Confluence

by Mary Elizabeth Gillilan

In Confluence, reclusive Maya Margarita Moore opens a forgotten suitcase in the attic of her La Conner, Washington house. Inside, a letter from her late mother begins, "Hello, from the other side of the urn." The letter reveals that her father may be alive and living in a remote Himalayan community; her mother admonishes Maya to find him. With help from her friend, Jack, she receives an invitation from a father of whom she has no memory. Despite her doubts about her ability to travel at age sixty-five and being hindered by cerebral palsy, Maya decides to go on what becomes a transformative journey.




Confluence is a Silver Award winner for spiritual fiction, small press category from the Nautilus Book Awards for 2023.

Confluence is a finalist in 2023 for the American Fiction Awards.

Confluence received a 5-star Review from Reader Views.

Confluence received a Gold Award from Reader Views Literary Contest in the Classics Religious Fiction category, 2023.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2022

About the author

My latest novel, "No Matter What," will be released on October 11, 2024. It is a story about relationships with an eclectic cast of characters.

I am the author of "Confluence" (2022, Independent Writers Studio Press), which has won the following awards: Nautilus Book Awards, Silver Medal, Inspirational Fiction (2023); Next Generation Book Awards, Finalist, Inspirational Fiction (2024); Reader Views, 5 Star Review winner (2024); Reader Views, Gold, Religious Fiction/Classic (2024); American Fiction Awards Finalist, Visionary Fiction (2024).

Formerly, I was the editor-in-chief of "Clover, A Literary Rag," a bi-annual publication featuring poetry, short stories, and essays from authors and poets from the US and abroad. It was a winner of the Annual Mayor's Arts Award in 2017.

I live and work in Bellingham, WA with my fine little dog, Betty Bananas.

Reviews

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Confluence” by Mary Elizabeth Gillilan is the story of Maya Margarita Moore, a woman whose life is about to be changed completely thanks to a letter found in her attic from her mother who has passed away. This is a story and a protagonist who will grab your heart at the very beginning and take you on an amazing ride of fear, hope, and a lot of changes, and it is a book well worth your time. I was happy, sad, and so humbled after having finished it and you will be as well.

At the start of “Confluence,” Maya is trying to cope with her life as an older woman with cerebral palsy, which hampers everything she tries to do, when she decides it is time to clean out her mother’s things. What begins as just a very difficult and exhausting trip up the attic staircase blossoms into a life-changing situation when she finds the letter from her mother explaining that her father, a man who Maya has no memories of, may be alive and living in the Himalayas. Not only is Maya completely floored by the information, but she is also confused and has no idea how to fulfill her mother’s wish for her to find this man when she has a debilitating problem that makes travel implausible. All Maya wants to do is stay home with her dog and live life as she always has.

Maya turns to her dear friend Jack for help in deciding what to do and how she can possibly accomplish what her mother has asked of her. Despite all the issues she is facing that make her feel it is impossible, Maya decides to undertake a trip that will, eventually, be one that completely alters her life as she has always known it.

“Confluence” is an amazing and truly beautiful story that will have the reader completely riveted from beginning to end. The descriptions this author gives in her writing of faraway places are so vivid and stunning that one feels as if they are actually there witnessing this beauty, as well as living through the difficulties that Maya has in making the trip. I absolutely loved the way this author tells the story to her readers. It is superb in all ways.

Maya is such a wonderful protagonist and very well-written. This is such as strong woman, even though she may not believe that in the beginning, and one that shows such depth and poise on every page as she heads out on this spiritual and transforming journey. There is a power that comes through in the writing that should make each one of the readers think very hard about saying they cannot do something as they watch this woman conquer her own fears with prayer and humor. In addition, Jack is an absolutely wonderful character who shows such support to his friend along the way. I think, and hope, that every one of us out there has such a friend to share our lives with.

Mary Elizabeth Gillilan has given us such a beautiful and spiritual story in this book, and I cannot recommend it enough to everyone. Reading “Confluence” will give you a real glimpse into how hard life can truly be for others and how strong you need to be to put that aside and go out there and fight to make it better. It shows how important prayer, attitude, and facing your fears truly is for all. Thank you, Ms. Gillilan, for such a powerful story. I absolutely loved it. 5 Stars!