A peek into your life, is a segment spotlighting authors, specialists, and friends who brave my countless questions day in and day out. It's the best way I can share with you all, the many people who taught me the bizarre things I know, who satisfy my thirst for knowledge and adventure, and who keep me motivated.
Now I met Vicki in a crusade. I know, I know, sounds dangerous. It was.I had to pull my blog back from hell in the midst of it. Those who survived are still celebrating.
Regardless, a friendship emerged-- I learnt that these things happen in a crusade. We do have serious things in common. We speak and love French, we have children close to the same age, and we write everyday. Ok. So do like a thousand other people, you say.
Don't worry, I love them all too.
Point is, Vicki is so amazing I hold those mini conversations with her in my mind while I clean, you know the ones... don't you? Don't you?? Ok, so I've confessed too much. Still, she teaches me neat things. I mean, gee, thanks to her I tried bubble tea. See what I mean about teaching me important things?
She keeps me motivated, because really, there is nothing like a best friend to remind you that you should be... ah... writing and not blogging your ass off while drinking bubble tea.
She really does impress me with her many talents. Check out these neat writing mitts she makes for us writers who push through the cold to get our stories out. I feel like a superhero when I wear them.
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These are the mitts she makes.
Warm eh?
She actually made these-- from a ball of wool. Geesh. |
I know you'll swing by after you read the interview with her, because she's ssoooo awesome!
But don't take my word for it, read her stories for yourself. Well, after you read her interview.
Vicki has done some fascinating things in her life and has been to some very interesting places. How many people do you know who can say that they had an African forest elephant trumpet them while they were in a Land Rover? In a forest? In Africa? Or that they watched an operation being performed on a victim to a landmine explosion? A child? I bet not many.
She is very well travelled.
Her stories are told with detail that intrigue me and that explode to life in my mind with vivid emotions. (Aren't those the best kind?) She's a teacher by nature, and so, the perfect friend for a curious gal like me.
Yup. Trust me and just read her blog, am I ever wrong about these things? I mean really, am I?
Anyway, I digress. I came to share an interview. And so, without cookies, (The dog ate them. Really she did. You can't fill up a St Bernard, they just steal more food. Really.) *as I wipe the crumbs from my shirt* I will let you peek into Vicki's life...
Your blog is very diverse. (As any peek will prove.) How do you decide what to write?
Thank you. I try to balance the writerly type posts with the kinds of stuff my friends and family might want to read. But, at the same time, this is my writing blog so I only write about reading and writing. I write about whatever comes to me, as long as it has something to do with writing, reading and books.
You're also working on novels, what type of audience do you normally write for?
I write for MG and YA. I think I like writing for children because it fulfills my need to write, with my need to teach (and mother). I don’t write textbooks and I don’t let my fiction sound preachy, but every book is a learning experience for me and for my readers. Of course I want to entertain, but I also want kids to learn a little something about the world around them and beyond their comfort zone.
Is there a message that you try to pass on to your readers?
One theme that tends to recur in my writing is self-acceptance. I’m probably still struggling with that myself, so I’d love for readers to learn to believe in themselves. I also tend to focus on social justice. One manuscript examines hatred in Rwanda, and one deals with anti-Semitism in late 19th century Paris, and a girl who learns that there is more to life than just herself.
And... Let's meet the lady behind the scenes. Why not share with us a few things that make you proud.
Oh gosh. Bragging isn’t something we introverted writerly types are too comfortable with, right? I’m proud of having great kids who respect adults and love books. I’m proud to have brought French language education to my son’s school even if it’s only after school. I’m proud of my time in Rwanda and all the things I learned there about the world and humans and myself.
Oh gosh.
We have to stop there, because a peek is really just a peek after all!
Still, that was fun.
I love peeking into the lives of others, and showing off a great friend like Vicki was perfect!
Thanks for stopping by Vicki, and all the best in your writing. C'est toujours un plaisir. Merci!
To read more about Vicki, be sure to stop by her blog for a story.
http://www.vbtremper.wordpress.com/
Thanks for stopping by.
