Carlos Manuel Álvarez born in Matanzas in 1989, is a prominent Cuban writer and journalist. He graduated in journalism from the University of Havana and founded the independent magazine El Estornudo, known for its chronicles and reports on Cuban reality. His literary work includes the short story collection The Afternoon of Definitive Events (Calendario Award 2013) and two non-fiction books: The Tribe: Portraits of Cuba (Seix Barral, 2017) and The Fallen (Sexto Piso, 2018).

Álvarez describes himself as an absinthe drinker and a graffiti artist of Word. His bold and provocative style reflects the complexities of life in Cuba. In 2017, he was recognized by the Hay Festival as one of the 39 best Latin American writers under 40 (Bogotá39). His influence extends through collaborations with international media such as The New York Times, BBC World, Aljazeera, and Internazionale.

Passionate about baseball, Álvarez finds inspiration in two aspects of the sport: the audacity of leadoff hitters and the solitude of the center field. His literary work is a testament to the challenging Cuban reality, while his audacious and original writings capture the essence and the challenges of life on the island.