Thom Nickels

Who is Thom Nickels?

Thom Nickels is a Philadelphia-based author of nine literary works and previous recipient of the 2005 Philadelphia AIA Lewis Mumford Architecture Journalism Award, and was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award and a Hugo Award for his book, Two Novellas.

Born in Darby, Pennsylvania, Thom Nickels grew up in Chester County where he went to a local high school in Malvern. He enrolled in Philadelphia's Charles Morris Price School of Journalism where he co-edited the school's magazine, The New Price Review. Upon graduation he received the Carrie May Price Award for Best Student Journalism. Nickels then enrolled in Baltimore's Eastern College on Mt. Vernon Square where he majored in Liberal Arts. The Vietnam War disrupted his education when he was called to do two years of alternate service as a conscientious objector. Nickels writes about this period of his life in The Boy on the Bicycle, in an essay entitled 'The Fever of a Time and Place.'

Nickels was given Conscientious Objector status. In the 1960s a CO was responsible for acquiring a low end position in a hospital to meet draft board requirements. These requirements also mandated that a CO find a job at least 100 miles from home.