The City Mother
from Chrism Press
Fresh out of college, small-town crime reporter Cara Nielsen sees disturbing things that suggest evil is real. But as the daughter of two secular academics, she pushes that notion aside. When her smart, ambitious boyfriend asks her to marry him and move to a faraway city, she accepts without thinking twice.
Four years later, confined to a city apartment with a toddler, Cara fears she is losing her mind. Sleeplessness, isolation, and postpartum hormones have altered her view of reality. Something is wrong in the lost, lonely world into which she’s brought a child. Visions hint at mysteries she can’t explain, and evil seems not only real—it’s creeping ever closer.
As her marriage falters and friends disappear, Cara seeks guidance from books, films, therapy, even the saints, when she’s not scrubbing the diaper pail. Meanwhile, someone is crying out for help that only she can give. Cara must confront big questions about reality and illusion, health and illness, good and evil—and just how far she is willing to go to protect those she loves.
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"With fearless humor and intelligence, Sinha paints an unforgettable landscape of contemporary family life. Her
characters highlight the questions we all have but are afraid to ask." - Rita A. Simmonds, poet and author
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"With The City Mother, Maya Sinha adds an electric new entry to the distinguished ledger of Catholic fiction. Her hypnotic storytelling marks a thrilling literary debut." - Mary Eberstadt, essayist, novelist, and author
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"Maya Sinha’s writing is funny, raw, and honest. In the tradition of Walker Percy, she unearths the absurdities of modern life."- Lisa Lickona, professor of theology, writer, and editor
About Maya Sinha
Maya Sinha grew up in New Mexico and was a staff writer for the Santa Fe Reporter before moving to California for law school. As a lawyer with school-aged kids, she wrote a regular humor column for the local newspaper. In 2019, she became a columnist for The Saturday Evening Post. Her work has appeared in The Lamp Magazine, Dappled Things, Book & Film Globe, and many other publications. The City Mother is her first novel. She lives in Northern California with her family.