This is the first in a series of articles featuring the Examiner.com Tucson writers. Today, Tucson Places and Faces visits with Tucson Getaways Examiner, Nancy Dickinson.
"My father instilled in me a gypsy spirit", says Nancy Dickinson.
The Tucson Getaways Examiner has visited all 48 of the contiguous United States. She has yet to visit Alaska and Hawaii but that may be just a matter of time. Dickinson was reached by phone for an interview before she left for an eight day 'literary tour' to Dublin, Ireland.
"I saw the U.S. in the backseat of a station wagon", said Dickinson explaining how she spent her youth. She says her family took a vacation every August giving her an opportunity to broaden her horizons.
Originally from Ohio, Dickinson states, "I'm an avid Ohio State fan".
She arrived in Tucson in October 2004 and although she is 'forever a Buckeye' says, "I think Tucson is a beautiful city".
Dickinson lives on a small hobby farm about 90 minutes from Tucson with her husband, four children and 'three corruptible dogs'.
Although she was an English major in college with a minor is secondary education, Dickinson says she came to writing later in life.
"I was 40 when I started my writing career", she says. When she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, she needed to find something she could do. Writing has kept her busy. As a free-lance writer, she has written for the Piedmont Review, Woodalls Membership Magazine, Phoenix Magazine, AAA Home and Away Magazine and others.
She says she heard about Examiner.com while she was on a board at AbsoluteWrite.com. Accepted as an Examiner within 24 hours of applying, she has written her Tucson Getaways articles for a year. Her topics at the Examiner include: (but aren't limited to)
She says her favorite Examiner article was, "A getaway to take your breath away in Eastern Europe, the Mamaison Hotels have it all".
Dickinson has been inspired by mystery writers P.D. James who started writing in her 50's and J.A. Jance who started her writing career in her 50's. The Tucson Getaways writer corresponds with J.A. Jance, whom she has met. One of her Examiner articles covered the Bisbee residents' favorite getaways, one of which was a trip to Chiracahua National Monument.
"The most amazing place I have been to is the Mississippi Gulf Coast," states Dickinson. She was there in February this year, noting that 2010 is the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
"The people made it memorable, they made a positive out of a negative,"
Another special memory for the Tucson Getaways author was her visit to New York.
She says, "You have to go to Ground Zero once in your life".
Writing for Examiner.com is something Dickinson enjoys.
"I think Examiner.com is a great opportunity for experienced and new writers", she says.
For more on Tucson Getaways, visit Examiner.com (Tucson edition) and click on the recreation tab or google Tucson Getaways Examiner.
Comments
Very nice on article on what makes those of us who write for Examiner.com tick. We all bring so many unique things to the table and Nancy has so many great experiences to share as a professional with a vision. Good job showcasing that.
--Susan Lanier-Graham, Phoenix Luxury Travel Examiner
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