Esmeralda Santiago is the author of the memoirs When I Was Puerto Rican, Almost A Woman—which she adapted into a Peabody Award-winning film for PBS Masterpiece Theater—and The Turkish Lover; the novel América's Dream; and a children's book, A Doll for Navidades. She is an active volunteer—including a spokesperson on behalf of public libraries—and received a Girl Scouts of America National Woman of Distinction Award in 2002. Author Christina Garcia calls Conquistadora, “An enthralling epic that not only illuminates the life of one extraordinary woman, but of the great sweep of Puerto Rican history. Rich with period details, unforgettable drama, and a riveting cast of characters, Conquistadora will seduce readers’ heart and soul.”