Sandra Nikolai is the author of FALSE
IMPRESSIONS, a mystery novel featuring ghostwriter Megan Scott and
investigative reporter Michael Elliott. She lives outside Ottawa, Ontario,
where she is currently at work on book two in the series. Visit her blog at www.sandranikolaiauthor.blogspot.com
or follow her on www.goodreads.com and
Twitter: @sandranikolai.
Find her book on Amazon and other online
retailers:
Amazon.com
How/why did you start to write?
It began with a love of books—especially
mysteries. As a teen, I had ideas for stories and began to write them down. My
passion for writing stories continued to grow over time.
How did you become an author?
I joined writers’ groups and attended
workshops and conferences. I wrote a dozen short stories that were accepted for
publication. The progression to writing mystery novels took longer as I had to
learn the different techniques involved. All the while, I read lots of books
and studied other writers’ styles.
What was your first published piece?
My first published piece was a short story,
“The Grotto,” in Canadian Writer’s
Journal. The piece won an Honourable Mention prize in their short fiction contest
in 2003.
My first mystery novel, FALSE IMPRESSIONS,
was published as an eBook in May 2012. It’s the first book in a series
featuring ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative reporter Michael Elliott. The
story is set in Montreal and involves betrayal, murder, and a bit of romance,
of course.
When Megan’s husband and a female friend
are found murdered, startling evidence surfaces to reveal that Megan and
Michael are prime suspects. As they try to prove their innocence, attempts are
made on their lives. Their only way out is to catch the real killer before they
become the next victims. And that’s where the plot thickens!
What did you do before embarking on your
writing career? Was it an asset to your writing? How?
I worked in sales, finance, high tech and
customer service, to name a few. Writing always formed a part of every job I
held, and I enjoyed it. The skills I gained from working in structured
environments helped me to organize my thoughts. The creative part came from
interacting with different types of people through my work. I’m sure some of their
mannerisms, attitudes, and experiences made their way into my book—though none
of them were murderers!
What inspires you?
I’m a visual person. Anything I see can
inspire me. I imagine a theme and the possibilities around it, then write my
ideas down in story form. Early mornings are especially inspiring for me. I can
sit at my computer for hours and let the words flow without feeling any
pressure.
Please share one of your successful
marketing techniques.
Write the best book you can. If possible,
use professional editing services. A quality product will generate positive
feedback that will spread from one reader to the next. Use a blog and other
social media to engage your readers.
What do you write about on your blog?
I share my writing experiences and offer
tips. I have posts on how to organize your writing schedule, how to keep an
open mind when writing—even how to pace your time on virtual activities!
Parting words
(It was my pleasure, Sandra. Thank you for your interesting post.)
