On a milder autumn day in 1971, in the historic city of Braga, Portugal, a little girl was born who would one day give new meaning to the phrase “dream with open eyes”. Her name was Anabela Cunha Vaz, and from the very beginning, she seemed destined to live between two worlds — one of graceful movement and another of boundless imagination.
Even as a child, Anabela was drawn to rhythm — the rhythm of dance and the rhythm of words. Ballet taught her discipline and sensitivity, while stories offered her freedom and wonder. While other children collected toys, Anabela collected words. Her notebooks brimmed with fairies, forests, and dreams that refused to fade.
The Quiet Battles Behind the Words
But life, as Anabela often reminds her readers, was not a fairy tale. Behind her calm strength lies a journey of deep introspection and personal struggle. “Pain”, she once said, “was my greatest teacher.”
One night — Christmas Eve, 1989 — changed everything. In the quiet glow of that December night, she discovered a love that would reshape her life forever: motherhood. That experience became the emotional root of her writing.
In her stories, love is never merely sentimental — it is transformative. It turns fragility into strength, silence into song, and heartbreak into hope.
A Life in Numbers, a Soul in Words
For twenty-one years, Anabela worked in banking — a world of precision, logic, and responsibility. Yet even there, words never left her side. She carried them like hidden treasures, waiting for the right time to share them.
That moment arrived with the publication of her debut novel, Neblina (2006) — the first public expression of a voice that had been quietly forming for years. It was a step away from routine and into the unknown — the beginning of a life led by creativity and courage.
When the World Stopped, the Stories Began
In 2020, when the world slowed under the weight of the pandemic, Anabela felt an irresistible call to write. Her granddaughter Benedita became her muse — her laughter reopening a long-forgotten door to wonder. Through her eyes, Anabela rediscovered the fairy tales she once loved and realised they were not just for children — they were lessons in empathy, courage, and kindness.
That same year, she made a life-changing decision: to write full-time. What followed was an explosion of creativity — stories that inspired hearts and bridged generations.
A Universe of Hope and Magic
Her 2021 book Benedita the Fairy was a tender tribute to childhood, reminding readers that kindness itself is a form of magic.
A year later came The World Needs Fairies (2022) — a poetic call for compassion in uncertain times.
In 2023, she released What Do You Want to Be After Midnight?, a collection of seven interwoven stories exploring identity, transformation, and the fragile beauty of being human.
And in 2024, she unveiled Maria do Mar, the Mermaid Who Dreamed of Flying, a lyrical ode to freedom and the sea, written with tenderness that lingers long after the final page.
The Alchemy of Emotion
What sets Anabela’s writing apart is its emotional transparency. She writes the way people feel — honestly, vulnerably, beautifully. Her stories are not escapes from reality; they are reflections of it, illuminated through imagination. Readers often describe her books not just as stories, but as experiences — intimate journeys that reveal truth through wonder.
Her prose is delicate but deliberate; her imagery is vivid but never excessive. Every sentence carries a heartbeat — the pulse of someone who has lived, lost, and learnt.
More Than a Writer
Today, Anabela Cunha Vaz lives the life she once only dreamed of. Writing is no longer her escape; it is her way of being in the world. Through workshops, readings, and mentorship, she encourages others to believe in their own stories — to heal through creativity and rediscover the fairy tale hidden within everyday life.
Her journey resonates not just with artists but with anyone who has ever felt caught between duty and desire. She stands as proof that it is never too late to reinvent yourself — that fragility, when embraced, can become a kind of flight.
The Last Word
Ask Anabela if she believes in fairy tales, and she answers with the calm certainty of someone who has seen both their shadow and their light:
“Yes. Where love exists, there will always be a fairy.”
And perhaps that is the heart of her message — that love, imagination, and courage are not separate forces but the same set of wings. With them, words soar. And through them, so do we.
A Moment with Anabela Cunha Vaz
Q1. Your stories blend realism and fantasy so seamlessly. What draws you to the language of fairy tales?
A: Fairy tales speak in symbols. They allow us to explore truth in a gentle way — to face fears, to believe again. I think they remind us who we really are.
Q2. Many of your works centre on love and transformation. What does love mean to you as a writer?
A: Love is not just romance — it’s courage, forgiveness, and rebirth. It’s the force that makes us whole again after we’ve been broken.
Q3. You spent two decades in banking before writing full-time. Was the transition difficult?
A: It was terrifying — and liberating. But I believe that fear is a sign that something deeply meaningful is waiting on the other side.
Q4. How has becoming a grandmother influenced your writing?
A: Benedita brought back the magic I thought I had lost. Through her, I saw that wonder isn’t childish — it’s sacred.
Q5. What message would you like readers to take from your books?
A: That hope is always worth keeping. Even in silence, even in uncertainty — there’s always a story waiting to be written and wings waiting to open.
About the Author
Anabela Cunha Vaz was born in Braga, Portugal, in 1971. After more than twenty years in the banking industry, she dedicated herself entirely to writing. Her works include Neblina, Benedita the Fairy, The World Needs Fairies, What Do You Want to Be After Midnight?, and Maria do Mar, the Mermaid Who Dreamed of Flying. Her stories blend emotional realism with gentle magic, celebrating love, resilience, and the timeless power of imagination.
