Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Moore
Hi Rebecca, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Terrell, east of Dallas. I could read very early before I started kindergarten. Both of my parents and my grandmother, with whom I spent summers, were avid readers. It was not unusual for my family to go to the library on Saturday, return home with 10 to 15 books a piece, and still run out of things to read before the next Saturday. My mom and dad were both writers as well. So, no surprise I began writing in fourth grade.
I continued to write, but by the time I went to college, I was fascinated by other people’s stories, and being a mystery fan, I went into the legal field. I became a paralegal and then a licensed private investigator. Also, as a survivor of sexual assault. I went through training to be a victim’s advocate. As an investigator, I provided litigation support to criminal defense teams. I often worked with those who society would deem despicable. I wouldn’t argue, but I found my view as an advocate for the victims, my empathy, and my hunger to understand people’s decisions put me in a unique position of having revealing conversations, not just conducting interviews. I was always open to listening. The stories our defendants and their victims would share increasingly informed my writing such that it matured, became more intelligent, and had depth. In 2019, at 50, I decided to solely focus on my writing. I have now published some short stories, poetry, and flash fiction.
Yet, in another turn of events, in 2020–just before the pandemic–I found myself assisting my friend, Mike Rhyner, who had worked in radio. In retirement, he decided to begin a podcast. We became partners in Stolen Water Media, LLC. in 2024. We relaunched his podcast, Your Dark Companion, on Patreon and turned his discouragement with the direction radio is headed into an opportunity to rewrite the rules. We currently have five other podcasts on a second Patreon page: Sunset Lounge, where you can tune in and watch or listen to one right after the other and effectively enjoy talk radio again.
Writing is still an essential part of my day. While using my technical writing skills more often, I find time to creatively write each day. Our podcasts’ guests are as deep with stories as the courts system. I find that my creative soul is continually fed information that sometimes awes me, sometimes frustrates me, but always fascinates me
I’ve told people that every murder is different. The motives, manner, and means to commit have never been the same. Every client I’ve had in a murder case told a new story. The smallest details within those stories can ignite my creative process and produce a tale. That is true of every musician, every sports fan, and every celebrity we’ve had on our shows. So, the podcasts we produce and manage, the hosts, and the guests continue to provide a flame that ignites me. I’m still a licensed private investigator; now I’m also an executive producer, promoter, and salesperson; I’m a mom, a grandmother, a survivor, an activist, a supporter, a fan. So, of course, I’m a writer.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No roads are smooth. Not all are as bumpy as mine, but mine is not the most treacherous. The most difficult days I’ve had were the difficult days for my children when I was a single parent, when they hit their own potholes as young adults, and especially as parents themselves. Caring for her children is forever a mom’s job; it’s heartbreaking when you can’t fix things for them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I continue to assist with the private investigative firm my husband and I own. However, most of my time is spent producing and managing Stolen Water Media’s six podcasts. Along with that comes selling partnerships. We currently have an audience of 367, 500+. We are proud of the company we’ve put together and the shows we’ve developed. We continue to look at new projects and design our continued growth. It is all still very exciting for me. Stolen Water will turn one year old in May. Mike and I never thought our growth would happen so quickly. Undoubtedly, it stems from the guests we can book and the demographics we can reach. Our shows include family-friendly shows, such as Shippy & Grubes and The Clubhouse Podcast; we are very proud of our Spanish language show ¡Al Maximo!; and a couple of sports-centric shows never hurt in Dallas, like our Beer 30 Sports O’Clock and Engel Angle. Maybe my favorite thing about our reach is that we cater to the wrestling fan! They are some of the most fun people. Our hosts are well-known and bring large audiences of their own. We have two local sports DJs, sports writers, radio personalities, and hosts who work with film studios and the International, USA, and Asian film festivals in Dallas. Leading the group is Texas Hall of Famer, Mike Rhyner’s show, Your Dark Companion.
My odd specialty–that sets me far out there–is writing pantoum, a poem that uses a repeating pattern of four-line stanzas. The form originated in Malaysia and is based on the Malay verse form pantun, and flash fiction, a popular and growing genre of fictional stories written in 750-1000 words or less. I see both writing forms as puzzles. I love being challenged by the writing and the form. It’s a fun way to keep my mind nimble.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
We all learned the same lessons, didn’t we? Covet those you love. Slow down and take time for yourself and those you cherish. Self-care, me-time, etc…
My favorite has been the lesson of priorities. It continues to be difficult, but I am much better at setting things aside to give my time and attention to whom and what brings me joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion
- Instagram: @yourdarkcompanion
- Facebook: Your Dark Companion
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/RebeccaMoore
- Twitter: @YDC_DFW
- Youtube: @theoldgreywolf16
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/SunsetLoungeDFW
Image Credits
All photos: Stolen Water Media, LLC
