How do your Brazilian roots influence your writing?

My Brazilian roots keep me grounded and connected to authenticity, emotion, and resilience. Growing up surrounded by passionate people taught me to express myself with heart and honesty, and I carry that energy into every story I tell.

Tell us about your journey and why you decided to document it for “Beneath The Still Waters.”

My journey has been filled with both beauty and pain. I’ve faced many ups and downs and made choices that led me through difficult chapters of my life. But rather than seeing myself as a victim, I chose to rise, to learn from my traumas and transform them into purpose. Through faith, love, and perseverance, I rebuilt my life with meaning. Beneath The Still Waters was born from that transformation and it is a message of hope for women who need to know that healing and freedom are possible.

The book is described as “a gripping fiction inspired by my own experiences.” While writing this, how did you decide what to include from your personal life?

I wanted to write a work of fiction rather than a memoir, so I didn’t focus on retelling specific events. Instead, I infused the story with the emotions I truly lived like fear, uncertainty, pain, and ultimately, faith and strength. Those feelings became the heartbeat of the story, making it authentic and relatable without being confined to my own life.

What inspired you to recount your own experiences in this book?

I was inspired by the realization that silence protects pain. For years, I carried stories I was too afraid to tell. Writing this book became a form of liberation not only for myself but for others who have walked through darkness. I wanted to give a voice to women who feel unseen, to remind them that their stories matter, and that they are never truly alone.

You’ve faced many challenges. What would you advise other people who might be going through something similar?

I would tell them that no matter how dark life may seem, there is always a way out. Faith and perseverance can move mountains even when you’re walking through fire. As a single mother, an immigrant, and a survivor of abuse, I know how heavy pain can be. But I also know that healing begins when we decide to let go of what broke us and keep moving forward.

Tell us about your goal with “Beneath The Still Waters” and what you hope the audience takes away from it.

My greatest hope is to reach women who feel trapped, lost, or powerless, and to show them that it’s never too late to rebuild. Healing is possible. Freedom is real. Beneath The Still Waters is a story of courage and rebirth, and I want readers to close the book believing that they, too, can rise again.

Anything else you’d like to include?

Yes, healing is painful, and it can often feel lonely. But it’s worth every step. We all deserve to be respected, to be safe, and to live a life filled with peace and love. My wish is for every reader to know that no matter what they’ve been through, they are capable of creating a new beginning.