Lisa Nickel

Lisa Nickel grew up boating with her family on old wooden boats including a tugboat named Teal. She believes there was no better way for her to grow up than by chugging down Puget Sound in these historic vessels. Lisa received her bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and began her teaching career in 1992 with the Auburn School District in Washington state where she taught fourth and fifth grades for thirty years. She earned her master’s degree from Lesley University in 1994. She was the founding educator of the Algona Blue Heron Community Gardens in Algona, Washington. She received the 2022 City of Algona Great Blue Heron Award for her dedication. Lisa always told her students to, “Write what you know.” She retired in June 2022 and decided to put her teaching into practice by drafting stories based on her own childhood boating experiences. She is thrilled to have her work published in a growing number of periodicals including Grit City Magazine, 48 Degrees North Magazine, Tracing the Fjord Magazine, Sea Chest Magazine, and the Tacoma Yacht Club’s Lubberline Magazine. One editor asked her, “Why haven’t you been writing all this time?” His compliment motivated her to continue writing. Lisa and her husband live in Washington state. She is happiest when spending time with her husband, their adult daughter, family, and friends. Some of her other interests include attending church, reading, sewing, and enjoying the outdoors. Lisa is currently working on several more writing projects. Tugboat Sand Man is her first book.