BY AVELLINA BALESTRI

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

My name is Nicole Pierman and I grew up around the Washington D.C. area, but recently moved to the West Coast. I am a self-published author of a wide variety of genres under my given name and I write urban fantasy under my pen name, Nicole Brona. I enjoy reading, coffee, writing (of course), hiking, weight lifting, and baking.

What first inspired you to start writing?

I don’t remember any specific inspirational memory. I started writing poems in elementary school and started my first book in middle school.

How did you first become interested in history, and what are your favorite time periods?

My grandmother was a history nerd, so I grew up listening to her rave about all sorts of time periods. I love learning about the ancient Egyptians, the Celts, the Renaissance era, and early American history.

What started you on the journey of historical fiction writing in particular?

I was a pre-teen when I first started writing A Patriot’s Tale– but don’t worry, it’s not the same book. I went through seven vastly different drafts over the course of twelve years before I finally published my novel. I watched Mel Gibson’s “The Patriot” and knew even as a child it was not historically accurate. I was always confused (and still am) when people take huge liberties with historical fiction in film and books. So, I decided to write my own story set during the American Revolutionary War.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of working within the historical fiction genre?

The best part is simply that I love learning about things I never knew before. The hardest part about historical fiction is accepting you might not ever know something because there are no sources.

How have you chosen which historical characters to feature in your books, and what made their stories resonate with you?

I don’t like writing main or even side characters that are historical figures, so I make up my main and side characters. They’ll sometimes interact with real-life historical figures, but I’m really interested in coming up with my own “people” to add to my stories. I feel like I have more control over made-up characters vs. real life historical figures. I don’t want to offend or upset any living relatives.

What is your process in terms of research and bringing historical characters to life?

Depending on the book, I’ll research for 3-6 months and then jump into the story. I will research small things like clothing and bigger things like maps, where rivers are, etc. Then I slowly piece it all together and begin to write. I know if I mess something up, I can fix it in the editing phrase, so I’m not too worried about getting everything right on the first draft, which is freeing.

What is your method to integrate fictional characters and situations into the historical setting?

After a ton of research, I just go with the flow. I am an intuitive discovery writer, as in I do not outline and I just write until the book is finished. I know the story unconsciously and as I write, I discover it. I don’t plan too much out after researching for a couple of months for my books.

If you had the chance to convey a message to your favorite historical characters, what would it be?

No one is 100% good or 100% bad. Humans are complex and often contradictory, but that’s the nature of being humans (and always will be), even in the past.

What do you find more enjoyable/difficult: First drafts or editing/rewriting?

I love editing/rewriting! I have a hard time with first drafts.

How have you gone about publicizing yourself and your works?

In the beginning, I was winging it and I didn’t have a lot of success. But then I joined Bryan Cohen’s Author Ad School and found it incredibly helpful–I still do! Self-publishing doesn’t mean “alone-publishing.” Find your writing group, make friends, and you will succeed.

What are some of the main themes/morals you would like readers to take away from your works?

I focus on togetherness, found families, what trauma does to a person (or a group of people), and the causes and effects of war.

What is some advice you would give aspiring authors, especially those focusing on the historical fiction genre?

Do your research before jumping in! It’s easier to do most of your research and have notes to fall back on compared to constantly stopping your writing sessions to look something up.

Plug your socials, published works, and current projects!

You can find me on Goodreads, Facebook, and on my website under Nicole Pierman/Nicole Brona and you can find me on YouTube by the name Nicole’s Bookish Nook! I am currently writing a transgressive horror novel, a historical fantasy novel set in the late 1600s, and the fourth book in The Midnight Detective Agency series, which is urban fantasy.