Founder | C.E.O. 

 

A Legacy of Strength, Storytelling, and the Promise of Home

 

Dr. Vilma Luz Cabán knows the publishing journey from the inside, as a writer, advocate, and guide to others finding their voice. As the author of the memoir The Heart of an Advocate (2023), she brings her insight and compassion to help aspiring writers navigate the publishing world with clarity and confidence.

 

In this wide-ranging and often heart-wrenching memoir, Dr. Cabán weaves together personal experiences and hard-earned lessons from surviving a childhood shaped by domestic violence. Her deepest wish has always been to break cycles of abuse and help reshape the narrative for women everywhere. While the human experience is often marked by trauma and risk, her story shows how hardship can also become a source of profound and transformative power.

 

A Daughter's Promise

 

As a young girl, Vilma worked in secret with her mother to save enough money to escape their abuser. While her mother worked unbeknownst to her stepfather, Vilma cared for her siblings and did her best to protect her mother’s plan.

 

María’s dream was to return to her ancestral home in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, where she hoped to live freely. She diligently sent money to her brother, who was building a home on family land. Tragically, María passed away from cancer before that dream could be realized.

 

Right before her mother's passing, Vilma made a promise to her mother that she would finish constructing her mother's dream. 

Transforming Grief into Purpose

 

In honor of her mother's strength and vision, Vilma resumed the construction of her mother's unfinished home and transformed it into a place of purpose. What began as her mother's personal aspiration is now Casa de María Publisher. With a "do it yourself" spirit, she was able to complete the construction in 24 months. 

 

A Santuary for Storytellers

 

Today, Casa de María Publisher's main office sits nestled in the lush countryside of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.

 

María's ancestral home now serves as a sanctuary for writers. It is a place of refuge, reflection, and renewal. Here, storytellers grow their manuscripts, refine their craft, and find community grounded in healing and creativity. 

 

As CEO and Founder, Dr. Cabán hosts transformative in-person and virtual writing retreats, informative webinars, and an inspirational podcast.