María Eugenia Paz y Miño (Quito, Ecuador, 1959) is an Ecuadorian writer and anthropologist known for her contributions to literature and cultural studies. She has published notable works across various genres, including the acclaimed novel La puerta del Ilaló (2008) and the political thriller Que no quede huella (2020). Paz y Miño’s writing often intertwines her anthropological background with her literary pursuits, exploring themes of culture, politics, and human relationships. She has received several prestigious awards, such as the Rumiñahui de Oro and the Fondo Editorial del Ministerio de Cultura del Ecuador.
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Gertrudis de San Ildefonso
Sor Gertrudis de San Ildefonso (Quito, 1651 – Quito, January 29, 1709) was a revered Ecuadorian nun, mystic, and writer known for her role in promoting the cult of Nuestra Señora del Amparo in colonial Quito. Born Gertrudis Dávalos y Mendoza, she entered the Order of Saint Clare at seventeen, where she experienced mystical visions and helped unveil a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. A prolific writer of religious texts, including hymns and prayers, her work contributed to Quito’s artistic and spiritual heritage, and she was declared venerable for her devout life and lasting influence.
Continue reading “Gertrudis de San Ildefonso”Jerónima de Velasco
Jerónima de Velasco de Ladrón de Guevara (Quito, c. 1630 – ?) was a renowned 17th-century poet from the Real Audiencia de Quito, now Ecuador, who gained widespread recognition for her eloquent Baroque poetry. Celebrated by contemporaries, including the famed Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, who praised her as “divine” in his Laurel de Apolo, she was admired for her intellectual prowess and poetic skill. Velasco’s work was included in Jacinto de Evia’s Ramillete de varias flores poéticas (1675), though much of her own writing has not survived. She spent most of her life in Pasto, Colombia, where she also managed family affairs and raised her children.
Continue reading “Jerónima de Velasco”Carlos Aulestia
Carlos Hugo Aulestia Páez (Quito, 1973) is an Ecuadorian writer, literary critic, and professor. He holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature from the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar and is currently the dean of the Faculty of Communication, Linguistics, and Literature at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Aulestia has authored works spanning fiction, poetry, and essays, including the novel La obscuridad (2016) and the short story collection Flaquita my love (1995). His research focuses on Ibero-American literature, with a notable contribution through his doctoral thesis on Ecuadorian poets Medardo Ángel Silva, César Dávila Andrade, and David Ledesma Vásquez.
Continue reading “Carlos Aulestia”Gaspar de Villarroel
Fray Gaspar de Villarroel (Quito, Kingdom of Quito, present-day Ecuador, 1587 – La Plata, Charcas, present-day Sucre, Bolivia, October 12, 1665) was an influential Augustinian priest, theologian, and archbishop in colonial Spanish America. Educated at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, he rose to prominence as a preacher in Spain, eventually being appointed Bishop of Santiago de Chile in 1637, where he led relief efforts during the 1647 earthquake. He later served as Bishop of Arequipa and Archbishop of La Plata (Charcas). Villarroel is also remembered for his significant theological writings, particularly Gobierno Eclesiástico Pacífico (1656), which addressed the relationship between church and state in the Spanish colonies.
Continue reading “Gaspar de Villarroel”Viviana Cordero
Viviana Cordero (Quito, August 3, 1964) is an Ecuadorian writer, playwright, and film director. She studied Modern Literature at the Sorbonne in Paris and began her career in 1990 by co-producing Sensaciones, the first Ecuadorian feature film made in 35mm. Cordero is known for her novels, including El Paraíso de Ariana (1994), El Teatro de los Monstruos (2000), and Mundos Opuestos (2010), as well as for her significant contributions to Ecuadorian theater and cinema. Her works explore themes of identity, memory, and societal roles, particularly focusing on women’s experiences.
Continue reading “Viviana Cordero”Renato Gudiño
Renato Gudiño (Quito, July 31, 1950) is an Ecuadorian author known for his versatility across multiple literary genres, including fiction, science fiction, psychological narratives, and noir. Educated in Ecuador and Romania, Gudiño’s works often explore themes of identity, transformation, and the human experience, drawing on his cosmopolitan background. His notable publications include La Transmutada (2004), Destino de Papel (2007), Cataplumes del Amor (2008), and El Edén de la Tenue Luz (2009), and his stories have gained international recognition, with Cataplumes del Amor being translated into Romanian as Delirul Iubirii (2014).
Continue reading “Renato Gudiño”Fabiola Solís de King
Fabiola Solís de King (Quito, Ecuador, October 8, 1936) is an Ecuadorian writer, clinical psychologist, and agronomist. Known for her penetrating exploration of human psychology, her work often delves into themes of mental health, gender, and the boundaries between reality and madness. She has published short story collections such as Al otro lado del muro (1978) and Mundo aparte y otros mundos (1983), as well as co-authored the pioneering research book La sexualidad femenina en el Ecuador (1987). Her work, characterized by experimental techniques, situates her among the leading Ecuadorian women writers of the 1970s. Her stories have been featured in several anthologies, both nationally and internationally, solidifying her as a significant voice in Ecuadorian literature.
Continue reading “Fabiola Solís de King”Génesis Andrea Toapanta Ramos
Génesis Andrea Toapanta Ramos, also known as Andrea Toapanta (Quito, 2001) is an Ecuadorian poet known for her evocative and introspective style. Influenced by writers like Pablo Neruda and César Vallejo, she began writing poetry in her childhood and gained national recognition with her collection Puntos Suspensivos, which consists of eight poems and won second prize at the 3rd “David Ledesma” National Poetry Contest in 2021. Her work explores themes of love, loss, and existentialism, characterized by vivid imagery and emotional depth.
Continue reading “Génesis Andrea Toapanta Ramos”Juan Secaira Velástegui
Juan Secaira Velástegui (Quito, Ecuador, 1971) is a poet, essayist, and visual artist whose work delves into themes of suffering, resilience, and personal transformation. He has published several critically acclaimed poetry collections, including Construcción del vacío (2009; “Construction of the Void”) and No es dicha (2012; “It Is Not Happiness”), which won the Jorge Carrera Andrade National Poetry Prize. In recent years, Secaira has adapted his creative process in response to his diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), incorporating visual art into his body of work. His 2023 collection Eclipsa los arribos (“Eclipses the Arrivals”) earned him the Paralelo Cero Poetry Prize, further cementing his legacy as one of Ecuador’s most poignant contemporary voices.
Continue reading “Juan Secaira Velástegui”Alexis Naranjo
Alexis Naranjo Banda (Quito, 1947) is an Ecuadorian poet, university professor, art critic, and translator. He earned a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Paris VIII and has published several notable poetry collections, including Profanaciones (1988; “Profanations”) and La piel del tiempo (1998; “The Skin of Time”), which won the Jorge Carrera Andrade National Prize. His work is known for its philosophical depth and rich language, influenced by both Latin American and Ecuadorian literary traditions. Naranjo’s poetry often explores themes of existence, spirituality, and the human condition.
Continue reading “Alexis Naranjo”Gustavo Salazar Calle
Gustavo Salazar Calle (Quito, Ecuador, October 3, 1966) is an Ecuadorian bibliographer, literary researcher, and historian. A corresponding member of the Academia Ecuatoriana de la Lengua since 2021, Salazar has dedicated over three decades to studying Ecuadorian and Ibero-American literature, with a focus on influential figures such as Benjamín Carrión and Rubén Darío. He has published 23 books, numerous scholarly articles, and has played a key role in the preservation of historical archives, including the Ecuadorian Consulate in Madrid and the Gaceta Judicial. His work continues to contribute significantly to the fields of literary and historical research in Latin America.
Continue reading “Gustavo Salazar Calle”David Acosta Herrera
David Acosta Herrera (Quito, Ecuador, November 8, 1986) is an Ecuadorian poet, writer, and cultural activist. Founder of the collective eLeLLo (Anarquía, Arte y Ciencia), Acosta promotes artistic engagement through workshops, events, and community projects. His first poetry collection, Termineternal, published by El Ángel, explores surrealism and symbolism in a poetic journey from life to death. He won first prize in the Certamen de Invierno – Poesía libre in Córdoba, Argentina, in 2018 for his poem Aztra. His latest work, El clamor de una nuez que se parte en silencio, was published in 2023.
Continue reading “David Acosta Herrera”Pablo Guerrero Gutiérrez
Fidel Pablo Guerrero Gutiérrez (Quito, Ecuador, November 1, 1962) is a prominent Ecuadorian musical historian, researcher, and author. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Guerrero has written more than 20 books on Ecuadorian music, including the comprehensive Enciclopedia de la música ecuatoriana. He studied at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música and holds a degree in Musical Pedagogy from the Universidad Técnica de Manabí. Guerrero is the founder of the Corporación Musicológica Ecuatoriana (CONMÚSICA) and has been recognized by the Academia Nacional de Historia for his extensive contributions to preserving Ecuador’s musical heritage.
Continue reading “Pablo Guerrero Gutiérrez”Piedad Larrea Borja
Piedad Larrea Borja (Quito, December 21, 1912 – Quito, June 2001) was an Ecuadorian writer, poet, philologist, and professor. As the first woman to join the Academia Ecuatoriana de la Lengua (Ecuadorian Academy of Language), where she served as secretary for many years, she played a significant role in Ecuadorian intellectual life. She earned a doctorate in Hispanic Philology from the University of Salamanca and later taught at the Universidad Central del Ecuador. Her literary works, which include essays, poetry, and linguistic studies, address themes of Ecuadorian identity, language, and social issues. In 1994, she was awarded the prestigious “Manuela Espejo” Prize by the Municipality of Quito, further cementing her legacy as a pioneering figure in Ecuadorian culture and education.
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