MANASSAS, Va. - Stevie Nicks gets her kicks on the road.

Which explains why the bewitching icon of '70s pop is back on the bus (literally this time) crisscrossing the country on her summer-long solo tour.

"After a concert, there's no better feeling than getting on the bus and hitting the road," says Nicks, whose dog is even along for the ride. The Enchanted Tour "is my whole world, my work - it's me this time," says a contented Nicks backstage at Nissan Pavilion.

Despite the steamy 90-degree night, Nicks is the very picture of high-priestess cool. The only things glistening on her face are the tiny, trendy crystals she has glued to her forehead in a diamond shape. Any meaning here? "They're just for fun," she says. "My niece first told me about them, but they're hard to find."

Nicks isn't. She's due to play Nashville on Friday and Kansas City, Mo. on Saturday. After a critically acclaimed reunion tour with Fleetwood Mac that ended in November, she jumped at the chance to release The Enchanted Works of Stevie Nicks, a three-CD box set. "I am truly free to do what I want . . . This is a diary of all my stuff."

Indeed, Nicks is more of an open book. She still wears her fanciful flowing dresses (and changes them often) but she's slimmer, more energetic and chattier with the audience than on previous tours.

After the concert, a visitor asks if she's aware of her influence on today's celebrities (Madonna, Sheryl Crow and Demi Moore have sung her praises.) "Well, it's hard to know if it's really true or if it's just someone saying it," says Nicks. "If it is, I am proud of it. "

More than other parts of her past. Reminded of a previous interview at her home, Nicks just shakes her head and laughs. "Was that back in the late '80s? I don't remember much about that time - good or bad."

Someday she'll write about it all. "I will do my book when I'm sure no one will be angry about it. I've got so many stories, so many secrets - good secrets - that I'm dying to tell. It will be fun to read."

It will include chapters on her Fleetwood Mac buddies, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie and John McVie. And no, we're not done hearing from the quintet.

"I'm psychic," says Nicks matter-of-factly. "Mac will definitely play - and tour - again." By Shawn Sell, USA TODAY