The Short Version

I write books and poetry for young readers. I’m honored to be the winner of a Christopher Award, the winner of a Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Crystal Kite Award, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection honoree, a finalist for the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Younger Readers, and a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended author. I hold an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and have presented workshops on writing for children and young adults throughout Europe and the United States.

More About Me

I grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, in Newton, Kansas, and on a tiny Kansas farm that was so small it had only two steers, three horses and fifty chicks. In high school, my favorite sports were basketball and the 200 meter dash. My favorite activities were choir, school plays and the school newspaper.

When I was old enough to start working, I had many, many different jobs. In order, they were . . . Dishwasher in a home for the elderly. Night shift nurse’s aid. Summer playground supervisor. Nurse’s aid in a psychiatric unit. Editor-in-chief of a college yearbook. Staff assistant to a United States Congressman. Managing editor of a law review. Clerk to a judge on the United States Court of Appeals. Lawyer at a giant New York City law firm. Lawyer at a second giant New York City law firm. Food server. Actress. Word processor. In-house lawyer in charge of 36 different countries. Wife. Mom. And, children’s book author. In case you are wondering which was my favorite, it’s children’s book author by a long shot. That is, after wife and mom.

I grew up as an undiagnosed autistic girl, only learning about my autism a year ago. Being autistic means that my brain is structured a little differently, even if from the outset you might not think it is. Being autistic makes me who I am and allows me to experience the world in a unique way.

I fell in love with my husband by writing emails across 4,664 miles. I was married in Moscow, Russia, and lived there for two and a half years. After that, I lived in Paris, France. I now live in Switzerland with my Swiss husband, Swiss-American daughter, Australian sheep dog, two Siberian forest cats, and twenty-five fish from who knows where.

All materials copyright © 2023 Sandra Nickel, Author. All rights reserved. Website by Websy Daisy. Author photos by Emo Photo.
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