[Forward ]
I guess I can trace my love for literature to my infancy. My father, a poet and musician, was very serious about embedding the love for the written word in me and, from the time I could sit up, he began to teach me to read. At the age of one, I could read words and by the time he passed away when I was two and a half years old, he left behind a legacy in the form of my literacy, for which I am forever grateful.

When I was four, I began writing children’s stories. Fantastic stories of hidden worlds in the garden surrounding our house. My childhood friends were my only audience but I enjoyed having them ask for more stories every day. As I grew older, my genre changed with my reading preferences. Jules Verne was one of my favorites and therefore, my writing leaned toward sci-fi for a while.

My mother fostered my writing with the same energy my father had done and she made great sacrifices to provide me with research material. Having been born in one of the poorest states in my country (Brazil), there were no massive libraries I could access, there was no internet back then to allow for information in my hands with a few keystrokes. She bought a full size Encyclopedia Britannica set which I perused each and every day for new and interesting facts about places far and wide and about people whose work I admired.

Strangely, even back then, I knew deep inside writing would be a part of my life. I just didn’t know to what extent or how deep it would run. I feel that without my father’s fiery love for the written word and my mother’s determination to see his love come to fruition, I wouldn’t have taken the paths that led me to where I am today. I have a lot to thank them both for paving the road for me. And they did, in strange but amazing ways.

It’s my belief that life is made of small but pivotal twists and turns in the road that lead us to the place you have to be. Having parents who were both dedicated to making me love the written word as much as they did was definitely one of those pivotal moments in my life.
Tomorrow: Chris Almeida Day 2: Where Ireland Plays a Part

Bio
Chris Almeida (also known as C. Almeida) began writing children’s stories at a very young age. Born in Brazil but currently living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Chris’ life took a totally different course when technology came into play, and the following 17 years were spent delving deep into the world of programming and web design.

It was in 2010, when Chris began role playing online as a hobby, that writing worm its way back into the picture. This time, writing storylines for the role playing group.

The ideas and plots created for the game awoke the inner writer and a few months later, together with partner in crime Cecilia Aubrey (C. Aubrey), began writing romantic erotica.

Now, still together, they have written a number of short stories and novels and are currently working on book two and three of their series as well as several short stories part of the spin off series. Through it all they have continued to enjoy role playing through their favorite characters.