Goodreads Choice Awards Finalists 2025
Gary A. Nilsen
220 ratings | 35 reviews | avg rating:4.48

Gary A. Nilsen’s Followers (27)

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Gary A. Nilsen

Goodreads Author


Born
in Brooklyn, The United States
Website

Twitter
Gary_Nilsen

Genre
Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Thrillers

Member Since
April 2011

URL


Gary A. Nilsen is a writer and a blogger. His former career as a financial professional spanned nearly four decades. He lived in Saudi Arabia for five years, helped on the initial excavation of a 1500-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Africa in the Red Sea, and has lectured on underwater archaeology and novel writing. He earned his MFA in Fiction with Southern New Hampshire University and currently resides with his girlfriend, Nancy in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?
Gary A. Nilsen There really isn't any such thing. What writers often face is uncertainty in how the story should be moving forward, which usually ends with someone w…moreThere really isn't any such thing. What writers often face is uncertainty in how the story should be moving forward, which usually ends with someone walking away from the keyboard or the notepad. The solution is counter-intuitive; you simply sit down and write. What comes out might be "flushable", but it will end with finding the path again.

The other symptom is lack of motivation which stems from the daunting feeling of not knowing what you're doing. My answer to that? Sit down and reread some of your work, it will spark the creativity inside you and start the process moving forward. It's like turning the key to start your car's engine.(less)
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What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Gary A. Nilsen Having the ability to move between worlds and know fascinating characters without ever leaving your chair...
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Combine Editions

Average rating: 4.53 · 36 ratings · 19 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors
Alfheim
4.61 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 2016 — 5 editions
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Nether Lands
3.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions
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Alfheim Resurrections (Tale...
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

42 posts
Gary A. Nilsen's Blog

To AI Or Not To AI

For the sake of transparency, I’m a 70 year old accountant who is also a writer. My extended family includes a television and film star, a Hollywood camera man, and a nephew who is developing a company using AI technology. The discussion in our family is, therefore, ongoing.

AI, once a novelty is now ubiquitous. I see it at work, in Facebook and Instagram Reels, in memes, in short…everywhere. F

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Published on November 12, 2025 10:56
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Gary is Currently Reading

Cell
Gary Nilsen is currently reading
by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Jan 30, 2020 07:33PM
The Last Magician
Gary Nilsen is currently reading
by Lisa Maxwell (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Aug 31, 2017 09:22AM

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Gary’s Recent Updates

Gary A. Nilsen wrote a new blog post

To AI Or Not To AI



For the sake of transparency, I’m a 70 year old accountant who is also a writer. My extended family includes a television and film star, a Hollywood Read more of this blog post »
Nov 14, 2025 01:03AM  · 
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Quotes by Gary A. Nilsen  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“You can't cure ignorance based solely on the basis of a valid argument...”
― Gary Nilsen
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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Addicted to YA: New Release - Alfheim - YA Urban Fantasy 2 16 Apr 08, 2016 07:15AM  
Vampires, Weres a...: * Welcome writers! Share your work! 156 282 Sep 30, 2025 01:40PM  

Gary’s Quotes

“A broken heart isn't so much the loss of the person as it is the loss of your dreams with that person. ”
― Diane Les Becquets, Love, Cajun Style
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