Posts - Ecuadorian Literature

Gustavo Garzón

César Gustavo Garzón Guzmán (Quito, June 8, 1958) was an Ecuadorian writer and literary critic who disappeared on the night of November 9, 1990. On January 28, 2021 the Ecuadorian state acknowledge responsibility for his disappearance before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. When he disappeared, the 32-year-old writer was living in Quito, where he was working on his doctoral thesis in Letters at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. On the night of November 9, 1990, he went out with a group of friends to a disco and his family never saw him again. In 1980 he joined the literary workshop of Miguel Donoso Pareja at the House of Ecuadorian Culture and co-founded the literary group La Mosca Zumba.

Jennie Carrasco Molina

Jennie Carrasco Molina (Ambato, 1955) is an Ecuadorian novelist, short story writer, poet, journalist, editor, university professor and holistic therapist. She has worked with the press and on women’s issues. Her works include the short story book “La diosa en el espejo” (1995), poetry book “Arañas en mi vestido de seda” (2001), and novel “Viaje a ninguna parte” (2004). In 2011 her poetry book “Confesiones apocalípticas” won the prestigious Jorge Carrera Andrade Prize. Some of her poems have been translated into English.

Enrique Ayala Mora

Enrique Ayala Mora (Ibarra, November 13, 1950) is an Ecuadorian historian, essayist, editor, university professor and politician. He works as a professor at the Central University of Ecuador and the Simón Bolívar Andean University. He was a deputy of Ecuador, vice president of the National Congress and member of the Constituent Assembly (1997-1998). He is currently the President of the Ecuadorian Socialist Party. As an editor and writer, he has published over 30 works of history and politics.

Eloy Proaño

Eloy Proaño (1890-1965) was an Ecuadorian poet. In 1946 he published a poetry book entitled Humo.

Camila Peña

Camila Peña (Cuenca, 1995) is an Ecuadorian poet, radio host and ballet dancer. In 2020 her first poetry book “Jardín Transparente,” won the Francisco Ruiz Udiel Hispanic American Poetry Award and will be published by Valparaíso Ediciones. She has a master’s degree in Artistic, Literary and Cultural Studies with a specialty in Comparative Literature, Literary Theory and Rhetoric from the Autonomous University of Madrid. In addition, she is a ballet dancer with 19 years of training and experience in creating artistic projects. She is currently the host of a cultural program on a radio station in Cuenca.

Carlett Decker Santistevan

Carlett Miroslava Decker Santistevan (Guayaquil, 1996) is an Ecuadorian writer, screenwriter, filmmaker and director. She has a degree in Cinema from the University of the Arts with a mention in directing and screenwriting. Her short stories have been published in online magazines such as Letralia and Extrañas Noches.

Jorge Tigrero Vaca

Jorge William Tigrero Vaca (Guayaquil, 1986) is an Ecuadorian poet, writer, journalist and university professor. He has published books of poetry, short stories and essays on pedagogy. He is a member of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), an international governmental body for cooperation between Latin American countries in the field of education, science, technology and culture. He is also a member of the Global Network of Writers in Spanish (REMES). Tigrero works as a professor at the Casa Grande University, ECOTEC University and University of the Arts.

Roberto Andrade

Roberto Andrade Rodríguez (October 26, 1850 – October 27, 1938) was a politician, historian, writer and polemicist. He was part of the conspiracy to assassinate President Gabriel Garcia Moreno. On August 6, 1875, Garcia Moreno was assaulted with several blows of a machete, while three or four others fired their revolvers on him. Andrade shot him on his forehead. For his polemicist essays and political ideology he suffered constant persecution throughout his life. His semi autobiographical novel “Pacho Villamar” (1910) is regarded as Ecuador’s first political novel.

Carlos Vásconez

Carlos Francisco Vásconez Gomezcoello (Cuenca, May 16, 1977) is an Ecuadorian novelist, short story writer, essayist, columnist and educator who has published short stories and novels since 1999. He is the president of the PEN Center Ecuador and was the president of the Azuay branch of the House of Ecuadorian Culture from 2011-2016. He is the vice-rector and a teacher at Las Pencas Educational Unit in Cuenca, Ecuador. He is also a professor at the School of Language and Literature at the University of Cuenca. He is the director of the newspaper La columna del invertebrado and is part of the Editorial Board of the cultural magazine Arrebol. He has been a columnist for several magazines and newspapers, such as Rocinante, Diners, BG Magazine, Cartón Piedra and La Casa. He has prefaced several anthologies of Ecuadorian short stories and poetry.

Rommel Manosalvas

Rommel Manosalvas (Quito, circa 1993) is an Ecuadorian writer, booktuber and architect. In 2019 his short story “Disforia” was published in the anthology “Los que vendrán 20-20” by the publisher Cactus Pink. In 2020 he won the second “Writing World Cup” for his short story “Abuelita,” beating 5400 participants in 42 nations. As a booktuber he creates videos about literature for his YouTube channel. He is currently working on his first novel.

Carlos A. Rolando

Carlos Alberto Rolando Lobatón (Guayaquil, September 13, 1881 – Guayaquil, January 5, 1974) was a doctor, writer and bibliographer. In 1925 Rolando was appointed director of the library at the University of Guayaquil and also became a numerary member of the National Academy of History. In 1930 he founded the Guayaquil Historical Research Center. The National Authors Room of the Municipal Library of Guayaquil bears his name.

Patricio Rivadeneira Arandi

Patricio Rivadeneira Arandi (Quito, 1953) is an Ecuadorian poet and holistic doctor. He has published several short essays about health with titles such as “Supresión y metástasis mórbida,” “Contrarios complementarios y dinamismo miasmático,” and “Nuevas perspectivas en la alimentación.” In 2016 the House of Ecuadorian Culture published his first poetry book, “Momento,” a selection of 70 of his poems.

Vicente Rocafuerte

Vicente Rocafuerte Bejarano (Guayaquil, May 1, 1783 – Lima, Peru, May 16, 1847) was an independence leader, statesman, diplomat, politician and writer. He was born into wealth and was educated in Spain. He returned to Ecuador in 1807 and was instrumental in freeing the country from Spain and, subsequently, from Gran Colombia. He served in the National Congress, as governor of Guayas Province, and as the second president of Ecuador (from 1834 to 1839). Rocafuerte’s writings on political systems, social reform, religious toleration, and economic development had significant influence on liberals in several Spanish American nations. Several schools and various awards are named after him, and many statues throughout Ecuador stand in his honor.

by Jorge Icaza (1906-1978)