About Me

Portrait of a pale, middle-aged person with short brown hair and murky green eyes

Hello! I'm Nicky Penttila, and I invite you to step into stories that explore the human heart amidst the stars. I write character-driven space operas that expand readers' sense of possibility while centering empathy, nonviolence, and second chances. Through humor and heart, my stories challenge social norms and offer a captivating adventure that inspires wonder, reflection, and new ways of connecting across differences.

Even as life’s demands pulled me in many directions—from journalism across the country to cozy Maryland days with my reading-mad spouse and zoomy rescue cats—my constant has been the narrative threads that connect us all. If you're drawn to the exploration of human emotions and relationships in extraordinary circumstances, you'll feel at home in my stories.

I'd be delighted to hear from you about your favorite characters or to chat about what makes a story resonate. Join me on a cosmic journey by connecting through Bluesky/X/Ihreads/IG, @NickyPenttila, or Mastodon, @nickypenttila@mastodon.online

Feel free to reach out, follow my latest updates, or join my newsletter for insider info and discussions—your story is as important as mine.


On the orange futon couch, Nicky is reading, Lilo is sleeping, and Maddie is sitting on the back of the couch supervising the neighborhood

Everybody doing their favorite thing on a Sunday afternoon: Nicky reading, Lilo lounging on her pillow in the sun, Maddie supervising the neighborhood.