Rod Vick Explores Myth, Memory, and the Magic of Storytelling
PHOTO: Rod Vick, author of The Book of Invasions and Kaylee’s Choice, photographed in Wisconsin where he lives and writes.
Award-Winning Author Blends Adventure, Humor, and History Across Genres
Rod Vick shares insights on genre-crossing, character creation, research adventures, and personal inspiration behind his novels, offering a candid and compelling look at his writing journey and creative process.
Rod Vick writes the kind of stories that stay with you long after the final page—layered, adventurous, and deeply human. Whether he’s crafting middle-grade tales filled with Irish dance and heart, or leading readers through the myth-soaked landscapes of The Book of Invasions, Vick brings a rare blend of emotional depth, sharp humor, and narrative precision. With thirty books to his name, he’s as comfortable exploring ancient legends as he is unpacking the modern-day psyche of a wounded but determined heroine like Ricky Crowe.
What makes Rod’s work truly exceptional is not just the range of genres he conquers—historical fiction, science fiction, middle-grade adventure, and mystery—but the sincerity and thoughtfulness he brings to each page. His protagonists are never perfect; instead, they’re complex, flawed, and ultimately unforgettable. In this exclusive interview, Vick shares the personal experiences, wild travel moments, and research rabbit holes that have shaped his writing. From Irish dance competitions to climate science in Greenland, Rod Vick proves that great storytelling begins with curiosity—and thrives on courage.
Rod Vick is a masterful storyteller whose rich characters and genre-defying plots captivate readers across ages and literary preferences.
What inspired you to shift from adult sci-fi to writing for middle readers with Kaylee’s Choice?
My nine-year-old daughter, Haley, saw Riverdance on TV and asked if she could take Irish dance lessons. Without reading the warning labels, I said yes, and several near bankruptcies later, we were traveling all over the country, competing against thousands of other dancers. So I asked Haley if she thought Irish dancers would like a book with characters like them, and when she said yes, Kaylee’s Choice was born. Which led to six sequels. Which led to three unrelated Irish-themed series, two serialized novels, and three stand-alone novels. Good thing, I don’t get writer’s block.
Ricky Crowe is a complex protagonist—what drew you to create such a layered and troubled character?
I didn’t want her to be a female equivalent to James Bond: physically perfect and, for the most part, invincible. I wanted readers to know that, when Ricky took chances, there might be irrevocable consequences to her as well as others. She’s a survivor of a brutal assault and bears an eight-inch facial scar as testimony. In The Book of Invasions, she’s a self-absorbed introvert and recovering alcoholic. And she makes a lot of bad choices. But loyalty to her twin sister pushes her through a door that sends her life on a much different trajectory. Following her as she reluctantly navigates that new arc was, for me, fascinating, for she often took the narrative in directions even I had not anticipated.
How did your travels to book signings in various cities influence your storytelling or settings?
Traveling to book signings reminded me to weave a thread of humor into my characters, because on book signings, you’ll definitely need a sense of humor. Sometimes it’s throwing your hands into the air when the 100 books you shipped haven’t arrived at the hotel, and now it’s time for you to cold-wire a strategy for selling the promise of invisible books with your dazzling personality. Of course, sometimes more upbeat humorous things occur. Like when the agent at the car rental counter asked me why I was in town, and I mentioned I was there for a book signing. “Are you famous?” she asked. I laughed, but the agent on the next terminal had googled my name and apparently gotten a lot of hits. “He is famous!” the second agent shouted. The manager, overhearing this from her desk just behind, called out, “Give him an upgrade!” Faux fame apparently has its perks.
“Writing is rewriting.” — Rod Vick
What kind of research went into writing your historical fiction and myth-based novels like The Book of Invasions?
Since The Book of Invasions– Lebor Gabala Erenn–is a real thing, it became the focus of my research. It’s an apocryphal history of Ireland, fantastic myths containing just enough truth upon which to build the foundation of a thriller. But some of the most fun I had was in researching Zackenberg Ecological Research Operation in Greenland, the opening setting of the novel. The climate researchers there were very helpful, allowing me to create a believable picture of the remote outpost for readers.
Has your background as Wisconsin State Teacher of the Year shaped your writing discipline or approach to storytelling?
As a state teacher of the year, you quickly come to a terrifying realization: people are listening to you. Consequently, you must take care in crafting your message so that it is perceived as genuine, credible, and on point. I think writers face a similar challenge. When you put your work out there, people are going to be reading.
Which character or book of yours do you feel most personally connected to, and why?
When I was writing The Book of Invasions, I sort of imagined myself as Dr. Thomas Campion, the expert in global cult phenomena, who tagged along with Ricky, Crockett, and Brenner to Egypt on their race to find the Scroll of Life and Death. However, since I abused him so badly in that book, and dealt him an even worse fate in its sequel, The Book of Devils, I’m uncertain what this says about my relationship with myself.
“When you put your work out there, people are going to be reading.” — Rod Vick
You’ve written across several genres—do you approach writing a murder mystery differently than fantasy or middle-grade fiction?
I have certain goals I pursue no matter what the genre I’m working in, because I think these cross genres well. First, I try to grab the reader right away. This probably comes from my journalism background. There has to be a clear conflict, and it has to be established early. I’ve consulted on some books where conflict was not established until more than halfway through. Protagonists must have room for growth. Characters should be flawed, human, yet their motivations clear. And the resolution? Satisfying yet unexpected. Seems to work with all genres.
“There has to be a clear conflict, and it has to be established early.” — Rod Vick
What’s the most surprising reaction you’ve received from a reader or fan?
A book club invited me for a discussion of The Book of Invasions at one of the members’ homes, and when I arrived, they had prepared all of these Irish and Egyptian dishes in honor of the settings in the novel. I’ve also been surprised (and humbled) when young readers have come to signings to show me reports based on my books they wrote for school, or even photos of them dressed as book characters for Halloween.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors looking to cross genres or self-publish their first book?
One, put dedicated writing time into every day. Even if it’s only twenty minutes. If you write only five times a month, you have about as much chance of successfully completing a novel as a runner has of completing a marathon by running once a week. Two, writing is rewriting. The Book of Invasions went through at least twenty rewrites. Don’t rush into publication. Three, get feedback from unfriendlies. Everybody I hang with loves my writing. That’s nice. But they have to love me.
