Charles, Nicky: - "Nicky Charles is an independent writer/publisher who became an author quite by accident. For many years she wrote as a hobby, seeing herself a 'reader not a writer'. Now a full-time author, she thanks-or blames, depending on the day-her friend/editor and fellow author, Jan Gordon, for the career she now finds herself immersed in. When she writes, Nicky sees the story unfolding in her head like a movie and tries to include enough detail so readers can 'see' the story just as she does. The sights, sounds, smells and sensations of a scene are almost as important to her as the actual plot. Nicky lives in Canada and tries to stick to Canadian spelling and punctuation in her work. She is an avid supporter of animal shelters, nature conservancy, food banks and a variety of other charities. Currently, she has three 'official' cats though a number of strays seem to take up residence in her garden each year. When not writing, Nicky enjoys reading - though she often bemoans that she seldom has time for it any more. She also enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, taking day trips and eating dark chocolate. You can contact Nicky Charles at her website: www.nickycharles.com"