Harvesting little fruits in the forest

Deise Marinho Galindo Matta was born on February 18, 1959. Although she was born in Anchieta, Rio de Janeiro, she lived there until she was 2 years old. Later, she moved to the Bento Ribeiro neighborhood, also in Rio de Janeiro, where she grew up. She attended elementary school at Escola Municipal Palheta, junior high and high school at Colégio Pedro II. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Teaching Degree in Portuguese Language and Literature from Universidade Gama Filho. She also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Faculdade Messiânica. Deise was a student and participated in courses at the Portuguese Literary Lyceum, as well as in the International Congress of Portuguese Language and Literature, and in seminars at the Brazilian Academy of Letters. Now retired, she worked as a teacher in private schools and as a federal public servant for the Brazilian Navy, as a civilian, performing administrative duties related to the Intendancy services, holding the position of Session Supervisor and Secretary. Deise is the daughter of a family of mixed heritage—Pernambucan and Indigenous from the state of Pará on her father’s side, and Portuguese and enslaved ancestry on her mother’s side. With literature running through her veins, it was only natural for her to dedicate herself to bringing joy to all people through her short stories and literary works. At the age of 38, she married Max Levy Matta; at the time, both already had teenage children. She has two children: Sidney and Tatiana. Currently living in the Parque Boneville neighborhood, in a subdivision surrounded by nature within the Atlantic Forest, Deise loves to study, travel, spend time with her children and grandchildren, and, above all, to pray.