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Area
man uses Wisconsin as a backdrop for his first published novel
Times - Villager, August 23, 2003, by Sara Ebil
Although
Vic LeClair III began writing less than 10 years ago, he has
a published book and there are more on the way.
LeClair
was born and grew up in Two Rivers. He currently lives with
his family in Kimberly.
LeClair’s
first book is "Nick Faber’s Touch," the first novel
in a trilogy.
"My
palms have always been sensitive to touch," LeClair said.
"That is where the basis of my story came from."
The book
begins in Neshotah, Wis, and travels to Lillooet, British
Columbia. The story focuses around Keatley Creek’s earthen
mounds. The society that lived there vanished in 850 AD, but
the mounds are still there. In the book Nick Faber sets out
to find information about the missing society. LeClair also
makes reference to Harry Houdini in his novel.
Writing
started as a hobby for LeClair but has evolved over the past
few years.
"I
set blocks of time aside to write," he said.
After
working in electronics for more than 25 years, he decided
to start setting some goals for himself. His main goals were
to finish his basement, get a bachelor’s degree in business
and write a novel.
"I
didn’t have the confidence to write until after I had my degree,"
LeClair said. "You get used to writing in school with
all the reports and essays you have to do."
LeClair
finished his first book in December 2002. He started setting
his goals for the next year, which included being published.
"I
sent out my book to publishers and it got picked up (by Publish
America) right away (in December 2002)," he said.
"It
kind of ruined my goals for 2003," he added with a laugh.
LeClair
has other books in mind that he will start working on. He
is halfway done with writing the second book in the trilogy.
It will be finished later this year. The third book will be
completed in 2004.
"The
books become thicker as they go along," LeClair said.
"The first book takes place in 1966-67, the second is
1972 and the third book will be set in the present time."
He is
also working on a larger novel, which is a historical piece.
He has started a little bit of writing on it, but he has around
600 pages of historical information to look through to make
sure his writing is accurate.
When LeClair
pitched his novel to publishers, they asked if he had any
ideas for the cover. He talked to his daughter, Stacey, 19,
and she drew a picture, which they sent to the publisher.
Publish America liked the picture and it became the cover
for the novel.
"I
hope to do pictures for the other books," Stacey said.
"It
all depends on the publisher," LeClair added.
Along
with his novels LeClair has written a few short stories as
well. He is waiting to hear if some magazines will be publishing
those.
"I joined the Fox Valley Writer’s Club around one year
ago," LeClair said. "They put out a yearly book
with writings from members of the club."
He hopes
to see his short stories printed in this publication.
To promote
his first novel, LeClair has been doing book signings. On
Aug. 9 he had a signing at Real American Pizza in Darboy.
A pizza
place may seem a strange place to do a book signing but it
was a deal LeClair made with the owner.
"We
were talking at a wedding and I said I wanted to write a book
and he said he wanted to start a pizza place," LeClair
said. "So, I said, ‘If you start a pizza place, I’ll
hold a book signing there.’"
LeClair
will be doing a book signing at Richmond’s Gift Shop in Two
Rivers on Sept. 13 and at the Wisconsin Writers Association
in Oshkosh on Sept 27.
Writing
isn’t a full-time job for LeClair, at least not yet. He works
as a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker The Real Estate
Group.
"If
I had the opportunity to sign a contract that would allow
me to write full-time, I’d take it," LeClair said. "However,
I would still be available to do real estate."
"Nick
Faber’s Touch" by Vic LeClair III can be purchased at
these local businesses: St. Patrick’s Book Store, The Book
Store, Pages & Pipes and Jerry’s Pages & Pipes all
in Appleton.
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