December 2022 - Ecuadorian Literature

Juan Pablo Muñoz Sanz

Juan Pablo Muñoz Sanz (Quito, March 13, 1898 – Quito, August 5, 1964) was an Ecuadorian writer, music critic, composer, and pianist. In 1944, he assumed the role of rector at the Quito National Conservatory, simultaneously taking charge of its orchestra, which later evolved into the esteemed National Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Juan Pablo shared his expertise as a professor of Spanish, literature, and philosophy. Among his books are: “La Música en Quito” (1934), “Glosario de Amiel” (1936), “La música ecuatoriana” (1938), and “Nacionalismo y americanismo musical” (1938).

María Alban Estrada

María Alban Estrada (Guayaquil, February 28, 1939) is an Ecuadorian writer, investigative journalist, and editor. Her book “Con dios todo se puede: La invasión de las sectas al Ecuador” (written with Juan Pablo Muñoz) was the best-selling book in Ecuador in 1987. She worked as the editor-in-chief of Vistazo magazine between 1982 and 1985. She also held the positions of director of the investigative unit of Diario Expreso and general editor of Vistazo magazine. In 1988 she was awarded a scholarship, which allowed her, as a special observer, to attend investigative journalism schools in New York, Missouri, Kansas, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. She was also an active member of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), a grassroots nonprofit organization headquartered in Columbia, Missouri dedicated to improving the quality of journalism by educating, empowering and connecting journalists across the globe.

Edgar Allan García

Edgar Allan García (Guayaquil, December 17, 1958) is an Ecuadorian writer and cultural promoter. He has 74 books to his credit, including short stories, poetry, novels, biography, nonfiction, essays and children’s literature. His works have been published in Ecuador, Spain, Peru, Mexico and Argentina. His book “Leyendas del Ecuador” is read in primary and secondary schools while his young adult novel “El rey del mundo” was chosen as part of Argentina’s national reading program. His poetry and short stories have also been included in several anthologies, and in 2010 he was included in Jaime García Padrino’s “Great Dictionary of Latin American Authors of Children’s and Youth Literature.” He also serves as the director of Ecuador’s José de la Cuadra National Book and Reading Plan. Some of his stories have been translated into French.

Juan Carlos Cucalón

Juan Carlos Cucalón (Guayaquil, 1963) is an Ecuadorian short story writer and playwright. In 2007 he won first place in the Pablo Palacio Short Story Biennial with his story “Miedo a U2” [Fear of U2]. His book of short stories “Surcos obtusos” won the 2009 edition of the Luis Félix López National Literature Contest. Among the themes of the book are homoeroticism and masculinity in Latin America. In 2010, he premiered his play “Exododedosexos,” whose plot follows two transgender women named Malva Malabar and Simoné Bernadette who prepare to stage a play by Tenesse Williams. Cucalón is openly homosexual, and throughout his career he has published numerous stories featuring characters of various sexual orientations.