Cecilia Velástegui is an award winning fiction author in the International Latino Book Awards for her psychological thrillers Traces of Bliss (Libros, 2012) and Gathering the Indigo Maidens (Libros, 2011). In partnership with the Association of American Publishers, Las Comadres chose Traces of Bliss as a 2012 National Latino Book Club selection. Her highly-anticipated thriller, Missing in Machu Picchu, will be released in 2013.

Cecilia was born in the Andes Mountains in Quito, Ecuador, where she spent her childhood. She was raised in California and France and has traveled to over fifty countries. She received her graduate degree from USC and speaks four languages. Cecilia serves on the boards of several cultural and educational institutions.

Cecilia donates the proceeds of her novels to the fight against human trafficking. Her community partners in this effort have been Nordstrom South Coast Plaza, Donna Karan Collection New York, and L’Occitane en Provence.