DISCOVER HOW the beauty of Rutledge Falls became the perfect scene for Rick Vella’s children’s book. From a young age, Vella’s mind was always in motion. It often traveled far from the classroom, creating his own stories, characters, and worlds. Whether inspired by a school lecture or a solemn moment in the corner of a room, Vella would find himself daydreaming, creating something new. His natural inclination to think beyond the present, to dream up the unimaginable, an inherited family trait, has carried him through a lifetime of creative expression. This untamed and vivid imagination was a natural part of him, which he now expresses through the written word. 

To Vella, writing is like an endless frontier, much like the wilderness he’s always loved. 

“Alaska is called ‘the last frontier,’ but to me, writing is like that. If you think about it, you can write it,” he said. 

“Whether it’s good or not, that’s for the readers to decide.” 

“I’d be sitting there, just thinking about something else,” Vella recalled. “I’d come up with a character, or a creature, or a whole new world.” 

His writing style, unburdened by convention or expectation, has led him to create stories that connect with readers and brighten imaginations, much like the music that surrounded him as a child. 

Before becoming an author, Vella and his wife’s family were on the road, traveling as part of a bluegrass band. The cadence of the music and the creative energy of writing songs for their albums became a launching pad for his early development as a storyteller. 

“I’d always write goofy songs — silly things about putting bread in a toaster or some little thing like that,” he laughed. 

“Sometimes I’d hear a song, and I’d change the lyrics to something funny. It’s kind of annoying to some people, but it’s just how my brain works.”  

Early on, some of Vella’s teachers quickly picked up on his ability to make others laugh, even with his quirky lyrics. One of his grade school literature teachers assured him he was the most creative student she’d ever had. 

However, Vella struggled academically as a child, and his teachers later noticed signs of dyslexia and difficulties in spelling and grammar. But they never stopped him from exploring his creativity. 

“I never fully understood why words sometimes mixed up in my head,” he said. “But I just kept writing anyway.” 

As an adult, Vella found solace in writing during a particularly challenging time in his life. In 2019, he was diagnosed with two rare health conditions — a liver disease and a blood disorder — causing his life to come to a standstill. 

During these hospital stays, writing became a refuge. He wrote his first book, “The Silly Situation That Made Samuel Smile,” beautifully illustrated by Sara Andrews while in the hospital, which he believes helped him overcome those challenging moments. 

Vella’s condition began to improve through the support of a nutritionist who guided him toward a healthier lifestyle. However, the journey through his health challenges remains an integral part of his story. 

“I worked with a biochemist, and through dietary changes, specifically frequently consuming soluble fiber, which helps most with cleaning up the liver and blood cells, I’m in remission now,” Vella said. “It was a miracle to get connected with her.” 

With a healthier outlook on life, Vella finished his published work, “The Notorious Rock Eater,” also illustrated by Andrews, and wrote two more books now available on Amazon. 

With the publication of “The Notorious Rock Eater of Rutledge Falls,” Vella brought his creative work into the world and also shared a special connection to the very land that inspired it. 

In 2005, Vella moved to Tennessee and stumbled upon Rutledge Falls while looking for hiking places to take his dogs. It would soon become a place that held special meaning for him. 

“The terrain is just so rocky — the way the land slopes down to the waterfall,” Vella described. 

“I put it aside at first to work on another story, but I knew ‘The Notorious Rock Eater’ was something special,” he said. 

With its stunning natural features, Rutledge Falls became the perfect scene for Vella’s storytelling. His book blends the area’s natural beauty with a bit of whimsical fantasy. 

The magic of Rutledge Falls, its rocks and waterfalls, is alive in the pages of Vella’s book, inviting readers to experience its beauty in a new way. 

He read “The Notorious Rock Eater” for the first time to a group of children at the falls, which he said was a neat experience for both him and the listeners. 

For Vella, the beauty of places like Rutledge Falls isn’t just in the sights or sounds; it’s in the stories they inspire. 

“I hope that when families go to places like Rutledge Falls, they find something magical there,” he reflected. “Maybe they’ll get a copy of my book and see the scenery in a new light. I hope it sparks some creativity in them or maybe just gives them a moment to pause and take in nature.” 

Vella also believes in the importance of encouraging creativity, especially in children. 

“We need the arts, especially now,” he said. “there’s a lot of lessons that can be learned outside of the classroom. Writing, drawing, music — these things are so important.” 

And for Vella, the act of storytelling is just as important as the stories themselves. He believes storytelling is a powerful tool that connects humanity. He sees it as something deeply human, a way we’ve always shared our history, passed down knowledge, and connected with one another. 

Whether through a lighthearted tale, a grand adventure, or a meaningful story, he believes the act of telling connects generations and inspires something greater within us all. 

“The characters in ‘The Notorious Rockeater of Rutledge Falls’ come from completely different worlds, yet they find themselves in a situation that, despite those noticeable differences, they come together for a greater cause,” he said. 

“In a day and age where people have polarizing different views on politics, religion, ethnicity, or class and wealth divide, I hope there is a unifying message that we are all fearfully and wonderfully created for a purpose. So let’s find out what that is and do it.” 

Through his stories, Vella hopes to inspire others to embrace their creativity, explore the world around them, and remember that no matter the challenges life throws at them, stories can be a place to escape, heal, and grow. 

“God made me to be creative in everything I do, whether it’s music, writing, building, being a help to others, or simply making people laugh, and in many ways, using that creativity has given me purpose.” GN