Carlos Daniel López (Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1995) is an emerging Ecuadorian author known for his evocative short stories and poetry. He gained initial recognition by contributing to the poetry anthology Manías de la mente (“Obsessions of the Mind”) and later solidified his reputation with the publication of Un día en la vida (2024; “A Day in the Life”), a collection of stories and poems exploring themes of love, loss, and hope. His work has been featured at the Guayaquil International Book Fair, marking him as one of Ecuador’s promising young literary voices.
Early Influences and Inspirations
Carlos Daniel López was born in 1995 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a city whose vibrant culture and unique spirit have profoundly shaped his literary voice. Growing up, López developed a deep love for Ecuadorian literature, finding particular inspiration in the works of Medardo Ángel Silva, a renowned Guayaquilean poet whose modernist style and emotive language fueled López’s own literary aspirations. Additionally, his grandfather, César Burgos Flor—a journalist and a man of letters—instilled in López a respect for the power of words and storytelling. His grandfather’s example taught him that writing could serve as a means to communicate meaningfully, influence, and transform.
Literary Career
López began his career as a contributor to Manías de la mente (“Obsessions of the Mind”), an anthology of poetry in which his emerging voice was first recognized. His breakthrough, however, came in 2024 with Un día en la vida (“A Day in the Life”), a collection of short stories and poetry published by Luna Nueva Ediciones. Un día en la vida solidified López’s place among Ecuador’s promising young authors, leading to his participation at the 2024 Guayaquil International Book Fair. This prominent literary event, held from September 18 to 22 at the Centro de Convenciones Simón Bolívar, showcased his work alongside that of other notable Ecuadorian writers, underscoring his rising influence on the national literary scene.
In addition to Un día en la vida, López is the author of El Maletín, a collection of poetry, and Cartas a Flora y otros relatos, which showcase his versatility in both prose and verse. His work often examines human emotions and the intricacies of relationships, inviting readers to reflect on shared experiences.
Creative Journey
López’s journey as a writer began in childhood with a simple, entertaining story about an adventure shared with his cousins. This early creative effort marked his first attempt to translate his imagination into words. By the age of 15 or 16, López had developed a deeper interest in literature, especially poetry. He became absorbed in studying poetic form, meter, and rhythm, which allowed him to shape his thoughts into expression and explore a range of emotional themes.
As his interest in storytelling grew, López began writing short stories that captured both real and imagined experiences, refining his style through continued practice. This combination of poetry and prose has become a hallmark of his work, allowing him to craft narratives that reflect both personal and universal aspects of human life.
Current Projects
Currently, Carlos Daniel López is working on several new projects, including a biography of a lesser-known Ecuadorian writer, which he plans to publish soon. He is also developing a book of short stories that showcases diverse themes, each with its own narrative style and depth. Additionally, López is assembling a comprehensive collection of his poetry from the past three years, a project that represents a significant personal milestone and brings together his ongoing dedication to verse.
Connection to Guayaquil
Guayaquil has been a constant source of inspiration in López’s writing, and its essence permeates many of his stories, particularly his short fiction. Having spent most of his life there, he feels a deep affection for the city, which naturally finds its way into his work. The streets he has walked, the intense sun, the people, and even Guayaquil’s moments of chaos are all woven into his narratives. For López, writing about Guayaquil is a tribute to the paths he has traveled and the experiences he has gathered there, bringing life and authenticity to each story.
Vision for Readers and Legacy
Through his writing, Carlos Daniel López seeks to create a genuine connection with his readers. He wants his work to resonate with readers’ experiences, providing them with familiar and honest reflections of shared emotions. His aim is for each story and poem to offer a space for connection and self-reflection, allowing readers to find something meaningful in the everyday moments his work captures.
Looking ahead, López sees his work as contributing to Ecuadorian literature by bridging personal experience with universally shared themes. He hopes his writing will reflect the spirit of Guayaquil and Ecuadorian culture while exploring themes like love, loss, and the search for meaning. López envisions his work as providing a place of comfort and familiarity, where readers can connect both to his experiences and to their own.
Five Poems
Translated by Richard Gabela on Sept 11-13, 2014.
"Melancholy"
I am the forgotten prince
of a kingdom that never was,
where shadows dance,
and pain becomes my faith.
Melancholy, sweet companion,
in your arms I find solace,
beneath sorrow's mantle,
my heart discovers its soul.
What remains of those dreams,
of loves so fleeting and ephemeral?
Only the echo of a sigh,
and whispers of old phrases.
In this life of broken illusions,
where stars deceive,
I seek refuge in your embrace,
in your tears that soothe my wounds.
"Melancolía"
Soy el príncipe olvidado
de un reino que nunca fue,
donde las sombras danzan,
y el dolor se convierte en mi fe.
Melancolía, dulce compañera,
en tus brazos encuentro calma,
bajo el manto de la tristeza,
mi corazón encuentra su alma.
¿Qué queda de aquellos sueños,
de amores efímeros y fugaces?
Solo el eco de un suspiro,
y el recuerdo de viejas frases.
En esta vida de ilusiones rotas,
donde las estrellas son mentiras,
busco refugio en tu abrazo,
en tus lágrimas que alivian mis heridas.
"Eternity"
Between shadows and light, life drifts away,
in a constant swaying, in an eternal breeze.
The soul's agony, searching for its essence,
loses itself in labyrinths, in the wilderness of absence.
Days vanish like leaves in the wind,
while the heart weeps its eternal lament.
At time's sunset, the horizon blurs,
and in twilight the soul submerges in its mountain depths.
The whisper of silence, the dance of solitude,
accompany the spirit in its somber reality.
What destiny awaits the one who searches without cease?
What truth reveals itself in darkness?
The agony of living reflects in every step,
in every sigh, in every tear that breaks free.
But in the midst of night, a glimmer of hope
illuminates the path toward new abundance.
For within agony itself resides the vital force,
the spark that ignites the soul, the flame without end.
And thus, between shadows and light, in this eternal living,
hope is reborn with each new dawn.
"Eternidad"
Entre sombras y luces, la vida se desliza,
en un vaivén constante, en una eterna brisa.
La agonía del alma, en busca de su esencia,
se pierde en laberintos, en la selva de la ausencia.
Los días se desvanecen como hojas en el viento,
mientras el corazón llora su eterno lamento.
En el ocaso del tiempo, se desdibuja el horizonte,
y en la penumbra se sumerge el alma en su monte.
El susurro del silencio, la danza de la soledad,
acompañan al espíritu en su triste realidad.
¿Qué destino aguarda a aquel que busca sin cesar?
¿Qué verdad se revela en la oscuridad?
La agonía de vivir, en cada paso se refleja,
en cada suspiro, en cada lágrima que se despeja.
Pero en medio de la noche, un destello de esperanza,
ilumina el sendero hacia una nueva bonanza.
Porque en la agonía misma, reside la fuerza vital,
la chispa que enciende el alma, la llama sin final.
Y así, entre sombras y luces, en este eterno vivir,
renace la esperanza, en cada nuevo amanecer.
"Enchanted Nocturne"
Beneath the starlit mantle,
shadows dance
in the garden of night,
where dreams intertwine.
The moon, silent witness,
illuminates the path,
while lost lovers seek each other
with divine yearning.
In love’s ether,
hearts merge,
whispers of passion fill the air
like the rustling of leaves in the wind.
The stars murmur secrets
to the ear of night,
while lovers lose themselves
in an endless embrace,
a dance without reproach.
Night-blooming flowers exhale
their intoxicating perfume,
enveloping lovers in enchanting ecstasy.
Sighs rise toward heaven,
like prayers of devotion,
as time stands still
in this sublime communion.
Oh, eternal night,
witness to so many loves,
guard our secrets,
our passions, and our sorrows.
In your embrace of shadows,
in your deep mystery,
may lost hearts find
their refuge, their world.
"Nocturno Encantado"
Bajo el manto estrellado,
danzan las sombras,
en el jardín de la noche,
donde los sueños se entrelazan.
La luna, testigo silente,
ilumina el camino,
mientras los amantes perdidos se buscan con anhelo divino.
En el éter del amor,
los corazones se funden,
susurros de pasión en el aire,
como susurros de hojas en el viento.
Las estrellas susurran secretos al oído de la noche,
mientras los amantes se pierden en un abrazo sin fin,
una danza sin reproche.
Las flores nocturnas exhalan su perfume embriagador,
envolviendo a los amantes en un éxtasis encantador.
Los suspiros se elevan hacia el cielo, como plegarias de devoción,
mientras el tiempo se detiene en esta sublime comunión.
Oh, noche eterna,
testigo de tantos amores,
guarda nuestros secretos,
nuestras pasiones y dolores.
Que en tu abrazo de sombras,
en tu misterio profundo,
los corazones perdidos encuentren su refugio, su mundo.
"Lullaby"
Golden memories, like fallen leaves,
sing stories of times past,
soft whispers, like wind in the breeze,
wrap the night in a peaceful mantle.
Sleep, lovely dear one, don’t cry,
and I will sing you a lullaby.
The echo of stars, an endless melody,
guides your dreams toward the rising dawn,
where smiles dance with the light,
and the world awakens at the height of love.
Sleep, lovely dear one, don’t cry,
and I will sing you a lullaby.
In the spell of the serene night,
you sail the sea of dreams,
where whispers turn to melodies,
and eternal love wraps you in its arms.
Sleep, lovely dear one, don’t cry,
and I will sing you a lullaby.
Amid sighs and whispers of tenderness,
I wrap you in my pure lullaby,
until the first rays of sun
wake the world in a crimson glow.
"Canción de Cuna"
Recuerdos dorados, como hojas caídas, cantan historias de tiempos pasados, susurros suaves,
como el viento en la brisa,
envuelven la noche en su manto sosegado.
Duerme, linda querida, no llores, y cantaré una canción de cuna.
El eco de las estrellas, melodía infinita, guía tus sueños hacia la aurora naciente, donde las sonrisas danzan con la luz,
y el mundo despierta en su apogeo de amor.
Duerme, linda querida, no llores, y cantaré una canción de cuna.
El hechizo de la noche serena,
navegas en el mar de los sueños,
donde los susurros se convierten en melodías,
y el amor eterno te envuelve con sus brazos.
Duerme, linda querida, no llores, y cantaré una canción de cuna.
Entre suspiros y susurros de ternura,
te envuelvo en mi canción de cuna pura, hasta que los primeros rayos de sol, despierten el mundo en un nuevo arrebol.
"Algonquin Summer"
The Algonquin summer arrives,
beneath the Thunder Moon,
mother’s rain, father’s fury,
bare consequences of both,
I am fire and rain.
Orbit of the Thunder Moon,
season of my birth,
father of my soul,
bathing me in growth,
shaking me with illumination.
In the small firmament,
destinies interweave,
fire and water dance together,
in a divine rhythm.
Under the starry mantle,
my being drifts into trance,
between fury and calm,
my own dance is born.
And so,
in this eternal cosmos,
I merge my being with essence,
I am fire and I am rain,
in this endless existence.
"Verano Angolquino"
Llega el verano algonquino,
bajo la luna del trueno,
la lluvia de madre, la furia de padre, desnudas consecuencias de ambos,
soy fuego y lluvia.
Órbita luna del trueno,
temporada de mi nacimiento,
padre de mi alma,
me baña con crecimiento,
me sacude con iluminación.
En el pequeño firmamento,
se entrelazan los destinos,
fuego y agua danzan juntos,
en un ritmo divino.
Bajo el manto estelar,
mi ser se encuentra en trance,
entre la furia y la calma,
nace mi propia danza.
Y así,
en este cosmos eterno,
fusiono mi ser con la esencia,
soy fuego y soy lluvia,
En esta eterna existencia.
Selected Works
- Un día en la vida (2024)
- El Maletín
- Cartas a Flora y otros relatos
- Manías de la mente (anthology of various poets)
References
- OverDrive, “Un día en la vida by Carlos Daniel López.” Retrieved on October 4, 2024. Click to view.
- Autores Editores, “Carlos Daniel López.” Retrieved on October 4, 2024. Click to view.
- El Universo, “Feria del Libro de Guayaquil: los autores ecuatorianos que verás desde hoy hasta el domingo 22 de septiembre.” Retrieved on October 4, 2024. Click to view.
This biography was expanded with information provided directly by the author, along with five of his poems included with his permission.