María Alejandra Almeida Albuja (Ibarra, Ecuador, February 16, 1992) is an Ecuadorian author and lawyer known for her contributions to children’s and young adult literature. She began her writing career at age 11 with her first published story, and has since authored numerous acclaimed books, including La habitación secreta (2014), La esfera dorada (2017), and El pez más feo del mundo (2020), many of which have received prestigious awards like the Premio Nacional Darío Guevara Mayorga. In addition to her literary work, Almeida holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and a postgraduate degree in public policy research from FLACSO, balancing her time between human rights advocacy and writing.
Early Life and Education
María Alejandra Almeida was born on February 16, 1992, in Ibarra, Ecuador. She grew up surrounded by books, a setting that fostered her early interest in literature and storytelling. Almeida started writing stories at a young age and published her first story, Tu reflejo lo dice todo, at just 11. She later pursued higher education in law, earning her degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Alongside her legal training, Almeida developed an academic interest in public policy, pursuing postgraduate studies at the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO).
Literary Career
Almeida’s formal literary career began to take shape in 2010, when she won first place in the XV Concurso Nacional de Literatura “Terminemos el Cuento,” a national writing contest organized by Unión Latina and the Spanish Embassy. This achievement prompted her to consider writing as a professional path. Her debut children’s novel, La habitación secreta, was published in 2014 and garnered an honorable mention in the Premio Nacional Darío Guevara Mayorga, a significant Ecuadorian literary award.
In 2016, she published Titirimario, an illustrated album, and a year later, released La esfera dorada, a children’s fantasy novel that became a finalist in the Concurso Internacional de Literatura Infantil y Juvenil Libresa. This book also won the Darío Guevara Mayorga award in 2018. Almeida continued her creative momentum with Tizón (2017), Súper Abuelo (2017), and two young adult novels in 2019, Aventura en Cueva-Oscura and Una melodía para Lu. In 2020, she published El pez más feo del mundo, which again secured her a place as a finalist in the Libresa competition and won her another Darío Guevara Mayorga award in 2021.
Notable Works and Themes
Almeida’s work often explores themes of friendship, self-discovery, and social issues, with notable examples like Súper Abuelo, which sensitively addresses Alzheimer’s disease, and Una melodía para Lu, which explores themes of tolerance and inclusion. Her storytelling frequently combines elements of fantasy, as seen in Tizón, the tale of a magical cat protecting a young boy from danger, and Aventura en Cueva-Oscura, a story about a boy navigating a world filled with goblins and hidden threats. Her works span across age groups, making her a versatile figure in Ecuadorian children’s and young adult literature.
Personal Interests
Outside of her writing, Almeida is a passionate fan of anime and manga, particularly enjoying films by Studio Ghibli, with Howl’s Moving Castle among her favorites. Her background in law informs her continued interest and work in human rights advocacy, focusing on issues related to children’s rights.
Recognitions and Accolades
- Premio Nacional de Literatura Infantil “Darío Guevara Mayorga” (2021) – Awarded by the Concejo Metropolitano de Quito for El pez más feo del mundo as the best children’s novel published in 2021.
- Premio Nacional de Literatura Infantil “Darío Guevara Mayorga” (2018) – Awarded for La esfera dorada, which was recognized as the best children’s novel published in 2018 by the Concejo Metropolitano de Quito.
- Finalist, XVI Concurso Internacional de Literatura Infantil y Juvenil Libresa (2017) – La esfera dorada was named one of the top five entries, making it the only Ecuadorian work among the finalists, and subsequently published by Libresa.
- Beca de Excelencia Académica, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador – Received four times (May 2013, Dec 2013, May 2014, Dec 2014) for outstanding academic performance.
- First Place, XV Concurso Nacional “Terminemos el Cuento” (2010) – Sponsored by Unión Latina and the Spanish Embassy, this award recognized her early storytelling talent.
- Special Award, Diario La Hora, XIV Concurso “Terminemos el Cuento” (2009) – Honored by Unión Latina and the Spanish Embassy for her work in the 2009 contest.
- Top Graduate in Law (2014-2015) – Named best graduate of her class in the first semester of the 2014-2015 law program at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.
Published Works
Children’s and Young Adult Literature
- La habitación secreta (2014) – A children’s mystery novel awarded an honorable mention in the Premio Nacional Darío Guevara Mayorga.
- Titirimario (2016) – An illustrated album following a puppeteer’s journey.
- La esfera dorada (2017) – A fantasy novel for young readers, finalist in the Concurso Internacional de Literatura Infantil y Juvenil Libresa and winner of the Darío Guevara Mayorga award.
- Tizón (2017) – A magical adventure featuring a young boy and his protective cat.
- Súper Abuelo (2017) – A sensitive tale on Alzheimer’s disease, with illustrations for coloring.
- Aventura en Cueva-Oscura (2019) – A fantasy story centered on a young boy’s journey through a world of goblins and hidden dangers.
- Una melodía para Lu (2019) – A novel exploring themes of inclusion, tolerance, and first love.
- El pez más feo del mundo (2020) – A story about self-acceptance and empathy, which was also a Libresa finalist and Darío Guevara Mayorga award recipient.
Academic Work
- Declaratoria de adoptabilidad y los derechos de los niños (2016) – An in-depth legal analysis on adoption and children’s rights within Ecuadorian law, focusing on the principles of identity, family, and community integration.
References
- María Alejandra Almeida. Mi historia. Retrieved on October 28, 2024. Click to view.
- Goodreads. María Alejandra Almeida Albuja author page. Retrieved on October 28, 2024. Click to view.
- Loqueleo. María Alejandra Almeida, author profile and book information. Retrieved on October 28, 2024. Click to view.
- María Alejandra Almeida. Mis libros. Retrieved on October 28, 2024. Click to view.
- Ministerio de Cultura y Patrimonio. Jóvenes escritoras tienen su espacio en Ibarra. November 28, 2017. Retrieved on October 28, 2024. Click to view.
- Biblioteca PUCE. Declaratoria de adoptabilidad y los derechos de los niños. Retrieved on October 28, 2024. Click to view.