I met Nikole in March, 2009. She had invited members of my writing group to a writer’s tea in northern Arizona. After getting lost, we finally found her and had a wonderful visit. On a strange side note, she'd won a copy of my novel in a giveaway on another blog. It was nice to be able to give it to her personally. She was kind enough to review it and I was pleased with her review.
You can find Nikole at The Hahn Hunting Lodge.
She’s also participating in NanoWrimo under the user name NikoleHahn
MG: When did you know you wanted to write?
NH: I knew I wanted to write when I was in High School. I would write stories using friends names and at lunchtime they would sit around for me to read their story to them. It was a way for them to be someone else at lunch without leaving campus. I sent in a ghost story to Marian Zimmer's magazine and they asked me for a rewrite (however, I was a very flighty teenager and never resubmitted to which I kick myself even today for not resubmitting it).
Creative writing teachers and English teachers have always been encouraging. In my sophmore year of high school I won a city-wide essay contest and was awarded a place in the Armed Forces Day Parade as well as a check presented to me by the mayor.
MG: How long have you been writing?
NH: Since High School, but my writing got better when I threw away my inhibitions and became more transparent emotionally. It also got better with age and experience.
MG: How often do you write? Do you have a routine?
NH: Every other day. I blog so I can excercise my writing and try new techniques. I write my work in progress on the weekends.
MG: What kind of stories do you tell?
NH: For a long time, it has been a wide range usually romance, but a few months ago, I became more in love with Christian-Fantasy. This is my first love now. My afterthought is Christian-Romance.
MG: Do you have any other pursuits besides writing?
NH: I am an avid outdoorsperson--hunter, hiker, camper. I gave up on gardening. I kill plants now. My green thumb is out of season. I also love traveling.
MG: Do you have a favorite author and or genre that you read?
NH: Genre- Christian/Romance/Suspense/Fantasy Authors - Kingsbury, Julie Garwood, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Love Inspired books, Tolkien, Narnia series, Sigmund Brouwer, Michelle Gregory, Carol Cox, and many many more. Maybe on the second cup of coffee I can think of more names.
MG: I’m always honored to be included in someone’s favorite author list. Thank you. If you could keep only two writing books, what would they be and why?
NH: I don't really buy writing books. I would definitely keep Writer's Market and Christian Writer's Market. Their resources and advice are invaluable. I get most of my information from online, writers groups, etc.
MG: If you could visit only two writing blogs, what would they be?
NH: books n such and moonboatcafe, but my favorite blogs change periodically. backstorycafe is still a kind of favorite. I know, I know...you said two. lol.
MG: Why are you pursuing publishing?
NH: Everyone's dream is to write the great american novel. My dream is to make a living off of writing while still holding a part time job in some retail or public place to continue to get more material. I pursue traditional publishing because I do not like to spend my money or time marketing my book as much as self-publishing requires and the editing is much better through traditional publishers. I am not against self-publishing. I think there are a lot of good companies like Thomas-Nelson's new self-publishing venue that are good for people who wish to pursue the self-publishing route.
MG: What has been the most difficult aspect of trying to get published?
NH: You get used to rejections; Even the best have gotten rejected. You learn to get a thick skin and you learn to look for the gem in each rejection letter for encouragement. The most difficult aspect is watching someone else win a contest or get published over you and then you read their work and realize, "wow, I did not think of that!" You learn something from every defeat. Plus, the work involved in writing a novel is tremendous. This is my first and it is a lot of work. I love it though.
MG: What one piece of advice would you give other writers, either about writing or about seeking publication?
NH: Do not be in a hurry to get published. Slow down. Take your time. You've got the rest of your life. Research each agent and publisher as there are many scams. Frequent blogs like writers beware and listen to the online chatter. Check out an agent and publisher through the better business bureau and remember the old adage, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is..." And guard your work. I once won a scholarship as a high school student to California State University of Long Beach Young Writer's Summer Program and a person in our class plagiarized someone else's work. Plagiarism is still alive and well. Learn about copyright rules.
Read more interviews here.
You can find Nikole at The Hahn Hunting Lodge.
She’s also participating in NanoWrimo under the user name NikoleHahn
MG: When did you know you wanted to write?
NH: I knew I wanted to write when I was in High School. I would write stories using friends names and at lunchtime they would sit around for me to read their story to them. It was a way for them to be someone else at lunch without leaving campus. I sent in a ghost story to Marian Zimmer's magazine and they asked me for a rewrite (however, I was a very flighty teenager and never resubmitted to which I kick myself even today for not resubmitting it).
Creative writing teachers and English teachers have always been encouraging. In my sophmore year of high school I won a city-wide essay contest and was awarded a place in the Armed Forces Day Parade as well as a check presented to me by the mayor.
MG: How long have you been writing?
NH: Since High School, but my writing got better when I threw away my inhibitions and became more transparent emotionally. It also got better with age and experience.
MG: How often do you write? Do you have a routine?
NH: Every other day. I blog so I can excercise my writing and try new techniques. I write my work in progress on the weekends.
MG: What kind of stories do you tell?
NH: For a long time, it has been a wide range usually romance, but a few months ago, I became more in love with Christian-Fantasy. This is my first love now. My afterthought is Christian-Romance.
MG: Do you have any other pursuits besides writing?
NH: I am an avid outdoorsperson--hunter, hiker, camper. I gave up on gardening. I kill plants now. My green thumb is out of season. I also love traveling.
MG: Do you have a favorite author and or genre that you read?
NH: Genre- Christian/Romance/Suspense/Fantasy Authors - Kingsbury, Julie Garwood, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Love Inspired books, Tolkien, Narnia series, Sigmund Brouwer, Michelle Gregory, Carol Cox, and many many more. Maybe on the second cup of coffee I can think of more names.
MG: I’m always honored to be included in someone’s favorite author list. Thank you. If you could keep only two writing books, what would they be and why?
NH: I don't really buy writing books. I would definitely keep Writer's Market and Christian Writer's Market. Their resources and advice are invaluable. I get most of my information from online, writers groups, etc.
MG: If you could visit only two writing blogs, what would they be?
NH: books n such and moonboatcafe, but my favorite blogs change periodically. backstorycafe is still a kind of favorite. I know, I know...you said two. lol.
MG: Why are you pursuing publishing?
NH: Everyone's dream is to write the great american novel. My dream is to make a living off of writing while still holding a part time job in some retail or public place to continue to get more material. I pursue traditional publishing because I do not like to spend my money or time marketing my book as much as self-publishing requires and the editing is much better through traditional publishers. I am not against self-publishing. I think there are a lot of good companies like Thomas-Nelson's new self-publishing venue that are good for people who wish to pursue the self-publishing route.
MG: What has been the most difficult aspect of trying to get published?
NH: You get used to rejections; Even the best have gotten rejected. You learn to get a thick skin and you learn to look for the gem in each rejection letter for encouragement. The most difficult aspect is watching someone else win a contest or get published over you and then you read their work and realize, "wow, I did not think of that!" You learn something from every defeat. Plus, the work involved in writing a novel is tremendous. This is my first and it is a lot of work. I love it though.
MG: What one piece of advice would you give other writers, either about writing or about seeking publication?
NH: Do not be in a hurry to get published. Slow down. Take your time. You've got the rest of your life. Research each agent and publisher as there are many scams. Frequent blogs like writers beware and listen to the online chatter. Check out an agent and publisher through the better business bureau and remember the old adage, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is..." And guard your work. I once won a scholarship as a high school student to California State University of Long Beach Young Writer's Summer Program and a person in our class plagiarized someone else's work. Plagiarism is still alive and well. Learn about copyright rules.
Read more interviews here.
