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My name is April W, and I’m the
screenwriter of all Cameo flicks. This page is an inside, behind-the-scenes,
up-close-and-personal look at me that the paparazzi can’t even give you.
You don’t want to know what the
“W” in my name stands for. It’s German, difficult to say, and even more
difficult to spell. If you’re interested in seeing more pictures of my family
and me, there will be more links at the
bottom.
You already know that I’m a
wanna-be writer, but you may not know that I’m also a wife, mother, and
teacher. My husband, Damon, is a land surveyor and pastors a small church. We
have two children, Rachel and Samuel. I teach the high school class at the
small Christian school my children attend, and working with teenagers
provides limitless inspiration.
The Cameo is my personal website
for posting fan fiction based upon Julie Campbell’s characters in the Trixie
Belden series. I receive no profit from my stories, and Random House should
thank us fanfic writers for getting a new generation of Trixie fans. J
The Cameo is owned and maintained by me, April W. I appreciate emails
of encouragement, but please keep complaints to yourself, as they hinder my
creativity. My stories are a labor of love; however, they don’t get the bills
paid. I have started a new policy of not posting a story until it’s
completed; however, there are some stories that were begun before this policy
went into effect. These unfinished tales are plotted and outlined out and
will be completed as the muses allow.
To write stories that make people laugh. I’m a firm believer
in the Bible verse that says that a merry heart worketh good like a medicine.
I know that there are people reading these stories who are having concerns
about their family, health, finances, work, and other personal concerns. I
want your time at The Cameo to provide you with a break from the stress. To write stories about the kind of love that endures time,
trouble, and temptation. After over fifteen years of marriage, I love my
husband more now than I did on our wedding day, and I like to show young
people that that kind of love is possible for them to find. In today’s world
of fickle lovers, true love is something to be cherished and shouldn’t be
taken for granted. To write stories that showcase the importance of friendship.
The basis of the Trixie Belden series was friendship, and without that
foundation, I don’t think the series would’ve been as beloved as it remains
today. To write stories that show that nothing happens by accident.
Although I try not to “preach” in my stories, my belief in an all-powerful
being probably does shine through. God is in control of everything, and if we
let Him lead, we’ll be much better off. To write stories that are acceptable for most audiences.
There’s a lot of fanfic that isn’t accessible to those under 18. The Cameo
tries to supply material to preteens and teens that are hungry for more
Bob-White-centered stories. Most importantly of all, to remain true to Julie Campbell’s
vision of her characters. The goodness, integrity, and generosity of the
Bob-Whites is what made us love them, and out of respect to Ms. Campbell,
they will remain that way in my stories.
I’m glad you asked. Sometimes I
ask myself the same question. J Seriously, I create fanfic because
I love to write and design web pages. I spend hours on each story from start
to finish. I do have many responsibilities outside of The Cameo, so
unfortunately I can’t spend all my time on new productions. This site and the
stories on it are a labor of love, and I only wish Random House would ask me
to continue the series for real so I could spend more time on it. (I think
all fanfic writers wish that. *g*)
Unlike many of the authors at
Jixemitri, I discovered the Trixie Belden as a young adult. We bought a house
from family members, and the former owners left several books behind,
including 1-16 of the Trixie Belden series. When my daughter was young, she
wanted to read them. I wasn’t sure if they were appropriate for a
six-year-old, so I read them first. It was love at first read! I’ve always
been a sucker for mysteries, and the purity of the series hooked me. Needless
to say, I allowed Rachel to read the books, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I
keep hoping that Rachel will grow to love the books as much as I do, but
right now, it’s “cooler” not to like something that Mom does. J
I have many activities that I
enjoy outside of The Cameo. One of my most favorite things to do is shop. I’m
very much a girlie girl. However, I’m also an avid college football and
basketball fan (LET’S GOOOO, MOUNTAINEERS!!!). I love spending time with my
family. We’re fans of hiking, camping, biking, and geocaching. I also enjoy
singing and playing the piano, although I’ll never set the world on fire with
my talent for either. J And, as you’d expect, sitting down with a
good book is a little slice of heaven. I ♥ to read!
If you want to find me on the web, you can usually find me at the Jixemitri Message Board,
where I’m an owner, administrator, and author. Not only do I enjoy posting
there, I love having get-togethers with my fellow Trixie fans. I’ve met
several lovely Jixsters in person, and I’ve been blessed to make some
lifelong friends there. For this reason, I’ll forever be thankful to Jix.
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