The story of “O Segredo de Spalla” transcends the concept of soulmates, while Marcelo Brambilla weaves an engaging plot that leads the public to root for the two spirits that meet and lose each other over the course of several reincarnations. It is also an epic saga spanning centuries of adventure, involving international organizations, religious bodies and supernatural figures.
Initially known as Tommy, the protagonist is a young motorcycle racer who crosses paths with Carol, a renowned conductor. An intense love develops between them, but Tommy soon discovers that they are embedded in a legend whose evidence is kept in the vaults of the Vatican. According to rumors, the documents protected by the institution reveal the truth about God.
From that moment on, both embark on a journey that crosses time and space. In the third book, “The Secret of Spalla – Revelations”, Tommy becomes Ali, born in the midst of the civil war in Yemen, and needs to be rescued by Buhba, his friend of multiple lives and the narrator of the story.
However, they are pursued by rulers and religious organizations determined to get their hands on divine powers. But they also have the protection of charming animals, a small group of women and even the Archangel Michael.
The author takes readers through different periods of world history, addressing the First and Second World War, as well as the Cold War, and exploring the consequences of these conflicts on the trajectories of the characters.
Through this fantastic adventure and with light writing, Brambilla discusses religious issues, moral values and the importance of combating prejudice in its various manifestations. By exploring the reality of each of the protagonists, he exposes social problems such as misogyny, racism and power conflicts.
In addition to being a writer, Marcelo Brambilla is a public school teacher in São Paulo, graduated in Physical Education and Pedagogy, and post-graduated in Ethics, Values and Citizenship. With 34 years of teaching experience and a passion for sports, he started writing as a way to express his feelings during the pandemic. Thus was born “The Secret of Spalla”, a saga that mixes his professional and personal experiences with elements of fantastic realism.
How would you describe the story of “The Secret of Spalla” in a few words?
The reunion between two parts of the same soul, intensely living the secret of a divine imposition that promotes brief earthly encounters and long periods of spiritual disagreements, facing wars and supernatural battles.
In addition to the romance between the protagonists, what other elements are part of the plot? How do international organizations, religious bodies, and supernatural figures fit into the story?
The book is guided by frantic and incessant searches, generating many emotions and suspense from beginning to end. There is a quest to resolve the divine designs and impositions that promote an overwhelming earthly love and spiritual disagreements that seem eternal between Spalla and Castiel. In the midst of this novel, many persecutions take place to conquer the powers of God, by the angels expelled from the Kingdom of Heaven. Among his subordinates are the rulers of the world’s greatest powers and even the high clergy. The only way to reach God is to discover Spalla’s ways and secrets. In his defense are the Mothers of Spalla, the Archangel Michael and the most lovable animals. Adele is also an important figure who appears at the most unlikely of times.
The main protagonist, initially called Tommy, discovers that he is part of a legend kept in the vaults of the Vatican. Can you tell us more about this legend and what is the importance of the documents protected by the institution?
The birth of Spalla and Castiel, Carol and Tommy in the first book, marks the birth of a new era in the evolution of beings of light. Castiel is always born seven years before Spalla, and the mark on his shoulders represents a triad that guides them towards the reunion between the two parts of the same soul. Their lives bring secrets from many reincarnations over the centuries that can bring down the pillars of the Catholic Church and all other religions. So, all the marks left by their passages through Earth were stored in the safest vault in the world, in the Vatican, alongside documents by Galileo Galilei, Joan of Arc and others, until another, even safer room was created to house the more concrete evidence for the existence of God.
The third book in the series, “The Secret of Spalla – Revelations”, introduces a new character, Ali, born in the midst of Yemen’s civil war. How does this new reincarnation connect to the main story and what is the role of Buhba, Ali’s lifelong friend?
Buhba starts his writing in first person until he is convinced by Carol that he is a protagonist of the story. He, who accompanied Tommy and Carol throughout his life, learned of his friend’s rebirth in a country that was experiencing civil war and was forced to rescue him. It’s amazing how a baby could recognize the friend of several centuries through smell and look. There he is rescued and taken to the Oasis of Qara in Egypt, where the child meets Archie, an English archaeologist who manages to unravel the greatest secrets of humanity. There, he relives his past, watching the stars move and dreaming of Spalla. For Archie, his wisdom from so many years of study cannot be compared to the evolution accumulated in centuries of the boy’s experiences. Buhba still remains connected to Tommy’s reincarnation, visiting him through offshoots,
The protagonists face persecution by rulers and religious organizations who want to get their hands on the powers of God. How do they count on the protection of charming animals, a small group of women and the Archangel Michael?
I confess that I’m passing on some spoilers that I couldn’t. But let’s go. When God created Spalla, jealousy was also created by another angel who wanted God’s eyes for himself. Spalla was sent to Earth with a special mission. So, God gave Castiel life, with a piece taken from her shoulder. The mark left by the three fingers of God generated the mark of the Holy Trinity that represents much more than the story told. She represents the balance between God, the earthly world and the spiritual world.
When creating the Triad, some crumbs from Spalla’s shoulder purposely fell, picked up from the ground by the Archangel Michael. These crumbs turned into beings of light in charge of protecting Spalla and who became the Mothers of Spalla, the children and animals that protect her. There is around it a very large protection network that seeks to guarantee the harmony and coexistence of the two worlds in perfect harmony.
The author explores different historical periods such as WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. How do these historical events affect the trajectory of the characters and how are these consequences addressed in the narrative?
The shadow beings, expelled from the Kingdom of Heaven by the army commanded by the Archangel Michael, needed to form their army. Seduction by power was the means they used, conquering and controlling religious and rulers to accompany them in this battle. Thus, the history of the greatest wars and battles of humanity are resignified within the fictional context of the legend The Secret of Spalla. They were the most effective means of scanning countries and regions to find Spalla and Castiel. The marks on their shoulders and the tracks left over the centuries are researched and sought tirelessly by their pursuers.
Besides adventure and romance, what deeper themes are discussed in the book? How does the author address issues related to religion, moral values and the fight against prejudice?
Throughout the book there is a strong tendency towards the development of human evolution, based mainly on the triad of respect, honor and dignity. At this point, evolution is centered on moral values and the fight against all kinds of prejudices. There are several specific chapters where characters were created and emancipated precisely to discuss these themes, so important within our society. I believe it is very important to report such specific themes that can collaborate in the formation of our readers, especially the younger ones.
How did your experience as a physical education and pedagogy teacher influence your writing and the creation of “The Secret of Spalla”?
There is no denying the pedagogical influence in writing a book. Either because of the context of the book or simply because it encourages reading and writing. When I started the writing process this was one of my biggest goals. Leaving a legacy, something that could positively encourage my students in their reading and writing skills. In this way, throughout my writing, my thoughts are focused on student readers. After I edited the books, many people approached me, because they are writers who need some incentive, whether financial or simple support that gives them confidence about their writing. Many of them are inside schools, teachers and students without any incentive.
The book mixes elements of fantastic realism with his personal and professional experiences. How did you find the balance between these elements in the narrative?
I believe that a lot of the writer’s soul and thoughts go into his characters. Dreams, desires, frustrations, pains, anguish and much more. But the most amazing thing about all of this is working with what escapes us. This is fiction, and it’s the greatest joy in writing. Something that does not inhabit our daily lives, but somehow and to some extent unexpected, comes to us in true storms of ideas. It is immediate stress relief. Not an escape, but an encounter, with what’s best within us. Creating such unrealistic characters is something that seems to take over a part of our lives, so much so that they seem to create themselves and ask for more time in the books. And for them, the doors of my books are always open.
What can readers expect from the saga “The Secret of Spalla”? What are your plans for the future of the series?
Readers can always look forward to more thrills, suspense and lots of romance. There is a sequel to at least three more books. The fourth is almost finished, bringing a romance between supernatural beings that promises to bring many emotions to readers. I hope above all that everyone can have fun reading and that my books can be sources of inspiration for those who want to start writing.
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