A lifelong book lover chasing the dream to write my own.
Stories Rooted in Wonder, Emotion, and Heart
Welcome to the creative world of Ria Cabral, an author, artist, and photographic storyteller living in the Texas Hill Country.
Inspired by the beauty of everyday life and the boundless possibilities of imagination, Ria creates richly woven stories filled with memorable characters, heartfelt moments, and a touch of wonder. Discover her novels, explore her creative journey, and step into worlds where every story begins with a little daydreaming.
Publication date October
THE LAST REEL OF BELLWETHER
The cinema had been dead for twenty-three years, but at six minutes past midnight on the day of my grandmother’s funeral, its marquee lit up with my name.
After her grandmother’s death, photographic storyteller Iris Bell returns to the autumn-covered town of Bellwether. Her plan is simple: sell the abandoned family cinema and leave before the town’s famous Halloween lantern festival.
But her grandmother’s will contains one final condition.
Iris must reopen the cinema for seven nights and show seven mysterious reels of film. If she refuses—or stops a screening—she loses everything.
On the first night, the projector starts by itself.
The film does not show actors. It reveals a secret belonging to someone in the audience. With every screening, another hidden memory appears—and another piece of the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Iris’s eight-year-old brother comes to light.
The town says Rowan died twenty-three years ago.
The films say otherwise.
An atmospheric mystery filled with family secrets, lost love, buried memories, and a touch of magical realism, The Last Reel of Bellwether asks:
If the truth could destroy everyone you love, would you still show the final reel
changed to October….
A New Book in the making….
Humans of Texas: Portraits and Stories from the Lone Star State.
Humans of Texas is a photographic storytelling project celebrating the people who give the Lone Star State its heart and character. Traveling through cities, small towns, and rural communities, author and photographic storyteller Ria Cabral will capture authentic portraits and gather personal stories through relaxed, in-person conversations or written email interviews.
Each story will offer an intimate glimpse into a life shaped by Texas revealing moments of joy and hardship, cherished traditions, treasured memories, personal dreams, and experiences of courage and change. The book will feature people from many different backgrounds, from lifelong Texans whose roots reach back generations to newcomers who have only recently begun calling Texas home.
Honest, moving, and deeply human, Humans of Texas will honor the extraordinary stories found within seemingly ordinary lives. Together, these portraits and personal words will create a rich and heartfelt mosaic of modern Texas, reminding readers that every person has a story worth hearing and that sometimes the most powerful stories are waiting just beyond our own front door.