Sandy Benitez aka Bittersweet. A self-described "military brat", she was born in Selma, Alabama, in October 1970. Her father served 20+ years in the Air Force and her mother is a native of Thailand.
At an early age, Sandy showed talent in creative writing. She consistently achieved the highest grade in elem school
for short story writing. Sandy started writing poetry in 1986
at the age of 16. Her English teacher encouraged her to keep writing,
noting that she reminded her of Emily Dickinson. But that was probably
due more to her demeanor: she was very much the brooding, melancholic
poet & was also extremely shy. She graduated from Brent International School
in 1988. In 1989, Sandy joined the Air Force, carrying on the family tradition. She was married in 1993 to a fellow service member; however, She uses the pen name Sandy Hiss, which is actually her birth name.
Sandy is now stationed in Wyoming with her two beautiful but hyper children, ages 6 & 2 and Aquarian husband (she is counting the days until retirement-which is still 3 or 4 years out).
Sandy Hiss' poetry and fiction have appeared or are forthcoming in Cabaret New Angeles, Autographs, Eskimopie, Scorched Earth, Autumn Leaves, The Cat's Meow, Poet's Haven, True Poet, The Green Silk Journal, Ken*Again, Thick With Conviction, Fresh!, Bolts of Silk, Zone, KuPoZine, CC&D, Dance to Death, Defenestration, Zygote in my Coffee, Words-Myth, and Falling Star Magazine.