Growing Up on the Delta
We have an emerging writer on the block. His name is Manuel Magaña, a Rio Vista High School graduate from the class of ’85. His new novel, When All the World’s Asleep, has debuted in Amazon with consistent 5 out of 5 stars reviews, as of the writing of this article. The setting is the River Delta, with most of the story taking place in Rio Vista proper. Beyond giving us a great action romance that delivers a powerful emotional experience, Manuel tells us that one of his goals was to show the world what an interesting place the River Delta can be, if we only pay attention. Stacked with conflict and tug-of-war circumstances, this novel will keep you on your toes.
Like the main character in the story, Manuel comes from humble beginnings, which he was open enough to share. He told us that he grew up (the oldest of six siblings) on a farm in Tyler Island, about three miles outside the city of Isleton, and he credited a number of individuals with helping him overcome both personal and academic challenges that have brought him where he is today. He began by giving credit to his parents’ strong faith & work ethic, which he claims provides the foundation and capacity for all that life has provided. Interestingly, he mentioned that he never learned to read well, and no one ever realized it enough to provide him with the extra help and guidance he needed. Nevertheless, his instilled work ethic helped him persevere, even if it took extra effort. And he wanted to share this part of his story, hoping that others would realize they could also overcome challenging circumstance.
When Manuel started high school, English was still his worst subject. Math and science were his thing, thanks to inspiring teachers like Mr. Ramonda at Rio Vista High School. However, he gave special credit to Mrs. Rowan, whom he claimed taught him most of the English grammar he knows to this day. He also credited Mr. Coglianese with having birthed in him a love for literature, which he did not even realize until he found himself at college.
After graduating from Rio Vista High School, Manuel attended Stanford University. He began as an engineering major, but quickly tired of math and science. After a frustrating reassessment, he recognized his acquired love for literature and ended up majoring in English. Yet not wanting to disappoint his younger siblings with the life of a starving artist, he took a corporate job. That’s when he started working on When All the World’s Asleep. He eventually quit to write full-time, finishing the novel in 1999. (He also started a second novel that he hopes to finish soon.)
When All the World’s Asleep did not get published at that point in time. Manuel ended up going to seminary and pastoring at Community Church of Hayward since 2003. Then his busy schedule kept him away from his passion for writing—until the lack of closure reignited his vision to rework the novel and get it published. He related a mental image, saying that he would rather sit with his eventual grandchildren and laugh at the idea that he thought he was going to be a writer, instead of moping with those same grandchildren and saying, “I wish I’d tried. I wish I’d tried.”
Well, based on the initial reception of When All the World’s Asleep, this novel is starting to gain some traction. More than a simple action romance, this piece of work explores the soul of Rio Vista with a depth of meaning and symbolism that impacts the reader on several levels. It is now available on Amazon.com, and some local businesses have agreed to carry the book as well (e.g., Delta Pharmacy and AJK Unique Emporium). Manuel is hoping to host a local author event in the near future. You can connect with him on Facebook to stay updated.
