from rural Puerto Rico at age thirteen. Her family settled in Brooklyn, where she had to learn English and brave her way through an oppressive urban environment, a cold climate, and a challenging new culture. Her transcultural experiences growing up poor and disenfranchised inspire her writing and form the backbone of her work. Santiago has authored three memoirs, three novels, two anthologies, numerous essays, and the children's book "A Doll for Navidades."

Upon the publication of her ground-breaking memoir "When I Was Puerto Rican," Santiago was recognized for her compelling voice, full of passion and authority. Her second memoir, "Almost a Woman," not only received numerous "Best of Year" mentions but also an Alex Award from the American Library Association. The memoir was adapted into a film for PBS Masterpiece Theatre, which was critically acclaimed and received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. Her third memoir "The Turkish Lover" explores her struggles to leave home and forge an authentic bi-lingual and bi-cultural identity. Santiago’s first novel, "América's Dream," was translated into six languages and was an Alternate Selection of the Literary Guild. Her epic historical novel "Conquistadora" was published in 2011 and became a national bestseller.

Esmeralda Santiago graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in 1976, earned an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College, and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from four universities. She co-founded CANTOMEDIA, a film and media production company, in 1977. Santiago has served on the boards of The Jacob Burns Film Center, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the PEN American Center, and The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture. Additionally, she serves on the board of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Santiago is a passionate advocate for media literacy and encourages her readers to value their experiences and tell their own unique stories. She has been recognized as a Girl Scouts of America National Woman of Distinction and has been a cultural ambassador sponsored by the State Department to represent American and Latino literature internationally. Santiago’s life and creative process are also the subjects of "Writing a Life," a documentary film produced in association with Puerto Rico’s PBS affiliate.