Gina María Paredes Cornejo

Gina María Paredes Cornejo was born on July 20, 1980, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, into a family of architects and educators whose passion for creativity and knowledge shaped her early life.

From a young age, words fascinated her - even when letters sometimes seemed to dance and blur on the page. Despite living with dyslexia, mentally retarded and stuttering, Gina refused to let obstacles silence her voice. Instead, she turned them into fuel for her greatest passion: writing stories that matter.

She completed her secondary education at Avances School and earned her degree in Language and Literature from Vicente Rocafuerte Lay University in Guayaquil. Eager to explore new cultures, she also pursued English studies at the Ecuadorian North American Center and learned Italian at the Garibaldi Italian Society.

A fierce advocate for women's rights, Gina channels her experiences and empathy into powerful narratives. Her acclaimed novel Ellas soy yo: Maltrato a la mujer (They Are Me: Abuse of Women) tackles the harrowing realities of gender-based violence and stands as a testament to her commitment to giving a voice to the silenced.

Surrounded by the warmth of her family - three sisters, two brothers-in-law, and seven beloved nieces and nephews - Gina's greatest dream is to touch hearts and inspire change through the power of her words.

Because for Gina María Paredes Cornejo, writing isn't just art. It's a call to action.