A Local Author Shares Her Mystery Thrillers

Posted by Jessica Peterson

With July being Rotary Literacy Month, Victoria Doust-Heckman shared her experiences as a novelist and a Drama Teacher.

Rotary Club of Cayucos-Seaside

Thursday, July 24^th, 2008

Call to order @7:09

Invocation: Remember you are in charge of your attitude. Make it positive!

In attendance: Emily Campbell, Donna Chipman, Dan Costley, Jim Dotta, Liz Gray, Sherry Haynie, Kathie Holmes, Hilary Hopkins, Joyce Lundy, Jessica Peterson, Sherry Smith, Dee Smith, Chungsum Doh. Visiting Rotarians: Richey Rothie, Tony, Jim Clark, Glenda McHaffie. Guest Speaker: Victoria Doust-Heckman

Club Business
: Check Sherry's e-mail attachment, agenda sent from website, Cayucos.org, update your profile please. Attendance may be low due to people traveling and other summer plans, so be sure to conduct a make up if you cannot attend. A Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 28^th if you are interested in attending for a make up.

District membership seminar-August 9^th 8:30-12:00.

August 19^th-Anil visiting many clubs, invitations to follow.

What is Rotary up to?
Interesting things that Rotary is doing: Rotary Radio, Herbert Taylor, PDF format, Rotary.org to listen to an excerpt from the creator of the 4-way test.

The Rotary Club of Newport in Virginia, built 40 bridges in 11 countries, raising funds 281,000. An example of what one person can do, and the powers of fellowship in Rotary.

Other clubs interact: young people raised funds to build a library in Haiti, no electricity, use solar panels to fuel the facility.

The G8, renewed their commitment to eradicate Polio.

Tony from Paso Robles: 10^th annual Wine Makers BBQ River Oaks Hot Springs located off of HWY 46, Rotary club has 33 wineries, each winery makes a special BBQ dish, up to 1,000 people, great fundraiser for the kids, sponsor local high school scholarships, great event, fun, music, great food and wine, 6-9 Sat. Aug. 9^th, handouts available, posters for display, 2 tickets donated. Thank you!

Sunrise centennial club-looking for support for an event. Mayor race benefits the youth center, 20,000 cruise, John Taylor, Thursday, Robins Restaurant, 25.00 per person, purchase tickets and raffle, flyers available.

Guest Speaker: Victoria Doust-Heckman

Been at Cayucos ten years, credentialed teacher and teaches Drama, began her publishing career by entering a writing contest because of her love of mysteries, loved Nancy Drew. Contest was 3,000 words, she won second place and the prize was nominal, but the feeling of being published was priceless.

Affiliated with the group Sisters in Crime, loved the group, fans, writers, publishers, mystery writers.

Victoria attended San Diego State, applied to UCLA, mom wanted Victoria to go to Hawaii where she became a theater major.

Joined the police department and became a volunteer officer and checked out the department in Hawaii. She was paired with a rookie. She became the source for Victoria's series. She opened door for her and over the years she continues to return for research. To write a novel with your character and setting you have to be there all the time. Hawaii became the setting and Katrina became the main character. Victoria also writes short stories, an anthology titled Tales from Cayucos was written by Cayucos Middle School students. Available in the Cayucos Library.

Book is a Series, business cards available, e-mail her if you like, The plots of her novels are based in reality, set in political rift.

A second series came to be, wanted to set it in ancient Hawaii, did two years of research, drove up to the falls, in the parking lot was a man weaving baskets for tourists, started talking to him. Coconut Man was giving of himself and this became the basis for the first novel of Victoria's second series. Books available online, local book stores, etc.

Business cards were available.

Next meeting is July 31^st, 2008.

Meeting adjourned @8:00