Sandra Benítez is a spirited, bi-lingual motivational speaker who has delighted audiences throughout the United States. She is the award-winning author of four novels. In 2004, she received the National Hispanic Heritage Award for literature at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Hispanic Business Magazine named her one of 100 Influential Hispanics in the U.S.

Benítez delivers powerful yet entertaining messages in her hour-long presentations. Using a blend of her personal stories, readings from her books, humor and,where needed, medical facts, she has that rare ability to connect with audiences. She offers insights into the writing life, inspiration for those who wish to write and motivation for those who need a boost to continue. In all her presentations, Benítez provides hope and a way to find strength and a smile in facing life's adversities, whatever they may be.

PRESENTATION TITLES AND TOPICS

Making the Best of a Bag Situation. Benítez struggled with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, for 30 years before undergoing an ileostomy 11 years ago. The radical surgery changed her life by giving back what she thought she had lost: a happy, productive, pain-free existence.

Sandra Benítez speaks frankly and humorously about her disease and the years of misery she suffered. She walks us through the process that led to her decision to have the surgery that would end her pain but leave her to live the rest of her life with a plastic bag attached to her belly. She shares her joys at discovering a new and fulfilling life.

In addition, Sandra reads from her book bag lady: A Memoir and explains how it can provide understanding and reassurance not only to the tens of thousands who each year make a decision to have, or not have, surgery, but to the millions who lived with managed IBD.

Q & A following presentation, as well as book sale and signing.

The Saving Grace of Stories. The most important thing we can do is tell our story. Telling those truths that are stored in our heart. Telling our story is a way of remembering ourselves. A way of naming and defining who we really are. Telling our story puts us back together when we're all broken up. In telling our story we empty ourselves so that we can be filled up again. Telling our story is a life-saving act.

Sandra Benítez shares the story of how she started to write at the age of thirty-nine. She tells about the long 13-year wait until she was published at fifty-two. She affirms how we are never too late to begin doing what we have passion for. Sandra discusses her five books in general, or focuses on a particular one if that best suits the audience.

Q & A following presentation, as well as book sale and signing.

Writing From the Core. "Writers are defined by story. At their core is the well from which their stories spring. To write, they must tap into that core." So states Sandra Benitez.

Her own true stories encompass a life spent moving between the Latin American culture of her Puerto Rican mother and the Anglo-American culture of her Missouri-born father. Though born in Washington D.C., Sandra spent her childhood in Mexico and El Salvador. When she was 14, her parents, in part to "Americanize" her, sent her to live with her paternal grandparent's on their modest dairy-farm in northeastern Missouri. After attending university, where she earned B.A. and M.A. degrees, Sandra came to settle in Minnesota. She often refers to herself as a "gringa-dor-ican." A delicious blend of Anglo, Salvadoran and Puerto Rican ways.

Sandra recalls her journey as a Latina-American, and discusses her work in general or a book in particular, and how it was informed by her bi-cultural experience.

Q & A following presentation, as well as book sale and signing.

The Courage to Be. What exactly is the nature of courage? Are only heroes courageous?

In this inspirational presentation Sandra Benítez discusses the many meanings of courage and helps others discover the heroism in their own lives. Using personal stories, humor and insight, Sandra delivers a message of hope, laughter and positive thinking. Toward the end of her talk, she asks audience members to share their own heroic and courageous acts.

Book sale and signing follow presentation.

A PARTIAL LIST OF PRESENTATION VENUES

University of Minnesota, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, University of San Diego, Macalester College and Hamline University, St Paul, MN, Carleton College, St Olaf College, Northfield, MN, Sweet Briar College, VA, Boricua College, Brooklyn, Brandeis University Reading Series, Miami Book Fair International, Readings on the Cutting Edge, San Diego Art Museum, University of Missouri, Oregon State University, Eugene, Northwest Community College, Norfolk, NE, Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha, University of North Dakota, Fargo, Southwest College, San Diego, National Women's Museum, Washington, D.C., Guadalupe Cultural Center, San Antonio, Los Angeles Times Book Fair, American Association of University Women, various venues, Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, etc.

TESTIMONIALS

"With warmth and good humor, Sandra Benitez has a way of drawing her audience into her world and engaging them on a level that is at once personal and deeply inspiring. She is a storyteller par excellence-a curandera, a healer, who knows the workings of the human heart like the palm of her hand."
Andrea Herrera, PhD, Professor of Literature, Director of Ethnic Studies, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

"Sandra Benitez was a true gift to the community of Our Lady of Mercy High School. She was both informed and inspired. We found that our oldest alumnae and youngest schoolers were enthralled."
Suzanne Johnston, PhD, President, Our Lady of Mercy High School, Rochester, N.Y.

"Sandra Benitez is blessed with a warm enthusiasm and intelligence in both her writing and speech. Her uncanny ability for bringing alive her characters against vivid and colorful backgrounds establishes her as a first rank novelist. She will mesmerize any group to whom she speaks."
Nancy Stauss, Co-Chair, Brandeis University Women's Committee, Book/Author Events

"The audience was sincerely moved by Sandra Benitez's reading and talk. Many praised Sandra's warmth and generosity in sharing her life and her work."
Deborah, Gaston, Assistant Curator of Education, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.

"Thank you so much for your energizing presence and inspiring words. You had a profound impact on all of us. You are truly a woman of courage."
Monica Powers, Chaplain, Jones Harrison Residence, Minneapolis, MN

"(Sandra Benitez) embodies the qualities that characterize great leaders and visionaries: creativity, commitment and compassion. (She) reminds us what it means to believe in a dream. Benitez (specifically) is cited for helping Americans better understand Latin America, its culture and its people."
Pedro "Joe" Greer, M.D., Board President, Hispanic Heritage Award Foundation, Washington, D.C.

"I want to thank you for your stories. They were all beautiful. You added stories to my heart and to my soul."
Raquel, student, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, FL

"Thank you for allowing me to get in touch with my roots. Now I have a fire inside me, and a story to tell."
Beatriz, student, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, FL

"Your visit to St. Olaf, which we've looked forward to for months, exceeded our most optimistic expectations. We've had nothing but enthusiastic feedback from faculty and students; you won many hearts here."
Jan Allister, Assistant Professor of Writing, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

"How can I begin to thank you for your generosity. Your knowledge, experience, wisdom, humor, honesty and spirit are great gifts to all of us. Thank you for all of that, as well as for your work, which is such a fine example."
Margie Adler, Bookseller, Minneapolis, MN

IN ADDITION

Sandra Benitez novels A Place Where the Sea Remembers and The Weight of All Things are fast becoming standards in American college and high school classrooms. Teachers choose them because they want something their students will read with pleasure and learn from. They want a book that offers multiple options for teaching opportunities; a book that brings their classes alive with participation.
 
Both of these novels are recommended for use in courses such as: literature, humanities, women's studies, creative writing, religious studies, and Latin American studies.
 
A Place Where the Sea Remembers has been selected as a common text for various "one city reads one book" programs. Among these are: St. Paul, Minnesota Reads One Book, Austin, Minnesota Reads, Rockford, IL Reads, Fergus Falls Reads programs.
 
The Weight of All Things has gained favor among Jesuit and Our Lady of Mercy schools around the country. Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, NE, Brebeuf Preparatory in Indianapolis and Our Lady of Mercy School in Rochester, NY have used the book for their Summer Read program.

Both of these novels are available in Spanish for Hispanic readers. The titles are: Alli Donde el Mar Recuerda and El Peso de Todas las Cosas.  
 
Sandra Benitez is available for readings and presentations of these books around the country. Please check for her availability and fees by emailing her at benitezbooks@msn.com