My Second Home Lisboa: Maria João Mergulhão
Managing partner and publisher, Verso de Kapa
Verso de Kapa are at the forefront of a new generation of Portuguese literary publishers. Run by Second Home Lisboa member Maria João Mergulhão, they specialise in history and science titles, from The Life of the Brain by Alexandre Castro Caldas to The Portuguese Discoveries by Ana Margarida Oliveira. We met up João Mergulhão in a quiet corner of her new office to talk about books and Lisbon life.
What is the best thing about working at Verso de Kapa?
Being able to make ideas materialise in a book.
What recent project are you the most proud of and why?
All, but especially the next one (in general).
What do you want your company to achieve within the next year?
More bestsellers. I don’t ever get tired… We are a small independent publisher which has more books in the Top 10 bookstores than major publishers. At this moment, we have two, those being the História de Portugal and Histórias para os avós lerem aos netos.
What advice would you give somebody thinking about starting their own company?
If you believe in it, go for it!
How has being at Second Home Lisboa helped your work?
I don’t know if it has improved the quality of my work, but it has improved my mood: all the new people and a lovely space to work in, plus the talks have changed my way of thinking.
“Second Home has improved my mood: especially all the new people and a lovely space to work in, plus the talks have changed my way of thinking.”
What is your favourite design feature about Second Home Lisbon?
A solitary eight orange lying down (it looks like the infinite symbol), who lives in a lamp with a beautiful view.
Outside of work, what place in Lisbon stimulates your imagination the most and why?
I was born in Lisbon (here what people call an Alfacinha), so I’m a Lisbon lover! But specially every place near the river, between Cais do Sodré and Belém, where I live. I also love the Santa Catarina Miradouro, up here, near Chiado!
Second Home is a creative workspace and cultural venue based in London and Lisboa. We bring together diverse industries, disciplines and social businesses. Find out more about joining us here: secondhome.io
