Maria Rivera “Authors to Watch in 2026”  Releases The Thing About Lily, Exploring Healing, Faith, and Renewal

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.

Born in Glendale, California to a Cuban family, Rivera carries the strength of her heritage into her storytelling. Her influences include bestselling authors Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury, whose work helped shape her own blend of emotional depth and inspirational storytelling. Beyond the page, Rivera brings her stories to life visually by producing original 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, highlighting her ability to craft engaging, heartfelt fiction that resonates with readers.

Rivera has been married for thirty years and is the proud mother of three grown children from her first marriage, as well as a grandmother of two. Her faith and compassion extend beyond her writing—she has served on mission trips to both Bolivia and Honduras, experiences that continue to deepen her perspective and enrich the themes within her work.

Maria has released her fourth novel, The Thing About Lily. “Lily Cruz represents many individuals who work toward transformation while carrying the weight of experiences that shaped them,” Rivera said. “This story reflects the courage required to heal, the role community plays in renewal, and the unexpected ways hope can reenter a life.”- Maria Rivera

How has your heritage influenced your storytelling?

My parents came from Cuba in the 60s, married here in the States, and I was born a year later. We lived in California for two years and then moved to Washington Heights, New York. They 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. We all lived on the same floor on 192 Street and Saint Nicholas. The memories I created with my cousins will live in my heart forever. So, I decided to mirror my experiences in my books, making sure that a sense of family was always front and center. And, although over forty years have gone by, whenever I visit Washington Heights (I go as often as I can), I go to my old building and realize that the love and sense of community that existed back then, is still present.

Teaching was a second career for me. Many, many years ago, I worked for a CBS affiliate in Miami as a promotion assistant, then moved to an affiliate of Univision, where I produced a show. It was a demanding career, and after my daughter was born, I quit. A few years later, I decided to get a degree in English (with a minor in Criminal Justice) so that I could teach high school English. Reading and writing have always been a passion for me, and I wanted to work with young people. I taught in Miami for seven years and then taught in Hollywood (Florida) for another seven before I moved to Connecticut. I’ve been teaching in Connecticut for seventeen years.

You just released your fourth novel, The Thing About Lily. How does it explore healing, resilience, and unexpected connection?

Lily Cruz is a human trafficking survivor. She was separated from her father and brother and was then trafficked by her father’s best friend. She has spent quite a few years running from her past until she arrives in Washington Heights. She is a wonderful mother and has an excellent work ethic. She is a gifted artist. Lily is quiet and reserved, but certainly not a pushover. She is smart and has overcome a horrendous experience with strength and grace, although sometimes her past haunts her, and we see the struggle between wanting to embrace her future and fear that her past will ruin what she has now. Her son is her world, and she has fought hard to bring her father and brother from Cuba.

Throughout the novel, the reader will see how Lily leans on her faith and friends as she heals from her traumatic past. She’s raising her sixteen-year-old son, Gabe, working and going to school, which speaks to her resilience.

Her father and brother came from Cuba, and their resilience is illustrated through their acclimation to the United States. People from Cuba are accustomed to not having anything, so seeing the opposite here in America, though a blessing, is a cultural shock. But the steps they take to make a life in a country are a shining example of resilience. Unexpected connections appear throughout, especially between Lily and Raymond. Raymond is a widowed pastor, and you could say that their lives intersect in an interesting way. 😊

Faith places an important part in your story. Share a few takeaways.

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.

Early praise includes a review excerpt from BookViral:

“I love bridges,” Lily said as she licked the caramel off her spoon and then stared off into the horizon. “It carries people from one place to another.” The novel is aimed at readers of contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and inspirational narratives, especially those interested in stories of family, renewal, faith, and second chances in love. Take us through some of the themes.

The love of family and friends is clear from the very first scene as the surrogate mother-daughter relationship between Lily and Yolanda evolves. Lily is struggling to forget her past, but she works hard at rebuilding her life. The dynamics between the Ortega family are funny but also underscore the love they have for each other. Pastor Raymond moved to New York, believing that the loss of his wife closed the door for him ever having another relationship. And, of course, Lily has never dated as a result of being traumatized by men. But the reader sees, through realistic struggles, that when God intervenes, anything is possible.

What is your mission for your book? 

Anyone who loves romance, family, and community dynamics would enjoy the book. Also, unlike the first three, there is a subplot with the teenagers who attend Pastor Raymond’s services. Those teens are the kids of some of the major characters from the first and second books. So, I think that teenagers would enjoy it as well.

What is next?

Two things. I’m spending some time promoting the first four books, but around January or February, I will be starting the fifth one. I’m still working on the plot, “casting” the characters, and finalizing other things.

The book is now available — secure your copy here: https://a.co/d/deTzxsh