quando menino eu lia... I read as a boy... - Tapa blanda

quando menino eu lia... / I read as a boy... is a poetry book by Portuguese-American author and Jury Casa de Cortes- Leiria prize winner João S Martins. Born in Portugal, Martins has lived in the United States since 1987. His literary influences include Ruy Belo, Pablo Neruda, José Luis Peixoto, Ted Koser, and Carlos Drumond Andrade.

João S Martins, 59 years old, was born and raised in Manteigas, Portugal. He earned his degree at the Catholic University of Lisbon. During his time in Portugal he dedicated himself to teaching and education, at various levels of public institutions. He first arrived in the U.S. in 1986. Even though he had plans of only staying a month, he decided to relocate to the U.S. permanently with his family. He has resided in Livingston, NJ for the past 24 years. He has published 7 books: “Exercício de Pintura” (poetry); “A Estrelinha da serra...” (short stories); “Cânticos Paralelos” (poetry); “Intervalo das Palavras” (poetry); “Quando toda a esperança é azul” (biography; “o seu nome era Maria” (illustrated poem); and “mãos verdadeiras” (poetry). He's also published in numerous online and local publications and member of the Portuguese Writers Society. As founder of ProVerbo - the cultural arm of the Portuguese Sport Club of Newark, NJ - he's organized cultural galas as well as literary events, among other cultural club activities. With Boavista Press, he published "quando menino eu lia.../I read as a boy..." (poetry - bilingual edition) in October 2014.