A lifelong book lover chasing the dream to write my own.
Flickers in the Dark is open for submissions
I’m thrilled to be working alongside the incredible writer Zack Zagranis on Flickers in the Dark, a multi-author Halloween anthology dedicated to short-form horror that lingers long after the light goes out.
We’re currently open for submissions and seeking flash fiction, microfiction, experimental pieces, and haunting artwork that unsettles, suggests, and strikes fast. Stories that feel like a match flaring in the dark. Images that make you wonder if something is watching just beyond the glow.
If your work thrives in small spaces—psychological, folkloric, cosmic, or quietly grotesque—we want to see it. Step into the dark. Let your work flicker.
Email Submissions to: Submissionsinthedark@gmail.com
The Curious Case of the Gnome Syndicate
Upcoming Book for 2026
The Curious Case of the Gnome Syndicate is officially UNDER CONTRACT!
I’m beyond excited to begin my publishing journey with this story and can’t wait to share it with the world.
The journey from manuscript to book takes time, but the adventure is well underway — with an estimated 8–12 months until it goes to print.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement — more updates (and sneak peeks ) will be coming soon!
Under Contract
The Curious Case of the Gnome Syndicate
Through the various publishing stages, when we have some news you’ll be the first to know!
Harold’s long-lost daughter returns—not as herself, but as an undercover detective exposing a bizarre garden gnome smuggling syndicate. Together, they navigate a quirky, heartfelt mystery where even lawn ornaments hide secrets.
Production Update for The Curious Case of the Gnome Syndicate
9.10.2025 - After editing, it should come to approximately 400 pages.
The formatting of my manuscript is complete and will now be assigned to an appropriate proofreader. They will be correcting spelling and grammar, and if necessary, they will suggest any additional changes they feel may be required to improve the book. The proofreader will not be rewriting the book. All changes during the proofreading stage will be completed using the track changes function in Microsoft Word.
This is one of the most important stages of production due to the amount of detail required. As a result, this stage of production is very time-consuming.
Putting more detail and time into this first stage will result in a better outcome required for the remaining stages, which will then result in fewer proofs needed. This will then ensure that the remaining production process goes smoothly.
2.9.2026- Proof reading team are still currently in the process of reviewing my manuscript and the design team are also working on the initial cover design. Once both are finished they will be sent back to me for review.
NOW AVAILABLE in TWO Volumes! 40 Stories in each volume.Behind the lights, the feasts and the forced warmth of tradition, something watches. Something remembers older winters, bloodier rituals and the quiet violence lurking beneath celebration... Edited by the veteran compiler of dark fiction Parth Sarathi Chakraborty, YuleHide strips the season of comfort & joy and exposes what the yuletide season has always hoped to hide. These stories twist Christmas and winter folklore into visions of true dread, where family gatherings rot from within, ancient customs demand obedience and snow preserves secrets better left forgotten…
Front Cover Announcement Blurb I'm honored to present this evocative artwork that has been accepted as the official front cover for Mystic Mind Magazine / Kirin Comics. April #32 digital edition. Blending delicate watercolor florals with the stark wreckage of a fallen craft, the piece captures a moment suspended between ruin and rebirth. Three figures stand at the threshold of the unknown, dwarfed by nature’s quiet reclaiming of lost technology, inviting the viewer to contemplate memory, survival, and the fragile boundary between the mechanical and the mystical. Dreamlike yet grounded, this cover sets the tone for a journey into stories where wonder grows from the remnants of what once was.
I’m beyond excited to share that my artwork The Luminant Arbor has been accepted for publication in Kirin Comics’ upcoming March #31 physical issue! So grateful to the team for believing in my work—can’t wait for readers to see it in print.
The Last Page The Last Page is a haunting thriller about grief, control, and the dangerous power of storytelling. Release Date May 2026
Meet the Author
I juggle books, chocolate, kids, a wonderful husband, dirty toilets, neglected laundry, and a deep love for stories—though rarely in that order..
Also by Ria Cabral
Explore my collection of published works and artwork featured across online platforms and print magazines.
Literary works
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