Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was fortunate to receive four contracts from the wonderful Wild Rose
Press and one from Champagne Books. Then I decided to take the plunge
into indie publishing with two cozy mystery series, a book of short
stories, a second book of Christmas stories, and finally my latest book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest indie release is Four Summer Days based on a story my
grandmother told me about how my great-grandfather killed his step-father
and was never prosecuted. As an adult, I pursued the story in the
course of genealogical research, found a few facts (no, he wasn’t
prosecuted!), heard two more versions of the story, and was left with
many unanswered questions. For the book, I combined all three versions
and let it roll from there!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well my first two published books were written and edited piecemeal while
keeping my first granddaughter from the age of two weeks! It was a
circus, believe me, as I struggled to learn about serious writing and
how to take care of a baby with all the new ‘rules and regulations’. Now
she’s in the third grade, so I just sit and write and enjoy.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up in my hometown’s wonderful public library and lived and
breathed reading! The Five Little Peppers, The Bobbsey Twins, Trixie
Belden, and the usual classics like Little Women, Eight Cousins, Rose in
Bloom, Black Beauty, and many others took over my imagination. As a ‘tween, I consumed
the many books of Christian author Grace Livingston Hill. They still
influence my characters today though with some realistic tweaking. Mary
Stewart fueled my love of mystery. Today I love mystery, historical
thrillers of the WW II era, presidential daughter Margaret Truman’s
mysteries, and John Grisham’s earlier books.
What are you working on now?
Return to Morgan’s Mountain is the sequel to Four Summer Days, bringing the
family forward to the present day. Keeping Promises is finished but
waiting on a beta reader. Ruthann’s War will be submitted for
consideration to TWRP this month–as soon as I write the dreaded
synopsis! I have a folder full of partially written stories. Time, time!
My kingdom for a horse–I mean, time!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use the obligatory social media channels and try to keep my website current. And I blog on topics of interest to other writers three times a week.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it. Understand your first draft stinks, but you have to get it down. You can fluff and buff it later.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Not to decide is to decide. And it’s true. Every decision not made is
actually a decision to do nothing, which isn’t very profitable.
What are you reading now?
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King. It’s for Sleuthers, the mystery book club at my local library.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Just keep enjoying the opportunity to write–and stop stressing about what doesn’t get done!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Bible
Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
The Best Loved Poems of the American People
And everything on my Kindle as long as the charge holds out! Maybe I could rig up solar power on that island?
Author Websites and Profiles
Judy Nickles Website
Judy Nickles’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account