Author pens futuristic Bronx sci-fi action novel
BY ROBERT WIRSING
A Bronx native’s newest novel envisions
the borough’s future through a
science fi ction lens.
West Bronx native Lilliam Rivera’s
latest novel, ‘Dealing in Dreams,’ is a
fast-paced dystopian novel depicting
sisterhood and the cruel choices people
are forced to make for survival.
Set in a futuristic Bronx now dubbed
‘Mega City,’ the novel chronicles the
action-packed journey of 16-year-old
Nalah, the leader of the city’s fi ercest
all-girl crew Las Mal Criadas.
Her leadership role brings with it
violent throwdowns and access to the
hottest ‘boydega’ clubs, but she quickly
grows weary of her questionable lifestyle.
Nalah dreams to leave the streets
and make her home in the exclusive
Mega Towers, former NYCHA housing
developments converted into luxury
housing for the city’s chosen elite.
To make it to the Mega Towers,
Nalah must prove her loyalty to the
city’s benevolent founder and cross
the border in search of the mysterious
gang known as the Ashé Riders.
Led by a reluctant guide, Nalah
loses sight of everything and everyone
she cares about.
She must then choose whether or
not she’s willing to do the unspeakable
to obtain what she desires.
The Simon & Schuster published
novel explores themes of family, gender
role reversal, personal growth and
violence’s impact on youth and society.
Rivera’s novel was inspired by such
classic novels as ‘The Outsiders’ by S.
E. Hinton and ‘A Clockwork Orange’
by Anthony Burgess, which explore
youth and a subculture of extreme violence.
She added that A Clockwork Orange’s
incorporation of creative slang
Lilliam Rivera is an award-winning writer and
author of the young adult novels ‘Dealing in
Dreams,’ ‘The Education of Margot Sanchez’
and ‘Pheus & Eury.’
Photo courtesy of Lilliam Rivera
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and young people in the future inspired
her while writing Dealing in
Dreams.
Nalah and her crew embody the
concept that family trancends blood
relation.
Rivera also cited Bronx authors
Nicholasa Mohr and Nikki Grimes as
her literary muses.
“There are subtle hints throughout
Dealing in Dreams that Bronxites
can pick up on to envision where exactly
the action is unfolding,” Rivera
explained.
The award-winning writer and author
grew up in the Twin Parks West
Housing Development at East 183rd
Street and Webster Avenue.
The Binghamton University
alumna moved to Los Angeles 18 years
ago, but still visits her hometown to
see her parents.
Staying true to her roots, Rivera
bases her novels’ characters and
worldviews on her time residing in the
borough.
Her fi rst novel, ‘The Education of
Margot Sanchez,’ published in 2017, is
a coming-of-age romantic tale set to
the backdrop of the south Bronx.
Rivera’s forthcoming novel, ‘Pheus
& Eury,’ a young adult Bronx-based retelling
of the classic Greek myth Orpheus
and Eurydice, is scheduled for
release in fall 2020.
Dealing in Dreams is available via
Amazon, www.barnesandnoble.com,
Books-A-Million, IndieBound and in
bookstores everywhere.
Rivera will be attending the Science
Fiction Festival on Saturday,
May 18 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Queens Library,
Corona.
To stay informed, visit www.lilliamrivera.
com or follow Rivera on Instagram
and Twitter @lilliamr.
Dealing in Dreams is a fast-paced dystopian
novel depicting sisterhood and the cruel
choices people are forced to make for survival.
Photo courtesy of Lilliam Rivera
/www.lil-liamrivera.com
/www.lil-liamrivera.com
/www.barnesandnoble.com
/www.lil-liamrivera.com
/www.barnesandnoble.com