Mário Suriani: 
 

“There is still a lot of criticism in relation to spiritist books”

Mário is the founder of Sinal Verde. He works for the last eight years in field of book distribution. He works only with spiritist books and tells us about his work experience in this interview.
 

Mário Suriani is from Ponte Alta, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This city is located close to the Uberaba region. He has been a resident in Guarulhos for more than 40 years now. Mário is the founder of Sinal Verde, a Brazilian spiritist book distributor. He became a spiritist 35 years ago and works in spiritist counselling at the spiritist centre Nosso Lar – Casas André Luiz, São Paulo, Brazil. Our interviewee talks to us about the difficulties, challenges and experiences he faced in regards to distributing spiritist books in Brazil. O Consolador: How and how was SINAL VERDE created?

Sinal Verde started in March 2001; which means it has been working for 8 years. We started at our own home distributing only the magazine Visão Espírita. Later we started disclosing other titles and slowly getting a big chunk in the book market.

O Consolador: What are the biggest difficulties faced in distributing spiritist books?

I think there is a lot of criticism in relation to spiritist books. Some spiritist centres restrict a lot what the audience should or should not read. They do not open space for a bigger discussion, even if we are all aware that the essence of Spiritism is based on the principle of freedom for each individual.

O Consolador: What is the most remarkable experience you had in this area?

The opportunity to put in practice everything we study in the spiritist centre. The values that are involved in this business go beyond simple book sales. Each client, in fact, expects more than a book. He expects a word of love and care, or an orientation in regarding to the most appropriate book for his problem.

O Consolador: What are the most requested books that you have seen so far?

In our Distributor one of the most sold titles is Analisando as Traduções Bíblicas (Analysing the Biblical Translations), from Severino Celestino da Silva. The book collection from André Luiz, and especially Nosso Lar, are also bought massively. There is also a demand for books from Eliana Machado Coelho and da Zíbia Gasparetto.

O Consolador: What type of experience has the participation on events given you?

I believe getting to know the needs of each client. It is much easier to work face to face.

O Consolador: What about having contact with the general public?

For me, the value of friendship in this job is very important. I will relate a funny case that happened to us. Every year we have the pleasure to take our books to CONEC – Spiritist Congress in Circuito das Águas. Thanks to our friend Roberto and his team in Serra Negra. In the beginning I used to feel uncomfortable with the clear air that is around Serra Negra. It contrasts with the reality of living in a big city such as São Paulo, Brazil. My wife and I used to get a cold every time we got there. One time I had high fever and couldn’t work with the books. Suddenly, a lady called Dona Aurora came with her husband and gave me a pill. She placed the medicine in my hands and said: Take this pill. You will get better. I decided to question her: What is in this pill? I am very careful with any medicine, since I don’t want my blood pressure to fall. She then said, kindly: Just take it. You will feel much better, believe me. I then asked her: What if I don’t feel better? She then smiled and I ended up taking the pill and feeling much better! I then found out that the medicine I took was not the type of pill I used to take; I wasn’t used to it. When I came back to Serra Negra on the following year, I asked for Dona Aurora and found out she had passed away.

O Consolador: What type of books are the readers looking for mostly?

Most readers look for romances, but some are interested in in-depth study of the Doctrine.

O Consolador: Can you please tell us the distributor’s site, e-mail and contact telephone numbers?

Telephone: (0055-11) 6409-1540 - E-mail: sinalverde@sinalverdelivros.com.br. Our website: www.sinalverdelivros.com.br

O Consolador: How does the Sinal Verde book club work?

Our club has around 300 members. We charge R$ 24,90 and offer the magazine Espiritismo e Ciência, the newspaper O Clarim and a book. This is usually a book that’s just been launch in the spiritist environmente. This book is always a romance, as most of our readers prefer it. Our material is delivered by post, but the posting costs are ours. We attend all over Brazil.

O Consolador: Can you please tell us about the demand for books from Allan Kardec, Chico Xavier and Yvonne Pereira at Sinal Verde?

The series of books from Allan Kardec, especially The Gospel According to Spiritism, and The Spirits' Book, are highly demanded. From the André Luiz collection, especially Nosso Lar ('Nosso Lar' - A Spiritual Home) and Missionários da Luz (Missionaries of Light) are highly sold. From Emmanuel’s books, Paulo e Estêvão (Paul and Stephen) and Há dois mil anos (Two thousand years ago) are highly sold. The book which is always in demand from Yvonne Pereira is Memórias de um Suicida (Memories of a Suicide).

O Consolador: Can you please give us your final words?

I would like to thank the opportunity to express my opinion in this well-known vehicle of disclosure of our Doctrine. On behalf of Sinal Verde, we would like to invite you to visit our site and make your comments about it. Our work involves the construction of a better world. With your help we are sure we will take LOVE to those who are not aware of this Doctrine that clarifies and consoles so many souls.