Boulder Creek resident Rebecca Olker is an accountant by day but a writer at heart.
Olker, 39, recently had an essay published in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom,” an ode to motherhood that came out in March.
Her essay, “The Best Coloring Book Ever,” is an account of a time when Olker was a child and asked for a new coloring book, when deep down she really wanted a blank canvas to scribble her visions into art.
To her wonderment, her mother gave her an entire wall in the house to have her way with — going against all axioms of proper conduct in a child’s eyes.
“I was about 5 or 6 years old, and my mother had burned the kitchen, so we were redoing the house anyway,” Olker explained.
Olker, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California, Riverside, got into accounting after going to graduate school to study taxation. She has been an accountant for 15 years but said she has always loved writing and has kept a journal since she was a child.
“The two are very different,” Olker said of her profession and her passion. “But there are similarities. Writing formulas on spreadsheets is a form of language.”
Olker said she’s always wanted explore writing.
“Ultimately, I want to write romance novels,” she said. “But until then, I’ll keep submitting essays to whoever will publish (them).”
This is Olker’s second time being published by “Chicken Soup for Soul,” a series of books that feature collections of inspirational stories and essays.
“I did a story about my mother’s aunt, who was a pathological liar in Chicken Soup’s ‘All in the Family’ edition,” Olker said.
“All in the Family” was published in October 2009.
Olker received a $200 check for her submission, along with 10 extra copies of the book.
She said her mother was so proud that she ordered 20 extra books and sent them to everyone in the family.
Most recently, she submitted an essay to Modern Dog magazine for a contest. The winners have not yet been announced.
“With writing, putting yourself out there is emotional,” Olker said. “It’s a little nerve-wracking to see if it will get accepted, but very exciting.”
At a glance
• WHAT: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom”
• LIST PRICE: $14.99
