Who’s Nicole?

Youth-culture expert, Nicole O’Dell, resides in Paxton, Illinois, with her husband and six children—the youngest of which are toddler triplets. She’s the founder of Choose NOW Ministries, dedicated to battling peer pressure and guiding teens through tough issues while helping parents encourage good decisions, and host of Choose NOW Radio: Parent Talk and Teen Talk, where “It’s all about choices!” On air, O’Dell covers peer pressure, dating, purity, drugs, alcohol, modesty, popularity, and anything else that comes up along the way.  Nicole writes and speaks to preteens, teenagers, and parents about how to prepare for life’s tough choices.

Choose HER, a third division of Choose NOW Ministries, exists to point mothers and daughters toward each other in celebration of the gift God has given them in each other. With an annual Choose HER conference, local Choose HER Experiences, and a monthly Choose HER column on O’Dell’s website, this ministry is reaching right into hearts and homes, righting damaged relationships and laying solid foundations for new ones.

She’s author of YA fiction, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction, which offers readers alternate endings, allowing them to decide what the main character does, and the Diamond Estates Series based on her experiences as a resident at Teen Challenge as a teenager. Her non-fiction for teens includes Girl Talk, 2/1/12, which she wrote with her two daughters based on their popular advice column.

Nicole’s desire to bridge the gap between parents and teens is evident in her parenting non-fiction like the Hot Buttons, series aimed at helping parents handle tough issues with their tweens and teens before they pop up in real life. Hot Buttons Dating Edition and Internet Edition available 7/12, Sexuality Edition and Drug Edition available 10/12. Bullying and Image Editions coming up in 2013 along with a mobile app! Hot Buttons has recently received the Focus on the Family seal of approval.

For more information on Nicole O’Dell or her books, or to schedule Nicole for a speaking event or interview, visit www.nicoleodell.com. Podcasts of Choose NOW Radio are available at www.chooseNOWradio.com.

Avoiding Life’s “Uh-Oh” Moments…

I think back to the moments before the tattoo guy started his work on me many years ago. I sure wish I’d had a website like this or a resource like Scenarios for Girls  books or Teen Talk Radio to remind me of how important and…um…permanent some choices are. I have a passion for helping teens like you prepare for the toughest decisions–things even more important than tattoos. I believe in confronting things head on rather than waiting until you have to face the peer pressure. My books, my talks and this website deal with tough issues, so be sure to check with your parents about the books you’re reading and let them know you’re here.

Curious about what some other people have said about my books?

“It’s evident that Nicole is a rare author. She has a tender heart for teenage girls and has poured that care into her stories. May her tribe increase! And may her books lead many readers to make wise choices.” …Robin Jones Gunn, best-selling author of the Christy Miller Series and the Katie Weldon Series

And…

“Scenarios for Girls is a fast-paced series that allows you, the reader, to step into the shoes of a girl on the verge of making a tough choice. Like a Choose Your Own Adventure, except here you’re making important life decisions that affect every teen. You’ll be holding your breath as you live out the challenges on the pages to see where they take you.” Jenny B. Jones, award-winning author of So Not Happening and the Katie Parker Production series

While you’re here, be sure to check out the blog! There’s an advice column called Girl Talk where you can write in to ask me and my two daughters your most pressing questions. There are also posts, devotions, reviews and opportunities for you to win books and other fun things. And be sure to visit Teen Talk Radio. It airs every Thursday at 10pm EST!

I’d also like to invite you to subscribe to both my newsletter and to my blog (there’s a little box on the right where you can enter your email address). You’ll receive both in your email box as new content is available.

Above all, I LOVE hearing from readers and parents. You can reach me through my contact page or email me directly. And, definitely connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

God bless,

Nicole O’Dell
Email
Twitter
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Books:

Truth or Dare, 8/1/09
All that Glitters, 8/1/09
Magna, 4/1/10
Making Waves, 4/1/10
(Barbour Publishing)

Dare to Be Different:2 Interactive Stories in 1, 4/1/11
Risky Business: 2 Interactive Stories in 1, 4/1/11
Swept Away:< 2 Interactive Stories in 1, 4/1/11
(Barbour Publishing)

The Wishing Pearl, Book One of the Diamond Estates series, 10/1/2011, Barbour

Girl Talk, Barbour Publishing, May 2011

Girl Talk Q&A, Barbour Publishing, Feb 2012

Hot Buttons: Dating Edition
Hot Buttons: Internet Edition

Contributed more than 200 devotional writings to:

Thrive! (Barbour, 2011)
To Love and To Cherish, (Barbour, 2009)
Whispers of Wisdom for Busy Moms , (Barbour, 2008)
Whispers of Wisdom for Single Moms, (Barbour, 2008)
Whispers of Wisdom for Mothers of Preschoolers , (Barbour,08)
Whispers of Wisdom for Young Women, (Barbour, 2008)
Whispers of Wisdom for Girls, (Barbour, 2008)
A short story for susiemagazine.com, appearing December, 2009
A parenting column for Focus on the Family Magazine, March, 2010.
Choices! Newsletter Teen Talk Radio

If you are in need of an event speaker, please contact me HERE.