J.W. Nicklaus resides in a place not entirely fit for human habitation about five months of the year. No pets to speak of, only the apparitions from which all romantics suffer.
An Arizona native, he’s been from one coast to the other, and a few places in between. College brought an AA in journalism with a minor in photography, and a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications. His work experience has run the gamut from creative director for a small advertising firm in Tucson to a litigation support bureau in Phoenix (and assuredly some awkward stuff in the mix).
Snow has been featured prominently in his stories, perhaps because of the seasonless climate he lives in. Nature was meant to be enjoyed and experienced, not hidden from the senses. So to that end, he hopes someday to live amongst those who are able to live through four true seasons, and not just blast furnace and warm.
He enjoys the occasional Arizona Diamondbacks game with his son, as well as watching him grow up. The experience of being a single dad has taught him far more about himself than he ever thought possible.
Within the expanse of every waking moment, he hopes his guardian angel keeps its arms open wide and heart ever watchful, for there but for one true Hope goes She.
J.W. will be on virtual book tour in April ’09 to promote his debut short story collection, The Light, The Dark & Ember Between. We interviewed him to find out more about his new book.
Q: Thank you for this interview, J.W. Can we begin by having you tell us why you chose to put together a collection of short stories?
A: It’s my absolute pleasure to be here!
I’ve always liked short stories. Sure, I enjoy novels too, but the impact and brevity of a short story have always intrigued me. I thought of all those stories I’ve read that delicately reached in and touched me in some manner. To a degree this book is my meager way to give back and possibly to leave my own positive mark within my personal sphere of influence.
Q: Did you outline before you wrote your book or just went with the flow?
A: I find it hard to write from an outline. I typically have the starting and end in mind when I sit down to write then pretty much write until the two meet. For example, in my story, Elevator Shoes, I started with the idea of how many different people get in and out of elevators all day long. I used to ride them quite a bit when I worked at a hospital. I had the title in mind, and essentially the first passenger, but everything after that was done on-the-fly, so to speak.
For Requiem For Linny, I had taken my inspiration from a painting in the Phoenix Art Museum, so I knew what the core of the story would be about. Cowboys huddled around a snowy grave where they had just buried something. It was so cold and sparse, but it conveyed a message of loss to me. Now, I come from an area where people actually move to get away from snowy climates, and being an Arizona native I actually like the snow—I know a lot of people who don’t, mostly folks from more northern climes. What better reason to remain in a place you don’t like than for the love of a woman? Even if you hate snow.
And so, Requiem For Linny was born. I never wrote an outline, just let the characters and their relationships walk me through it. I knew for certain what the last line would be, and the first paragraph, but that was it.
Q: What kind of research, if any, did you do before putting this book together?
A: Some authors, like actors, do in-depth research to get as close to their characters and situations as possible. What little research I did was in support of story details that I had little or no experienced with. For example, I’ve certainly been on boats in my lifetime, and even earned the canoeing merit badge as a boy scout, yet I’m ashamed to admit I can’t seem to keep starboard and port straight. So for Emissary I had to do a little research to make sure I got small details like those right. My editor certainly helped as well. But much of the content was harvested from experiences we all have as we go through the business of simply living. The emotional aspects didn’t require much in the way of research, but when the occasional objective event called for it I would spend some time doing research to make sure I got the details as correct as I could.
