On Saturday, March 8th, Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester on 65 James Street is happy to welcome Audrey Nicholson and her debut novel, Celtic Ties, for a signing engagement from 2-5PM!
Meet her a little early with this lovely interview she granted us!
Welcome, Audrey! Can you please tell us briefly a little about yourself and your writing?
My name is Audrey Nicholson. I was born in London England and brought up in Belfast Northern Ireland. Celtic Knots is my first novel; it took ten years to write. Primarily because I was at the same time, running a business and taking care of my family. The story, however, had been percolating on the back burner for a long time. A sequel is moving along a lot faster. Becoming an author is the latest of many reincarnations.
What was the inspiration for Celtic Knots? What were the steps you took to bring it from initial inspiration to the finished book?
Celtic Knots was inspired by stories told by family members.
What was the biggest challenge in writing and putting out Celtic Knots? How did you overcome that challenge?
Dealing with ever changing technology is a challenge I am still trying to overcome. I have progressed (if you can call it progress) from napkins through to post it notes, to word processors. Personal computers to laptops. Kicking and screaming every inch of the way!
What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?
Just write, leave the editing until the end. Enjoy telling the story and getting to know your characters. Writing is a lonely addiction and your characters become intriguing company. Many times they will surprise you by suggesting an interesting twist or turn that you have not thought of yourself.
What question do you wish interviewers would ask you, and what would the answer be?
“What inspired you to write Celtic Knots?”
I wanted to tell a story of ordinary people, whose lives were dictated by religious prejudice and a courageous, forbidden love, struggling to overcome intolerance and violence.
What else can we expect from you in the near future?
I am teaching memoir writing and have been working on the sequel to Celtic Knots, which is as yet untitled. Feeley will be forced into taking a journey to Australia.
What does your writing space look like? What do you need to have around you while writing or editing?
My studio is a mess, which I am constantly trying to organize. My computer shares space with books, paints, brushes, canvases, frames, sculpting materials, jewelry findings, a large easel, a sewing machine, a washer and dryer combo, an ironing board, and a large orange cat named Tuppence . “These are a few of my favorite things” (to quote Maria [from The Sound of Music]).
Where can people find your work? (Besides ABSW ;)–though they should totally check here first!)
http://www.audreynicholson.com, Amazon.com; Kindle.com; Barnes & Noble; Sea View, Wells, ME; Irish Village, South Yarmouth, Cape Cod; Tinkers Cart, Clinton, MA; Worcester Senior Center; Cormiers art gallery, Spencer, MA; Brookfield library, Brookfield, MA
How can we follow your work, share your awesomeness, or otherwise stalk you in a totally non-creepy way?
http://www.audreynicholson.com, email, Facebook (“Celtic Knots by Audrey Nicholson”). I am always happy to meet with book clubs and other gatherings of book lovers, time permitting.
Come meet Audrey in person on Saturday, March 8, from 2-5PM–and discover beauty of Celtic Knots!
Annie's Book Stop of Worcester 
Bought a copy-will let you know what we think!