Diego Maenza is an Ecuadorian author of poetry, fiction, and novels. In 2018, Maenza published Caricreaturas, a collection of short stories and poetry that was selected as a finalist by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Culture.
Diego Maenza was born in the picturesque region of Los Ríos. The rich cultural tapestry of Ecuador shaped Maenza's love of language and storytelling. His literary journey began to unfold as he explored the depths of human experience, transcending linguistic boundaries and resonating with audiences worldwide.
In 2018, Maenza unveiled Caricreaturas, a literary marvel that seamlessly blends short stories and poetry. The universal themes explored in Caricreaturas prompted translations into Italian by Alessandro Elias Ghetti and English by Gastón Jofre Torres, showcasing Maenza's ability to communicate profound insights across diverse cultures.
In the same year, Maenza published his novel, "Estructura de la plegaria" (Structure of Prayer), a courageous exploration into sensitive topics like paedophilia and abortion within the intimate lives of the Catholic clergy.
The novel's audacious narrative resonated deeply, leading to translations into Italian, English, French, Portuguese, German, and Russian.
Critics, including the insightful Fernando Endara, lauded Maenza for his ability to unveil the darkest secrets of Catholic followers, describing the work as both spiritual and grotesque—an exploration that descended into the depths of human experience to emerge into the light.
In 2019, Maenza expanded his literary footprint with "Bestiario americano" (American Bestiary), a poetry collection that masterfully condensed urban legends and myths from across the Americas. This anthology showcased Maenza's poetic prowess, his ability to weave cultural narratives, and the universality of his themes that resonated with readers from Brazil to Japan, uniting diverse cultures through the power of storytelling.
The year 2020 witnessed the release of Maenza's second novel, "Todas las cartas de amor son ridículas" (All Love Letters Are Ridiculous). In this satirical masterpiece, Maenza adopts an epistolary format to parody romance novels, courageously tackling themes of sexual violence.
Beyond novels, Maenza has showcased his narrative finesse in collections like "Identidades" (2019) and "Engendros" (2020). The latter earned accolades as the winner of the annual convocation of the Ministry of Culture of Ecuador, affirming Maenza's ability to captivate readers with his short stories that transcend conventional storytelling.
In 2021, Maenza presented "ENtidades," a compilation of stories in multiple languages, further cementing his status as a global literary force. The collaborative efforts with international publishers underscored the universal appeal of his narratives, reaching audiences in French, English, Italian, and Portuguese.
Critics and fellow writers, including Alexis Cuzme and Iván Rodrigo Mendizábal, have praised Maenza's unique storytelling. Cuzme emphasized that Maenza's work is not a mere critique of societal norms but a complex interweaving of stories marked by fear, absurd contemplation, and a tradition of actions repeating like a morbid yet complacent script.
Diego Maenza's contributions extend beyond his creative works, with his story "El púlpito de Roma" finding a place in the anthology "Anábasis, antología de narrativa fantástica y ficción histórica" under the auspices of Editorial Nacimiento in Costa Rica.
Maenza works and lives in Ecuador.
