We were lucky to catch up with Nereide Santa Rosa recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nereide, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
My initial steps as a writer were nurtured by the unwavering support of my family, particularly my mother, who provided me with an exemplary education and exposed me to the world of books from a young age. During my teenage years, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the world, I embarked on a path that seamlessly blended my roles as a teacher and writer.
As a teenager, I initiated several research projects that eventually culminated in the creation of my first books. I pursued my early education in Mathematics and Physics, later obtaining a degree in Pedagogy. Alongside my academic pursuits, I received training in Piano and Music Education. During my university years, I worked as an Arts teacher for a teacher training course in a public school, where I developed a curriculum that evolved into my inaugural book, “Teaching Mathematics Through Music.” Publishers found the fusion of these two subjects intriguing, leading to its publication and subsequent lectures throughout Brazil.
Embracing challenges and fueled by my passion for writing, my journey continued. Despite being married and having two daughters, my husband Francisco remained a steadfast supporter of my endeavors. I achieved my first major milestone with the publication of a bestselling book by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. This success marked the beginning of a prolific phase in my writing career, characterized by continuous publication and professional growth. With over half a million books sold in Brazil, I garnered further recognition by winning the Jabuti Award in 2004—the highest honor in Brazilian literature for the Best Publication of the Year. This accomplishment not only served as a significant milestone in my writing career but also played a pivotal role in securing my residency approval in the United States. Transitioning from a teacher to a writer marked an expansion of both my voice and my words. Now, as an editor, I find inspiration in the numerous dedicated professionals who have edited my works in the past. In this role, I aim to amplify the voices of many, contributing to the presence of Brazilian literature on the global stage.
I hold a firm belief that individuals worldwide should pursue their dreams and realize them in any chosen field. Life has taught me the invaluable lesson that every experience, even adversities that challenge us, carries its significance, encouraging an optimistic perspective. Infused with generosity, ethics, and respect for every individual, let us contribute in our unique ways, accumulating diverse experiences. These experiences, in turn, serve as preparation to confront new opportunities.
This sentiment resonated with me during my retirement in Brazil when I decided to embark on a new chapter of my life. It is this accumulation of diverse experiences that fortifies us to face fresh challenges and seize opportunities with renewed vigor. Presently, I serve as the proprietor of Underline Publishing, an American publishing house and my journey to the United States was fueled by the ambition to continue my writing career and broaden my horizons, all while advocating for the promotion of Brazilian literature on the international stage. The opportunity materialized through an invitation from Mr. Carlos Borges, the CEO of the Focus Brazil Foundation, to spearhead Focus Brazil New York with a focus on Brazilian Literature.
Currently, I dedicate my time as a volunteer at the International Academy of Brazilian Literature, an organization uniting nearly 1000 Brazilian writers worldwide. Additionally, I take charge of programs aimed at showcasing Brazilian literature on the Focus Brazil Digital platform.
Reflecting on my path, I am confident that I am leaving behind a legacy aligned with the aspirations I held in my teenage years. Back then, I was driven by the belief that I could make a difference, contribute meaningfully, and ensure that my time on this earth positively impacted and brought happiness to an increasing number of people.
Nereide, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m CEO of Underline Publishing, an American publishing house dedicated to showcasing the works of Brazilian, Portuguese, and Spanish-speaking authors to a global audience in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Our primary objective is to foster and champion writers from Brazil, Lusophone regions, and Latin America. With a catalog boasting over 60 authors, we have successfully published more than 100 books since our inception in 2018 in the state of Florida, USA, and since then have stood out in the publishing market, publishing literary works in the children’s, young adult, novels, biographies, and art genres. Renowned Brazilian authors, including those residing in Europe and the United States, are being published by Underline Publishing as a gateway to the highly sought after, and difficult-to-access, international and North American market. Underline Publishing is becoming an editorial space dedicated to Brazilian and Portuguese-speaking authors abroad, bringing visibility and recognition to Brazilian and American literature. In our catalog, We have several literary genres: children’s books, books for young adults, fiction books, non-fiction books, biographies, poetry, and art. We have experience in publishing and our books are carefully analyzed and reviewed. We have received several translation grants from international institutions, and recognition awards in the USA, we participate in book fairs in Miami, New York, and Chicago, and we have partnerships with private educational and volunteer institutions.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
First, going from teacher to writer meant extending the reach of my voice and my words. Now, as an editor, I draw inspiration from the many wonderful professionals who edited my books in the past. As an editor, I want to extend the read of everyone’s voices. Secondly, I have written and published more than 80 books on different subjects and publishers, and I have even won several awards, So, I think this experience qualifies me to continue my journey as an editor.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In my career as a writer, I have had several examples of resilience, such as always believing in yourself and not giving up when receiving negative responses, revising your texts, analyzing opinions and criticisms, and maintaining an ideal to be achieved. As an editor, my resilience comes from the difficulties in publicizing and finding spaces for recognition in the competitive publishing market. It is essential to know the subject, know the market, maintain editorial quality, and know that each achievement, even if it is minimal, is important.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.underlinepublishing.com
- Instagram: @underlinepublishing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/871111956725854
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCayjeOnFMvclCP9EEVCTbeQ
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/underlinepublishing/ https://www.facebook.com/nereide.santarosa/ https://nereidesantarosa.org/
Image Credits
CONTATO: [email protected] SITE OFICIAL: www.underlinepublishing.com REDES SOCIAIS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCayjeOnFMvclCP9EEVCTbeQ https://www.facebook.com/groups/871111956725854 https://www.facebook.com/underlinepublishing/ Instagram: @underlinepublishing