BLOG TOUR: The Three Travelers by Nicole Pickens INTERVIEW

The Three Travelers

By

Nicole Pickens

Three travelers journey on life’s road of love, justice and redemption. A young man stumbled upon a haunted tree on a wayside rural road whose tormented ghosts plea for his assistance. A little girl invited a traveler to her home to meet her family with some unusual results. A soul accepted the gift to move among the living from sunset to sunrise. He tries to alter the circumstance of his loved ones but time is never enough.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

I am an ordinary girl. I was born in America. I went to school and had a tortured childhood. I've weathered the years rather well to this present day. As a matter of fact, I am baking a pumpkin as I post.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I never considered a writing career, before. I wanted to be a doctor, a singer, an accountant and very popular. 

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

Nothing is typical when I write. I can go through long spans of not writing but my mind in complete fantasy, as the story develops and characters introduce themselves. Sometimes, its very quiet. I guess that is called writer's block and then, intense activity. The only thing I seem to really need is time and solitude. Unfortunately, I don't always get them at the same time.

What would you say is the most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The most challenging part of writing is finding the time to do it. I have a teenage son, a very irritable parent, needy pets and a business. The most rewarding part is the journey of the tale. You never know what is going to pop up

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

My latest book is a family novel set in a swamp in the south. Some of the characters have an Andy Griffin appeal to them, but a chosen few are aware of a secret resident. The secret must be kept but I'm not certain if it will be. This little town and its residents have a lot of history to share. 

How did you come with the idea for this series?

The idea originated as a classroom project while I was in college. We were assigned the task of writing a short story. My story wanted to continue.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I'm not ready to share just yet. I don't think the others are ready, either. 

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Favorite Authors? Nicholas Sparks, Toni Morrison, Charles Dickens, Kate Chopin 

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

All writers influence other writers, it's impossible not to. 

Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.

 The lake was calm and the trees reflected softly on the surface as the mists slowly faded behind them in the Saturday morning sun. The lake was a small portion of a very large body of water. The portion of the lake had a thick swamp behind it. Only the wild moved freely in and out of it. The swamp and the neighboring forest gave signs of the newest season with bright green buds on the tree limbs, white blooms on the dogwood trees, and hints of purple Genetian flowers among the ferns on the forest floor. 

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

My "read pile" has become way too large and most of my interests have become almost lost. My son wants me to read a Percy Jackson book. Maybe. :-)

Have you ever used anyone from your real life encounters in any of your books?

They say, write about what you know. With that, yes, I have used similar scenarios and characterizations in my work. 

What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself while you were writing?

I surprised myself with the type of fiction I write in, angels, dragons, ghosts, etc. Like most people, I have limited knowledge and experience with supernatural beings but I think that is the most intriguing part for me. I find out what I can and make up the rest. :-)

Nicole was born in Los Angeles, California. Her father was a jazz musician and her mother was a waitress. She has lived in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and currently resides in North Georgia. She enjoys movies, art, music, and cooking. She is the mother of one child. Nicole holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and English from Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. She is currently working on her first novel in the genre of family/fantasy. Her current published work is The Three Travelers. It is a collection of supernatural short stories, published by Silver Tongue Press.