Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street, spoke to NIU students, faculty and staff, Tuesday night.

After being introduced by Emily Prieto, director of the Latino Resource Center, Cisneros told the audience how tired she was just getting back from China recently and still having jet lag. Cisneros told the audience, however, that “the show must go on.”

“Writing is a process of walking deep into a question, and walking, and walking, and walking, until we find the answer,” Cisneros said. “When you get to the answer, that’s the end. It’s finished.”

Cisneros spoke about her latest work, which has been working on short stories. She also recently finished the screen play for her most famous work, The House on Mango Street.

Cisneros read a short story called “Infinito” to the audience, a story inspired from a picture on a postcard of Frida Kahlo. The story was about a wife always supporting her husband. When she gets sick she learns a better relationship is had with all of her pets.

“The best writing comes when you get yourself out of the way,” Cisneros said. “Get your ego out of the way.”

She went on to explain how each person is completely different from the next.

“There is no one like you in the whole universe. You’re like snow,” she said.

Then, Cisneros allowed time for questions from the audience.

“It was interesting seeing her so jet lagged,” said Marcus Rodriguez, freshman English education major. “Even though she was so tired, it was an insight into her personality. I’m an English major, and I never really thought about the whole writing process; how long it takes to write a novel, let alone a single page.”

After the question and answer session was finished, Cisneros did a quick book signing for those who came prepared.

“It was interesting learning about someone that I read and adored in high school,” said Amanda Liszewski, freshman elementary education major. “It was a well-rounded speech. She was very motivating.”