Nick Winters was born in Australia and grew up in sunny Brisbane Queensland. He discovered his love for stories and writing at an early age. Nick studied drama and writing in Australia, New York, and Los Angeles, where he developed a strong affection for Hollywood. He has travelled widely in Europe and the United States. Nick loves movies, mountains, beaches, music, animals and travelling. HOLLYWOOD SCENT is his debut novel.
Nick, thanks for joining me. Do you have a pen name and why?
I do have pen name Nick Winters, I came up with it in Los Angeles, and all my acting and writing friends thought it was a great name, so I went with it. It sounds nice and is far more easy to pronounce than my real last name.
What other writing have you done?
I have written several short films, and 2 full length feature film scripts.
What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
I feel I have a rather simplistic 'once upon a time'kind of style, that can change very fst and become intense.
What made you choose this genre?
The idea for this book came to me whilst living in Hollywood, and I have always loved thrillers, and supernatural stuff, so thats where it came from.
What’s the story behind your book title?
I had a friend who worked in a large famous perfume store in LA, I would watch her selling expensive perfume to beautiful women, and if you read the story you will soon know the signifigance of the title.
What’s the basic plot of your book or series?
A beautiful screen siren who perished in the 1950's and is hell bent on becoming a huge movie star,bigger than she ever was in her first life.
Which scene from your book do you like best and why?
Probably the huge supernatural show down between teh two main characters, Lillian and Helen, it is ultra classic good versue evil with all kinds fury and witchcraft going on.
Which is your favourite character and why?
Probably Detective Karson, he is a bit like Clint Eastwood, and those old no nonsense tough guy cops from the old 70's movies, he lives and breathes police work and always gets his man...or woman.
What are you working on now?
A novella, LOST SOUL its about 33,000 words, which is much smaller than HOLLYWOOD SCENT which is 96,000 words. LOST SOUL is a romantic ghost story about a young woman, an artist who has a traumatic experience and later finds herself moving to a large old house in the country to heal, which happens to be haunted.
In 2006 I visited Oscar Wilde's grave at Pere Lachaise, France, and his neighbour is Jim Morrison of the Doors, I laid flowers at both their graves and thanked them for their words. It was a very moving experience, and that cemetery is just amazing.
What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
To me, probably that so many good unknown writers get ignored, declined, and passed over simply because they do not have 'pedigree' or rather...a long background in journalism, TV, or a famous last name, or they are not a sports star or politician etc...I understand that those things sell, and that is why those people usually get picked up by publishers and have sizeable advances thrown at them, but its a shame that so many writers with great stories will never really get out there or get a traditional book deal because they are just Tom the baker, or Susie the nurse etc...if you get my drift. But that's the world we live in. Thank goodness for self publishing, and those 'Gatekeepers'do not get to control everything now.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Professional editing, no doubt about it. If you can afford it, pay for a pro editor, structural, copy edit, the lot.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
My first story was a little story we had to do for English class in about grade 4, we also had to read it in front of the class. I wrote a funny story about two boys who travel in a time machine back to the dinosaur days and get chased by dinosaurs. The class thought it was hilarious, and the teacher was so impressed she had the story printed in the school newsletter. It made me a little celebrity for a couple of weeks, so I first realised you could touch people with the written word way back then I guess.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
A panther, I love how they are dark, sleek, and can be so elusive but then explode into action and take their prey and make a huge impact. They have a deadly elegance about them too.
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
I would probably have furthered my education a little more with writing in particular.
Quick quiz:
Favourite food: CHINESE
Favourite drink: GINGER BEER
Best holiday spot: SYDNEY BEACHES AND BLUE MOUNTAINS
Favourite song at the moment: METAL GURU- T REX
Star Wars or Lord of the Rings: STAR WARS
Best superpower: WALKING VERY LATE AT NIGHT FOR EXCERCISE ADN NOT BUMPING INTO THINGS.
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: LIVE BY THE OCEAN FOR A GOOD LENGTH OF TIME.
HOLLYWOOD SCENT SUPERNATURAL THRILLER
Be careful what you wish for…
Screen siren Lillian Kelly turns to witchcraft in her twisted quest for eternal youth. But she becomes greedy and displeases the dark forces, who imprison her wicked soul in a perfume bottle.
Decades later, lonely dressmaker Helen Elliot makes a special wish to the Hollywood Sign. “I want some magic in my life… I want to be beautiful and to be loved.” Her wish is answered when Helen is gifted with the beguiling bottle filled with supernatural scent.
A dizzying ride ensues as she becomes part of Hollywood’s elite, an exclusive circle of the ultra-rich and famous.
Soon, Helen is living out all her wildest romantic fantasies in a world of unimaginable luxury. However, she realises there may be a deadly price to pay for her wish, as she faces a showdown with the ruthless Lillian, who will stop at nothing for a second chance at life.
Publisher: INGRAM SPARK
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