GOTHIC, FOLKLORIC, AND LITERARY FICTION
Biography
japan
She joined the JET Programme in Japan and got a TEFL teaching certification and a certification in copyediting and proofwriting. While on the JET Programme, she became the Language Section Editor for Connect Magazine and wrote several articles for them, including informative articles about locations like Spa World, interviews with experts like Mayumi Asaba and Armando Duarte, and Japanese language resources on topics like dealing with the Japanese medical system and car maintenance.
university
Rebecca graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a B.A. in English and a minor in Gender Studies. She was the 2010 recipient of the Carlos Camacho Humorous Writing Prize with the winning piece “Dear Little Red Hood”. She presented her first paper at a Graduate research conference in 2010, at the No Limits Conference at University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
leadership
She served as the Vice-Chair of National AJET, helping to write surveys and reports and present them to CLAIR and the 3 Ministries that support the JET Programme. She co-authored an opinion piece for the Nikkei Asia with then-President of Stonewall Japan Nelson Ysabel and National AJET Chair Rachel Boellstorff. She was also the Vice-Chair of Hyogo AJET with Hyogo AJET Chair Anna Ayvazyan, who later became the National AJET Chair.
Rebecca gave the keynote speech at Tokyo Orientation A for an audience of more than 2000 incoming JET Programme participants and handed out resources along with AJET’s Taryn Matthews, Director of Public Relations.
International representatives met in Tokyo with the 3 Ministries and CLAIR for JETAAI’s annual conference. National AJET was represented by Meghan Buhagiar (Director of Alumni Relations), Rebecca Ruth, and Jocelyn Navera (Director of Alumni Resources.
work in 2025
academia
Since leaving the JET Programme, she has continued writing. She has published short articles in 2025, including this interview with the magazine The Anti Misogyny Club which mentions her printed article, “A Number Of Ridiculous Things Are Happening,” a comparative piece between Western and Japanese civil rights and cultural attitudes. Issue 5 can be downloaded for free from their Substack here.
fiction
Her New American Gothic fiction piece “8:30” can be read in Fine Lines Literary Magazine’s Autumn 2025 Edition, available for purchase on amazon.com.
She recently submitted an excerpt from her novel “Point Nemo” to The Master’s Review annual contest. Also out for query are “Callisto,” “Hyacinth Season,” and “They Should Find You Handy.”
NOVELS IN PROGRESS
Her main project is a novel-in-progress called “Pretty In Japan”, an examination of the micro-influencer economy and the struggles to go viral, as well as a dive into the eikaiwa industry.
pretty in japan
“Good luck at work. Don’t make any friends.”
“I won’t.” She followed Brett with her eyes as he straightened the folders on his desk. “So. That’s goodbye, then?” Should she get his personal information, now that they were coworkers? She looked for the words– a casual, can I get your phone number, maybe? Should she ask for his LINE?
An idea occurred just as she was opening her mouth to try.
‘Am I included in the people at work that he would never be friends with?’
Tiffany was wrestling with this idea so ferociously that it took her too long to process what Brett said next.
“I am as free as any bird, and their superior in many other regards.” Brett stretched so ostentatiously that she heard his back crack.
She blinked. “What?” Tiffany asked.
Brett regarded her with what might be pity. “Bye.”
Oh. Okay. She waved. “Bye!” He left, and not five minutes later a dark-haired woman with sleek eyeliner and the world’s largest pair of pants strode into the building. She lifted angular sunglasses off of her face to squint at Tiffany.
“New girl?” she said, and dropped her tote bag on the ground. “I’m Deidre, call me Deedee.”
Oh. Shit. Her heart thudded. Deedee was cool.