How and when did the idea to publish this book come about?

While I was still finishing A Escrava Açoriana (The Azorean Slave), I exchanged views with historian Sérgio Rezendes about his article “A gangster from São Miguel and the electric chair during Prohibition: the Diaspora in reverse.” I realized how much information there was surrounding this true story. It was a bizarre case: an individual from the Azores, more specifically from Água d’Alto, but who, contrary to the tradition of good families that characterizes our emigration, was linked to crime and had an unusual background. He was involved in the high-profile case of the Italians Sacco and Vanzetti, as well as having run away with a circus girl and having unusual habits, such as trying to kill flies by shooting at the ceiling. All this while some people risked making moonshine in illegal stills installed in their basements. Tell us about your research, study, and preparation for the topic. I started by reading and gathering as much information as possible. For example, António Araújo had written “Two Martyrs (or Maybe Three)” in Diário de Notícias, and Teófilo Soares Braga had written “With Feet on the Ground.” I consulted the Complete Works of John dos Passos and subscribed to the Boston Globe in order to research old newspapers. In 2023, on my trip to the US, I visited many of the places where the action took place. Some people were tireless in their support: I would like to highlight Onésimo, in Providence, and Carmélio Rodrigues, in New Bedford, who found the grave where this protagonist is now buried, while I was searching in the wrong cemetery in Boston. My family in Massachusetts also provided invaluable assistance. Over the next two years, I pieced everything together.

What has been the reaction of your readers?

Although it is a difficult story to tell, considering that it revolves around an anti-hero, a dangerous individual whose motivations were unclear, the book has been very well received by critics. Interestingly, some readers did not expect a story of this kind written by me, especially since I chose a non-Azorean narrator. My intention was to show emigration through the eyes of those on the receiving end.

Do you intend to present the book in the various immigrant communities across the US? Yes, I would like to have the opportunity to take this novel to as many places with a Portuguese presence as possible, in the US and Canada, although it has not yet been possible to set dates or resolve some logistical issues. Possibly in 2026.

Of your various published books, which one demanded the most from you?

Until very recently, I would have said A Escrava Açoriana, because of the difficulty of interpreting a female character. However, Condenação ended up being even more demanding, mainly because of the need, as a psychologist and author, to get inside the mind of a criminal, or rather, several criminals.

How would you define your style and what are your literary influences?

I think that question would be better answered by critics. My writing evolves as I mature. I read a lot of contemporary literature and Azorean authors or literature about the Azores. The islander condition continues to fascinate me, but I feel that I still want to write other books on other topics. Who is your favorite author? During my youth, I read Rex Stout, author of detective novels, a literary genre that dictated my debut in literature. Later, I read Hemingway, Wells, Huxley, and Fitzgerald, which motivated me to write A Viagem de Juno. I also read Saramago and continue to read contemporary authors, but the author I admired most was Manuel Ferreira, author of O Barco e o Sonho, also because of our proximity: we lived on the same street.

Any projects in the pipeline after this book?

I am still deciding on the theme of my next novel. In addition to getting back into the swing of professional life, I am in the process of making contacts for the possible publication of the English version of the novel A Escrava Açoriana, which is being translated by Diniz Borges, and the possibility of IlhaAmérica being translated by Scott Edward Anderson and also published.

How can I purchase the book in the US?

The Portuguese versions of my three most recent books can be purchased in e-book format, for example, on Amazon, Apple, or Kobo. For now, the paper versions can be purchased online at sites such as Wook, FNAC, or Bertrand, or through the publisher’s website. pt; these works, as well as previous books, can be ordered at letraslavadas.pt.

In Portuguese Times/Diário dos Açores