Carlos Altamirano Sánchez

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Mark Honigsbaum

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Jorge Vanegas Muñoz

Jorge Vanegas Muñoz (Guayaquil, September 6, 1923 – ibidem, April 6, 2003) the distinguished Ecuadorian poet, novelist, and journalist, left an enduring literary legacy that transcends borders. His notable works, including “Los sangrientos estambres,” “Esqueleto en abril,” and “Los escarabajos de un Virey,” stand as testaments to his poetic prowess and his commitment to the art of verse. In 1975, he received the prestigious National Poetry Contest Ismael Pérez Pazmiño award from the esteemed Guayaquil newspaper “El Universo.” Beyond his literary contributions, Jorge’s advocacy for peace, as seen through his participation in the Committee of Ecuadorian Writers for Peace and representation at the World Congress in Stockholm, reflects his dedication to using poetry as a force for harmony in a world marked by division. His life’s work continues to inspire and captivate readers, solidifying his place in Ecuador’s literary pantheon and beyond.

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Esteban Michelena

Esteban Michelena Ayala (Quito, 1963) is an Ecuadorian novelist, writer, and journalist. He is perhaps best known for his trilogy of novels, which includes “Atacames Tonic” (2002), “No more tears” (2018), and the critically acclaimed “El pasado no perdona” (2022) which embodies a genre defined by the author as “tragic realism.” Additionally, through his nonfiction writings, Michelena explores the realities of his country, addressing topics such as political corruption, social inequality, and the struggles faced by marginalized communities. As a journalist, Michelena has been honored with 12 national awards and recognitions, including the “Jorge Mantilla Ortega” award by the newspaper El Comercio on three occasions.

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Luis Delgadillo

Luis Delgadillo Avilés (Guayaquil, 1942 – September 13, 2022) was an Ecuadorian poet and journalist. He was part of a group of poets dubbed, “Generación Huracanada” [Hurricane Generation]. In 1971, he won the third national poetry prize. His poetry books include: “El rayo que ilumina” (1971), “Poemas de la marcha” (1977), and “Carta para un hijo y otros poemas” (1997). His non-fiction books include: “Leonardo Escobar Bravo, El ministro de los campesinos” (2006) and “La pepa de oro y el montubio” (2007), which focused on themes of the peasant class. He was a member of the literary section of the House of Ecuadorian Culture in Guayas.

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Bertha Cando de Izurieta

Bertha Cando de Izurieta, also known as Bertha de Izurieta, was an exceptional Ecuadorian writer and journalist hailing from Cotopaxi. She broke barriers as the founding director of Cotopaxi Province’s very first newspaper, El Cotopaxi, which graced readers’ hands from July 24, 1959, until February 22, 1960. In 1962, she became Ecuador’s first-ever female President of a Municipal Council in the town of Saquisilí located in the Cotopaxi Province. Her husband, Gustavo Izurieta Obando, was the deputy director and proprietor of the publishing house, “Editorial Minerva.” Their son, Gustavo Izurieta, also took the reins as director for a few months. In 1954, Bertha’s novel, “Juventud inmolada” [Immolated Youth], was released under the banner of their publishing house.

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Bernard Fougères

Bernard Fougères, born Bernard Victor Theophile Isidore Fougères Julliot (France, 1934 – Guayaquil, May 5, 2018) was a French journalist, poet, and TV host who resided in Ecuador since May 1, 1965. His poem “Guayaquil de mil hojas” [Guayaquil of a thousand pages] won the 2nd Prize of the 1977 Ismael Pérez Pazmiño Poetry Contest. His winning poem was published in the anthology “Poesía ecuatoriana del siglo XX: Años 1976, 1977, 1978” (Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, Núcleo del Guayas, 1976). He worked as a TV personality for more than 50 years in shows such as El Show de Bernard and Bernard en la noche.

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Teodoro Vanegas Andrade

Teodoro Vanegas Andrade (Cuenca, December 21, 1926 – 2002) was an Ecuadorian novelist, journalist, editor, and poet who was a member of the Elan Group. He authored 4 poetry books, “Estación del abismo,” “Ubicación del hombre,” “Señales de la Erranza” and “El libro de los avatares” which was published posthumously. Some of his poems have been translated into Russian, Italian, French and English. He was a columnist for El Expreso newspaper, and was the editor of the literary magazines Antorcha and Paz. In 1971, his novel “La noche estevada” received first mention at the novel contest held by the journal El Universo. He was a member of the House of Ecuadorian Culture.

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Carmen Inés Perdomo Gutiérrez

Carmen Inés Perdomo Gutiérrez (Esmeraldas, 1973) is an Ecuadorian poet and journalist. She has contributed to magazines and periodicals in Ecuador. She is the author of three poetry collections: “Silencio en llamas” (2005), “Naufragio del Canto” (2008), and “Tempestad en la Floresta” (2013). Her poems have also been included in several national and international poetry anthologies. She obtained third place in the Gabriela Mistral women’s poetry contest. During the 2007–2009 biennium, she held the position of secretary of the Ecuadorian Society of Writers (SEDE).

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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.

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Pedro Artieda Santacruz

Pedro Artieda Santacruz (Quito, 1964) is a psychologist, novelist, short story writer, journalist, essayist, literary critic, and professor. In 2003, he published a study titled “La homosexualidad masculina en la narrativa ecuatoriana” [Male Homosexuality in Ecuadorian Narrative], which received the Manuela Saénz Prize in 2004. His first novel, “Nadie sabe con certeza” [Nobody Knows For Sure], was published in 2001, followed by the psychological science fiction novel “La última pared roja” [The Last Red Wall]. In 2011, he released a collection of short stories titled “Lo oculto de la noche” [The Hidden Night], and in 2013, his third novel “Bajo el hábito” [Beneath the Habit] received an honorable mention at the Joaquín Gallegos Lara Prize for Best Novel of the Year. This novel tells the story of a transgender Franciscan living in a monastery in Quito. Pedro Artieda Santacruz has contributed to newspapers such as El Comercio and Hoy, and his articles on literature, cinema, and gender have been published in various magazines including Diners, El Búho, and Vistazo, among others.

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Mariella Toranzos

Mariella Toranzos Narváez (Guayaquil, January 24, 1988) is an Ecuadorian journalist, poet, and editor. Before becoming the Society editor for the daily newspaper Diario Expreso, she worked at the paper as a news reporter covering politics, and, as the sub-chief of its Guayaquil section, covering cultural topics. She has also written features on contemporary Ecuadorian authors, helping to introduce them to wider audiences. As a poet, she has participated in the Ileana Espinel Poetry Festival as well as other literary events in Guayaquil.

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Humberto Vacas Gómez

Humberto Vacas Gómez (Quito, 1913-Quito, 2000) was an Ecuadorian writer, literary critic, poet, journalist, and diplomat. As a journalist, his career is tied to the Quito daily newspaper El Comercio. He served as the Minister of Education between 1963 and 1964 and President of the National Union of Journalists. He was a lifelong supporter of democracy and was persecuted by past totalitarian governments for this reason. In 1937, he published his first book of poems, “Canto a lo oscuro,” which was praised by Isaac J. Barrera in his book “Historia de la Literatura Ecuatoriana.” Vacas’ nonfiction books include “La educación artística de las masas,” “Panorama de la pintura ecuatoriana,”and “Los Estados Unidos que yo vi.” A school in Quito bears his name.

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Simón Espinosa Cordero

Simón Espinosa Cordero (Cuenca, October 8, 1920) is an Ecuadorian writer, journalist, editor, and university professor. He became a member of the Ecuadorian Academy of Language in 2013. He has a PhD from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. He has authored over one hundred essays, prologues and nearly three thousand opinion columns, his books include “Comunicación, ética y paz social” (1990, co-author), “Presidentes del Ecuador 1830-2000” (2002), “Grandes escritores de la patria” (2004) and “Los más bellos cuentos del poeta” (2011, co-author). In 2014 he published his latest book, “Vine, vi, linché,” a collection of 124 opinion columns he wrote between 1982 and 2012.

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Joselías Sánchez Ramos 

Joselías Sánchez Ramos (Tarqui) is a distinguished Ecuadorian historian, writer, essayist, journalist, and esteemed university professor, renowned for his expertise in the local history of Manabi. As a respected member of the House of Ecuadorian Culture in Manabi, he contributes significantly to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. Sharing his vast knowledge, he teaches at the prestigious Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro of Manabi. Notably, among his remarkable body of work stands the acclaimed publication titled “Manta, 1.500 años de vida histórica y la racionalidad de la identidad manabita,” [Manta, 1,500 Years of Historic Life and the Rationality of the Manabite Identity] a profound exploration of the historical tapestry and the profound essence of the Manabite identity.

Family.

With his wife Cecilia he has 4 children and 9 grandchildren.

Works

  • Manta, 1.500 años de vida histórica y la racionalidad de la identidad manabita