Suvudu Universe

This week’s author writes fantasy with a bit of time-travel and romance stirred in. If you like myth and dragons and magical boats, you’ll enjoy this indie author. I’m pleased to introduce Nikki here on No Wasted Ink.

My name is Nikki Broadwell and I live in Tucson, having relocated from Portland, Oregon two years ago with Jim, my husband of nearly thirty-five years, and Buddha our standard poodle. I love the dirt road that leads to our house, the Catalina Mountains in the distance and the myriad trails that wend their way between our house and those rocky peaks where I can walk my dog off leash!

When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve always loved to write but I became serious about it around eleven years ago. I took a writing workshop in order to get some ideas about structuring a fictionalized memoir about my father’s experience in a Japanese prison camp during WW2.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I called myself a writer after the bug took hold of me and wouldn’t let go–so probably when I was about half way through Wolfmoon Trilogy.

Can you share a little about your current book with us?

The book I’m working on now, Gypsy’s Return, is a sequel to Gypsy’s Quest and follows the heroine, Gertrude from Milltown, Massachusetts to Far Isle, a place in a dystopian future where corporations rule.

What inspired you to write this book?

I wrote a trilogy entitled, Wolfmoon, but at the end of the third book we don’t know what happens to Gertrude, one of the main characters. Gypsy’s Quest is her story, told in the first person.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I’ve been told that my writing is very visual so I guess it would be called cinematic? Besides description, I love dialogue and so a good portion of my stories unfold through conversations.

How did you come up with the title of this book?

The Gypsy series refers to the main character’s heritage as well as a magical boat name Gypsy, that could also be called a character.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

The message is about saving the earth for future generations. I know, that sounds didactic, but the message is revealed through action, story and character development.

Are experiences in this book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Not really, although some of my own concerns about oil exploration are a part of the themes in the books.

What authors have most influenced your life? What about them do you find inspiring?

I love Kurt Vonnegut, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, A.A Milne, Lewis Carroll, Margaret Atwood, Joanne Harris, Tom Robbins and many many others. I have always been an avid reader. I like the themes these authors explore in their stories and their disparate writing styles.

If you had to choose, is there a writer would you consider a mentor? Why?

I’m sure I’ve gleaned all sorts of information from reading these authors, but not any one person stands out for me. But I do think that Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, started me on the road toward fantasy writing.

Who designed the cover of your book? Why did you select this illustrator?

Viola Estrella designed the cover for Gypsy’s Quest as well as The Wolf Moon, and my redo of the cover for The Moonstone. I plan to hire her to do Gypsy’s Return as well. She is very good. I highly recommend her work!

Do you have any advice for other writers?

If you decide to go the indie route, make sure you have your book well edited before you put it out in the marketplace. And don’t let anyone tell you how to write or what you should write about–follow your own muse.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I feel honored every time someone reads my books and has something nice to say. Having people enjoy my books is paramount!

Nikki Broadwell
Tucson, Arizona

Gypsy’s Quest
Airmid Publishing
Cover Art: Viola Estrella

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