Esmeralda Santiago was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico; she came to the United States at 13. In 1977, she and her husband, Frank Cantor, founded Cantomedia, a film and media production company which has won numerous awards for excellence in documentary filmmaking. Her writing career evolved from her work as a producer/writer of documentary and educational films. Santiago has written three real-life accounts: When I Was Puerto Rican: A Memoir, Almost a Woman: A Memoir, and The Turkish Lover: A Memoir. Her debut novel, América’s Dream, was published in six languages. She is also the author of the illustrated children’s book, A Doll for Navidades, and is co-editor, with Joie Davidow, of the anthologies Las Christmas: Favorite Latino Authors Share Their Holiday Memories and Las Mamis: Favorite Latino Authors Remember their Mothers. Her essays and opinion pieces have appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, House & Garden, Metropolitan Home, and Sports Illustrated, and she has provided guest commentary on NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition.
October 4, 2023
Santiago, Esmeralda
by
Esmeralda Santiago was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico; she came to the United States at 13. In 1977, she and her husband, Frank