With a brilliant career on the catwalk, Brenda Viana, a 24-year-old model who recently graduated in journalism, was elected the new Miss Brazil. However, his life changes drastically when a secret from his past comes to light, threatening to destroy his dreams. It is in this scenario that the reader meets the protagonist of “Beyond Appearances”, by national writer Crys Carvalho .
In this novel, published by Qualis Editora, Brenda gets involved with Vítor Rico, a famous celebrity journalist determined to discover what she hides behind her beauty, boldness and apparent arrogance. What he didn’t expect was to fall deeply in love with Brenda, to the point of reconsidering his plan to unmask her in order to live that love.
Their passion is put to the test when Brenda’s past is exposed in the media: an unwanted teenage pregnancy, the result of abuse. To make matters worse, she loses the title of Miss Brazil, as the contest rules do not allow candidates to be mothers. Brenda blames Vítor for the information leak, but he denies any involvement and tries to regain her trust.
Faced with sexist comments in the press and attacks on social media, Brenda finds her dreams ruined and faces trials for putting the child up for adoption. With Vítor’s support and affection, Brenda learns the importance of trusting the right people. However, questions remain: Where is your son? And what else does she hide?
Told from the point of view of the two protagonists, “Beyond Appearances” addresses sensitive topics that can generate triggers, such as sexual violence, aesthetic pressure and teenage pregnancy. Crys Carvalho leads the reader to reflect on relevant issues such as misogyny, female sexual freedom and rape culture, while Brenda is blamed for the actions of her attacker.
Crys , her new novel “Beyond Appearances” explores complex and sensitive themes. What inspired you to write about Brenda Viana’s story and the challenges she faces?
I’ve always been bothered by the way our sexist society treats women. In my stories I like to bring topics for discussion related to the topic, sometimes in a subtle way or, as in the case of this book, openly. I like to think that everyone deserves to be heard and, with Brenda, I wanted to bring the other side of a story that we are all used to judging, without knowing the experiences behind the human being in question.
The narrative alternates between the points of view of Brenda and Vítor. Why did you choose this format and how does it contribute to the depth of the story?
I chose this form of narrative because I would like the reader to understand how the protagonists’ minds work and understand their nuances.
Brenda is a character who faces a lot of judgment and pressure due to her past. How do you approach the issue of aesthetic pressure and sexist comments in the plot?
Within the narrative, the character always appears strong and faces judgment in the spotlight. However, throughout the plot the reader comes to understand how fragile the character is and the reasons why she deals with adversity in this way.
The relationship between Brenda and Vítor is central to the plot. How did you develop this complex dynamic, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
Their start as a couple is somewhat chaotic and makes the reader think that they won’t work out. So, little by little, the arrogant man, who only “thinks about his own navel”, reveals himself to be someone very different from what he appears to be. The woman, foul-mouthed and capable of facing the world for what she believes in, appears fragile and full of unresolved traumas. This unusual couple will show the reader that there is no exact formula for a relationship to work, but if both people are willing to give in, things will adjust.
The revelation of Brenda’s secret drastically impacts her life and career. How did you work on building this moment of tension and its consequences?
I tried to put myself in the shoes of a woman in the same situation and be faithful to what she would feel. In Brenda’s case, she feels a lot of anger, she doesn’t have a close support network and ends up accepting the consequences, because she believes it is divine punishment for her past decisions.
“Beyond Appearances” deals with topics such as sexual violence and teenage pregnancy. How important is it to address these topics in your work and what message do you hope to convey to your readers?
The main message of the story is that we women cannot be silenced after suffering a crime as serious as sexual violence. Reinforce the fact that the victim of rape is not to blame. Regarding teenage pregnancy, I know that conscious delivery is still a taboo within our society, due to all this fantasy created around motherhood. I believe that the role of history with this topic is to show the reality without the romanticization surrounding what happens when you have a child and what responsibilities come with this package.
You mention that romance can be triggering. How did you prepare to write about these sensitive topics and what has been the reception from your readers so far?
It was very difficult to write these themes, as I had to dive head first into some of them and, whether I wanted to or not, they really affected me. The reception of the story by readers really surprised me, because when I decided to put this story out into the world, I was quite afraid of how people would perceive the nuances of the themes covered. However, they ended up understanding the message and understanding the characters.
Vítor Rico’s character goes from someone who wants to unmask Brenda to someone who falls in love with her. How did you explore this transformation in his character?
Vítor at the beginning of the book only knew the “bad” side of Brenda and made a pre-judgment about who the favorite candidate in the contest was. From the moment he starts to see her as a human being capable of making mistakes, he regrets having judged her so badly, but it is already too late and from then on we begin a search for the journalist’s redemption.
As an author, how do you balance developing a compelling plot with the need to address important social issues?
I believe that stories have the power to change the way we see the world. Starting from this point, when I start writing a plot I usually ask myself what theme would fit within it to bring some impact on people’s lives at the end of the reading.
Last but not least, what are your next literary projects and what can readers expect from you in the future?
I have a schedule for the next half of this year, with the release of at least three stories by the end of 2024. What readers can expect from me are many stories with strong, real girls, who will always fight for what they believe in.
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