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Vanessa De Carvalho

@vdc_writer

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Writer and reader, whenever time allows (mom/mum to 3). Completed Master's in Creative Writing in 2023. Author of #themotherhoodnovel out now

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#themotherhoodnovel is out today!

#nzfiction #fiction #motherhood #releaseday taken in Tauranga, New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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5 months ago

#themotherhoodnovel is out today!

#nzfiction #fiction #motherhood #releaseday taken in Tauranga, New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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5 months ago

#themotherhoodnovel is out today!

#nzfiction #fiction #motherhood #releaseday taken in Tauranga, New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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5 months ago

@peakchocolate recently reached out to see if I would be keen to try their chocolates. Now, moment of truth: I’m not an influencer, nor do I want to be, so I have no idea how to do this.

But anyone who knows me knows I’m a chocolate lover. But chocolate paired with coffee? That was something I had to try. So here are my thoughts.

I’ve now tried a few of the different combinations of dark chocolate and milk chocolate with caffeine and magnesium. The caffeine ones were a great afternoon treat when I didn’t have the time or the energy to make another pot. Quick and easy to devour in secret (cause definitely don’t want my kids caffeinated... they’re high energy enough as it is!) and I love that it didn’t have the overwhelming caffeinated taste that some coffee/chocolates combos have. In the evening, I had a milk chocolate with magnesium to help me wind down after a full day of parenting and work post-kids’ bedtime. Perfect-sized evening treat.

Thank you, Peak Chocolate, for the yummy chocolates. If anyone else is keen on trying some too, they’re now available at @woolworths_nz.

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Photo one: painting my pots

Working late on social media planning for #themotherhoodnovel

Hiding in the pantry for my caffeinated chocolate treat. taken in Aotearoa New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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6 days ago

Picnic Challenge 🍽️🍎🍫🥪📚

Thank you @mrs_moa_book_hub for the tag. I enjoyed browsing my bookshelf for these titles and was proud to settle on writers from Aotearoa. And it was actually really hard to find the right fit for what’s in the picnic basket.

📍Where? Hood’s Landing
🗓️When? The Last Days of Joy
👥Who with? Kataraina (I would have also loved to include Hannah & Huia, but someone else is enjoying that read at the moment.)
🥪What’s in the picnic basket? Seed(s)
🌤️What’s the weather like? Golden Days
🔉What can you hear? The Songbirds of Florence

Who else would like to join? My OPC Book Club mamas? @charlottelobb_author
No pressure, of course.

#bookstagram #bookclub #bookrecs #nzfiction #nzauthor taken in Aotearoa New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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6 days ago

Our whānau’s Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori ended with our two oldest performing at the Tauranga Peninsula Rā Whakangahau. I don’t know if I’ll ever not get emotional watching them in kapa haka. It makes me so thankful to know that, so far, all three of my children’s educational journeys have been with kaiako who promote Te Ao Māori. I hope everyone has had a great week with time for reflecting, learning, and growing.

Ake Ake Ake - A Forever Language.
Kia kaha Te Reo Māori, not just this week, but always.

#maorilanguageweek #tewikiotereomāori #akeakeake taken in Aotearoa New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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10 days ago

Is it possible for three mothers to be friends even though they parent differently? Saffi, Lena, and Violet sure think so. And I do too.

Being a mum is hard enough, so let’s stick together even when our parenting looks different. What works for one doesn’t always work for another, right? So tell a mum around you that they’re doing great, invite one into your village, or send a text saying you’re thinking of them. We’re stronger together.

#relatablemomlife #motherhood #mumreads #mumlife #themotherhoodnovel “Things they do that other parents might not agree with” written in white with pink outline over coffee in pink mug and background. taken in Aotearoa New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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13 days ago

This winter marks my entry into the world of audiobooks. It started with “The Calamity Club”, which I adored. I chose audio for this one because 28 hours seemed more manageable than 600+ pages, and looking back on it, I’m so glad I did, because this winter I also started seeing a physio for a sore shoulder. I’ve since figured out that reading at night is probably not helping. I then started “The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion”, and while the first one was a bit of a struggle, I am now on volume 7 and absolutely in love with Emma and her universe. I think I’ll go back to the beginning when I finish volume 7.

In terms of books, some amazing reads were:
- Ndima Ndima, by @tsitsi_mapepa: written by a Kiwi-Zimbabwean, this book is set in Zimbabwe and tells the story of the Taha family through Nyeredzi and her mother, Zuva. It was beautifully written and poetic. This is for you if you love discovering new places and cultures through beautiful characters you will fall in love with.
- The Nowhere Boy, by @anne_cleary: Fellow Tauranga Writers member. This gripping debut is for you if you like page-turning thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat.
- The Wedding People, by Alison Espach: This is for you if you need a laugh and enjoy some dry, not always “appropriate” humour. I laughed out loud so many times while reading it and sent @ivyandbritt so many messages about it. (Not as many related to Emma M. Lion, mind you.)

What was your favourite read this winter?

#bookrecs #coffeeandbooks #emmamlion #winterreads #nzfiction taken in Aotearoa New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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14 days ago

Two weeks ago, I was featured on @realnzbooks author successes.

As a recently published #indieauthor, these last few months have been a rollercoaster, with real highs and lows I wasn’t quite prepared for. My goal was to win hearts through Saffi, Lena, and Violet’s stories. I know I’ve done that, and I’m so proud of myself for that. I’m not sure how to answer “How are the book sales going?” because some weeks/months, it’s extremely quiet, which feels less successful. I keep trying to remember the mums who saw themselves in my novel, the ones who reached out to say, “Thank you” and “I feel seen”, which feels a lot more successful to me. It’s not always about the numbers, right?

Thank you to the team at CopyPress/Real NZ Books for all their support on this journey. It was wonderful working with them, and I so appreciated the boost.

#mumreads #themotherhoodnovel #nzfiction #momwriter taken in Tauranga, New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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16 days ago

Quite the stack of books got mailed out yesterday. These are for the winners of the two giveaways #themotherhoodnovel was in lately. Seven are going to the winners of @mindfood “Play and Win”, and one is going to the winner of the cosy winter giveaway with @mammasmilkbar. Congratulations to the winners!

I am playing around with making stickers and have some in the books that have been mailed out. I even made coffee-stained “washi tape”! Which sticker is your favourite?

#momwriter #indieauthor
#contemporaryfiction

Which one is your fave?

“Washi tape” creations

What was included with each book. (Stickers might be different.) taken in Aotearoa New Zealand by @vdc_writer

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20 days ago

Loved spending last week at the beautiful Waihī Beach Library for an author talk following their ‘Words & Waita’ session. A huge thank you to @westernbaylibraries for having me and to everyone who came, including Vonu Taku from Kindy 🐢😅

#indieauthor #librarylove #authortalk #themotherhoodnovel #mumreads taken in Waihi Beach by @vdc_writer

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21 days ago

A few thoughts I struggled to get out today.

I beg you. If you’re still wondering why I am speaking out for Palestine, why people like me are fighting for their freedom, please go watch “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and then tell my why you think her murder and those of Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun are justified. I will warn you, there is nothing and I mean NOTHING you can say that will convince me that they were. A six year old. 335 bullets. 💔

Heartbreakingly and infuriatingly, their story isn’t the exception. There are so many more stories like theirs, atrocities committed on the daily, mothers losing their children, whole families being wiped out. Just because they’re far away or they don’t look like you, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t matter. You should care. They’re humans like us. And no one deserves to die like that, especially not a 6 year old child.

#freepalestine🇵🇸 #hindrajab by @vdc_writer

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a month ago