We had the good fortune of connecting with Lucio Carlos Gil and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Lucio Carlos, why did you pursue a creative career?
Art was always my main way to express myself. Above all, arts convey messages through feelings and this is the most effective way to spread them. I recently found some notebooks from middle school and I noticed that I used to draw characters from my imagination, as well as my teacher’s and classmate’s faces in most of the pages. I always liked drawing, painting and singing. I studied drama and took piano classes, but writing is my favorite way to connect with the world. Indeed, books are my way to interact with people.
That being said, I perceive my career as a consequence of my need to interact with people. I always have a story to share and this is my number one motivation to write books.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
A friend once told me that one of my missions would be to express my emotions. In fact, I’ve always had a poetic look at life. When I published my first novel entitled “À Sombra das Cerejeiras” (In the Shade of the Cherry Trees), I was very happy with my readers’ feedback. Some of them told me how excited they were and others even cried after reading my book. I remember a friend who called me in tears at 2:00 am, deeply moved by what she had just read. The experience with this first published book revealed that I was on the right path of my mission.
The reason I am able to transmit such an emotion is because I visualize and live the story intensively while writing. I have a lot of fun with the characters and I am moved by the situations.
“À Sombra das Cerejeiras”, which I intend to translate to English soon, takes place in Europe during World War II. Sometimes I had to stop writing because I was deeply moved by what I was seeing in my mind. This is, therefore, an enriching process for me and I have a great feeling when I see that the message was perfectly transmitted to the reader.
Writing is a marvelous journey and I do believe that books have wings. That is why we never know where a book will go and whom it will reach. After writing my first novel, I had the privilege to participate in an international conference for authors, which took place on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores archipelago. I was one of the three Brazilian authors invited for this event and this was an amazing example of how books are magical. They can take you all over!
My second novel, “O Maestro das Baleias” (The Master of Whales) is another enriching experience in my life. I have also authored poems for poetry anthologies in Brazil, and recently some of my stories were published (in English) on the anthology Relatable Voices. This anthology is a fantastic project created by the author Lucia Matuonto, who published it along with 13 authors from different countries.
I must say that the beginning was not easy. Publishers usually invest a lot of money when launching a new book and they rarely bet on someone unknown. However, I learned that my main role is to write, spread my message, and dedicate myself to the work, and I believe that in the end, the Universe takes care of the rest. Opportunities will arise, doors will open and the message will reach out who it needs to.
My next book is called “Manifestation”, and it is being written with my co-author Lucia Matuonto. This book will soon be released in English, and it will demonstrate exactly the ability to focus on our goals and to create the possibilities to achieve them. As a meditation therapist, I’ve been able to practice several techniques that enhance our capability to mentally visualize what we want, and I’m glad to share this knowledge with the readers on this next book. So, my advice to anyone who wants to be a writer is: just get it started, write the book and let it fly!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, Rio de Janeiro is an outdoor city surrounded by beautiful beaches and green mountains. A simple walk along the pavement of the famous Ipanema beach is already a memorable experience. But I would take my friend to see one of the most astonishing views in this world from the top of Corcovado Mountain, where one of the seven wonders in the world, Christ the Redeemer, is located. A hang gliding flight over São Conrado beach is also a must. We would also be able to visit the waterfalls of the Tijuca Forest, the largest urban rain forest in the world. Leaving the city of Rio de Janeiro and exploring the State of Rio de Janeiro, I would take my friend to visit Armação de Búzios, a beach place full of beautiful beaches and fancy restaurants that became famous for being one of the favorite destinations of the famous French actress, Brigitte Bardot, during the 60s and 70s. Búzios is located in Northern Rio State, in a region called Blue Coast due to its deep blue colored ocean. Further to the South of Rio State, I would certainly take my friend for sailing through the region known as the Green Coast, with beautiful islands and an emerald green sea. In downtown Rio, my friend and I would certainly visit the neighborhood of Santa Teresa, a very cool area with its street performers and nice pubs. We would also have fun at night in Lapa area, where we would taste the famous genuinely Brazilian drink called “caipirinha”, and listen to a nice samba. My friend would not leave before visiting the mountainous region of Rio State with its unique architecture, culture and climate. The city of Petropolis is where the Royal family lived, when Brazil was a monarchy, and has palaces, houses and gardens that date from that time.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Every story starts just with a sentence. When I finish a book, for example a novel, I am impressed with all the information I was able to put on paper. In that sense, creativity is a wonderful power. So, I first dedicate this shoutout to God for the gift of imagination and creativity.
I dedicate it to my wife, Clara, who gives me inspiration and whose love strengths me to overcome any challenge.
I also dedicate it to my son, Caio, who showed me a different way of love that I did not know.
I would like to dedicate it to my publisher, Editora Literar, from my city Petrópolis, and to The Relatable Voice Podcast, that gave me the opportunity to express myself.
We are all consequences of our choices and experiences lived throughout our lives. So, I’m glad to dedicate this shoutout to everything I’ve experienced, which made me the person I am today.
There is nothing more special to an author than receiving feedback. I also want to dedicate this shoutout to my readers, who are the reason of several days and nights spent in writing and to whom I address my stories.
Instagram: @lucio_carlos_gil
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucio-carlos-g-2ba8a730/
Twitter: @LucioCarlosGil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucio.gil.98499
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtcgxjHZ0ORFTxS3EQdeuGg
Image Credits
Photographer: Carlos Kulps