Benjamin Alire Saenz
Benjamin Alire Saenz was born in his grandmother's house in Picacho, New Mexico-a farming village 40 miles north of the border between Mexico and the United States. Ben's parents spoke mostly Spanish at home and his grandparents spoke only Spanish, so Ben learned much of his English from his brothers and sisters, his friends, and by watching cartoons on television. When he was a little boy, he was a passionate reader of comic books--Superman, Spiderman, Batman, and all the rest of the Super Heroes. Ben thought it was cool that Superman could fly.
Growing up Ben discovered that he liked to write. He liked to draw and paint, too. He decided that he wanted to be either a writer or a painter, but he didn't know which. He finally decided to be a writer, but he hasn't forgotten his painting. He still loves to have a clean fresh canvas to paint on.
Ben has written two books of poems, three novels, a collection of short stories and two books for children. His children's books are A Gift From Pap Diego/Un regalo de Pap Diego and Grandma Fina and Her Wonderful Umbrellas / La Abuelita Fina y sus sombrillas maravillosas. Geronimo Garcia illustrated both books. Besides being a writer, Ben also teaches creative writing at the University of Texas at El Paso. He is married to Patricia Macias who is an Associate Judge in the Child Welfare Court. Their daughter Gabriela, who also wants to study law, will soon graduate from Cornell University.
Added 1999
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