Nicholson's book great Halloween reading

By Rose Hooper

Former Sylva resident Scott Nicholson, shown here with his dog Frodo, will sign copies of his new book, "Thank You for the Flowers" at City Lights Saturday, Oct. 28, from noon until 2 p.m.

He'll spook you with voices from the world of beyond in "Haunted;" he'll stretch your flesh and imagination in "Skin;" and he'll have you tuning in to the mysterious men-only murderer who calls herself "Night Owl" in "Dead Air." You'll stalk horror writers who steal ideas in "Do You Know Me Yet?" and you'll dream of fire hiding behind everything like red shadows in "The Boy Who Saw Fire."

But, most memorably, you'll meet Jerry with the red irises, the lone wolf, a natural ball player in many ways and unnatural in others. "Bloodthirsty" takes on a new meaning in "The Vampire Shortstop," the best short story you'll read this Halloween, or probably this millennium.

While many of the tales are dark fantasies, others like "Thirst" explore a lighter fantasty. So we don't "spook" the wee ones, Nicholson has agreed to share a gentle childhood story with Herald readers.

Nicholson's haunting collection of 'lucky 13" short stories comes packaged this Halloween in a newly-released book from Parkway Publishers called "Thank You for the Flowers." Now a resident of Boone, this Sylva native will sign copies of his book this Saturday, Oct. 28, from noon until 2 p.m. at City Lights Bookstore.

Why does this 1980 graduate of Sylva-Webster High School write stories about ghosts, magic realism, and other weird stuff?

"I just happen to start thinking that way every time I start a story. It's a natural path," said this son of Bobby and Delores Nicholson of Webster.

"I feel a lot of freedom when I look over the horizon, beyond the real and known. The only thing science has proved to my satisfaction is that we don't really understand very much about life and living or even the nature of reality. And those are just the basics.

"When you're talking about love, faith, and the bigger mysteries, I don't think anyone should pretend they know the least little bit about them."

Nicholson, who works as a reporter for "The Mountain Times," said he tries to write a little fiction every day. Sometimes he gets 15 pages, sometimes one or two. Some days he writes nothing, but "I don't pretend I'm suffering from 'writer's block.' That's way too pretentious for somebody as simple-minded as I am. I'm just being lazy and I know it.

"Writing's pretty hard, but at the same time, nobody's forcing me to do it. I just love to keep at it, even though I still get plenty of rejection slips. I'm a little bit stubborn and probably too ambitious. But nothing's more fun than chasing a nearly impossible dream."

Although he takes his writing seriously, he doesn't take himself seriously as writer. "I don't look in the mirror and compare myself to Hemingway. All that other stuff, awards, recognition, book contracts, agents, that's all out there on the periphery. I don't count on my writing for self esteem. That's what my family and friends are for.

"What's more important than being a famous writer and selling lots of books is being a good family member and contributing to the community. Doing right in those rare instances when the difference between right and wrong is clear. If a little bit of that belief comes through in my work, then I'm willing to call it a success," said this husband and dad who volunteers as a little league coach.

So this Halloween, forget trick or treating. Stay home and read Nicholson's stories aloud with someone bewitching.

Back to Archive: 10/26/00.