Nicola was born in Alberta, Canada, the sixth of eight children, and raised in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. She lives in a small town on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She has written two standalone mysteries (Teed Off! and A Hemorrhaging of Souls), as well as six novels in the Church Choir Mysteries series, a children's interactive book for the iPad (Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks) and an multimedia online thriller (UnnaturalStates). Nicola has also published two ebook writing primers (Youdunit Whodunit! How to Write Mysteries and Self-Publish Your Ebook in Minutes!) and a gardening guide for the West Coast (Go-to Gardening Cards).  She podcasts about genre writing (The Novel Experience), produces book trailers and teaches electronic publishing and mystery writing. Her passions are chocolate, mysteries and more chocolate. Favourite authors include James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett, Rex Stout, Raymond Chandler and Minette Walters.