Interview with Nichole Giles, author of The Sharp Edge of a Knife ALSO contest for two copies of "Hanging by The Thread" ENTER NOW!

Nichole Giles is one of those people who brightens a room just by walking into it. She is vivacious, beautiful and extremely talented. Her warmth and wit make her a delight to be around and she is sincerely the nicest person I've ever met.



Here is a little background about Nichole . . .
Nichole Giles (aka D. N. Giles) was born in Nevada, and moved with her parents to a number of cities in and around the Midwest, mostly staying in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Her early career plans included becoming a megastar actress or a rock star, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer, in that order. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her family, travel, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.

Nichole has had a new book released recently. I would highly recommend it!


The Sharp Edge of a Knife
by D.N. Giles
Most people would have panicked, sitting bound and gagged on a boulder in the middle of the desert as I was, but for some reason, I didn’t. A strange kind of reassurance washed over me from somewhere deep within. Whether it was peace that I’d go quickly, or comfort that I was being protected, I wasn’t sure.
When Mel Petersen leaves for work on the morning of February 7, he has no idea what awaits him. A few miles from his house, Mel picks up a pair of young men who appear to be college students, hoping to prevent them from having to walk in the cold. What Mel doesn’t know is that the men are actually convicts on the run from the law who are desperate to get away by any means necessary.
When one of his passengers holds a knife to Mel’s throat, he has no choice but to submit to the demands of the criminals. Mel hopes he has what it takes to talk his captors into letting him live so he can return to his wife and children, but fears they will kill him before he has the chance.
Based on a true story, The Sharp Edge of a Knife follows Mel and his captors on an unforgettable ride that will have you questioning the depth of your faith and sitting on the edge of your seat as it grabs your attention from the first sentence and keeps you riveted until the very end.

Here's a little about her book, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief

Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, Hilarious Stories for Saints
by D.N. Giles and C.L. Beck
Ward meetings have never been so funny!
This collection of humorous anecdotes from celebrated LDS authors shows off Church members at their finest. From primary pranks to cheeky comments made by Zion’s youth to high priests hijinx, no age group is immune to the potential for humor.

Though it may not be in the official Word of Wisdom, laughter really is the best medicine. Whether you’re a senior missionary, or an eight-year-old graduating to senior primary, you’re bound to get a kick out of these silly stories.

Read about:
*The preschooler who was afraid of being eaten by ‘Sunbeans’
* Establishing Zion in Cougar Stadium
*The ‘oddmonition’ of Paul
*The 14th article of faith
*Doing battle with the “Laman Knights”
*A young women outing that almost landed the class behind bars…and lots more!

Perfect for those long Sunday afternoons, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief will keep your family laughing all week long!

Here is my interview with this incredible woman.

M.B.: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Nichole: When I was a young mother with nursing babies, I used to spend a lot of time reading while I spent hours in my rocking chair. At some point, the idea occurred to me that I might be able to write stories or books myself. By the time my youngest started pre-school, the idea had taken root and I decided to take a distance-learning writing class.

M.B.: What is your writing and educational background?

Nichole: After that class I took, I realized first that I had a lot to learn, and second that I couldn’t get enough. So I took another class and started attending as many conferences as I could find and afford. Along the way, I also joined writers groups and critique groups, and started blogging. All of these things have contributed to my learning journey. I’ve published some short stories and articles in magazines, hundreds of blogs, and two books, including Mormon Mishaps and Mischief and The Sharp Edge of a Knife.

M.B.: What makes you passionate about writing?

Nichole: I just love words, and the way they can make a person feel when fitted together just the right way. Also, I love being caught up in a story of human emotion.

M.B.: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Nichole: My first book was Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, and I did that with my coauthor Cindy Beck. It was a long, long process and took about two and a half years from inception to publication, but every step along the way was a lesson I needed to learn, and every moment of hard work has been worth it.

M.B.: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Nichole: I get discouraged daily. Really. In reality, we all do. I think it comes down to attitude. Will we let our fears or frustrations make us quit? Or will we use them as fuel to make us work even harder. I’m the person who does the latter. I still consider quitting every so often, and those moments cause me a lot of thought and reflection. But when I really think about it, I could never do that. I just couldn’t follow through with being a quitter.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

Nichole: I write whenever I can, which often means choosing between writing and sleep. I’ve promised myself that as long as I write something every day—even if it has nothing to do with my current works-in-progress—that is what matters. And when I’m in editing mode, the rules change to editing so many pages or lines per day.

M.B.: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is
good enough to write a book about it?

Nichole: My ideas come from life, from things I’ve experienced or that I’ve witnessed in other people, especially the people I love. Usually, I combine experiences from many different people and create characters or situations from there.

M.B.: When did the idea for this book first come to you?

Nichole: The Sharp Edge of a Knife is a true story about my grandpa, who was kidnapped in 1958 and left in the desert to die. I remember hearing something about this as a child, but I never knew many details until after my grandpa died and my grandma gave us all a copy of his life history. As I read it, I came across about a two-page section that touched on this story and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had to look into it farther. Originally, I’d planned to write an article about it, but then it became much longer and fuller.

M.B.: What do you hope readers will get from this book?

Nichole: I hope readers will realize how their own faith can help them through the toughest situations life will throw at them. Also, how important it is to make good decisions. And maybe I hope they’ll remember the importance of family.

M.B.: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit
down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline
first?

Nichole: I’m definitely not an outliner. When I write fiction, I sit down and write to discover character, plot, and story. This method is messy, and generally requires months and months of cutting and rewriting to find the heart of the story, but it works for me. I’ve tried outlining, and it’s just not for me. At least, not when it comes to novels.

M.B.: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's
block? If so, how do you deal with it?

Nichole: All the time. When I hit a wall with one story I do one of two things. First, I go back and read previous chapters to see where I might have made a wrong turn. If that doesn’t work, I set that story aside for a while and work on something else. Eventually, I’ll have a brainstorm—usually at a very inconvenient time—that brings me back into the original story and gets me moving again.

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when
you are writing?

Nichole: It depends on the day, and sometimes the scene. Quiet is always good. But I find that sometimes I need music in the background to help me find a certain mood. I’ve been known to work both ways.

M.B.: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?

Nichole: I do a lot of driving, especially with my convertible top down, always with mood music of one kind or another. I go for walks, hike, do yoga, watch movies and read books. But music is huge for me when it comes to inspiration. And I listen to a well rounded variety, depending on what I’m working on.

M.B.: Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

Nichole: I can’t say that it’s just one person. I have so many writing friends, and I credit them all. I will say that my writer’s group, Authors Incognito, has been the biggest influence in my writing life. I would never be where I am without them. (How’s that for fitting about 200 people into one?)

M.B.: What’s your secret to making the character’s in your books come to life?

Nichole: I have to feel them first before I can write them. Sometimes I don’t really know them very well until after I’ve finished a few drafts, but once I do, I’m able to go back and edit them into the people I’ve come to know and love.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

Nichole: Um, yes. Several. Because if I didn’t have other people to help me find the problems with my writing, I’d be completely lost.

M.B.: Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

Nichole: The one I’m currently submitting, Gifted. Because it has so much of my heart and soul in it.

M.B.: What is something about yourself people don’t know?

Nichole: When I was sixteen, I sang with my high-school choir in Carnegie Hall in New York. It was an amazing experience.

M.B.: What is your favorite snack to have while you are writing?

Nichole: I don’t generally eat much while I’m typing—cuz I need both my hands to type—but when I do, it’s usually going to be licorice, bite-sized chocolates, or dried fruit.

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to
have their manuscripts become books in print?

Nichole: Never give up. You will be rejected. Many times. You will be criticized and critiqued and shot down. You will feel hurt. But the only way to see your name on a book is to pick yourself up and move forward. Never, ever, give up.

M.B.: What are you working on now?

Nichole: I’m usually writing more than one novel at a time, and right now I’m working on two. Only one has a title, though. It’s a sequel to Gifted, called Cursed. I’m very excited about it.

M.B.: Any final words you would like to share

Nichole: Sure. I’m an avid blogger, so if you or your readers would like to see more of my work or know more about me, you can always find me at www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com, or www.ldswritersblogck.blogspot.com.

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?

Nichole: Both of my books are available on Amazon, but I also believe Mormon Mishaps and Mischief is available online at Deseret book, Barnes and Noble, and Borders. The Sharp Edge of a Knife is also on the shelves at Seagull Book and Tape, as well as online at most book selling locations, such aswww.BarnesandNoble.com"> BarnesandNoble.com.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Sharp-Edge-of-a-Knife/D-N-Giles/e/9780979434020/?itm=1&USRI=The+Sharp+Edge+of+a+Knife

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mormon-Mishaps-and-Mischief/Nichole-Giles/e/9781599552972/?itm=1&USRI=mormon+mishaps+and+mischief

To read a sample chapter of The Sharp Edge of a Knife, visit my website www.nicholegiles.com.

To read some sample anecdotes from Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, visit the LDS Humor blog at www.ldshumor.blogspot.com.

I have two copies of "Hanging by The Thread" a great suspense novel by Donald B. Anderson. If you would like to win a copy:

1 Entry - leave a comment on this post
1 Entry - leave a comment on the post with Donny's book review and interview

I will announce the winners on next week's author spotlight. GOOD LUCK!