Today, Reader Views is very excited to be talking with Rebecka Vigus, author of mystery/thriller novel Secrets. This is the third book published by Rebecka, and we at Reader Views are very happy to say, she is also one of our long time, highly respected volunteer reviewers. Rebecka is talking with Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor for Reader Views. Juanita: Thank you for speaking with us today Rebecka. Please tell us the story of your new mystery/thriller Secrets. Rebecka: Secrets is about a small town whose beloved librarian is murdered. Constable Buck Wise who grew up in Oak Grove and thought he knew the town learns that things are not always what they seem. He stumbles on to several secrets on his way to finding a killer. Juanita: Where did the idea for this particular storyline and the characters come from? Rebecka: Miss Emily Meeks the librarian was a woman I happened to see sitting in a restaurant. I wrote her physical description on the back of my placemat. The original idea was to have her keeping diaries of all the people in town, but that did not fit with the character. Juanita: This is your third book, what inspired you to write this novel? Rebecka: I have wanted to write a novel for as long as I can remember. I even have several starts to novels, but the characters were flat and the plots were dead end. This novel just seemed to write itself. Juanita: When did you start writing, and can you give us a little insight into your writing career? Rebecka: I started writing in the sixth grade when my reading teacher had us writing nonsense poems. He said that I had talent. I believed that and wrote every chance I got. Poetry was my first venue. I took writing classes in high school and college. I had a college professor who told me that I had talent; however she didnt know how to help me develop it. So, Ive read every book I can get my hands on to improve my writing skills. Juanita: What fuels your passion for writing? Rebecka: Life. The things that happen every day make a story. If you think about it, you can put a spin on going to the market. Who did you talk to along the way? What did you see? A good storyteller makes the ordinary sound extraordinary. Juanita: Rebecka, where do you live, and how do your surroundings add to your creative environment? Rebecka: I live in a small rural town in northeastern lower Michigan. Small towns have a life of their own. Everyone knows everyone. Half the town is related to the other half. It helped to give me a foundation for the town of Oak Grove. I enjoy a good hike in the woods or swim in the creek, so it seemed only natural that my characters would too. Juanita: Small towns do have the reputation of not a lot of privacy. Do you feel that everyone knowing everyoneand everything is a good thing, or more of a hindrance? Rebecka: It has its pros and cons. If you are aware of your surroundings and what is happening you can be safer. It is a hindrance in that sometimes people think they know what is going on and they are misinformed and then pass along misinformation. If you like your privacy it is sometimes hard to find. Juanita: How did this reality of small town life translate over into Oak Grove, and the secrets just under the surface? Rebecka: I grew up in small towns and small communities. I know from experience that some people seem to know all the secrets. Whether or not they tell them is another story. Buck Wise grew up in Oak Grove. Bringing his family back there to live was for him a return to what was familiar. Things he had known as a child were still the same. Miss Emily was still the librarian. Some of his friends had taken over their fathers businesses. I think he was surprised to find out that although his home was the same if you took it at face value, it was something different when you started digging up all its secrets. Something he had to do to find a killer. Juanita: You have been a teacher for over 20 years. Can you tell us about your teaching career? Rebecka: Wow, loaded question. I did my student teaching in an inner city school in Flint, Michigan. I was teaching grades 9-12 English and literature. Then I spent three years substitute teaching, teaching adult education and summer school while I looked for a position. I was also working on my Masters Degree in Reading and Learning Disabilities. When I came to teach in the West Branch-Rose City School System, I was teaching middle school special education. In the mornings I taught in West Branch and the afternoons in Rose City. By mid year I was teaching grades 4-6 in Rose City. I have also taught developmental reading and writing at the local community college for eight years. While in the elementary Ive taught grades K-4. I currently teach grades seven and eight special education. Next year will see me in grades 4, 7 and 8. Juanita: Rebecka, how important do your feel it is for school kids to explore writing? Rebecka: I think kids should be encouraged to tell stories from an early age. Kids have wonderful imaginations if people are willing to listen. Let them dictate stories and get someone to type them. Let the kids do their own illustrations. My daughter has notebooks full of the stories she wrote as a child. My granddaughter is starting to fill her own notebooks with stories. Juanita: Secrets is written in a succinct way that allows a wide range for your reading audience. Tell us who youd like to read your book and any insights you may have on your particular style allowing for such diversity. Rebecka: I believe in being straight forward. There is no need to add things that will slow down the story line. As to who might read it, my middle school students are buying it and those who cannot afford it are checking it out of the library. My father enjoyed it. This is one of those books that if you like a good who done it you might want to read. Juanita: What do you hope readers take away after reading Secrets? Rebecka: A sense that justice was served, but also that you can be safe and make your community safe. It makes good sense to know who your neighbors are. Juanita: Rebecka, can you elaborate on the particular themes we will find in Secrets? Rebecka: There is the theme of family running through it as well as good vs evil. There is man against man. There is greed that is seen with the mob connections. I dont know if self importance is seen as a theme but there is some of that also. Juanita: Youve written a poetry collection, an honest book on single parenting and now a mystery novel. What is your next writing adventure? Rebecka: Ive already started working on another novel. This one too will be a mystery. It is not yet titled and has different characters and a different setting. I will tell you that it deals with arson. Juanita: Rebecka, your website is titled Pen a Dream. Elaborate on your obvious heartfelt mission to be a muse and inspire the imagination and dreams of your readers. Rebecka: I would hope that anyone who visits my website will find that you can follow your dreams. It may take time and hard work, but if you believe in yourself, you can attain your goals. Juanita: Rebecka, what has being a grandmother taught you? Rebecka: Its taught me a whole new way of looking at the world. My most humbling experience came when my granddaughter said to me, Granny, I never had anyone dedicate a book to me before. She was so awe struck by that thought. I hadnt thought about what it might mean to her. My grandson is a storyteller in his own right, however he is more into ninjas and power rangers, so his stories run along those lines. I just listen. Juanita: Thank you for talking with us today Rebecka. How can your readers find out more about you and your endeavors? Rebecka: My website http://www.penadream.com has all of my current books on it. It also includes some background on me and some insights to what is going on with my writing. I love getting e- mail so they can hit the contact me button and send me e-mail. I still answer it all. |
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