A magical realism story in a "Milagro Beanfield War Style," where the diverse residents of a small, high desert town are challenged, chafed, changed, and romantically charged when the traditional nightly blessing angel bells are suddenly silenced. 

SYNOPSIS:

Bells of Santa Rita is a folktale-like story set in a small New Mexico ranch town. Resident and protagonist Elton is a former rodeo champion mourning the loss of his girlfriend, who split with him after his career-ending accident. Santa Rita is his hometown, where he now clerks at the grocery.

Santa Rita has a long-standing tradition of nightly blessing bells. The bells are worn around the ankles of the blessing angel who passes by each home at the same time each evening. The constancy of the angel's blessing gives many of the townspeople comfort and a sense of well-being. While they respect the secret identity of the angel, Elton accidentally discovers his friend TR is the present acting angel. TR also happens to be the town drunk.

When the blessing bells suddenly go silent, the townspeople question their lives, loves, and sanity. Elton becomes the town's ad hoc spiritual advisor, helping the lost and confused. He ultimately finds a new blessing angel, but many lives have changed forever by then. At the same time, Elton unexpectedly finds romance in Monarch, the new girl in town who has run from her unsettling past.

BELLS OF SANTA RITA