Welcome, I’m Silvana.

I grew up in a family that sat at the table and told stories. As a child, after immigrating to the United States, my family in Portugal wrote letters to me. It was the late 1990s—long distance calls were expensive, texts nonexistent, and the early days of email still in formation. I would open the envelope to find my grandmother’s neat cursive, my godmother’s loop-formed letters, and my cousin’s carefully dated accounts. These letters may have sparked my love afair with writing.

When I’m not writing, you can find me exploring scenic routes, wandering through the woods, drinking tea out of fancy cups, and losing track of time.

Without Wax

My friend Ali introduced me to a story regarding the origins of the word sincerely. In Latin, the word sine means without and sera means wax. It is said that sculptors in Rome would cover their flaws using wax. As a result, sculptors began to label their work as “sine sera” or “without wax” to indicate honesty.

This Substack attempts to recapture the sincerity and magic of letter-writing on a digital platform.

What happens if I subscribe?

You receive one heartfelt letter a month delivered to your inbox with modern technology and old-school flair.

How can I support your work?

Share with Friends: If you have a letter-lover in your life, share this Substack with them.

Tell Me About It: I love to engage with people who read my work. If a particular piece or sentence resonated for you, leave me a comment!

Pledge: You can pledge a yearly subscription to my Substack. My goal is to offer a paid option with additional features. If I upgrade to paid, your pledge will instantly become a paid subscription.