ABOUT MAYRA
Mayra Graciela Calvani is a Puerto Rican gothic fiction writer, though she also dabbles in picture books. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing and an M.A. in Western Literature, both magna cum laude, and writes fiction inspired by her travels and Lebanese, Spanish, and Corsican heritage. Her works have won multiple awards, among them the SCBWI “Work of Outstanding Progress” grant and the International Latino Book Award. After having lived in Puerto Rico, the United States, and Turkey, Mayra is now settled with her family in Belgium, where she volunteers as Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI Benelux. She loves “dissecting” movies, collects creepy dolls, and has two cats, one of them a ghost.
Under her pen name Zoe Kalo, she writes young adult fantasy and gothic fiction.
Mayra is represented by Jolene Haley at the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
AWARDS
2026 Shortlisted for the Historical Novel Society Competition (Little Skeletons, MG historical fantasy/magical realism)
2025 Shortlisted for the Searchlight Awards (Violeta’s Adventures in Doll-Land, Caribbean gothic horror)
2024 Shortlisted for the I Am in Print Awards (Violeta’s Adventures in Doll-Land, Caribbean gothic horror)
2024 Historical Novel Society Competition Honorable Mention Award (Violeta’s Adventures in Doll-Land, MG, Caribbean gothic horror)
2022 SCBWI’s “Work of Outstanding Promise” Grant (Penumbra, Caribbean gothic YA romance WIP)
2019 ScreenCraft Cinematic Story Competition Finalist (Two Graves, novella under her pen name Zoe Kalo).
2018 Shortlisted for the Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction (Chameleon, teen Caribbean gothic under her pen name Zoe Kalo)
2016 First Place Winner – International Latino Book Awards under Best Latino Focused Nonfiction Book Category (Latina Authors and Their Muses, anthology)
2015 Eric Hoffer Awards Finalist for Young Adult Fiction (The Luthier’s Apprentice, YA fantasy)
2014 Suspense Magazine’s “Best of 2014″ List (The Luthier’s Apprentice, YA fantasy)
2011 Foreword Best Book of the Year Award Winner (The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, nonfiction)
2011 Global Ebooks Awards Winner (The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, nonfiction)
2011 USA News National Best Book Award Finalist (The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, nonfiction)
2011 EPIC Finalist (The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, nonfiction)
2011 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist (The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, nonfiction)
2011 International Book Awards Finalist (Frederico, the Mouse Violinist, picture book)
2009 EPIC Finalist (Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster, picture book)
2008 Dream Realm Award Finalist for Best Horror (Dark Lullaby, horror)
2007 ABC’s Children’s Picture Book Competition Finalist (The Doll Violinist, picture book)
2006 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition Honorable (The Doll Violinist, picture book)