His parents couldn’t read, but it was the world of printing that bound Ernesto Resendes to the Azores.
Born in 1955 on Santa Maria Island, Ernesto was set to emigrate, following the path of so many Azoreans before him. But his passion for graphic arts and the freedom to do what he loved kept him anchored to the islands, ignoring the calls from Canada.
Although he still proudly calls himself a typographer, and speaks of printing presses with a gleam in his eye, Ernesto is now a creative publisher—a visionary capable of bringing innovative literary projects to life. His work includes the Maratona Literária, the Letras Lavadas publishing house, and commemorative books celebrating Azorean culture.
From Octant Ponta Delgada, you can visit the Letras Lavadas Bookshop in the city centre or explore the José Ernesto Resendes/Nova Gráfica Collection, a 3,000-book archive housed at the Natália Correia Cultural Centre in Fajã de Baixo.
Ernesto Resendes was born in 1955 on Santa Maria Island.
The 1958 eruption of Capelinhos volcano on Faial triggered a wave of emigration, opening the doors of the Americas to the Azoreans. Thousands left in search of a better life—mainly from the Central Group of islands, while those in the Eastern Group, like Santa Maria, had fewer opportunities to chase the American dream.
At six years old, Ernesto moved with his family to São Miguel. His father sold their cattle and sheep, and the family settled in Ponta Delgada. Later, his father emigrated to Canada, and over time, the family scattered across continents.
Ernesto stayed behind, waiting for his own opportunity to leave. But at fifteen, he began working at a printing press, learning the trade and progressing in his craft.
At the Açoriano Oriental, the shift from letterpress to offset printing changed his life, as did the transition to digital years later. “Life is full of opportunities—you just have to take them,” he often says.
Over the years, Ernesto built a publishing empire.
He founded his graphic arts company in 1982, followed by an advertising agency in 2007, and later a publishing house. What began as printing phone books and travel guides evolved into a vast portfolio of literature—from novels and photography books to unique commemorative editions and local author publications.
He created the Publiçor and Letras Lavadas publishing brands, the latter with a bookshop in central Ponta Delgada. Over five decades, he has published over 3,800 titles, including 700 under his own imprint.
A leader and expert in human resources management, he modernised and certified his printing house to meet environmental standards.
Ernesto still sees himself as a typographer, but his creative mind is always at work.
A testament to this is his Maratona Literária, where he gathered 24 writers, each assigned to a culturally significant location in São Miguel, to write a short story in just one hour. By the very next day, their stories had been printed in a bound book, a true test of literary and publishing speed.
Among his many visionary projects:
A cake-shaped book
A life-sized book tribute to Manuel Ferreira, matching the author’s exact height (1.68m)
Exclusive editions gifted to world leaders, including Barack Obama
Collaborations with visual artist Urbano, blending literature and contemporary art
Many of these unique creations are part of the José Ernesto Resendes/Nova Gráfica Collection, a 3,000-book archive donated to the Ponta Delgada City Council, accessible to all at the Natália Correia Cultural Centre.
Printing and creativity kept Ernesto in the Azores, defying family expectations to join them in Canada.
When asked what book has defined his life, he answers without hesitation:
Gaspar Frutuoso’s “Saudades da Terra”.
“The book of our lives,” he says, speaking not just for himself, but for an entire island community that knows its place in history
