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Benjamín Alire Sáenz

Novelist, Poet & Children's Book Author Known for "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe"

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Benjamín Alire Sáenz Biography

Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an award-winning American poet, novelist, and writer of children's books.

He was born at Old Picacho, New Mexico, the fourth of seven children, and was raised on a small farm near Mesilla, New Mexico. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1972. That fall, he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Humanities and Philosophy in 1977. He studied Theology at the University of Louvain in Leuven, Belgium from 1977 to 1981. He was a priest for a few years in El Paso, Texas before leaving the order.

In 1985, he returned to school, and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso where he earned an M.A. degree in Creative Writing. He then spent a year at the University of Iowa as a PhD student in American Literature. A year later, he was awarded a Wallace E. Stegner fellowship. While at Stanford University under the guidance of Denise Levertov, he completed his first book of poems, "Calendar of Dust," which won an American Book Award in 1992. He entered the Ph.D. program at Stanford and continued his studies for two more years. Before completing his Ph.D., he moved back to the border and began teaching at the University of Texas at El Paso in the bilingual MFA program.

His first novel, "Carry Me Like Water" was a saga that brought together the Victorian novel and the Latin American tradition of magic realism and received much critical attention. His coming-of-age young adult novel, "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" was published in 2012. Set in El Paso, Texas in 1987, the novel follows two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles with racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships. Since its publication, the novel has received widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades. A sequel titled "Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World" was announced in February, 2021.

In "The Book of What Remains," his fifth book of poems, he writes to the core truth of life's ever-shifting memories. Set along the Mexican border, the contrast between the desert's austere beauty and the brutality of border politics mirrors humanity's capacity for both generosity and cruelty.

In 2005, he curated a show of photographs by Julian Cardona.

He lives and works in El Paso, Texas.

Videos
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Benjamin Alire Saenz

2019 Lambda Literary Retreat Faculty Reading at Otis College: Benjamin Alire...
Books
Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

He Forgot to Say Goodbye

He Forgot to Say Goodbye

Carry Me Like Water

Carry Me Like Water

FAQs
  • How do I book Benjamín Alire Sáenz to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Benjamín Alire Sáenz for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Benjamín Alire Sáenz, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Benjamín Alire Sáenz or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Benjamín Alire Sáenz

    Speaking fees for Benjamín Alire Sáenz, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Benjamín Alire Sáenz are under $10,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Benjamín Alire Sáenz, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Benjamín Alire Sáenz speak about?

    Benjamín Alire Sáenz is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Diversity Speakers, Hispanic Heritage, Literary, Poetry, Virtual Speakers.
  • Where does Benjamín Alire Sáenz travel from?

    Benjamín Alire Sáenz generally travels from El Paso, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Benjamín Alire Sáenz’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Benjamín Alire Sáenz for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Benjamín Alire Sáenz for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Benjamín Alire Sáenz or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Novelist, Poet & Children's Book Author Known for "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe"

Travels From:
El Paso, TX, USA
Speaking Fee:

Benjamín Alire Sáenz Biography

Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an award-winning American poet, novelist, and writer of children's books.

He was born at Old Picacho, New Mexico, the fourth of seven children, and was raised on a small farm near Mesilla, New Mexico. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1972. That fall, he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Humanities and Philosophy in 1977. He studied Theology at the University of Louvain in Leuven, Belgium from 1977 to 1981. He was a priest for a few years in El Paso, Texas before leaving the order.

In 1985, he returned to school, and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso where he earned an M.A. degree in Creative Writing. He then spent a year at the University of Iowa as a PhD student in American Literature. A year later, he was awarded a Wallace E. Stegner fellowship. While at Stanford University under the guidance of Denise Levertov, he completed his first book of poems, "Calendar of Dust," which won an American Book Award in 1992. He entered the Ph.D. program at Stanford and continued his studies for two more years. Before completing his Ph.D., he moved back to the border and began teaching at the University of Texas at El Paso in the bilingual MFA program.

His first novel, "Carry Me Like Water" was a saga that brought together the Victorian novel and the Latin American tradition of magic realism and received much critical attention. His coming-of-age young adult novel, "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" was published in 2012. Set in El Paso, Texas in 1987, the novel follows two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles with racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships. Since its publication, the novel has received widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades. A sequel titled "Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World" was announced in February, 2021.

In "The Book of What Remains," his fifth book of poems, he writes to the core truth of life's ever-shifting memories. Set along the Mexican border, the contrast between the desert's austere beauty and the brutality of border politics mirrors humanity's capacity for both generosity and cruelty.

In 2005, he curated a show of photographs by Julian Cardona.

He lives and works in El Paso, Texas.

Benjamín Alire Sáenz Videos

  • #VelshiBannedBookClub: Benjamin Alire Sáenz And The Secrets Of ...
    'Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,' by Benjamin Alire Sáenz has been critically acclaimed -- named among Time ...
  • Chat with Benjamin Alire Sáenz - YouTube
    Local teen, Eric Garcia, interviews author and poet, Benjamin Alire Sáenz about his YA novels, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of ...
  • Benjamin Alire Saenz
    2019 Lambda Literary Retreat Faculty Reading at Otis College: Benjamin Alire Saenz, Young Adult.

Benjamín Alire Sáenz Books

Speaker Lists Featuring Benjamín Alire Sáenz

FAQs on booking Benjamín Alire Sáenz

  • How do I book Benjamín Alire Sáenz to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Benjamín Alire Sáenz for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Benjamín Alire Sáenz, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Benjamín Alire Sáenz or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Benjamín Alire Sáenz

    Speaking fees for Benjamín Alire Sáenz, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Benjamín Alire Sáenz are under $10,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Benjamín Alire Sáenz, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Benjamín Alire Sáenz speak about?

    Benjamín Alire Sáenz is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Diversity Speakers, Hispanic Heritage, Literary, Poetry, Virtual Speakers.
  • Where does Benjamín Alire Sáenz travel from?

    Benjamín Alire Sáenz generally travels from El Paso, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Benjamín Alire Sáenz’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Benjamín Alire Sáenz for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Benjamín Alire Sáenz for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Benjamín Alire Sáenz or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Benjamín Alire Sáenz is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Benjamín Alire Sáenz for your event is $5,000 - $10,000. Benjamín Alire Sáenz generally travels from El Paso, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Pam Muñoz Ryan, Lois Lowry, Laura Numeroff, Sonia Nazario and Casey McQuiston. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Benjamín Alire Sáenz for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Benjamín Alire Sáenz Speaker Videos

  • #VelshiBannedBookClub: Benjamin Alire Sáenz And The Secrets Of ...
    'Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,' by Benjamin Alire Sáenz has been critically acclaimed -- named among Time ...
    Chat with Benjamin Alire Sáenz - YouTube
    Local teen, Eric Garcia, interviews author and poet, Benjamin Alire Sáenz about his YA novels, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of ...
  • Benjamin Alire Saenz
    2019 Lambda Literary Retreat Faculty Reading at Otis College: Benjamin Alire Saenz, Young Adult.
    Interview with Benjamin Alire Saenz
    Benjamin Alire Saenz writes beautiful poetry, sometimes in the form of poems and sometimes in the form of stories. If you haven't read his award-winning novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the...

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Speakers Similar to Benjamín Alire Sáenz

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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