This upcoming Sunday, October 4, 2026 will be my first time being a vendor at the Upper Valley Market from 11 am – 3pm. Come shop and support your local vendors. Wish me luck!
Wizard Fest
Author: Sandra
I am an educator, trained storyteller, and writer. I am currently working on a bilingual literacy project to develop an intervention program using storytelling in lieu of practice testing. As a former Dual Language teacher, I used storytelling as an intervention and had successful results with my struggling readers on state assessments. My goal is to be able to replicate the program at other schools.
I am also available to perform storytelling at schools, libraries, and other events. I am able to perform in English or Spanish.
Thank You, City of Snyder!
This past weekend I had the honor of storytelling at the City of Snyder’s very first Mexican Independence Day Celebration — a day filled with corazón, culture, and community pride.
My heartfelt thanks to Diana Zapata and Brad Overcash for organizing this inaugural event and bringing such vision and dedication to Snyder. And a special thank‑you to Amy Hodges from the Scurry County Library, whose commitment to literacy and community storytelling helped make this celebration possible.
I also want to express deep gratitude to the collaborators who helped outfit me for this beautiful day. • El Charro in El Paso, quien personalizó mi sombrero so it matched my dress perfectly. • And Ernesto in Chicago, who added los detalles finales to my dress with such care and artistry that they completed the look and made the entire outfit feel truly special.
Snyder, Texas your corazón is strong. Thank you for letting me be part of your story.
¡Snyder, Texas – A Contar Cuentos!
Catch me live at your Mexican Independence Day Celebration this Saturday, September 19th from 11 AM to 1PM at Pocket Park. Honoring raíces, comunidad and the stories that carry us – Snyder, I can’t wait to celebrate Mexican Independence Day with you!
ALA Conference and Exhibition, Here I Come!
This is my first time exhibiting at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibition, and I’m incredibly excited. I’ve been preparing for over a year, and I’m finally debuting new merchandise that aligns with my independent publishing press, Yo Cuento Cuentos.
This year’s conference is packed with amazing speakers — including LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow, Jill Biden, and Rachel Maddow — so there’s a lot of energy and inspiration in the air.
Below is a preview of the bilingual books, shirts, and mugs I’ll be bringing with me. What do you think of the merchandise?
Texas Storytelling Festival
Thursday, March 12 – Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Denton, Texas
Featured Storytellers, YOUTH events, Workshops, Master Classes, Story and Poetry Slams, Fringe and Long Form Concerts, Silent Auction, Story Store, and so much more!
Diá de Los Muertos Performance!!!!!
I’ve been practicing diligently, so I hope El Paso friends can come to El Chamizal National Memorial Park to enjoy FREE activities which include storytelling by yours truly!!
Everything starts this Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 10 am. I perform @11:15-12:15, and all other activities (Mariachis, face painting, crafts, etc.,) end at 2 pm. So you still have time to make it to downtown El Paso for the Day of the Dead parade at 4 pm.
It’s Official! Xochitl y Papalotl is ready!
I couldn’t be happier with this book’s production. The illustrator, Carmen Casillas, did an amazing job. The paperback releases today and is now available on Amazon. The Kindle e-book is available for pre-order and will release on October 15, 2024. The hardcover and Spanish version will be available later this month.
Xochitl y Papalotl Book Cover by Carmen Casillas: Captivating Artwork Revealed
I can’t help it! I have to share!
My amazing illustrator, Carmen Casillas, finished painting the cover of my next self-published book. She is talented!
Xóchitl y Papalotl is a Day of the Dead story that I perform as part of my storytelling repertoire.
Xóchitl, a ten-year-old Mexican girl, encounters a weakened monarch butterfly during its annual pilgrimage to The Forbidden Forest. Remembering the legend that helping a butterfly grants a wish from the Goddess Xochitlquetzal, she decides to assist it. As she follows the butterfly, she sings a song taught by her grandmother, leading her deeper into the forest. Along the way, she encounters El Cucuy, a boogeyman known for taking mischievous children. Xóchitl manages to outsmart him and return home safely.
Happy Birthday Madre Mia
I promised my grandmother I would always celebrate my mother’s real birthday. Like many Mexicans, my mother’s real birthdate is different from her registered/legal birthdate. She was born at home and it took a while to register her birth at the local municipal court, so she celebrates two birthdays.
In honor of my mom, Ernestina Aguirre, I made this video and finally, after almost 20 years, recorded the song I wrote for her.
Te quiero mucho, Ma.
Texas Storytelling Festival 2024
It was amazing!!!!
It’s been over a month since it happened, March 7-10. All the volunteers made it so successful. It is a beautiful festival that stands up to any festival around the country. The featured tellers, upcoming tellers, workshops, and telling opportunities for the emergent and professional are genuinely worth the trip and money.
I was blessed to have my son, Jesus, join me in volunteering again. He even took a picture with one of his favorite tellers, Donald Davis, a storytelling legend. I got to listen to the awesome Nestor Gomez from Xicago as well! Fran Stallings eloquently told her tales mired in eco-wisdom, and Kathy Culmer’s sense of humor, wit, and consciousness revealed in her inspirational performances. All were amazing, and I am a better teller for engulfing myself in their stories.
I hope that at some point in your life you have the opportunity to attend this festival. You will love it! Like me, you might even get the opportunity to take a selfie with the festival ambassador!
