In her new book "Enquanto Você Está Aqui" (While You Are Here), journalist and writer Camila Appel confronts the cultural taboo surrounding death, stemming from her own traumatic experiences with loss at a young age. The book serves as a deeply personal exploration of her need to discuss aging, illness, and goodbyes with her mother, Leilah Assumpção, a noted playwright. Appel uses this intimate sphere as a springboard to broaden the conversation around mortality, question societal attitudes towards death, and advocate for an open dialogue about these universal experiences.

Appel’s work is not born out of spontaneity but rather of a sustained engagement with the subject over several years. She initiated her journey in 2014 with her blog