Besides its natural beauty, the city is the birthplace of writer and playwright Walmir Ayala, whose vast work ranges from art criticism and poetry to children's and young adult literature.

Beyond the Waves: Saquarema's Independent Literary Effervescence

When Saquarema, in Rio de Janeiro's Lakes Region, is mentioned, the image that comes to mind is almost unanimous: perfect waves, surf paradises, and the cool vibe of the "National Surf Capital." However, anchored on the sands of Jaconé and Itaúna, there is a cultural scene that grows silently but with the force of the sea spray. It is a literary effervescence that, far from the spotlights of the Rio-São Paulo axis, strengthens itself through collectives, international fairs, and a new generation of writers who find in the city not only a home but an inspiring muse.

In this article, we dive deep into this scenario to map the roots, traditions, and, especially, the contemporary agents that make Saquarema a pole of literary resistance in the interior of Rio de Janeiro.

1. Roots and Tradition: The Patron of the ABL and Local Memory

Every literary chain has a founding link. In Saquarema's case, this link is golden and dates back to the 19th century. To understand the current production, it is necessary to revere the one who is, to this day, the city's greatest literary exponent: Alberto de Oliveira (1857-1937).

Born in Palmital de Saquarema, Alberto de Oliveira was one of the pillars of Parnassianism in Brazil. Alongside Olavo Bilac and Raimundo Correia, he formed the triad that defined the poetry of the time, prioritizing rigorous aesthetics, educated language, and impersonality. His importance is such that he was one of the founders of the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL), occupying chair number 8.

The shadow of the "poet of cold things," as he became known for his lyrical objectivity, is long. For decades, Saquarema's literary tradition was umbilicaly linked to his legacy. However, as we will see, the contemporary scene has managed to honor this tradition while subverting it, opening space for subjectivity, diversity, and experimentation.

2. The Contemporary Scene: The Protagonism of Collectives and Youth

If Alberto de Oliveira represents the monument, today's writers represent the movement. And the main engine of this cultural motor is, undoubtedly, the Confraria dos Escritores Independentes de Saquarema (C.E.I.S.).

The Cry of Unity: The Confraternity (C.E.I.S.)

The history of C.E.I.S. is emblematic of the "strength of meeting" phenomenon. It all began during the Saquarema International Literary Fair (FLIS) in 2023, when local authors, experiencing the isolation of those who produce art outside the center, recognized each other. From this desire to "share anguishes and longings," as the group defines it, the Confraternity was born.

Under the presidency of Mauro Profetta—a journalist, composer, and award-winning writer—C.E.I.S. has a clear objective: not just to publish, but to occupy the city. They promote literary gatherings, interventions in public spaces, and mutual support among members. "A writers' confraternity enables a change in the city's level regarding its cultural direction," Profetta stated in an interview. This movement is vital, as it takes literature off the shelf and places it in the public square, directly engaging with non-readers.

The Small (Big) Authors of the Local Mainstream

Within C.E.I.S., we find a mosaic of voices representing the city's age and stylistic diversity. Unlike other regions where local literature is dominated by a single genre, Saquarema hosts everything from lyrical poets to horror and fantastic realism short story writers.

Among the names that drive the scene, we can highlight, based on the group's first anthology:

• Charles O. Soares, Elizabeth Azeredo, and Flavy Bastos: Recurring names in anthologies and literary gatherings, representing the consistency of local literary production.

• Janaína Nery, Juliana Ferreira, and Thays Miranda: Female voices that, within the collective, have stood out for their approach to contemporary women, their affections, and challenges.

• Vera Lúcia Lebedenco and Maíra Gomes: Bring a sharp sensibility to poetry, often flirting with the city's affective memory.

• Neudimar dos Santos Aguiar: A special case, as besides being an author, she is the grandmother of one of FLIS's young phenomena (whom we will see next), showing that literature is also a family legacy.

The Zine Revolution and the New Generation

The most encouraging finding of the research, however, is the realization that "independent literature" in Saquarema is not a privilege of adults. During FLIS 2025, a parallel event stole the show: the panel "Once Upon a Future", where children and teenagers launched their own books.

Here, the scene connects directly with the city hall's reading incentive project, "Escola que Lê" (School that Reads). More than distributing literary bags to 20,000 students in 80 schools, the project created an ecosystem where the student becomes the protagonist.

Meet the young writers who are the face of Saquarema's literary future:

• Miguel Aguiar (10 years old): Author of "Menino Mal Educado" (Bad-Mannered Boy). Diagnosed with ADHD, Miguel found reading and writing a tool for expression and discipline. Inspired by his grandmother (also a writer, Neudimar Aguiar), he already declares that he wants to "write until he grows up."

• Alícia Libório (10 years old): Author of "A Era da Princesa" (The Age of the Princess). Her work deals with friendship and overcoming abuse, proving that the children's and young adult audience does not shy away from complex themes, addressing them with the purity and courage of someone discovering the power of words.

• Sophia Duarte (15 years old): The most complete example of FLIS's virtuous cycle. Sophia bought her first book read alone at the fair's first edition. Years later, she returned not as a visitor, but as an author launching "Os Senhores de Saíriat – O Oceano das Três Verdades" (The Lords of Saíriat – The Ocean of Three Truths), the first volume of a fantasy trilogy.

3. Themes and Recent Works

"Saquarema em Verso e Prosa" (Uli Publishing House)

The great synthesizing work of this moment is the anthology "Saquarema em Verso e Prosa", the first book by C.E.I.S. Launched during FLIS 2024, the work brings together 17 authors and serves as a 4K portrait of local literature.

The anthology's curation reveals the predominant themes in the region:

• Atopia and Identity: Most texts have Saquarema as a setting or central theme. It is not a mere "tourist guide," but a psychological exploration of what it means to live in a city of contrasts (religious tradition vs. surf modernity; preserved nature vs. real estate speculation).

• Verse and Prose in Dialogue: The anthology balances realistic short stories and confessional poetry. There is a strong tendency towards poetry of verb tenses (nostalgia) and psychological short stories.

• Integrated Visual Art: The cover is by visual artist Mulambö, who depicts the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora de Nazaré. This bridge between literature and visual arts is a hallmark of new independent production, which understands the book as an art object.

The preface is by Camilo Mota, a psychoanalyst and member of the Brazilian Academy of Poetry, who technically legitimizes the production of the "amateurs" (in the etymological sense of "those who love") of the group.

Rising Genres

While Parnassian tradition leaned towards formal poetry, the new scene diversifies the catalog:

1. Epic Fantasy: Led by the young Sophia Duarte, it shows that Saquarema's youth are connected with global trends in young adult literature.

2. Children's Literature with Social Content: The works of Miguel and Alícia indicate a growing market for books that address ADHD, bullying, and child empowerment from a local perspective.

3. Urban Regionalist Short Story: Authors like Euclides José and Vitor Motta (present in the anthology) explore the daily life of the beaches, downtown streets, and fishing communities, rescuing the city's "soul" in prose.

4. The Stage of the Greats: FLIS and the Cultural Showcase

No analysis would be complete without mentioning the catalyst for all of this: the FLIS (Saquarema International Literary Fair).

Unlike many fairs that are limited to selling books, FLIS plays a role in reader formation. The event brings together national and international heavyweights, such as Itamar Vieira Junior, Conceição Evaristo, and Angola's José Eduardo Agualusa. In 2025, the fair focused on the theme "Reading is opening oneself to the world," aligned with the environmental discussion of COP30, showing that Saquarema thinks globally.

For local writers, FLIS is the "closing of the cycle." It is where the Confraternity launches its books, where students meet their idols, and where the general population has access to cutting-edge culture for free. The existence of an event of this magnitude in a medium-sized city is the main driver for the independent scene not to die on the beach.

References

• [1] Sopa Cultural. Confraria dos Escritores Independentes de Saquarema inicia suas atividades. Available at: https://sopacultural.com/confraria-dos-escritores-independentes-de-saquarema-inicia-suas-atividades/

• [2] Revista Aldeia Magazine. "Saquarema em Verso e Prosa", 1º livro da Confraria de Escritores Independentes de Saquarema (Facebook). Available at: https://www.facebook.com/RevistaAldeiaMagazine/posts

• [3] O Dia. 'Escola que Lê': Prefeitura de Saquarema segue com a distribuição de sacolas literárias. Available at: https://odia.ig.com.br/saquarema/2026/03/7229750-escola-que-le-prefeitura-de-saquarema-segue-com-a-distribuicao-de-sacolas-literarias.html

• [5] G1. FLIS reúne autores consagrados em Saquarema com foco em meio ambiente e saberes ancestrais. Available at: https://g1.globo.com/rj/regiao-dos-lagos/noticia/2025/11/11/flis-reune-autores-consagrados-em-saquarema-com-foco-em-meio-ambiente-e-saberes-ancestrais.ghtml

• [8] Boletim RJ. Saquarema: pequenos escritores dão aula de talento e inspiração. Available at: https://boletimrj.com.br/saquarema-pequenos-escritores-dao-aula-de-talento-e-inspiracao/

⚠️ Research conducted with the aid of Deep Research is subject to referential ambiguity.
🖥️ Clean HTML code using a proprietary tool.
👥 Research by Guilherme Felipe, Curation by Sílvio Lôbo

Besides its natural beauty, the city is the birthplace of writer and playwright Walmir Ayala, whose vast work ranges from art criticism and poetry to children's and young adult literature.

Beyond the Waves: Saquarema's Independent Literary Effervescence

When Saquarema, in Rio de Janeiro's Lakes Region, is mentioned, the image that comes to mind is almost unanimous: perfect waves, surf paradises, and the cool vibe of the "National Surf Capital." However, anchored on the sands of Jaconé and Itaúna, there is a cultural scene that grows silently but with the force of the sea spray. It is a literary effervescence that, far from the spotlights of the Rio-São Paulo axis, strengthens itself through collectives, international fairs, and a new generation of writers who find in the city not only a home but an inspiring muse.

In this article, we dive deep into this scenario to map the roots, traditions, and, especially, the contemporary agents that make Saquarema a pole of literary resistance in the interior of Rio de Janeiro.

1. Roots and Tradition: The Patron of the ABL and Local Memory

Every literary chain has a founding link. In Saquarema's case, this link is golden and dates back to the 19th century. To understand the current production, it is necessary to revere the one who is, to this day, the city's greatest literary exponent: Alberto de Oliveira (1857-1937).

Born in Palmital de Saquarema, Alberto de Oliveira was one of the pillars of Parnassianism in Brazil. Alongside Olavo Bilac and Raimundo Correia, he formed the triad that defined the poetry of the time, prioritizing rigorous aesthetics, educated language, and impersonality. His importance is such that he was one of the founders of the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL), occupying chair number 8.

The shadow of the "poet of cold things," as he became known for his lyrical objectivity, is long. For decades, Saquarema's literary tradition was umbilicaly linked to his legacy. However, as we will see, the contemporary scene has managed to honor this tradition while subverting it, opening space for subjectivity, diversity, and experimentation.

2. The Contemporary Scene: The Protagonism of Collectives and Youth

If Alberto de Oliveira represents the monument, today's writers represent the movement. And the main engine of this cultural motor is, undoubtedly, the Confraria dos Escritores Independentes de Saquarema (C.E.I.S.).

The Cry of Unity: The Confraternity (C.E.I.S.)

The history of C.E.I.S. is emblematic of the "strength of meeting" phenomenon. It all began during the Saquarema International Literary Fair (FLIS) in 2023, when local authors, experiencing the isolation of those who produce art outside the center, recognized each other. From this desire to "share anguishes and longings," as the group defines it, the Confraternity was born.

Under the presidency of Mauro Profetta—a journalist, composer, and award-winning writer—C.E.I.S. has a clear objective: not just to publish, but to occupy the city. They promote literary gatherings, interventions in public spaces, and mutual support among members. "A writers' confraternity enables a change in the city's level regarding its cultural direction," Profetta stated in an interview. This movement is vital, as it takes literature off the shelf and places it in the public square, directly engaging with non-readers.

The Small (Big) Authors of the Local Mainstream

Within C.E.I.S., we find a mosaic of voices representing the city's age and stylistic diversity. Unlike other regions where local literature is dominated by a single genre, Saquarema hosts everything from lyrical poets to horror and fantastic realism short story writers.

Among the names that drive the scene, we can highlight, based on the group's first anthology:

• Charles O. Soares, Elizabeth Azeredo, and Flavy Bastos: Recurring names in anthologies and literary gatherings, representing the consistency of local literary production.

• Janaína Nery, Juliana Ferreira, and Thays Miranda: Female voices that, within the collective, have stood out for their approach to contemporary women, their affections, and challenges.

• Vera Lúcia Lebedenco and Maíra Gomes: Bring a sharp sensibility to poetry, often flirting with the city's affective memory.

• Neudimar dos Santos Aguiar: A special case, as besides being an author, she is the grandmother of one of FLIS's young phenomena (whom we will see next), showing that literature is also a family legacy.

The Zine Revolution and the New Generation

The most encouraging finding of the research, however, is the realization that "independent literature" in Saquarema is not a privilege of adults. During FLIS 2025, a parallel event stole the show: the panel "Once Upon a Future", where children and teenagers launched their own books.

Here, the scene connects directly with the city hall's reading incentive project, "Escola que Lê" (School that Reads). More than distributing literary bags to 20,000 students in 80 schools, the project created an ecosystem where the student becomes the protagonist.

Meet the young writers who are the face of Saquarema's literary future:

• Miguel Aguiar (10 years old): Author of "Menino Mal Educado" (Bad-Mannered Boy). Diagnosed with ADHD, Miguel found reading and writing a tool for expression and discipline. Inspired by his grandmother (also a writer, Neudimar Aguiar), he already declares that he wants to "write until he grows up."

• Alícia Libório (10 years old): Author of "A Era da Princesa" (The Age of the Princess). Her work deals with friendship and overcoming abuse, proving that the children's and young adult audience does not shy away from complex themes, addressing them with the purity and courage of someone discovering the power of words.

• Sophia Duarte (15 years old): The most complete example of FLIS's virtuous cycle. Sophia bought her first book read alone at the fair's first edition. Years later, she returned not as a visitor, but as an author launching "Os Senhores de Saíriat – O Oceano das Três Verdades" (The Lords of Saíriat – The Ocean of Three Truths), the first volume of a fantasy trilogy.

3. Themes and Recent Works

"Saquarema em Verso e Prosa" (Uli Publishing House)

The great synthesizing work of this moment is the anthology "Saquarema em Verso e Prosa", the first book by C.E.I.S. Launched during FLIS 2024, the work brings together 17 authors and serves as a 4K portrait of local literature.

The anthology's curation reveals the predominant themes in the region:

• Atopia and Identity: Most texts have Saquarema as a setting or central theme. It is not a mere "tourist guide," but a psychological exploration of what it means to live in a city of contrasts (religious tradition vs. surf modernity; preserved nature vs. real estate speculation).

• Verse and Prose in Dialogue: The anthology balances realistic short stories and confessional poetry. There is a strong tendency towards poetry of verb tenses (nostalgia) and psychological short stories.

• Integrated Visual Art: The cover is by visual artist Mulambö, who depicts the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora de Nazaré. This bridge between literature and visual arts is a hallmark of new independent production, which understands the book as an art object.

The preface is by Camilo Mota, a psychoanalyst and member of the Brazilian Academy of Poetry, who technically legitimizes the production of the "amateurs" (in the etymological sense of "those who love") of the group.

Rising Genres

While Parnassian tradition leaned towards formal poetry, the new scene diversifies the catalog:

1. Epic Fantasy: Led by the young Sophia Duarte, it shows that Saquarema's youth are connected with global trends in young adult literature.

2. Children's Literature with Social Content: The works of Miguel and Alícia indicate a growing market for books that address ADHD, bullying, and child empowerment from a local perspective.

3. Urban Regionalist Short Story: Authors like Euclides José and Vitor Motta (present in the anthology) explore the daily life of the beaches, downtown streets, and fishing communities, rescuing the city's "soul" in prose.

4. The Stage of the Greats: FLIS and the Cultural Showcase

No analysis would be complete without mentioning the catalyst for all of this: the FLIS (Saquarema International Literary Fair).

Unlike many fairs that are limited to selling books, FLIS plays a role in reader formation. The event brings together national and international heavyweights, such as Itamar Vieira Junior, Conceição Evaristo, and Angola's José Eduardo Agualusa. In 2025, the fair focused on the theme "Reading is opening oneself to the world," aligned with the environmental discussion of COP30, showing that Saquarema thinks globally.

For local writers, FLIS is the "closing of the cycle." It is where the Confraternity launches its books, where students meet their idols, and where the general population has access to cutting-edge culture for free. The existence of an event of this magnitude in a medium-sized city is the main driver for the independent scene not to die on the beach.

References

• [1] Sopa Cultural. Confraria dos Escritores Independentes de Saquarema inicia suas atividades. Available at: https://sopacultural.com/confraria-dos-escritores-independentes-de-saquarema-inicia-suas-atividades/

• [2] Revista Aldeia Magazine. "Saquarema em Verso e Prosa", 1º livro da Confraria de Escritores Independentes de Saquarema (Facebook). Available at: https://www.facebook.com/RevistaAldeiaMagazine/posts

• [3] O Dia. 'Escola que Lê': Prefeitura de Saquarema segue com a distribuição de sacolas literárias. Available at: https://odia.ig.com.br/saquarema/2026/03/7229750-escola-que-le-prefeitura-de-saquarema-segue-com-a-distribuicao-de-sacolas-literarias.html

• [5] G1. FLIS reúne autores consagrados em Saquarema com foco em meio ambiente e saberes ancestrais. Available at: https://g1.globo.com/rj/regiao-dos-lagos/noticia/2025/11/11/flis-reune-autores-consagrados-em-saquarema-com-foco-em-meio-ambiente-e-saberes-ancestrais.ghtml

• [8] Boletim RJ. Saquarema: pequenos escritores dão aula de talento e inspiração. Available at: https://boletimrj.com.br/saquarema-pequenos-escritores-dao-aula-de-talento-e-inspiracao/

⚠️ Research conducted with the aid of Deep Research is subject to referential ambiguity.
🖥️ Clean HTML code using a proprietary tool.
👥 Research by Guilherme Felipe, Curation by Sílvio Lôbo