Female writers - Ecuadorian Literature

María Eugenia Puig

María Eugenia Puig Lince (Guayaquil, August 2, 1919 – Quito, February 4, 2001) was an Ecuadorian poet, intellectual, and diplomat. She co-founded the Grupo Cultural “Oasis” in 1955 alongside Rosa Borja de Ycaza and Zoila Luisa Campodónico de Caputti, and served as its director, documenting the group’s activities in the magazine “Oasis.” She was also a key figure in founding the Pan-American Women’s Round Table of Ecuador, advocating for women’s cultural involvement. Her legacy is honored through the Museo Municipal de Arte “María Eugenia Puig Lince,” inaugurated in Guayaquil in 2013.

María Leonor Madinyá Andrade

María Leonor Madinyá Andrade (Guayaquil, February 15, 1936 – Guayaquil, September 7, 2006) was an Ecuadorian poet known for her deeply introspective and melancholic poetry. Despite becoming blind at the age of 22, she mastered Braille and continued her literary pursuits, becoming an advocate for the blind. Her works, such as Palpitar de un sueño (1966) and Ventana del Alba (1968), are celebrated for their emotional depth and spiritual themes. Madinyá also hosted the long-running radio program Música y Poesía, promoting poetry in Ecuador for over two decades.

María Eugenia Paz y Miño

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.

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.

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.

Teresa Ala-Vedra y Tama

Teresa Ala-Vedra y Tama (Guayaquil, April 2, 1889 – Guayaquil, 1987) was an Ecuadorian journalist, poet, writer, painter, pianist, and composer. She co-founded the literary magazine La Ondina del Guayas (1907-1910), which provided a platform for women writers to express themselves through poetry, essays, and articles. Known for her artistic versatility, Teresa also excelled in watercolor painting and music composition, contributing significantly to Ecuador’s early feminist literary movement. Her work spanned various creative forms, including drama, with her children’s play En el jardín de los enanos published in 1956.

María Leonor Baquerizo

María Leonor Baquerizo Díaz Granados (Guayaquil, 1960) is an Ecuadorian writer, professor, and empowerment coach. She is known for her contributions to Ecuadorian literature, particularly in the genre of short stories, where she explores psychological themes and human emotions. In addition to her literary work, she teaches at the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil and ITS, and directs programs at Empowerment Coach Consultant. Her works, such as “Solo quería entender” and “Las grandes cosas se pierden en la niebla”, have earned her recognition as a significant figure in Ecuador’s literary scene.

Martha Chávez

Martha Chávez Negrete (Guayaquil, 1967) is an Ecuadorian doctor, psychiatrist, and writer. She is known for her contributions to contemporary Ecuadorian literature, particularly in the genres of short stories and novels. Her notable works include Precisando el sentido (1999), Uno de estos tristes días virtuales (2003), and her acclaimed novel La memoria corre a mil (2008), which won third prize in the genre of novels for its exploration of memory and identity. In addition to her literary career, Chávez is also a university professor and a contributor to various literary magazines in Ecuador.

Carolina Andrade

Carolina Andrade (Guayaquil, 1963) is an Ecuadorian writer, university professor, and journalist known for her poignant short stories and novellas. She studied in Mexico at the literary workshops of the Sociedad General de Escritores Mexicanos (SOGEM) and later earned postgraduate degrees in Education, Humanistic Studies, and Communication. Her notable works include Detrás de sí (1994), De luto (1999), and the novel A orillas de un relato (2024), which explore themes of death, existential absurdity, and human fragility. Andrade’s works have been translated into multiple languages and featured in prestigious literary anthologies.

Denise Rosales

Denise Rosales (Guayaquil, 1954) is an Ecuadorian novelist and short story writer known for her only novel, Los vértices del triángulo (1994), which explores themes of love and desire through a bold narrative of a love triangle. Her work has been featured in anthologies such as Libro de posta (1983), Frauen in Lateinamerika 2 (1987), and Antología de narradoras ecuatorianas (1997). Rosales has lived in Milan, Italy, and is recognized as part of the movement of prominent Ecuadorian women writers who gained recognition in the 1980s and 1990s.

Martha Rodríguez Albán

Martha Rodríguez Albán (Loja, 1959) is an Ecuadorian fiction writer, literary scholar, and educator. She holds a Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil and a Master’s in Cultural Studies from the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar. As a fiction writer, she is known for her short story collections Nada más el futuro (1996), which won the Joaquín Gallegos Lara National Award, and Pero es después, bajo el sol (2001). In the field of literary criticism, she authored Narradores ecuatorianos de los 50: poéticas para la lectura de modernidades periféricas (2009) and Crítica literaria y sociedad en el Ecuador (1930-2000) (2022). She currently teaches at the Universidad Central del Ecuador in Quito.

Marcela Veintimilla

Marcela Veintimilla Carrión (Zaruma, 1961) is an Ecuadorian short story writer who gained recognition during the 1980s. She was part of the Advanced Literature Workshop at the Central Bank/Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, Núcleo del Guayas, under the guidance of Miguel Donoso Pareja. Her debut collection, Cualquier cosa me invento para ver (1989), presents introspective and experimental narratives that explore identity, personal dilemmas, and societal expectations. Her work has been included in notable anthologies.

Livina Santos

Livina Santos (Guayaquil, 1959) is an Ecuadorian writer and educator known for her contributions to feminist literature in Ecuador. She gained recognition with her short story collection Una noche frente al espejo (1989), which explores themes such as gender roles, societal repression, and existential issues through a feminist lens. A former member of the Advanced Literature Workshop at the Central Bank of Ecuador, she has also contributed to various literary anthologies. Alongside her literary career, Santos has taught literature and led numerous literary workshops, shaping the literary landscape of Ecuador.

Liliana Miraglia

Liliana Miraglia (Guayaquil, 1952) is an Ecuadorian writer, storyteller, and photographer known for her short stories that blend irony, humor, and subtle reflections on women’s roles in society. She was a key member of the Creative Writing Workshop of the Central Bank of Guayaquil, led by Miguel Donoso Pareja, and her works often explore the complexities of everyday life with a minimalist and ambiguous narrative style. Her notable works include “La vida que parece” (1989; The Life That Appears) and “Un close up prolongado” (1996; A Prolonged Close-up). Many of her other stories have been featured in anthologies, underscoring her significance in Ecuadorian literature of the late 20th century.

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.