“My consciousness blended into my unconsciousness” begins the new young adult fiction page-turner, Amoeba, by Rayna Vincent, published on Amazon in May. It’s the first novel for the Springfield 14-year-old, but it probably won’t be her last.
“A lot of people have asked me if there is going to be a sequel,” Vincent says of the believable, emotional, tense account of Nevaeh as she fights for her life in a sinister hospital. “I can say (now) I have started to plan out a sequel.” Great news – the end will leave many readers wanting more.
Although the voice of the story is unmistakably a young teen’s, the insights, imagery and relatability easily cross age groups. There’s a missing father and mother-daughter stress, a crush and a water-borne disease all detailed with vivid physical sensations; thought narration that moves in and out of rage, fear, betrayal, heartache, courage and determination; and a surprise reveal. Where did all of this come from? And where did this busy teenager find time to write a book?
Amoeba is the product of an online writing class in homeschool, Vincent says. “We each wrote a novel by the end of the year. The inspiration for Amoeba probably came from something I saw on YouTube and research that really scared me.” She also mentions having her own experiences in hospitals that give authenticity to Nevaeh’s experience. “Then it developed in my head and unfolded as I was writing.”
This isn’t Vincent’s first writing success. Before leaving public school after sixth grade to pursue her own interests in her own time, she participated in a fifth-grade Junior Beta Club creative writing competition and won a plaque for the best submission in Illinois. The win sent her to Nashville where she placed eighth among the national finalists.
“Writing is one of my favorite subjects. I can express my creativity and my own ideas,” she said.
Vincent is skilled. She employs exactly the right level of detail to transport readers into her world. It’s not just a book bag on the floor of the hospital, it’s a book bag with all the zippers open. Not just a TV, a large, flat-screen television. Her verbs are active and her feelings are genuine, if not easy.
Neveah thinks expressively, as in, “I’ll probably wind up being myself and doing something embarrassing.” “I didn’t like sad or risky topics, having to be careful with everything I said.” “Who would believe the words of a child?” “He probably assumed his head was messing with him.” “Mom, can’t you put yourself in my position? Can’t you imagine how I’m feeling?”
Vincent comes from a family of creative, independent thinkers and artists. “I’ve grown up with grandparents and parents that are pretty creative in multiple ways, and they’ve always encouraged me to express myself in creative ways as well.”
Her grandmother, local gold and silver jewelry artist, teacher and singer Poppy Vincent, is very proud of her. “She’s always astounded me. Everything she puts her hand to she accomplishes. She’s never been one to sit idle. She was the kind of kid who would get up in the morning and be playing two different games at the same time, or drawing, painting, playing some kind of instrument,” including piano, guitar, bass and violin.
“She’s incredibly creative. She’s always been writing a book, even before that class she took. Or drawing pictures. Or designing houses she was going to live in,” said her grandmother. “It always seemed very unusual for her age. I’ve always encouraged her to go after her dream. She can do anything she puts her mind to.”
Vincent’s mother, Beth, says she has watched her daughter grow through long hours typing alone in her room, wrestling with insecurities that no one would like the book, the stress of deadlines and the physical letdown once the final submission was in.
“She got really sick with an upper respiratory infection when she submitted it. But her teacher said that was completely normal. ‘You’re a real author!'”
When she isn’t writing, Vincent likes to play with her dog and two brothers, play piano, go shopping and spend time with her friends from homeschool and church.
As for advice to any other aspiring teen authors, Vincent says, “Follow through. Don’t give up. And plan it through in advance or else you can get lost in your own thoughts. I will do that next time.”
Also, she might add, get used to success. “It’s very weird knowing that people have read it. Friends come up to me and say, ‘I love your book.'”
In the meantime, 10th grade begins this fall, including dual credit courses for college. And, who knows – maybe that sequel.
Amoeba is available at Prairie Archives, 522 E. Adams St. in downtown Springfield, and Amazon.
Rayna Vincent will hold book signings from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Old Capitol Farmers Market in downtown Springfield; 4:30-6:30pm Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St.; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Artisans and Antique Market, The Brinkerhoff Home, 1500 N. Fifth St.
DiAnne Crown is a longtime contributor to Illinois Times and former editor of Springfield Parent Magazine.
This article appears in Parent Fall 2025.
