Stacy Nyikos
Stacy Nyikos was accompanied by her two children, an aunt, a cousin, and a friend-all happy and smiling; the group separated so that Mrs. Nyikos and I could discuss her books and writing. Her pleasant countenance, when we met at Washington DC's Union Station, assured me that our interview would be a most enjoyable one.
With an interesting educational background (political science and German), Stacy Nyikos has an avid interest in a wide range of areas, from politics to German, to music and art, to nature and science. While attending Notre Dame, she played violin and studied abroad in Austria for one very influential year. The appeal of Europe was so great that she returned to Germany for her masters and to do research in Brussels on a Fulbright Scholarship. She met her husband in Vienna. She has worked as a translator and ESL instructor. She continued her studies at The University of Virginia, receiving a PhD in political science with a special interest in the US Courts (she has met five of the Supreme Court Justices) and the political arena. She is published in her area, has been on the faculties of several universities and served until recently, as the Coordinator of the Statistics Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma.
After marrying and having children, Mrs. Nyikos juggled the typical family/job issues with aplomb. Because of her high energy level and multifaceted abilities she was able to channel her abilities into writing for children. She wanted to create books that would answer some of the questions inspired by visits to an aquarium with her daughter, Bella, as well as stimulate children's minds in artistic and scientific perceptions. Once she started to write, she began to work with an illustrator with whom she would go on to found Stonehorse Publishing. Shawn Sisneros was educated at the Art Institute of Chicago and had art on display in a local store, which is where Stacy first saw his art. Together they have published Squirt and Shelby, which was the 2006 Arizona Author's Literary Contest prize winner. Stonehorse has also published Dizzy, the story of a hyperactive dolphin. Nyikos' books concern themselves with issues that readily translate to human experiences, such as, making friends, being different, being independent, being confident and facing new aspects of life.
Her writing day begins early with her 5:45am run which gives her time to think and get herself into the process of the day. After getting the children off to school, she settles down to write from about 8 to 12 and then gets into the busy part of the afternoon. Even though she is very active in her children's lives, she uses the time waiting for them at gymnastics, etc. to write. She says that with her laptop she can write "anywhere, anytime." Quiet and focused time is better for "putting up the walls of a story" but once that is done she can work on revising in any setting. Longer blocks of time are required for creating characters and settings-"more concentration is required." When she has school visits scheduled, she does not try to do new writing but does jot down ideas as they occur. Hard work is definitely her motto and she strives to create stories that have a real personal connection, while reaching the reader with insights and influences that can be life long guides for "good living." Her advice is sort of encapsulated in these ideas: "know what is important, do your job, and keep focus on life and family." That focus on family is very important to Stacy. As a mother she reads aloud to her children each evening, an experience that will be part of their development and influence their life choices. Having met her husband in Vienna and with her own mastery of the language, they speak German in their home-the children and the dogs are bilingual!
Dragon Wishes (2008 Blooming Tree Press) is her new middle grade novel and its writing reflects the process of her work. She "grabs" the characters and begins writing; going back to "flesh out the characters as their story unfolds." Her work is a "long gradual slope of refinement" which eventually ends with "abandonment." She says that she just has to quit writing (knowing when is very important) or that she would "just keep on telling stories about her character." After saying this she quoted Oscar Wilde: "No book is every finished-it is simply abandoned." Of course, this simplification overlooks the talent required to bring a story to its conclusion while wrapping up the details without just calling it quits. During school visits, she tells how she uses "story structure" by explaining "the hook" followed by "some fireworks," tapering to "a long, slow ending." She encourages future writes to take a "great idea and get a rough draft down." Then editing and re-working to polish and finish the story. Of course, she stresses that making changes for the sake of change is not productive-revisions must serve to advance the story or reveal another aspect of the character without interfering with the pace and tone of the story. When she has "finished" she walks away from a project for a while and "returns to it later to make final revisions."
Her next novel (possible title: EuroMutt), will contain some aspects of her own character as the 19 year old heroine strives to discover "who she is" and walks on the path of discovery that we all face in experiencing what "makes us who we are." I see in this character Mrs. Nyikos' own drive to excel, to constantly improve herself. (While writing her stories about marine life Mrs. Nyikos studied marine biology to the point of becoming a "home grown biologist.") The character in EuroMutt wants to "feel comfortable in her own skin." This character is of mixed ethnic heritages and is concerned with finding out what influences her background has had on her development as a person. Nyikos tells of a young woman whose mixed heritage seems like a problem but may actually be a great advantage in understanding others in the world.
Stacy Nyikos is a bright, confident young woman whose multiple interests and talents will serve her well as she continues to write stories and novels that speak to the heart of the reader.
Contributor: Sheilah Egan
Reviews
Dizzy
Stacy Nyikos
Illustrated by Kary Lee
The little Pacific white-sided dolphin lives up to his name. He loves to skim and dive, turn and spin. He goes so fast and keeps on the move for so long that his friends have trouble keeping up with him. After a time, they do not even try. When Dizzy does return to find his buddies, he discovers he has missed a bountiful fish dinner. Finally, when Dizzy does slow down, he sees that he is missing out, not only on a good meal, but on many wondrous sights as well. He lifts his head to look up at the sky and realizes as he gazes that the clouds form pictures. The appropriately fast-moving story is told in rhyme, making it fun to read aloud. "He gazed at a cloud till it started to play./ No longer a puff, it became a stingray." A page of interesting facts about dolphins is included. Dizzy and all his little friends are imaginatively and appealingly illustrated. 2007, Stonehorse Publishing, $15.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-9764199-2-1
Shelby
Stacy Nyikos
Illustrated by Shawn N. Sisneros
Thousands of fish frolic and play as lemon shark Shelby hides nearby in the roots of a tree. Shelby finds courage to free the fish when they get caught in a large net despite her fear. Young children will enjoy this highly rhythmic adventure although adults may find it tedious and predictable. It may remind readers of Marcus Pfister's Rainbow Fish (North-South Books) stories, although Sisneros' art is a very different, spare style lacking appeal. Although a final question and answer page about sharks makes this adaptable for science units, there is no glossary or index. Fun activities and teaching guides for this book can be found at www.stonehorsepublishing.com. Additional Selection. 2006, Stonehorse Publishing, 32pp., $15.95, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer:
Ann Bryan Nelson (Library Media Connection, January 2007).
ISBN: 0-9764199-1-2
Squirt
Stacy Nyikos
Illustrated by Shawn N. Sisneros
Color up, down, and all around with Squirt. He's the master of disguises and cephalopod surprises who loses himself to swash-buckling jellyfish captains on a crackling sea day. Inking up is his only escape. Careful maties, only the bravest buccaneers will venture on to read the last two pages of fun squid facts. 2005, Stonehorse Publishing, $15.95, Ages 3 to 8.
ISBN: 0-9764199-0-4
Added 08/27/07
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