In his daily life, Gildo Francisco de Sá works as a bricklayer, using bricks, mortar, and concrete in Cedral, São Paulo. However, after finishing his work activities, he changes focus, moving from the construction site to his home kitchen, where he transforms memories, popular tales, and imaginary characters into written narratives.
Gildo discovered in literature a way to document the stories he heard since childhood. At eleven years old, he started as an assistant to an uncle who was a migrant from the North of the country. In an interview with TV TEM, he stated that he has already published three children's books and is awaiting the release of his fourth title.
At home, Gildo's mother used stories and her creativity to cope with resource scarcity and protect her children from cold and hunger. She used to make blankets from fabric scraps and prepare meals with available ingredients. Gildo recounted: 'To eat, she often made a soup by combining whatever she had, which we called 'rubble soup,' or invented creative recipes like 'quebra-bucha' cake. To overcome difficult reality, she also told stories on days when there was little food.'
Even during periods of financial restriction, the uncle would also gather the family at night to share legends and popular tales. In the absence of electricity, the narratives were told under candlelight, which sometimes had to be extinguished to save energy. The author recalled: 'There was no light, and we would sit there while he told stories at night. He told folklore stories, about headless women, about people who turned into Exu. This filled my mind with imagination.'
Creativity amidst difficulties
These memories remained preserved for several decades. The need to work to provide for the family led him to keep all the ideas in his memory for approximately thirty years. The decision to transfer these plots to paper was made three years ago.
The writer explained: 'I spent my whole life gathering everything in my head, learning. Now, I am just putting it on paper. I was afraid of reaching a certain age and losing all of this, which is why I needed to write.'
Gildo released three works aimed at children, titled 'The Jealous Spider,' 'Owl Mother,' and a third publication. The book 'Owl Mother' even generated a fun dialogue with his granddaughter Cecília, who questioned the title after reading the end of the story with her grandfather.
Literary production and family partnership
Currently, Gildo awaits the publisher's response regarding the release of his fourth book, which will be the first aimed at adults and belong to the suspense genre, marking a novelty in his career, which until then was restricted to children's books.
Furthermore, he has other ongoing projects, with titles planned such as Leléu, Galo Cacetete, O Boi do Padre, and Dona Mariquinha, which are still awaiting registration. In his literary journey, he has the support of his wife, Rosângela Santos de Sá, whom he has been married to for over thirty years. She reviews the notebooks written by Gildo before the manuscripts are sent to the publisher.
Rosângela commented on his talent: 'He has talent. It is a gift that no one can deny. It is very difficult, but the taste of victory will be even sweeter.'
Far from seeking fame or wealth, Gildo defines success as fostering the habit of reading and imagination among young people. He concluded: 'I work to bring my stories to these children and to my granddaughters. I want to take books to schools. I don't see it as a competition. For me, the dream is to share knowledge and imagination with them.'
