'Life Out of Tragedy'

I haven't sat down to read it yet, but I do plan on checking out the book Violet Spencer, Exeter area civic leader, former newspaper publisher and pastor, has written and had published.

Vi, as most pholks know her, probably is best known as the general manager of Mineral King Publishing, who guided five weekly publications, most notably the Exeter Sun which has been combined with the Lindsay Gazette forming the Sun-Gazette.

Although Spencer is currently retired and living next door to her youngest daughter and family, she remains quite active and already is working on her second book.

Her debut book is entitled “Life out of Tragedy” as she and her family lived it.

She describes it as a story “filled with horror but also filled with great love. It is full of emotion: anger, great joy, love and yes, even some hate. This book shows that prayers are not always answered in the time and manner we expect, but they are always answered. It tells of our weakness and ability to rise above anything that may happen to us in this life.”

Involvement with her family, community, schools and running small town newspapers is all about Vi's love for people, a quality which isn't hard for those who know her to see.

A number of years ago, I worked for her for several months, filling in for vacations of her editor and other staff. It was an experience which most journalists encounter somewhere along the line, especially in the field of once-a-week publications. Vi was the general manager of the Exeter Sun and publisher of five weekly papers. With a background in accounting and ties to the community, she was a good fit. People, not the internet, cell phones, iPods, texting or twittering, brought news to the community.

Local newspapers are for local pholks, and the Exeter Sun is a pretty darned good example of that. I've been around lots of newsrooms from college days to several Valley publications in various capacities. In most cases, the term general manager or publisher is someone who is tied to every aspect of a business or organization. In the world of grass roots journalism, it's usually, but not always, someone tied closely to the community who also knows what it takes to get a newspaper out on time as well as providing the community with what it needs to know. Violet Spencer seldom interfered with her editors but rather was an extension of the eyes and ears of the newspaper. If it happened in or around Exeter or to an Exeter area resident or to someone related to an Exeter resident or someone who knew someone in Exeter, it was newsworthy, and still is.

Vi was great at providing tips to her editors and writers. She often refreshed my memory about someone or another who was related to someone else who worked at a shop three doors down from the office or whatever the case might have been. I knew quite a few Exeter area residents but I didn't know all the connections. It was a great help.

The fly leaf of her book notes Vi Spencer's concern for others. It reads in part:

“Rev. Spencer loves to be with people, visiting them and sharing stories about where life has taken them. As a young person, she worked in her church, always trying to be of service. As a young mother, Mrs. Spencer worked in the PTA when her children were in school, serving as president one year. Being publisher of five weekly newspapers and being president of the local chamber of commerce gave her the chance to be with people. Later in life, when she became a pastor, the stories of her life helped her to connect with people and help them realize that no matter what happens, life can still be good.”

Spencer took accounting, writing and computing classes at the college level and later she went to the Mennonite Seminary in Fresno then to Claremont School of theology in Claremont and on to Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. After some private tutoring, she was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) denomination.
“Life out of Tragedy” is available at several local locations including Barnes and Noble, Target and through Amazon.com

She already has had a couple book signings and several more are being scheduled, and I will keep you pholks updated on that.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com