Irene Sarmiento, Philippines

Irene Sarmiento, a Filipina who lives in northern Colorado in the USA, works as an occupational therapist for children with developmental problems. In addition, she writes novels, short stories, essays and children’s books, for which she has won numerous awards. Her passion for writing was sparked when she won a short story competition at the age of eight. Today, as an immigrant to the USA, she uses the written word to explore her roots in the Philippines and its culture.

In 2009 her children’s book debut “Spinning” revolved around a boy with autism. It was followed in 2012 by “Tabon Girl”, in which a girl investigates the history of the Philippines and is confronted with gender roles and expectations that go back centuries. The present-day economic inequality and exploitation in the world’s largest archipelagic country is the topic of “Stray Cats”,which was awarded the Philippine’s National Children’s Book Award. Irene Sarmiento is the first writer from the Philippines to be invited to the White Ravens Festival.

The events with Irene Sarmiento will be moderated by Beate Schäfer, a free-lance editor, literary translator and writing coach.

To “Stray Cats” from Irene Sarmiento