Alberto Ambard (Venezuela, 1970) divides his time between writing, and practicing maxillofacial prosthodontics. He co-authored High Treason, a novel about the social and political changes that have reshaped Venezuela in the past twenty years. His second, A Red Door, and A Birthday, studies forced marriage in the United States. His short stories have appeared in several literary journals.
Like H. Murakami, Mr. Ambard’s love of music is often exposed in his writing. Likewise, his work is a reflection of his diverse background. A descendant of French, American, Spanish and Venezuelan families, he grew up in Caracas, the same place Isabel Allende said to have given her a sensual vision of the world. He also lived in Capaya, a remote coastal town, where he was introduced to a world of Afro-Caribbean traditions. In the Amazon, he interacted with a Yanomami tribe, experiencing a culture largely unknown to civilization. Later in life he lived in contrasting Birmingham, AL, and Chicago. Currently, he lives in Portland, OR with his wife and children. Mr. Ambard is a recipient of the José Félix Ribas Medal for his collegiate and international sport achievements.
His influences include J.L Borges, J Cortazar, P Suskind, EA Poe, U Eco, Sylvia Plath, F Dostoevsky, D Lapierre & L Collins, L Sepulveda, R Gallegos, H Murakami, I McEwan, JR Jimenez, H Balzac, M Vargas Llosa, JJ Beneix, S Kubrick and many others.