You may love his books, but you might feel differently about his chicken salad.

Its the dressing where it goes off the rails.

Yes, 16 packets of Splenda.

Nicholas Sparks

Credit:Bruce Glikas/WireImage

you might use real sugar, but why throw sugar in if you might use Splenda?

Sparks asked, adding that he tries to avoid carbs most of the time.

Let us remind you that were not afraid of seemingly off-the-wall recipes here atSouthern Living.

Its hard to scare a group that was raised onpineapple and mayonnaise sandwiches, after all.

But the mention of Splenda in chicken salad had us simultaneously clutching our pearls and scratching our heads.

Meanwhile, Lisa Cericola, deputy editor, can not believe it isn’t a typo.

(Ed note: it isn’t.)

And all of them, we should note, areNew York Timesbestsellers.

Sparks latest heart-wrenching love story,Counting Miracles, was released just this week.