by Lacey Simmons

Created on: August 28, 2008

Sandra Cisneros, a Latina author and poet , is best known for her novel, "The House on Mango Street" . Cisneros was born December 20,1954 in Chicago, Illinois. As a child she traveled between Mexico city and Chicago ,she was often lonely because she never given the chance to get settled in each time they moved . She attended an all girls school ,The Josephinum Academy. In 1976 Cisneros received a bachelor of arts degree in English from Loyola University in Chicago. Two years later Sandra received a Master's degree in creative writing from the University of Iowa. She later received the national endowment for the arts grant in 1982 which allowed her to stay for a year at the Yalven Yakatory Institute in Hong Kong,China .

Sandra went on to teach English and creative writing at three different California State Universities from 1987 to 1990. She has also taught creative writing and English at the University of Michigan , Ann Arbor from 1990 to 1991 and at the University of New Mexico from 1991 to 1992.

Sandra's first book , "The House on Mango Street" , was a fictional story she wrote about a twelve year old girl and her struggles growing up in a poor Latin neighborhood. The book was published in 1984 and was awarded an American Book Award in 1985. "The House on Mango Street" has since sold over two million copies and is still selling strongly . It has been translated in over a dozen languages and has become required reading material at schools across the country.

Sandra's first collection of poems , "My Wicked Wicked Ways " ,a collection of various poems which reflect on Sandra herself and her relationships with men, was published in 1987. Her second collection of poems , "Loose Woman" , celebrates the female aspects of love, published in 1994 ."Woman Hollering Creek and other stories" was a collection of short stories about varied life on both sides of the Mexican border. "Woman Hollering Creek and other stories" was published in 1991. Each of these works were considered some of her best and major works.

Sandra is not only responsible for creating these works but she is also responsible for many many more such as "Caramela" ( a multi generational story about a Mexican-American family), "Bad Boys"( a book of poetry) , "Hairs/Pelitos" ( a Children's Book) , and "Vintage Cisneros"(a compilation of selections from her works).

Sandra's writing is shaped by her own experiences . She has a different way about telling a story and depicts real people she has encountered rather than creating characters.
Since starting her career she has been awarded the Paisano Dobie Fellowship in 1986, a Lannan Literary award for fiction in 1991 , and an Honorary Doctor of Literature by State University of New York in 1993.

Sandra Cisneros currently resides in San Antonio , Texas and is currently working on a collection of fiction titled "Infinito"

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