INTERVIEW WITH PAT NICHOLS

by Deborah Malone and Rita Prochazka

What would your advice be to other “seasoned” women on ways to stay active in ministry?

First, view age as an advantage rather than a detriment. After all, the longer we remain on this side of heaven, the more experience we have on which to draw. Second and equally important, trust God for guidance and reassurance. When He inspires us to travel down a specific road, He always walks with us and carries us when the journey becomes difficult.

Have you ever felt “too old” to be used by God? What made you decide God could still use you?

After retiring from teaching and despite spinal stenosis, my mother volunteered at a hospital well into her eighties. Thanks to her spirit and desire to serve, I’ve always considered life after sixty as another season. Case in point, my writing career began at the ripe young age of sixty-eight. Nine years after retiring from a twenty-seven-year corporate career, the tragic death of a close family friend inspired me to write a story loosely based on her life, but with a happy ending. By the time I finished the book, I knew God had placed my feet on a new path. As with any road, it wasn’t free of bumps and potholes. Thankfully, I remained faithful to God’s nudging and have been blessed with eight published novels. My goal is to write three books a year until I’m well into my eighties.

What seasoned woman in the Bible is an inspiration to you? Why?

Definitely, Naomi. Devastated by the loss of her sons and husband, she summoned the strength through her faith to secure the future of herself and her daughter-in-law in a male-dominated world. As King David’s great-great-grandmother, Naomi is the perfect example of God’s equal love for men and women.

Tell us a little about your ministry.

Years ago, I assumed ministry referred only to individuals who preached or taught God’s word. However, I’ve come to understand that our Heavenly Father endows each of us with gifts that when woven together create a tapestry to honor Him. My gift is writing Christian Women’s Fiction, which follows flawed characters’ emotional and relational journeys as they face real life challenges. My desire is to show readers God’s love through my characters reactions to difficult situations, as well as their interaction with other characters.

If you’ve had illness or physical limitations, what accommodations have you had to make to continue in ministry?

I’ve been fortunate to enjoy good health, and other than aches that come with age, have no physical limitations. The one limitation I had to face at the beginning of my writing ministry was skill based. Although, God placed me on the path and planted the seeds, I had to become a student to strengthen my gift.

What are some challenges you’ve had to overcome in this time of your “seasoned” ministry?

The biggest challenge has been saying no to requests that distract from the path God has called me to walk. As women, we often try to please everyone, and this take on too much.

Pat thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your “seasoned” experiences with us. I know your words will be encouraging to others who are journeying in their winter season, too.

Bio: Award-winning author, Pat Nichols is proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams. She lives in Duluth, Georgia, with her husband of fifty-eight years. They have a son, a daughter, a grandson and three granddaughters. One precious granddaughter lives with the angels. Pat is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International. Her first novel, The Secret of Willow Inn, is a 2020 Selah Award winner. Starstruck in Willow Falls is a NGCWC Georgia Peach Award winner. Her short story, The Vet and Valentine Day, also won a NGCWC Georgia Award.