My background

Ileana Araguti is a Nicaraguan American author, award-winning memoirist, motivational speaker, and educator in Southern California. Her debut memoir, Shattered Paradise: Memoirs of a Nicaraguan War Child, earned her multiple recognitions from The International Latino Book Awards Foundation. This inspiring and heart-wrenching testimony of survival guides readers through a poetic odyssey, weaving a narrative that transcends the mystical City of Mist to the harsh realities etched into the cobblestone of a nation wounded by war and conflict. 

Ileana left her homeland hand in hand with her mother, severely scarred physically and emotionally, and deeply wounded by post-traumatic stress and survivor’s guilt. Together, they boarded a plane bound for the United States. Two decades after leaving Nicaragua, Ileana’s return as an adult unveiled an unrecognizable land, transformed from the enchanting cloud forests of her youth. Ileana emerges as a storyteller and a purveyor of life’s lessons, finding hope and happiness amid adversity. She imparts profound insights into love, freedom, and gratitude. 

Currently, she is an educator and a school principal in California. She writes under her pseudonym to separate both of her careers. Against all odds, she achieved the highest education, inspired by her mother's will and determination and her unrelenting persistence. She holds a doctorate in Educational Administration, a master’s degree in education, a master’s in administration, and a bachelor’s in the Arts from the University of California, Riverside, and National University. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two children.