By: Shawn Mars
Maria Rivera is a contemporary fiction author whose work compassionately weaves themes of relationships, faith, and family resilience. Her writing is deeply rooted in two powerful sources of inspiration: the Bible and the vivid memories of her years living in Washington Heights, New York. Rivera is well known for her hands-on approach to crafting authentic settings—she personally travels to and spends time at every location featured in her novels, often writing on-site to capture its texture, rhythm, and spirit.commercials for her books, merging her love of literature with her expertise in media arts.
For more than thirty years, Rivera has taught high school English and also leads courses in film and television production, guiding young creatives in the power of narrative and visual storytelling. Her novels have earned strong praise from Book Viral,
Photo Courtesy: Maria Rivera
How has your Cuban heritage played a role in your storytelling?
Although I was not born in Cuba, my parents, who were both born and raised on the island, seamlessly continued the customs and traditions, which has given me a wide range of rich experiences that I was able to craft into my stories and characters. that existed back then, is still present. The closeness of family, food, mannerisms and especially the nuances that Cubans are known for served as the template for my stories. Dining in Cuban restaurants in Washington Heights (multiple times), as well as walking through my old neighborhood really brought back memories that I have been able to incorporate in the books.
Your writing is deeply rooted in two powerful sources of inspiration: the Bible and the vivid memories of her years living in Washington Heights, New York. Tell us about your fourth novel, The Thing About Lily.
Having a relationship with Jesus has always been front and center in my life. He accepts us all with our faults and never walks away. There’s no need to be perfect. Just believe. Even when we’re experiencing hardship, he’s walking with us. He knows our thoughts and most importantly, our hearts. I’ve always loved writing and in 2020, through prayer, I was prompted to begin. And, I knew I wanted to write Christian Fiction with authentic characters with real problems, as well as the day-to-day life.
That’s where my years in Washington Heights, New York play a role. My parents were two of the first in our extended family to come from America. As aunts, uncles, and cousins started joining us in New York, we created our own community in Washington Heights. The Cuban community struggled immensely upon arriving in America, but I wanted to capture the closeness and love that had always been there.
These two elements brought together served as a base for Lily. Lily was a minor character in my second book, Chasing Shadows. I have a longstanding commitment to addressing the issue of human trafficking. She is a survivor of this horrific crime and so I brought her to Washington Heights, with her son, Gabe, where the sense of community, love and a path to having a relationship with God were present. When she gets to Washington Heights, she finds her safety net, with Yolanda and Araceli, attends church and finds security in the neighborhood with the people that she has learned to trust.
Photo Courtesy: Maria Rivera
Let’s delve into the character Lily. How does faith play a role in her life?
Lily has been through a lot in her life, starting with the circumstances that forced her to leave Cuba and ending with her fall into a human trafficking ring. She also became a mother under horrific circumstances at an age where she was still very young. She lives her faith and knows that God is a very real presence in her life.
Please share a few takeaways.
The Thing About Lily brings a few lessons, the first of which comes from the Bible. “For nothing will be impossible with God,” (Luke 1:37). Lily’s path has been a hard one, but with God, she has found comfort and guidance. Everyday life and the challenges the characters face bring a sense of love and appreciation for friends, family, and community. And, finally, the importance of cultural heritage, and not letting it fade.
What is next for you?
I just started working on the fifth book titled, A New Tomorrow. This one will be set in East Haven, Connecticut. Although the characters are Cuban, I decided to use the town where I live as the setting. Also, I’m taking considerable time to promote the first four books.
The most important takeaway is the importance of having a relationship with God. He loves us all so much. Imperfections and all. It’s important for people to see how these characters live out their faith by loving and helping each other. It’s important to know that in this life we will always face problems but giving them to God is a bold step of faith, because he will guide us through anything. There are times in the book when Raymond, a youth pastor, questions certain events. And God expects us to ask him why things happen. But what’s more important is that he will walk us through the valleys and turn things around. He will take what was meant for evil and turn it into something stronger. Faith is the very foundation of everything that happens in the book.
The Thing About Lily promo https://youtu.be/tMl-kEAI0aQ
