- I grew up in a house without hot running water. Yep—luxury was a kettle and a dream.
- We had a wood cook stove in the kitchen, and my childhood basically smelled like smoke and boiled potatoes.
- I can’t eat any kind of fish or seafood. I’m basically Poseidon’s worst dinner guest.
- Ruffles chips own my soul. Other chips don’t even tempt me.
- I lived and studied in France in the 80s and bawled like a baby at the airport when I had to come home.
- My childhood home was a mile down a dirt road. Picture Little House on the Prairie but with disco music.
- My parents spoke Finnish and English but tragically never passed on the Finnish. (So no, I can’t curse at you in three languages—just two.)
- My first car was a ’66 Plymouth station wagon I bought at 12 with babysitting money. Yes, I was driving at 11. Don’t tell my future insurance company.
- We had an 8-family party line for a phone. Everyone’s business was everyone’s business.
- About the time my friends noticed girls, I started noticing my friends. (Plot twist!)
- While studying in France, I met a dreamy French boy and we zipped from Paris to Nice on his motorcycle. Best semester break ever.
- At 16, I had a mustache and goatee and could buy booze for my friends. Fake ID? Didn’t need one. I had facial hair.
- I ran away from home at 16 and never looked back. Independent streak: unlocked.
- I once ran a Tarot consulting business. Yes, I’ve read people’s futures (and occasionally their bad boyfriends).
- I taught French at a university. Oui oui, baguette.
- Then I pivoted and designed databases. From verbs to variables.
- My forever favorite book series is Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. Pure joy.
- At 16, I saw Carrie twelve times in the theater. I can probably recite it better than Sissy Spacek.
- My first concert was Foreigner, and I smuggled in orange-flavored vodka. Regret that flavor choice to this day.
- I used to play the harp until my wrists staged a full rebellion.
- I have one sibling—a sister.
- We’re both adopted.
- My grandparents emigrated from Finland.
- My last name in Finnish translates to “sandfly” or “no-see-um.” Basically, a mosquito with a PR problem.
- People think I’m extroverted. Truth? I need three business days to recover from one social event.
- I’ve been to somewhere between 200–300 weddings.
- To be fair, I officiated most of them. (No, I didn’t just crash them all.)
- My shortest job ever was as a telemarketer selling storm windows. I lasted two days and still feel itchy about it.
- I spend way too much money on stationery and planners. (But my To-Do lists are gorgeous.)
- I once met Vincent Price when he stayed at the hotel where I worked. Horror movie squeal.
- As a room service waiter at a 4-star hotel, I also met Charles Nelson Riley and Phyllis Diller. Showbiz bingo card: stamped.
- My proudest achievement? Earning my Master’s degree in Foreign Language and Literature. Blood, sweat, and a lot of French verbs went into that.
- I once brought home a pet rat from my Psychology class. He was smarter than most of my classmates. I named him Socrates.
- Spain is my favorite country (so far)—gorgeous, warm, and kind. France is my soulmate country though, so I’m torn.
- I’m terrified of tight, enclosed spaces. An MRI is my literal nightmare fuel.
- I used to have a recurring childhood nightmare of being buried alive. (No wonder I hate enclosed spaces!)
- Summer is my jam because cold weather is evil. Beaches used to be my happy place.
- In college, I dressed up as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and lip-synced “Sweet Transvestite.” When I dropped my cape, my teacher panicked and ran up to shut the door. I got an A in the class.
- My birth name was John, but my adoptive parents renamed me Roger. Secretly? I like “Jon” better.
Nick Michelson is 16 and he:
Can see ghosts
Reads Tarot cards
Gets visions of the future
May or may not have a crush on his best friend.
And ghosts come to him for help
..and some, for revenge
Read the book that began it all: Nick’s Awakening