Returning to the Scene of the Story: Maria Rivera on ‘Dropping Perez’ and Her Upcoming East Haven Book Signing

Contemporary fiction author Maria Rivera is known for her hands-on approach to storytelling, often traveling to the locations she writes about to capture their true texture and spirit. This July, she is taking that immersive experience a step further by returning to the very setting of her novel, Dropping Perez, for a special book signing event. Set against the backdrop of Cosey Beach in East Haven, Connecticut, the novel follows Maritza Ortega Perez as she navigates life after a thirty-five-year marriage.

We caught up with Maria to discuss the upcoming event at The Sandpiper restaurant, the real-life inspirations behind the book’s setting, and how her background in television production shapes her writing.

Q: You have a special book signing event coming up for Dropping Perez that feels like a homecoming for the story. Can you tell us when and where it is taking place, and why you chose this specific location?

Maria Rivera: Yes, it’s on Saturday, July 11th at the Sandpiper restaurant in East Haven, Connecticut on Cosey Beach Avenue. Dropping Perez takes place on the beach, and there are a few scenes set at this restaurant. When I was writing the book, I often went there for lunch, and on one occasion, I actually wrote a scene while I was there.

Q: Dropping Perez deals with themes of resilience and new beginnings. For those who haven’t picked it up yet, can you tell us about Maritza Ortega Perez’s journey and what awaits her in East Haven?

Maria Rivera: Maritza is a high school English teacher, and her husband left her after thirty-five years of marriage. She gets an opportunity to work at a recreation center for the summer, running the calendar of events, among other responsibilities. Although she is reluctant to go at first, she decides a change is what she needs and is stunned when she finds out who runs the program.

Q: You mention that Cosey Beach is “home sweet home” for the summer in the book. How do local landmarks like the clubhouse and The Sandpiper restaurant feature in the narrative?

Maria Rivera: She gets to live on the beach, and it becomes home for the summer. The clubhouse is right on the beach and it’s used for meetings. One of the days I was on the beach, I knocked and a gentleman who was working let me in. I told him what I was doing, and he let me look around and answered a lot of questions. The Sandpiper has amazing food, and it’s right across the street, so it was perfect for the characters to have a place to hang out.

Q: On your website, you have a “Behind The Scenes” section with photos that inspired the book. There is a particularly nostalgic photo of the characters Ariel and Maritza as teens. What is the real-life story behind that picture?

I needed to bring Mariza into Ariel’s orbit because he hadn’t thought about her in years. So, what better way to do it than to have a picture fall out of a book? A picture of them acting. Then, I remembered that when I was in high school, many years ago, I was in a class with a good friend, and we were doing an acting exercise. The scenario he pulled from the box was of a couple getting engaged. So, he asked me to do the scene with him. The teacher was taking pictures of each scene and she gave students a copy. I kept mine. So, I found that picture, and it was the inspiration for the scene.

Q: Balancing a career as a high school English and television production teacher while writing and promoting novels is no small feat. How do you juggle these roles, and do your students or your past career in TV influence your work?

Very carefully! 🙂 I teach high school students, and they are just amazing and really make my job easy. Writing is such a big part of me that I can’t imagine a day going by without working on some aspect of the book I’m working on or focusing on marketing. Having a background in production has been helpful in producing commercials for my books, which I post on social media and on my website. 

Q: Where can readers go to find more information about your books, including The Thing About Lily, and view the behind-the-scenes photos from Dropping Perez?

Maria Rivera: The books are available on Amazon, and my website mariariverabooks.com has a lot of fun sections to see!

Maria Rivera’s dedication to authentic storytelling brings East Haven to life in Dropping Perez. Readers in the area can meet her in person Saturday, July 11, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Sandpiper restaurant. For those further afield, you can explore her novels and exclusive behind-the-scenes content at mariariverabooks.com.