Benjamin Alire Sáenz was born in New Mexico and studied in Colorado and Texas. He eventually settled in El Paso, Texas, where from he wrote novels, short stories and poetry for adults, young adults and children. Sáenz's identity as a Chicano informed much of his work and his later-in-life coming out as gay found its way into his works as well. In fact, Sáenz attributes his writing as a way to contend with and eventually celebrate his most genuine self.

The winner of many accolades, Sáenz was the first Latino to win the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2013. His writing is funny, truth-telling, emotionally bold, and identifies strongly with his lifelong home, the borderlands.

Discover a singular voice in contemporary American literature.