Mónica Ojeda

Mónica Ojeda, a prominent figure in Latin American literature, was born in 1988 in Ecuador. She studied Literature and Educational Sciences, which significantly influenced her narrative style that subtly interweaves intellectualism and horror. Early in her career, Ojeda showed exceptional promise, starting with her debut novel, »La desfiguración Silva« (2014; tr: Silva’s Disfigurement), which was awarded the Alba Narrativa Prize in 2014. Ojeda has since successfully explored multiple genres, including poetry, with »El ciclo de las piedras« (2015; tr: The Cycle of Stones) and »Historia de la leche« (2020; tr: History of Milk).

Ojeda’s unique storytelling skill blends psychological introspection and a deep exploration of violence and sexuality, giving her works an intense and unsettling edge. This can be seen in »Nefando« (2016; Eng. »Nefando«), where she daringly navigates the boundaries of fiction and reality, telling the story of a group of friends haunted by an obscure video game. A similar thematic pattern follows in »Mandíbula« (2018; Eng. »Jawbone«, 2022), a chilling tale of a teacher and her student in a game of power and obsession. Her mastery of dark themes combined with linguistic finesse is evident in her anthology, »Las voladoras« (2020; tr: The Flying Girls), a collection of stories imbued with elements of the monstrous feminine, folklore, and terror.

Her style is marked by dialogue-rich prose with a keen sense of the vernacular and a fondness for neologisms, creating an immersive experience for readers. One critic noted that »Ojeda’s narrative is a brutal and tender exploration of the human psyche and the darker sides of our desires.« (»Literary Review«, 2021)

Ojeda’s remarkable career was recognized with the Next Generation Prize from the Prince Claus Fund in 2019, an acknowledgment of her contribution to Latin American literature. Furthermore, in 2022, she was a finalist for the National Book Awards for the English translation of »Mandíbula«. Selected as a prominent literary voice by the Hay Festival, Bogotá39 2017, and the Granta list in Spanish 2021, her influence continues to spread.

The author lives in Ecuador.

La desfiguración Silva

Premio Alba Narrativa
Barcelona, 2014

Nefando

Candaya
Barcelona, 2016

Mandíbula

Candaya
Barcelona, 2018

Historia de la leche

Candaya
Barcelona, 2020

Las voladoras

Páginas de Espuma
Madrid, 2020