Interview for "Secrets" author Rebecka Vigus

Today, Reader Views is very excited to beJuanita: You have been a teacher for over 20
talking with Rebecka Vigus, author of mysteryyears. Can you tell us about your teaching career?
thriller novel "Secrets." This is the third bookRebecka: Wow, loaded question. I did my student
published by Rebecka, and we at Reader Viewsteaching in an inner city school in Flint, Michigan. I
are very happy to say, she is also one of ourwas teaching grades 9-12 English and literature.
long time, highly respected volunteer reviewers.Then I spent three years substitute teaching,
Rebecka is talking with Juanita Watson, Assistantteaching adult education and summer school while
Editor for Reader Views.I looked for a position. I was also working on my
Juanita: Thank you for speaking with us todayMasters Degree in Reading and Learning Disabilities.
Rebecka. Please tell us the story of your newWhen I came to teach in the West Branch-Rose
mystery/thriller "Secrets."City School System, I was teaching middle school
Rebecka: Secrets is about a small town whosespecial education. In the mornings I taught in West
beloved librarian is murdered. Constable Buck WiseBranch and the afternoons in Rose City. By mid
who grew up in Oak Grove and thought he knewyear I was teaching grades 4-6 in Rose City. I
the town learns that things are not always whathave also taught developmental reading and
they seem. He stumbles on to several secrets onwriting at the local community college for eight
his way to finding a killer.years. While in the elementary I've taught grades
Juanita: Where did the idea for this particularK-4. I currently teach grades seven and eight
storyline and the characters come from?special education. Next year will see me in grades
Rebecka: Miss Emily Meeks the librarian was a4, 7 and 8.
woman I happened to see sitting in a restaurant. IJuanita: Rebecka, how important do your feel it is
wrote her physical description on the back of myfor school kids to explore writing?
placemat. The original idea was to have herRebecka: I think kids should be encouraged to tell
keeping diaries of all the people in town, but thatstories from an early age. Kids have wonderful
did not fit with the character.imaginations if people are willing to listen. Let them
Juanita: This is your third book, what inspired youdictate stories and get someone to type them.
to write this novel?Let the kids do their own illustrations. My daughter
Rebecka: I have wanted to write a novel for ashas notebooks full of the stories she wrote as a
long as I can remember. I even have severalchild. My granddaughter is starting to fill her own
starts to novels, but the characters were flat andnotebooks with stories.
the plots were dead end. This novel just seemedJuanita: "Secrets" is written in a succinct way that
to write itself.allows a wide range for your reading audience. Tell
Juanita: When did you start writing, and can youus who you'd like to read your book and any
give us a little insight into your writing career?insights you may have on your particular style
Rebecka: I started writing in the sixth grade whenallowing for such diversity.
my reading teacher had us writing nonsenseRebecka: I believe in being straight forward. There
poems. He said that I had talent. I believed thatis no need to add things that will slow down the
and wrote every chance I got. Poetry was mystory line. As to who might read it, my middle
first venue. I took writing classes in high schoolschool students are buying it and those who
and college. I had a college professor who told mecannot afford it are checking it out of the library.
that I had talent; however she didn't know howMy father enjoyed it. This is one of those books
to help me develop it. So, I've read every book Ithat if you like a good "who done it" you might
can get my hands on to improve my writing skills.want to read.
Juanita: What fuels your passion for writing?Juanita: What do you hope readers take away
Rebecka: Life. The things that happen every dayafter reading "Secrets?"
make a story. If you think about it, you can put aRebecka: A sense that justice was served, but
spin on going to the market. Who did you talk toalso that you can be safe and make your
along the way? What did you see? A goodcommunity safe. It makes good sense to know
storyteller makes the ordinary soundwho your neighbors are.
extraordinary.Juanita: Rebecka, can you elaborate on the
Juanita: Rebecka, where do you live, and how doparticular themes we will find in "Secrets?"
your surroundings add to your creativeRebecka: There is the theme of family running
environment?through it as well as good vs evil. There is man
Rebecka: I live in a small rural town inagainst man. There is greed that is seen with the
northeastern lower Michigan. Small towns have amob connections. I don't know if self importance
life of their own. Everyone knows everyone. Halfis seen as a theme but there is some of that
the town is related to the other half. It helped toalso.
give me a foundation for the town of Oak Grove.Juanita: You've written a poetry collection, an
I enjoy a good hike in the woods or swim in thehonest book on single parenting and now a
creek, so it seemed only natural that mymystery novel. What is your next writing
characters would too.adventure?
Juanita: Small towns do have the reputation of notRebecka: I've already started working on another
a lot of privacy. Do you feel that 'everyonenovel. This one too will be a mystery. It is not yet
knowing everyone'...and everything is a good thing,titled and has different characters and a different
or more of a hindrance?setting. I will tell you that it deals with arson.
Rebecka: It has its pros and cons. If you areJuanita: Rebecka, your website is titled "Pen a
aware of your surroundings and what is happeningDream." Elaborate on your obvious heartfelt
you can be safer. It is a hindrance in thatmission to be a muse and inspire the imagination
sometimes people think they know what is goingand dreams of your readers.
on and they are misinformed and then pass alongRebecka: I would hope that anyone who visits my
misinformation. If you like your privacy it iswebsite will find that you can follow your dreams.
sometimes hard to find.It may take time and hard work, but if you
Juanita: How did this reality of small town lifebelieve in yourself, you can attain your goals.
translate over into Oak Grove, and the secretsJuanita: Rebecka, what has being a grandmother
just under the surface?taught you?
Rebecka: I grew up in small towns and smallRebecka: It's taught me a whole new way of
communities. I know from experience that somelooking at the world. My most humbling experience
people seem to know all the secrets. Whether orcame when my granddaughter said to me,
not they tell them is another story. Buck Wise"Granny, I never had anyone dedicate a book to
grew up in Oak Grove. Bringing his family backme before." She was so awe struck by that
there to live was for him a return to what wasthought. I hadn't thought about what it might
familiar. Things he had known as a child were stillmean to her. My grandson is a storyteller in his
the same. Miss Emily was still the librarian. Someown right, however he is more into ninja's and
of his friends had taken over their father'spower rangers, so his stories run along those lines.
businesses. I think he was surprised to find outI just listen.
that although his home was the same if you tookJuanita: Thank you for talking with us today
it at face value, it was something different whenRebecka. How can your readers find out more
you started digging up all its secrets. Somethingabout you and your endeavors?
he had to do to find a killer.