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Esmeralda Santiago

Esmeralda Santiago

Keynote Speaker: Award-Winning Author & Documentary Filmmaker

  • Travels From:
  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: $20,000 - $30,000
    Virtual Event Fee: Below $10,000
    More Fee Info
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Esmeralda Santiago Biography

Esmeralda Santiago is the eldest of eleven children. She came to the United States from rural Puerto Rico at age thirteen. Her family settled in Brooklyn, where she had to learn English and brave her way through an oppressive urban environment, a cold climate, and a challenging new culture. Her transcultural experiences growing up poor and disenfranchised inspires her writing and forms the backbone of three memoirs, two novels, two anthologies, numerous essays, and the children’s book A Doll for Navidades. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages.

Upon publication of the ground-breaking memoir When I was Puerto Rican, Santiago was hailed as “...a welcome new voice, full of passion and authority.” (Washington Post). Her second memoir, Almost a Woman, received numerous “Best of Year” mentions and an Alex Award from the American Library Association. Her adaptation of the memoir into a film for PBS Masterpiece Theatre was critically acclaimed and received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. Her third memoir The Turkish Lover is about the struggle to leave home and forge an authentic bi-lingual and bi-cultural identity which was described as “an earthy, heartfelt tale of liberation, desperation, and the crippling grip of love” (Booklist). Santiago’s first novel, América's Dream is described by the Chicago Tribune as “Thrilling and page-turning, the fabulous story of América Gonzalez…is laid out masterfully.” Her epic historical novel Conquistadora became a national best seller. Publishers Weekly said that “Santiago brings passion, color, and historical detail to this Puerto Rican Gone With The Wind.”

Santiago graduated Magna cum Laude from Harvard University, earned an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, and has Honorary Doctorates from four universities. She has served on the boards of The Jacob Burns Film Center, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and the PEN American Center. Santiago is passionate about supporting the artistic development of young people by teaching them about media literacy and encouraging them to value their experience and tell their own stories. She is a spokesperson on behalf of public libraries and has travelled the world as a cultural ambassador for the State Department.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Esmeralda Santiago and other top speakers and celebrities.

Esmeralda Santiago Speaking Topics

Bi-lingual Dreamer

When I Was Puerto Rican

Writing a Life

Stroke by Stroke

Santiago was in the middle of writing her latest, and most challenging work, Conquistadora, when she had a stroke that left her unable to comprehend what she read or wrote. In this moving presentation, Santiago describes how, on her own, she re-learned to read and write in English and in Spanish so that she could finish her book.

Creating a Life

Approachable and sympathetic, Santiago engages audiences as she weaves stories from her eclectic life: how she learned English, her years of part-time study in community colleges, transfer to and graduation from Harvard University, years as a small business owner, and rise as an author of powerful, life affirming memoirs and novels. Santiago's Q&A sessions often bring testimony from listeners. Laughter and tears commingle in her inspirational presentations.

Esmeralda Santiago Videos

Aspen Literary Prize Finalist Brian Allen Carr in conversation with ...
An Evening with Esmeralda Santiago
A conversation with Puerto Rican writer Esmeralda Santiago

How to book Esmeralda Santiago?

Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Esmeralda Santiago for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers. Fill out a booking request form for Esmeralda Santiago, 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 pricing information and check availability for Esmeralda Santiago or any other celebrity of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Esmeralda Santiago?

Booking fees for Esmeralda Santiago, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Pricing often varies according to the circumstances, including the talent's schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. Speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Esmeralda Santiago, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

Who is the agent for Esmeralda Santiago?

All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Esmeralda Santiago for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent 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. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Esmeralda Santiago for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service talent booking agency?

All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Esmeralda Santiago or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Esmeralda Santiago or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.


Esmeralda Santiago is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Diversity, Authors and Hispanic Heritage. The estimated speaking fee range to book Esmeralda Santiago for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Esmeralda Santiago generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dolores Huerta, Lizzie Velasquez and Olga Custodio. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Esmeralda Santiago for an upcoming event.

Esmeralda Santiago Speaking Topics

  • Bi-lingual Dreamer

  • When I Was Puerto Rican

  • Writing a Life

  • Stroke by Stroke

    Santiago was in the middle of writing her latest, and most challenging work, Conquistadora, when she had a stroke that left her unable to comprehend what she read or wrote. In this moving presentation, Santiago describes how, on her own, she re-learned to read and write in English and in Spanish so that she could finish her book.

  • Creating a Life

    Approachable and sympathetic, Santiago engages audiences as she weaves stories from her eclectic life: how she learned English, her years of part-time study in community colleges, transfer to and graduation from Harvard University, years as a small business owner, and rise as an author of powerful, life affirming memoirs and novels. Santiago's Q&A sessions often bring testimony from listeners. Laughter and tears commingle in her inspirational presentations.

Esmeralda Santiago Videos

Aspen Literary Prize Finalist Brian Allen Carr in conversation with ...
An Evening with Esmeralda Santiago
A conversation with Puerto Rican writer Esmeralda Santiago
Esmeralda Santiago: A Founder of Nuyorican Literature
Esmeralda Santiago - Texas Conference for Women

Esmeralda Santiago Reviews

  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP - Oct 08 2020

  • Our first choice speaker fully executed a contract and cancelled less than a week before the event. Esmeralda fulfilled a very last-minute request for a speaker.
    Florida Atlantic University - Oct 23 2017

How to book Esmeralda Santiago?

Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Esmeralda Santiago for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers. Fill out a booking request form for Esmeralda Santiago, 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 pricing information and check availability for Esmeralda Santiago or any other celebrity of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Esmeralda Santiago?

Booking fees for Esmeralda Santiago, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Pricing often varies according to the circumstances, including the talent's schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. Speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Esmeralda Santiago, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

Who is the agent for Esmeralda Santiago?

All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Esmeralda Santiago for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent 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. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Esmeralda Santiago for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service talent booking agency?

All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Esmeralda Santiago or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Esmeralda Santiago or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.


Esmeralda Santiago is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Diversity, Authors and Hispanic Heritage. The estimated speaking fee range to book Esmeralda Santiago for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Esmeralda Santiago generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dolores Huerta, Lizzie Velasquez and Olga Custodio. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Esmeralda Santiago for an upcoming event.

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ESMERALDA SANTIAGO

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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.

The 2022 Speaking Industry Benchmark Report