A Noosa author has found herself in the audio book “Oscars”, awards that in 2022 include the likes of Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey as finalists.
Nikki Minty’s love of writing is inspired by happy childhood memories and a simple question about the afterlife from her son RJ, who lives with autism.
Now her science fiction book, Pastel Pink, is nominated for the Audio Publishers Association’s 2022 Audie Awards. Celebrating its 27th year, the awards recognise distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.
Ms Minty’s audio book is up against some of the biggest sci-fi titles of the year, including Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, with the winners to be announced at a virtual ceremony from New York on March 4.
This year, the awards have seen Barack Obama’s A Promised Land nominated in two categories, including Audio Book of the Year, as well as Oprah Winfrey’s What Happened to You, which is a finalist in the business/personal development section.
The up-and-coming author was thrilled to been named a sci-fi finalist, especially to be recognised among such high-calibre nominations.
“The Audie Awards are the equivalent of the Oscars to actors and directors,” Ms Minty said.
“There was a call-out for authors of audio books to enter the awards. I entered and had the shock of my life when I found out I was a finalist.
“To be next to top titles like Project Hail Mary, that is massive, and Ready Player Two, that is massive as well, so I am just mind blown.
“I, Nikki from Noosa, how did this happen?”
Pastel Pink is part of a three-book young adult series released in 2021. Aimed at 15 to 18 years old, and known as The Zodok Series, it includes other titles Ruby Red and Powerful Purples.
The books have been well received and already claimed a spate of awards, including an honourable mention for science fiction/fantasy ebook in the 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, a 2021 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for best audio books, and the 2021 Literary Titan Book Award.
“I love the escapism of fantasy and sci fi – I like to be taken to another world,” she said.
“The series is about reincarnation and that when we die on earth, we reincarnate on a different planet.”
The series also touches on themes of racism and acceptance to reflect modern day issues being addressed world-wide.
Always a creative person with fond memories of storytelling as a child, Ms Minty only began exploring her writing talent over recent years.
“I only started professionally writing a few years back, but I have always been a creative person.
“My dad used to tell us ‘big bad wolf’ stories every night and my brothers and I would get to join in to tell our own parts of the story.
“It was a bit of fun and I think it’s what spurred me later on in life to tell my own stories.
She said her son, who is now 16, sparked the idea for the series five years ago and as a thank you she named one of the characters RJ.
“I have to give me son RJ a wrap for this. He is autistic and we were sitting in the library one day and he asked me what happens when we die,” Ms Minty said.
“I asked him what he thinks happens and he said how cool it would be if every time we die, we got reincarnated on a different planet. I thought ‘I am stealing that!’
“We actually really started getting into it together and we were talking about what the different races from each planet would be like, if they would be different to humans or if they would have powers.
“So, I have to give him props. He really helped me out with this idea and then I just went with it.”
The Noosa author is currently writing a supernatural thriller set in Louisiana and has plans to launch a spinoff series to The Zodok Series in the future.
Her are books available in digital and hard copy format. Visit nikkiminty.com.
