I’d like to welcome author Nellie H. Steele to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: Animals, hot tea, the rocky coast of Maine.

Things you need to throw out: I keep holding on to a large telescope I bought years ago in an open box sale with the romantic notion that I’d spend lots of evenings stargazing. It sits in a corner (of a room without a window, ironically). I can’t bring myself to get rid of it, though. It would be a great donation item!

Things you need for your writing sessions: Water, laptop, an idea!

Things that hamper your writing: Facebook. I leave my browser open while writing so I can use the online thesaurus. Without fail, though, once I leave my writing session to search for another word, I’ll take a spin through Facebook or Instagram to procrastinate.

Things you love about writing: Creating stories, worlds and characters. I love bringing characters to life and watching them navigate the world I’ve created for them. My stories are very much character-driven. I don’t pre-plan many plot points because without fail they will fall by the wayside once the characters come to life. In fact, I had a character that I planned to kill off very early on in Book 1 of the series, but that didn’t happen. He clung to life, made it through the entire book and will move on to book 2.

Things you hate about writing: Gosh, I’m not sure I can pinpoint anything I hate. Perhaps the marketing side of the writing game! Or maybe the editing!

Words that describe you: Independent, creative, eccentric.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Stubborn!

Something you like to do: I’d love to spent an entire summer seaside!

Something you wish you’d never done: I wish I’d never put off writing my first book.

Things you always put in your books: Humor. Regardless of the genre, I try to include a little humor to entertain and lighten any heavier themes.

Things you never put in your books: Bedroom scenes! Like Jessica Fletcher of Murder, She Wrote, “I don’t write bedroom scenes!”

Things to say to an author: If you enjoyed their book, tell them! On down days, it really helps a writer continue writing if they know someone out there loves their work!

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: If I wrote that book, the character would have…

Favorite places you’ve been: Maine, I love the state, especially the coastline. Hunter’s Beach is my favorite spot on earth!

Places you never want to go to again: I wouldn’t say “never ever” but I’m over traveling south for vacations. I often find it far too hot to enjoy!

Favorite books (or genre): Mysteries, any kind, all kind!

Books you wouldn’t buy: I’m not a huge fan of “drama” or “slice of life” type books (basically stories without intrigue).

Things that make you happy: My pets! I have a rescue home with 14 pets and I love all of their unique personalities.

Things that drive you crazy: When technology misbehaves (and it inevitably happens when you’re trying to get something done fast!).

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I’ve gotten a lot of nice feedback from readers. One of the most memorable was when someone told me they wished they could be friends with my characters because they liked them so much!

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I had a reader internet-stalk me to insist there was a typo on page 2 of my book (no such typo existed).

About Nellie:

Nellie H. Steele lives in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with her family and her many fur-babies. Nellie is an Indies Today award finalist for Best Book of the Year 2020 with Cleopatra’s Tomb. When she isn't writing, she enjoys teaching Statistics at a local university or watching her dogs and cats play in the yard.

Nellie is the author of the Cate Kensie Mystery Series, a cozy mystery series following the adventures of Dr. Catherine Kensie, a history professor turned Scottish Countess, and her beloved dog, Riley, as they navigate their new lives in their quirky Scottish highlands castle, solving mysteries along the way! She is the creator of the Shadow Slayers series, a suspenseful series with a supernatural twist! Follow the Shadow Slayers through time as they fight to banish darkness from the world. Nellie also writes an adventure series, Maggie Edwards Adventures. Follow Maggie Edwards as she travels the world solving mysteries and finding unique treasures! Jump into Nellie's newest series, Duchess of Blackmoore Mysteries, a historical mystery set in the Scottish Highlands! Follow Lenora and her unique ability to communicate with the dead as she uses her skill to solve mysteries.

Check out all Nellie offers at http://www.anovelideapublishing.com/novels, sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news about book releases or like us on facebook (facebook.com/anovelideapublishing or facebook.com/nelliehsteele) to keep up with us!