The Supreme Pizza of Authors...and Yep, Another Giveaway!

Happy Sunday, all!

Today on the Authorpalooza we have an author with so many interesting books on his resume -- and from such a vast array of genres -- that a visit to his website is like getting ALL of the pizza toppings!

They go from this...

to this...

to this!

For this reason, I encourage you to take some time, (after you read the interview, of course), to scope out his site, http://www.hauntedcomputer.com. Just make sure to come back when you're through and leave comments so you have a chance to win one of his books! Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you Scott Nicholson!

LC: Hi Scott. Why don't we start out with you telling us a little about your books and the genres they fall into?

SN: I mainly write thrillers, although I’ve written paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, and children’s books, too. My most popular book is The Red Church, in which a boy and a sheriff must solve the mystery of a haunted Appalachian church when a strange preacher returns to town.

LC: Yeah, I've noticed that "The Red Church" seems to have done quite well for you on Amazon (along with several others). How long have you been writing? Have you always known that you wanted to write?

SN: I’ve always been creative. It didn’t matter what form. If somebody won an art contest, I wanted it to be me. If I saw a band play, I wanted to be onstage because it seemed like the band was having way more fun than the crowd. When I read a book, I wanted to be the one making up stories.

LC: Haha! I thought I was the only one who was like that! Awesome! So, what, would you say, has been your greatest triumph as an author?

SN: Sticking with it! This is a long and difficult road, but it’s all worthwhile when I hear from a reader about how much they enjoyed a book or how it affected them. That’s the end goal of a story.

LC: Amen to that! Just for fun, where is the most exotic or strange place you've ever traveled to?

SN: The Tulum ruins in Mexico. You can just feel the history and the mythology and the power of belief imbued in the stones.

LC: That sounds like it would be an amazing and awe-inspiring experience. Okay, while we're traveling to exotic places. Let's say that you find yourself stuck on a deserted island with one of your characters. Who would you want it to be, and why?

SN: Probably Tamara Leon from Forever Never Ends, because she is plucky and attractive and courageous. And being clairvoyant doesn’t hurt, either. If nothing else, we’d have some interesting games of “What if?”

LC: Sounds to me like you'd have a lively companion to spend your time with! Speaking of time...what do you like to do with yours when you're not writing?

SN: I am a serious organic gardener. I play some guitar and read, with a little swimming, hiking, and camping on the side. It’s a simple life.

LC: We'll have to chat about that organic gardening sometime! I love gardening and landscaping...but I digress...back to writing. Do you have any strange habits or rituals when you write?

SN: Panic. I am always afraid that it’s all gone, that I can never write another sentence, or that someone is going to tap me on the shoulder and say “Who are you trying to fool?” Luckily, I know that novel writing is impossible and it’s all foolery and illusion.

LC: Shhh! That's supposed to be a trade secret! You know if Disney gets ahold of it, they're likely to turn it into a movie, and we don't want that! :o) But while we're on the subject of movies, what is your favorite movie of all time, and why?

SN: That’s like picking a favorite song. It changes all the time, depending upon mood and stage of life. But “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” is a movie I will always take the time to watch.

LC: *Chuckle*, my dad and my husband would be right there with you on that one! Okay, so if a big-shot Hollywood producer offered to turn your latest book into a motion picture, who would you want to play the lead roles?

SN: I am not very culturally plugged in, but I have always wanted to be involved in a movie with Donald and Keifer Sutherland. It wouldn’t work for Liquid Fear, since Donald is too old. Anything Clint Eastwood, or a cracked-up over the top Al Pacino, but now I am dating myself badly. I don’t enjoy the whole Seth Rogen-Jackass breed of actors, or buy into the Owen Wilson stoner good-guy act. But I’ll take Johnny Depp in anything, and he can play anything, and put him opposite someone who can be slightly unpredictable like Cate Blanchett or Kate Winslet.

LC: You have impeccable taste, sir. Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet are three of my most favorite actors. Great choices! Well, Scott...we probably should wrap it up! I'm sure the readers are anxious to visit your website and learn more about all of your intriguing novels! But before we go, there's one more thing. It's time to SELL IT! Tell us why we would enjoy your books.

SN: I think we’re all sick of the hard sell, because of the hundreds of thousands of indie writers who have crawled out of the woodwork. So I’ll just say you’d be better off reading Cormac McCarthy, Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, Flannery O’Conner, Ira Levin, or James Lee Burke. But I’m the only one who can do Scott Nicholson. And you can only get Scott Nicholson from me. And you are the one who makes the book come alive when you build the other half with your imagination. You’re invited to meet me halfway.

LC: Very well put! Alright everyone, go check out the gamut of Mr. Nicholson's offerings at his site! But be sure to bounce back and leave a comment or two, because one of you will be the lucky receipient of an ebook copy of "Duncan the Punkin", one of Scott's delightful children's books! Here's more about it:

A read-aloud rhyming book for kids of all ages. Duncan's mom teaches him how to survive autumn, but being quiet is too boring. But Skeerdy-Cat-Crow is hungry from hanging on a pole all summer, and a pie sounds real good. But Mo has a trick for both of them.

30 full-color pages (where supported by the electronic device.) Illustrated by Sergio Castro.

Welcome back! Here are the DOs and DON'Ts for the giveaway! DO leave one (or more) comments on the post for Scott Nicholson. However, DON'T be alarmed that only one comment per person will be eligible to win. DO keep an eye on your emails, because on or around Sept. 4th, Mr. Nicholson will be choosing one lucky commenter to receive an ecopy of "Duncan the Punkin". DO make sure to have your comment posted no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on September 3. Oh, and DON'T forget to leave an email address so we can notify you if you win!

Thanks everybody, and HAPPY READING!!

     Author Scott Nicholson has written 12 thrillers, 60 short stories, four comics series, and six screenplays. He's also a freelance editor and journalist. He lives in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, where he tends an organic garden, successfully eludes stalkers, and generally lives the dream.