A former Guam resident living in Alaska is set to release his second paranormal thriller, which explores the largely forgotten spiritual traditions of the makåna, the ancient predecessors of modern CHamoru traditional healers.
M.K. Aleja’s new book, “The Makåna’s Legacy,” scheduled for release on March 3, follows the success of his debut novel, “Guardians of the Latte Stones,” published last March. The upcoming book has already earned five-star reviews from both Readers’ Favorite and Literary Titan, according to a press release from Aleja.
The novel follows a young CHamoru man born with a divine gift of healing, an endowment from his ancestors, the makåna. As his extraordinary abilities develop, he finds himself pursued by malevolent spirits seeking to harness his power, forcing him to navigate both supernatural and physical realms.
The Guam Daily Post reached out to Aleja at his home in Kenai, Alaska.
“Originally, I was thinking of a trilogy about a young man who grows up to be a suruhåno,” Aleja said. “But as I was doing the research, I came across more about the makåna, who were the predecessors to the suruhånu. They were kind of wiped out by the Spanish because they weren’t just traditional healers – they were also spiritual healers and were said to have a strong connection to the spirit world.”
The author, who has CHamoru and Mexican heritage, moved to Alaska several years ago for a federal IT position that offered better health benefits for his family. Despite the geographical distance from Guam, he maintains strong connections to CHamoru culture through his writing.
“I was born and raised in Guam,” Aleja said. “The move to Alaska was the only time I actually made a significant change in location.” He relocated with his wife and youngest son, while their two older sons remained on Guam.
The new book incorporates three historical makåna figures, including Gamson and Anufat, with one serving as the main antagonist. The story spans from the late 1960s through the 1990s, weaving traditional spiritual beliefs with Catholic faith.
“One of the things I used to hear was, don’t the stories of the taotaomo’na conflict with your Catholic beliefs? But how do CHamorus have both?” Aleja said. “I kind of mention it in the story, that they’re not actually too different. A lot of the lore of the taotaomo’na actually fits with Catholic lore.”
His choice of the paranormal thriller genre stems partly from the enduring popularity of traditional CHamoru ghost stories among the diaspora. “Plus, the lore of the taotaomo’na seems to be… I lived in Texas for a couple of years for school. And then even my move here, we’ve met other CHamorus. And one of the things I hear a lot is they like to share their stories of the taotaomo’na,” he said.
His first book, which explored the Japanese occupation of Guam during World War II, received positive feedback from readers who found it educational. “Some people said they were actually learning more about their relatives who went through the war,” Aleja said. “They liked that someone was putting it out there because most of what’s out there is just documentaries.”
The new book features increased use of the CHamoru language, prompting Aleja to include a glossary. “During the story, I try to introduce it, splashing some CHamoru in and explaining it without disrupting the flow,” he said. “But there are some areas where it’s hard to avoid, so it’s better to have a glossary for people to refer to.”
Despite being a relative newcomer to writing, Aleja has ambitious plans for a trilogy, though financial constraints may delay future installments. “I don’t have a writing background, but I’ve had ideas for stories for years,” he said. “It was only in the last couple of years that I got more serious about actually putting pen to paper.”
He encourages other aspiring authors to pursue their passion despite challenges. “If you’re interested, just do it,” Aleja advised. “There’s a lot of help out there – editors, writing coaches and things like that. If you’ve got the story and the passion, you can find the help to produce a finished product.”
Much of the authenticity in his writing comes from personal experience, including his Catholic school background and time as an altar boy. The story largely takes place within one of Guam’s parishes, drawing on his religious upbringing and cultural experiences to create a more authentic narrative.
Aleja’s first book, “Guardians of the Latte Stones,” is available on Amazon, and Bestseller will order copies upon request.
“The Makåna’s Legacy” will be available in both print and digital formats through Amazon.com and major bookstores. The e-book version is available for pre-order on Amazon.com.
For more information, interested readers can visit the author’s official website at
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