About Mike Nicholson
Mike Nicholson’s love of stories began early, through comics and cartoon books and with regular trips to Dalkeith Library, near to his childhood home. Here he discovered a love for mystery, adventure and science fiction.
Many years later, working with primary schools to create wildlife areas, he began writing for children. Spurred on by writing competitions, which offered prompts, deadlines and prizes, he was longlisted in a BBC ‘first chapter’ competition.
Encouraged by positive feedback, he turned that first chapter into the book Catscape – a story inspired by numerous lost cat posters near his home. This Edinburgh-based mystery won the 2005 Kelpies Prize.
Other books followed, including rhyming picture books and the six-book Museum Mystery Squad series, inspired by visiting the National Museum of Scotland.
The trademark themes in Mike’s writing can be traced back to the books he grew up with; mystery adventure stories packed with cliffhanger endings and picture books offering guessing games laced with humour.
In his experience, story ideas come from the simplest things; looking at places, objects and moments in life with fresh eyes and an open mind, while repeatedly asking the question ‘what if…?’ He loves encouraging children to do the same!
Over the years Mike has developed a few superpowers. He can:
- wiggle his ears independently
- fold a crisp packet into a small triangle in less than 10 seconds
- make cottage pie for 120 people
Admittedly some of these are more useful than others, and none of them could stop a villain intent on world domination…or could they…? I mean… ‘what if…?’