Vada M. Gipson, author of a novel, The Quests, speaking to the Klamath River Writers Club at JavaBob's Bigfoot Deli in Happy Camp. The lovely patchwork jacket she wore was the subject of her first article sale in 1984, to "The Homemaker" magazine.

Author Speaks To
Local Writer's Club

Vada M. Gipson, author of The Quests, was in Happy Camp to speak to the Klamath River Writer's Club on Friday, October 22 at JavaBob's Bigfoot Deli. The Quests, which is Gipson's first novel, is the first of a series set in biblical times.

Gipson had her novel published through 1st Books, a print-on-demand publisher of quality paperbacks. 1st Books has been recently renamed AuthorHouse. She explained to the writer's club the process she went through to be published, and offered autographed copies of her book for sale.

Philip and John the Baptist are familiar biblical names. However Gipson gives them new life. Only brief acquaintances, Philip and John are on their own separate quests as they make their ways through life.

As the story begins, Philip is utterly depressed. Wallowing in guilt after the death of his dearly loved wife, who lost her life while giving birth to their daughter, Philip goes to a religious commune called Qumran for a change of scenery. At Qumran, he meets John, a “cave mate” and Y’shua, a visitor. His depression soon turns into paralysis and his quest becomes a search for healing.

John leaves the “shelter of his brotherhood” remaining devoted to his vow to “eat no food not prepared by our priests.” He survives on only honey and locusts. His quest is to “prepare the way of the Lord.”

Y’shua is not a focus character. Although he rarely appears, he plays an important role in both men’s lives. “There would be no story without him.” Gipson says.

Set in the area of the area of the Sea of Galilee, Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and Machaerus in the Holy Land, The Quests is unique in that its focus location, Qumran, is the settlement that was on the mesa above where the Dead Sea scrolls were found in 1947, Gipson notes.

Gipson lives in Fort Jones, California, near Yreka. She was born in Nebraska and was the youngest of nine children. She is a retired accountant and is currently a member of the United Methodist Church. She began writing after retirement.

As a freelance writer, Gipson has had several articles published in magazines such as Home Education Magazine, Pioneer Press, World Radio, The Homemaker, Mature Years and The United Methodist Review. However, The Quests is her first novel.

Vada moved to Scott Valley in 1972 from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. She was born in Western Nebraska and came to California in 1941, after graduating from high school in Laramie, Wyoming.

Accounting was her field of employment. After working for a chain of supermarkets and a bank, she wound up in the Corporate Office of McDonnell Douglas Corporation in Santa Monica. When that office was moved to St. Louis, she opted for lay-off, and came to Siskiyou County with her husband, who had just retired from the Douglas Aircraft Division of McDonnell Douglas.

Among her hobbies are amateur radio, photography, genealogy, and drawing with colored pencils. She is active in the Fort Jones United Methodist Church as Lay Leader, church organist, and president of the United Methodist Women’s unit at Fort Jones.

What people are saying about Vada M. Gipson's first novel,
The Quests:

I got into your book last night and didn't want to put it down. Very good. You have used the bible stories with great sensitivity. I especially like the way you told the story of John the Baptist. Well done. It is one of those books that you just have to read until it is finished and then you wish it could continue. Perhaps you are writing a sequel already? Your characters are believable.
Love,
Carol Maplesden
Greenview, CA

We read the book all the way through aloud. It's a story that really makes you think about it after you have finished reading it…. It was as though you were right there witnessing the events as they took place, and you take your readers right along with you visualizing all the way.
Phil and Margaret Kousch
Hesperia, CA

(I) just got through reading (couldn't put it down!) 'The Quest' -- it's a must read for everyone!!! Thank you, Vada, for writing it! I'll have to get you to sign my copy!
Liebe,
33, Caroll Massie, NV7YL, Dayton, NV
Editor – YLHarmonics

I loved reading this. You are an excellent writer. I couldn’t stop reading & I loved the warmth & love that was expressed throughout.
Virginia George
Fort Jones, CA

I congratulate you on your immense amount of reading and research to gain the historical background knowledge required for such a book. … Your idea that Philip was a member of the Qumran community, and that John the Baptist also was, is intriguing and adds interest to the book.
Roland Seboldt, Consulting Editor, former Editor at Harper SanFrancisco, and former Director of Book Publishing Department at Augsburg Publishing House in Minneapolis.

My wife and I both like your book very much. Once a person starts to read it, how can one put it down? That’s the real test of good writing. We both consider it to be a well-researched, well-written, worthwhile book. … The world needs your book.
William J. Diehm, PhD Psychology
retired Professor of Psychology at Loyola University, Los Angeles
practicing psychologist, and author.

I love the style and the characters! I especially like the way you flesh out the people in scripture so that I like them as people. I know their stories, now I know the people, too.
Sherry Reynolds
Thousand Oaks, CA

The book made me in total sympathy with the characters & their lives. (Also, having “lived there,” I know the type of people & happenings are true.) Fine job.
Martha Edwards
President, Women’s Aglow
Twentynine Palms, CA

Vada M. Gipson of Ft. Jones, author of The Quests.

This may be happening on the other end of the state, but thanks to the internet, we're aware of it:

June 12, 2004 - Take a good look at the tiny gold cross on the Los Angeles County Seal. The ACLU decided it is not politically correct so to avoid a lawsuit LA County supervisors voted to have the seal's cross removed. According to their website, "The cross represents the influence of the church and the missions of California." Well, no more. Protesters in LA held signs reading “Jews for the Seal,” “Anti-Christian Liberties Union” and “Stop the Cultural Cleansing. Stop the ACLU.” Jewish radio talk host Dennis Prager said, "They used to say in the Soviet Union, `The future is known; it’s the past which is always changing.’ Totalitarianism is not possible, unless you erase the past. That is what you did. That is why there are so many people here and thousands outside." Still, it seems that the cross is soon to be a thing of the past. the ACLU maintains that inclusion of a cross on a county seal is a violation of the separation of church and state. Apparently to the ACLU it is unimportant that Los Angeles was founded by Christian missionaries. History - watch as it is once again revised. Subscribe to the Happy Camp News Update Alert Service to receive an email whenever this website is updated.