Hello, I’m Rúben Maia, an author, technology professional, and lifelong explorer of stories.Born in Coimbra, Portugal, a city where history lives in every street and stone, I developed an early fascination with the past and the mysteries it leaves behind. Growing up surrounded by centuries of history, legends, and cultural heritage taught me that every place has a story waiting to be uncovered. That sense of discovery continues to shape my writing, and many of my stories draw inspiration from the landscapes, history, and enduring mysteries of my homeland.My professional background is rooted in information technology, where I spent many years in leadership roles before choosing to step back and dedicate more time to my family and my writing. Creativity, however, has always been a constant companion. Cooking, drawing, painting, photography, and storytelling have long provided different ways to explore ideas and express curiosity about the world.At the heart of everything lies family, my greatest refuge and most enduring source of inspiration. Every journey, no matter how far it leads, ultimately begins and ends with the people who matter most.Travel, discovery, and exploration have become essential parts of the creative process. Whether driving through remote landscapes, wandering ancient cities, or visiting places steeped in history, there is always a search for the stories hidden beyond what is immediately visible. Many of those encounters, discoveries, and forgotten legends eventually find their way into my novels.Unanswered questions, lost knowledge, ancient traditions, and historical mysteries have always held a particular fascination. My novels emerge from the intersection of historical research, suspense, and imagination, exploring the fine line between what we know, what we believe, and what may have been forgotten, altered, or concealed by time.The goal has always been simple: to create stories that transport readers to fascinating places, awaken curiosity, and encourage them to question what lies beyond the accepted version of history. Although my novels are works of fiction, they often contain fragments of my own journey: places explored, discoveries that left a lasting impression, historical details that inspired new questions, and experiences gathered along the way. In many respects, every story is not only an adventure for the reader but also a reflection of the paths that led to its creation. After all, the most compelling mysteries are often not the ones we invent, but the ones already hidden within the past.