Happy Friday! Today I’m pleased to host my second interview with Barbara Nickless on my blog. Barbara is not only one of my favorite authors, she’s one of my favorite humans. Please make her feel welcome. ~ Donnell
Author Barbara Nickless
Donnell: Hi, Barb, congratulations on At First Light being an Amazon’s Editor’s Pick! Back in June 2021, I interviewed you about Gone to Darkness Sydney Rose Parnell series. tinyurl.com/2p87jzxd
In Gone to Darkness, you introduced an intriguing character by the name of Dr. Evan Wilding. I have since read At First Light, book one of your spinoff series starring this dynamic character. How long has Dr. Wilding been brewing in your psyche, and how many inceptions did this character endure before you were content to bring him to life?
Barbara: Can you believe this character has been tugging at my sleeve for twenty years? Back in the long ago, I attended a writer’s boot camp in Oregon (run by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith). We had to do an exercise in creating characters. I don’t remember the specifics of the exercise, but Evan appeared in the wee hours of a sleep-deprived night. There are only two differences between the character who haunted me then and the one who appears in my current novels—in his original version, the cop Evan worked with was his brother, not his best friend. And he had a type of dwarfism that meant dying in his 40s. I decided an early death was too much weight for my books to carry. And I wanted a hint of romance. But everything else—his dwarfism, his fascination with ancient languages, the little girl who takes piano lessons from him—it was there from the inception.
Donnell: Evan Wilding is unique, not simply because of his dwarfism, but because of his chosen career. I wonder how many people you educated by this book creating a character who’s a semiotician. What drove you to choose this career for Evan. Also, for our readers, can you explain what a semiotician is?
Barbara: If you could see me, you’d know I’m laughing. It’s incredibly hard to write a tight pitch for a novel when you must first explain what the character does, exactly. A semiotician studies signs and symbols in human culture. A forensic semiotician studies signs left by a killer at a crime scene (or any notes, pictures, etc. the killer sends to the media and police). My love of symbols, ancient languages, and undeciphered scripts crossed with my interest in forensics to help create Evan’s career.
Donnell: You write in your acknowledgements that you were inspired by J.R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. You also list the research you conducted to write At First Light. Even more impressive are your close deadlines. An oversimplification perhaps, but how do topics such as English Runes, Odin, Beowulf, Viking history, Grendel’s mother, Skaldic poetry to name a few end up in a police procedural based in Chicago?
Barbara: A terrible and recurring refrain in my life these days is grief over the loss of my son to epilepsy. I was under deadline for At First Light when Kyle passed. I stopped working for months. But when I started again—knowing I’d go mad if I didn’t do something to distract myself—I chose to assuage my grief by returning to my old loves. As an undergraduate, I focused on Old English poetry and medieval epics, including the Elder Edda, Beowulf, and other English and Norse works. And anyone who loves Scandinavian literary works must, almost by definition, love J.R.R. Tolkien. Rereading these works and newer translations kept my grief-stricken mind occupied. Wedging them into a modern-day police investigation in Chicago was sort of a leap of faith. I really wasn’t sure how it would go. But, always, I kept Kyle’s incredible work ethic as my lodestar.
Donnell: Then of course, it might be redundant to team Dr. Wilding with a Belgian shepherd. Enter Ginny, a goshawk, whose presence proves fascinating and necessary throughout the story. What inspired a hawk in At First Light?
Barbara: It was another chance to visit an old love. I practiced falconry for several years under the tutelage of a master falconer whose mentor had learned from the falconer of George the VI. I then volunteered for several more years at a raptor rehabilitation center, feeding and exercising injured birds of prey. You haven’t lived until you’ve been eyeball-to-eyeball with a furious bald eagle you are force feeding. Or if you’ve had to visit the ER because you got a little too close to a raging ferruginous hawk. The reward comes in watching these birds eventually fly free.
Donnell: Apologies to Chicago Detective Adrienne “Addie” Bisset for giving Ginny top billing over her introduction to our interview. Addie and Evan have a strong friendship, even chemistry. When law enforcement discovers a posed corpse on the banks of the Calumet River, surrounded by indecipherable glyphs, and murdered in a ritualistic slaying, Addie orders Chicago PD to find Dr. Evan Wilding.
Conflict and prejudice leap off the page, beginning with Addie’s Lieutenant Criver, who has a strong bias against women in law enforcement. Enter Professor Wilding, who is called to the scene, and the lieutenant immediately shows his disdain for Evan’s dwarfism. I also noted several characters in your book with disabilities. Would you agree, in addition to justice, respecting, overcoming, and stressing that disability in no way shapes intelligence, is a theme in At First Light?
Barbara: As a child, I endured bullying because of the patch I had to wear over my right eye in a partially successful attempt to preserve my vision. While writing At First Light, the vision in both my eyes deteriorated further, requiring a total of seven surgeries on my right eye and a great deal of finger-crossing for the left. Navigating the world gave me a new appreciation for what people with physical disabilities deal with as a matter of course. (We must also be sensitive to what the world is like for those with cognitive disabilities, neurodiversity, or mental illness.)
Because of my own experience, using my novel to look at the kind of casual cruelty so often directed toward people who are different was important to me. The world feels vicious these days–intolerant of diversity. I believe it’s important to use every opportunity to emphasize our commonalities over our differences. A the end of the day I would like to tell everyone to please just have some milk and cookies and take a nap.
Donnell: I was impressed with how well you understood the Windy City. From the lakes, the wind, the tunnels, the freezing cold of winter, I was right beside Addie, Patrick, and Evan as they traipsed through crime scenes and discovered more bog bodies. In one scene you have Diana, Evan’s teaching assistant in an ax-throwing competition. Were you aware before you wrote At First Light that axe-throwing lanes exist in Chicago? Have you ever thrown an axe?
Barbara: I’d heard rumors about axe-throwing venues and wasn’t the least surprised to find they’re a fixture in Chicago. As for me, I’ve wielded epees, foils, rapiers, two-handed broadswords, and a bo staff. (Many of them not very well, I must say.) But axe-throwing has—thus far—eluded me. That’s probably just as well for those anywhere in my vicinity.
Donnell: Parlaying off the immense research you had to do
to write this book, you transliterate the runic alphabet into Latin. You write poetry/riddles, and incorporate map-reading skills necessary to compare a construction site in England to Evan’s hunting grounds in Chicago. You bring in character “experts” to help simplify a terribly complicated subject. I can simply think of no better way than to ask, Barb, how did you do it!?
Barbara: Insanity? I plead the fifth.
Donnell: We should probably talk about your twists and turns and your innumerable red herrings. There is one scene where Evan is alone in his office at the university. It’s late, it’s frigid outside, perfect murder weather. It’s also clear by now that the Viking Poet is setting Evan up as victim number five. Disregarding Addie’s instructions to stay put, he decides to go home. He opens the door and !!!! My attorney will be in touch I was so scared. I also will pay attention to surnames in future books. What do you have to say for yourself?
Barbara: My work here is done. 🙂
Donnell: In closing, I think you can assume I’m a fan of your new series. I also see so much growth potential for your cast of characters. I also want to listen to it as an audiobook because you have given an actor a huge task, in my opinion. I did have a thought. Do you think we’ll ever see Sydney meet Addie? We’ve already discussed the potential to have Addie or Evan walk into Tom Farrell’s Wager series sports bar ?. In other words, what comes next?
Barbara: Tim Campbell, who did the audio version, is incredible. Brilliantly talented. I’ll admit I gave no thought to how a voice actor would handle my book until after I turned it in to my editor. Tim stepped right up to the plate (he tweeted that it was the first time he’d been super excited about what came next in a book whilst simultaneously having to stop and refer to a dictionary). Hopefully he won’t run away when he learns I just turned in the second book. Dark of Night takes Evan and Addie in a very different direction, hunting for ancient Hebrew texts and combatting cobras, while still in Chicago. (And, Tim, I swear there’s no ancient Aramaic or foreign alphabets!). As for the other characters, nothing would make me happier than for Addie and Sydney to share a drink with Uncle Mike. Evan, of course, would drink all of them under the table.
Donnell: Thank you! I wish you much success with your health and this brilliant new series.
About the Book: Ritual murder. Archaic clues. A visionary killer. In this heart-stopping novel by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Sydney Rose Parnell series, words can kill.
On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins?
Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come.
As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive. This startling discovery puts Evan’s life in mortal danger, and verse by ancient verse, time is running out.
About the Author: Barbara Nickless is the Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of the multi-award-winning Sydney Parnell crime novels. Her newest novel launches the Evan Wilding series about a forensic semiotician—a man whose gift for interpreting the words and symbols left behind by killers has led him to consult on some of the world’s grisliest cases. “At First Light by Barbara Nickless is one of the best books I’ve read in a long, long while.” (Lisa Jackson, #1 NYT bestselling author). Barbara lives in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains where she loves to hike, cave, snowshoe, and drink single malt Scotch. Connect with her at www.barbaranickless.com.
Hi Donnell, I’m so excited you’re interviewing Barbara again! It was your post last year that got me to buy the first Sydney Rose Parnell novel and subsequently I one-clicked the entire series AND also bought them for my brother, who works with the RR.
Barbara, Firstly- I’m SO sorry to hear of your son’s passing. I cannot imagine the fathomless grief.
Secondly, I’ve just began this novel and am loving it, and like Donnell I am in AWE of your research, but are you going to continue with Sydney? I didn’t see the end of that series coming.
Thanks for continuing with your writing despite the tragedy- you are as good as the super famous, like Harlan Coban and Jeffrey Deaver, IMO. We’ve just got to get the word out!
Great interview with a fantastic author! Looking forward to the new read!
Sarah, I am excited, too. But notice how evasive Barb was when I asked how she did it or if she was worried my attorney would be contacting her soon. (She’s like the Colonel at Kentucky Fried Chicken, never willing to share his secret recipe.) She’s amazing, and unstoppable, and I’m pretty sure both Harlan Coben and Jeffrey Deaver know who Barbara Nickless is. I think Jeffrey Deaver gave her a cover quote on one of her first books — maybe Blood on the Tracks? Thanks for such a wonderful comment.
Donnell, great interview with Barbara. Truly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading “At First Light.” Going out on a limb here, but I’m guessing Barbara’s work with falconry and raptors has given her an “eagle eye” for details in her mysteries. You both are great! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, ZJ. loved your Mystery Minute last night. We will miss you. Best wishes as Prez of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.
Oh, what a great interview! You two are among my favorites! Now I’m even more excited to get started reading At First Light and can’t wait for your next book too, Donnell.
The writing community in Colorado and beyond cares deeply about you, Barb, and we grieved with you when you lost your dear Kyle. Though we can’t imagine the pain you’ve been through and that you still carry, we celebrate your return to the page, giving us the great stories we enjoy. You are always in my thoughts and I pray for you to have the comfort that only time and occupation in the activities of your heart can bring. Take care and best wishes with this terrific new series!
Thank you, Margaret. Barbara’s loss was immeasurable. I am so grateful she had writing and the writing community behind her.
Fascinating interview. I loved it! There were so many things about you, Barbara, that I didn’t know. Thanks for sharing! 😀
And thank you Donnell for conducting this great interview! 🙂
Hi, Barbara and Donnell! This interview filled me up. You’ve done so many fun things and used them in your work. How wonderful! I am also sorry about your son. May time and your writing help your healing. Hugs, vb
How lovely Vicki. I agree, reading Barbara’s comments when she returned her answers was all-consuming.
Thank you to everyone for your kindness. The (incredibly talented) writing community in Colorado is like a warm blanket snugged around my shoulders. It is balm to a wounded soul to hear from fellow writers who check in to see how I’m doing. Thank you with every fiber of my being.
Sarah, wow! Thank you for your generous words. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the Sydney books, and I love that you shared them with your railroader brother. My publisher has told me they want more Sydney books once I get Evan established. But publishing is an ever-changing business, so I’m not holding my breath. We’ll see. Maybe I’ll just hogtie Sydney, Cohen, and Clyde and drag them Tom Farrell’s bar in Chicago.
ZJ, as always you make me laugh. Congrats on your new role as Prez. And I hope you’ll still be at the RMMWA meetings and entertaining us with your Mystery Minute!
Margaret and Vicki–many, many hugs back. Margaret, you’ve been a rock for me.
Rhonda and Francelia, thanks for your comments! Donnell is one of the most generous and talented people I know, and she always asks such brilliant questions in her interviews. I don’t know how she does it.
Thank you Donnell! Great interview with Barbara. I will definitely look for At First Light and look forward to learning so many new things mentioned!
I read the book and liked it. So nice to see your interview after my reading. Good luck.
What a stunning interview. I learned so much. Thank you, Donnell and Barbara–and best success, Barbara, with “At First Light.” It sounds remarkable! I’m cheering you on in all things, indeed.
Really great interview! Adding Barbara’s books to my reading list. Thanks, Donnell!
Thank you both for an absolutely enthralling interview. Barbara, my deepest condolences to you and your family. I’m glad you’ve found some comfort in writing. We share so many interests (Falconry! Beowulf! Tolkien!). I can’t wait to read how you’ve woven it all together. My best to you!