My knack continues — the one for stumbling onto reading material coincidental to my life.

I selected “Go As A River,” the debut novel of Shelley Read, strictly on the intriguing title, “peachy” cover, and the Colorado setting.

But, wait – Iola, Colorado? Where in the heck is that?

My parents’ families are native Coloradans and I know the state probably better than any place on earth. But Iola? Never heard of it, passed a sign for it or saw it on a map.

That’s because it doesn’t exist — not anymore anyway.

Iola and two other small southwestern Colorado towns, Sapinero and Cebolla, are now at the bottom of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water. The once-lively towns met their watery grave when the Bureau of Reclamation dammed the Gunnison River in the early 1960s for hydroelectric and water storage purposes.

Ironically, I’m planning to explore that area this summer while attending a family reunion; it’s one of the few places in the state I haven’t visited.

I couldn’t dig into this book fast enough.

Set in the time frame 1948-1972, “Go As a River” is the coming-of-age story of Victoria/Torie Nash, whose family has for generations owned and operated a peach farm in the small ranching community of Iola, Colorado. Young Victoria, the only female survivor in a family dominated by troubled males, has long endured the hardships and responsibilities of running the household and farm.

It’s a lonely and dull existence for the naive young girl, who has no female role models for guidance and few experiences outside of Iola, the only home she has known.

One day, at age 17, she has a chance encounter in town with a mysterious young drifter, Wilson Moon. Ousted from his tribal land, Moon is a gentle soul, content to live a peaceful lifestyle with “go as a river” as his carefree mantra. It’s a life-altering moment as the two a

re instantly, passionately drawn to one another.

However, tragedy strikes and their romance is extinguished soon after it’s ignited. Victoria’s piercing sorrow and anguish impel her to flee her familiar yet dreary home for a wilderness sojourn.

What unfolds is an expansive saga of survival, purpose, strength and becoming.

The irony is that just as Victoria finally begins to move forward in trust and love, the very earth beneath her is about to be submerged — including her beloved heritage peach orchards — as the government plans to bury it all under the Gunnison River.

She eventually learns she must “go as a river” as her dear Wil professed years earlier. She must find a way to continue forward — even when that way becomes dammed.

The author spins this heart-wrenching fictional tale against a backdrop of factual, historical events. Herself a fifth-generation Colorado native, Read is from the Gunnison Valley and knows well its history, including the towns which now lie underwater.

I found “Go As a River” to be a compelling first novel by the author. I’d love to see it on the big screen, and look forward to her future works.

One cautionary warning: There are references to hate crimes and racism in the book which reflect the attitudes of the time period, but may be offensive to some readers.

I learned a good deal about this small slice of Colorado and pondered the fates of other now-drowned towns. How often on my travels have I passed similar man-made reservoirs and lakes with never a thought as to what and who existed there before?

People who thrived there once upon a time, with their own lives and stories and who also had to eventually “go as a river.”