Victoria Ponders

Author Vickie Rubin shared a review of “Slivers” on Goodreads last week and I’m still grinning. I’m a huge fan of Vickie’s writing and receiving kudos from her? So good! Not gonna lie. I know the gravy train will end at some point but across these past few weeks, input from readers about “Slivers” has been wildly impactful. Helping me frame what comes next, at least conceptually. Yup. My next writing project is beginning to take shape in my head and I love it.

Here’s Vickie’s Review:

Vicki – Your talent amazes me! Vicki Atkinson’s first book, a memoir titled Surviving Sue, touched me personally and was filled with honesty, compassion, and hope. It was impossible to forget. And now she does it again!

With Slivers, Vicki shows that her talent encompasses more than one genre. Slivers takes place in the summer of 1973 and is a compelling supernatural fiction that exhibits the same qualities that made her first book so captivating- richly developed characters and a true understanding of family dynamics. Her background in psychology makes the supernatural elements feel like real-life experiences we all share.

Slivers is a story about family, identity, intuition, and the discovery of truths long hidden. The suspense kept me turning pages.

I also loved the real-life connection to George!

Many writers master one genre; Vicki has now mastered two… Slivers and Surviving Sue. Vicki Atkinson is a gifted storyteller who leaves you thinking about her stories long after the book ends. I highly recommend Slivers as your next read!

The power of encouragement can’t be overstated. I joked that I had a “Sally Field” moment when I read Vickie’s review, thinking:

“She likes it, she really, really likes it.”

If you’re not familiar with the Sally Field giggle, I’ll pause so you can catch up.

Receiving Vickie’s input about “Slivers”, which included her loving comments about “Surviving Sue” was powerful and affirming. Vickie’s been there, writing with candor about her daughter Jessica in her beautiful book, “Raising Jess: A Story of Hope“. Helping countless families by telling her story…their story. Vickie understands.

Memoir is not a genre to be entered into lightly.

There’s a kinship between writers in the memoir genre. Vickie and I, we say we’re “V-Squared”…or “Vicki/Vickie Sisters”. Often. And I think it’s because of the affinity forged by reading each other’s deeply personal stories in “Surviving Sue” and “Raising Jess”. We understood, from the jump, the risks and vulnerabilities associated with writing through the pain, weighing it against the benefit of helping others. Sharing our journeys amplified our advocacy voices.

When Vickie said she was reading my first-ever novel, “Slivers”, I was thrilled! Thank you, Vickie Sister, for following me as I explored the threads of curiosity about my mom’s family in fiction form.

So…if you don’t know Vickie, I encourage you to read “Raising Jess” and share it with friends and family.

It is a powerful, engrossing read. Here’s a portion of the synopsis:

In 1982, Vickie Rubin faced a unique challenge in Buffalo, New York: giving birth to her daughter, Jess, while dealing with chickenpox. Her story is a compelling mix of vulnerability and strength.

At first, Jess appears to be like any other child. However, as time goes on, Vickie realizes a truth that sets her family on a unique path.

Raising Jess: A Story of Hope details the emotional journey Vickie and her husband Mitch undergo due to Jess’s rare condition. It highlights their quest for answers and the discovery of Jess’s rare genetic deletion, affecting fewer than 1,000 people in the US.

Thank you, dear Vickie — and thanks to those who are reading and sharing their thoughts about “Slivers” — whether here on WordPress and/or on Goodreads. Hearing that it was a worthy AND suspenseful read?

Music. To. My. Ears.

Vicki 💝

Vickie Rubin | Author & Advocate | Special Needs Parenting

Raising Jess: A Story of Hope | About Book | Vickie Rubin

Slivers by Vicki Atkinson | Goodreads

P.S. Lagniappe? A little more? If you’re reading this and wondering about writing in the memoir genre, I’ll have more for you in a future post. In my work helping others “write for wellness” this is a hot topic, always, and I have a few tips and tricks to share.

Hi – I’m Victoria, Vicki, Dr. Vicki. I hold a doctorate in Adult Education and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and author of Surviving Sue and Slivers.

Check out this link to learn more about my book “Surviving Sue” – all about resilience and love. Check out this link to order “Slivers”…a ghost story with surprising twists.