{"id":199,"date":"2026-04-10T23:59:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T23:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/?page_id=199"},"modified":"2026-04-27T21:20:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T21:20:40","slug":"about-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/about-me\/","title":{"rendered":"About Me"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"199\" class=\"elementor elementor-199\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de3693a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"de3693a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36ec771 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"36ec771\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17dfa02 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"17dfa02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About me<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72540cf elementor-icon-list--layout-inline elementor-align-center elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"72540cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items elementor-inline-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Home<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">About Me<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b15627 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4b15627\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a78eba elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3a78eba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Rachel vanover<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a59ff70 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a59ff70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"29\"><span style=\"color: #c68b3c;\"><strong>The Story Behind the Author<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p data-start=\"31\" data-end=\"90\">Writer and dreamer\u2026 that is all I have ever wished to be.<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-61\" src=\"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/freepik_make-this-imgae-in-proper_2745628772-e1775868690197.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"438\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/freepik_make-this-imgae-in-proper_2745628772-e1775868690197.png 830w, https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/freepik_make-this-imgae-in-proper_2745628772-e1775868690197-263x300.png 263w, https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/freepik_make-this-imgae-in-proper_2745628772-e1775868690197-768x876.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/p><p data-start=\"92\" data-end=\"576\">I have always loved telling stories. As a child, I would set up my Barbie dolls and create little worlds with them, not realizing at the time that it was shaping something deeper within me. Writing did not truly begin until one morning in middle school, when I woke up before my alarm and turned on the television to watch an episode of Sailor Moon. Weeks later, I found myself at lunch with a pencil and notebook, simply writing. It became a way to place my imagination onto paper.<\/p><p data-start=\"578\" data-end=\"951\">In high school, I met Denise Davis, and together we began writing even more. We created countless stories, each bringing our own characters into the worlds we built. Every evening, we would connect online and write back and forth in script form. It continued for years, and those memories remain some of my most cherished. Denise is still one of my closest friends today.<\/p><p data-start=\"953\" data-end=\"1302\">My first true written work began in college through fanfiction. By that time, writing had already become a part of who I was. For over thirty years, I continued writing, using it to refine my voice and grow more confident in my craft. I shared some of those works online, eventually moving them to Archive of Our Own under the name Crystillineyuy.<\/p><p data-start=\"1304\" data-end=\"1381\"><span style=\"color: #e6c27a;\"><em>\u201cDon\u2019t die with the stories in your mind. The world deserves to read them.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p><p data-start=\"1383\" data-end=\"1710\">In the fall of 2024, I experienced a personal turning point. Memories I had long buried resurfaced, and I realized I needed to speak with someone. Through BetterHelp, I met Lori McDunn, a therapist who encouraged me in a way I will never forget. Those words stayed with me and gave me the push I needed to take the next step.<\/p><p data-start=\"1712\" data-end=\"2064\">With that encouragement, I wrote my first full draft, a story I had carried with me for years. Denise became the first reader, followed by a few others I trusted. Around that same time, I rediscovered an old diary filled with poetry from my college years. That collection became Life is Poetry, while Princesses Don\u2019t Wait became my first full novel.<\/p><p data-start=\"2066\" data-end=\"2112\">I remember the moment it went live. I cried.<\/p><p data-start=\"2114\" data-end=\"2195\">Now, I am on this journey as an author, and I am excited to see where it leads.<\/p><p data-start=\"2197\" data-end=\"2226\"><span style=\"color: #c68b3c;\"><strong>The Meaning Behind the Name<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p data-start=\"2228\" data-end=\"2495\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The pen name Heiwa Akers reflects the author\u2019s deep personal inspirations. Heiwa, the Japanese word for peace, represents a quality she has embraced for many years. Akers is her mother\u2019s maiden name, honoring a woman she values deeply for her compassion and strength.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15a4909 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"15a4909\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b6c294 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0b6c294\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2b20b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f2b20b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"437\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Whoswhobadge-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-454\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Whoswhobadge-1.png 437w, https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Whoswhobadge-1-287x300.png 287w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 437px) 100vw, 437px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a66334 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0a66334\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4571e7 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d4571e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Who's Who - 2025<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-361e5e6 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"361e5e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I was inducted into the Marquis Who\u2019s Who list in 2025 with my accomplishments as a veteran teacher and strong supporter of the arts, particularly ballet and music. My charity work included directing a non-profit dance company for children in my community and teaching Japanese to home schooled students.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About me Home About Me Rachel vanover The Story Behind the Author Writer and dreamer\u2026 that is all I have ever wished to be. I have always loved telling stories. As a child, I would set up my Barbie dolls and create little worlds with them, not realizing at the time that it was shaping [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-199","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_hostinger_reach_plugin_has_subscription_block":false,"_hostinger_reach_plugin_is_elementor":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":668,"href":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/199\/revisions\/668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/initialmockups.com\/rachelvanover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}