The first prize winner of our recent “Maskie” (mask selfie) contest is none other than Nikki Andrews, peering out from behind a beautiful sugar maple in her yard.  It is a particularly apt picture, since Nikki is a lover of all things outdoors, and leads many hikes around town (sponsored by the Library), where she has been a Trustee and “Friend” for many years.  She and her husband Dave are also long-time volunteers and stewards of the Sheldrick Forest in Wilton.

Nikki and Dave moved to Wilton from Pennsylvania 22 years ago.  They had always loved New England and with Dave getting a job in Merrimack, soon fell in love with a beautiful plot of land up on Curtis Farm Rd, and with the charm of a small town. Nikki and Dave have been married for almost 48 years and have two children and two grandchildren. 

Nikki is an author (fiction, poetry and essays), song-writer and editor who has worked for two publishing companies - The Wild Rose Press and Champagne Book Group.  She has been writing since junior high school, has recorded an album of original songs with a church choir, and has completed the National Novel Writing Month Challenge for many years.  Her published novels or novellas include Chicken Bones, A Windswept Star, Framed and Oil and Water. She is currently hard at work on her next novel, to be titled Competing Interest, which Nikki describes as a romantic thriller.

Fun fact about Nikki: she loves Formula 1 and Indy-car racing (as a spectator, not a driver!) and has met Mario Andretti when she lived in Reading, PA. and again at Watkins Glen.

Nikki also wanted to make sure I let folks know that she thinks one of the other two “maskie” winners – Sara Spittel and Leila Bigue (pictured below) – should have won!