Sid Love: Welcome to the Blog of Sid Love, Susan. We are pleased to have you here.

Susan Mac Nicol: It’s always a pleasure to feature on your blog, Sid. Thanks for having me.

SL: You are most welcome. To tell the readers about this event, Susan is doing a blog tour to promo her latest release – Worth Keeping which has been published under the Boroughs Publishing Banner. A powerful story about two deeply scarred men coming together to heal each other with love. Susan, can you tell us more about Nick and Owen?

SMC: Nick is a man who had a really traumatic childhood, after being forced into prostitution by his mother when he was only nine years old. He was abused and used and at age thirteen, he finally managed to get out of the horrific situation he was in and start again. It wasn’t easy but he had help from his foster father, Don, a policeman who saw the man beneath the boy. Owen was in a relationship that ended tragically with his lover dying in his arms, something which still haunts him. Both men have demons and part of that is a wish not to be on this earth any longer. This is how they meet.

SL: Oh dear, that sounds tragic. What time period and where is this story set in?

SMC: It’s contemporary, so set in today’s time, as the reader experiences it. The story itself is set around a lighthouse on the east sea coast of England, in the county of Norfolk. Pebble Cove itself is an imaginary village but the village of Cromer is real, and that’s mentioned too. Cromer is famous for its crabs and seafood and tourists flock there specially for those delicacies. It’s a beautiful seaside town.

SL: Must be lovely there. Any specific reasons why you chose that county?

SMC: I wanted something set in a lighthouse, and there is a real one called Cromer Lighthouse, one that I’ve been to. It made sense to set it in a similar setting. I’ve actually been invited into it with the maintenance crew at the end of January so I’ll get to see it really closely. One of the things about all my books so far is that wherever each one is set, i.e. in the different areas of London, Norfolk, and an upcoming release is set in Stamford in Lincolnshire- I’ve been to every place and taken pictures of the area. It’s a bit of a thing with me to experience where my stories are told.

I guess I need to write one set in Tahiti or the Caribbean lol.

SL: Well there is always a next book to write. 😉 😉

Moving on, in your other book “Saving Alexander”, we had Alexander with a dark past of his own and now it is Nic who has his demons to overpower. Who do you think has lived life the hardest way though?

SMC: That’s a good question. I suppose Nick was only a child, forced by someone who was supposed to protect and cherish him-his mother- into something sordid and painful. He was at a time when his psyche was still developing into the person he wanted to be. He endured four years of that. Alex was much older when he was kicked out of home to make it on his own, and he was a prisoner for eight months before he was rescued. I guess Nick was probably the more tortured of the two, with less choices.

SL: I believe you are right on that part. Nick was too young to make any choices for himself. Was it hard for you, as his creator, digging so deep into his past?

SMC: It’s always difficult writing about things that have an impact on children especially. I’m pretty vocal in various anti sexual abuse sites, including rape and child sex abuse so I’ve seen and heard about some of the worst of human nature. The over riding factor is writing Nick’s story with his hardships and pain, was the bright light at the end of me knowing he was going to get through it, find happiness and that special soul mate to heal him. So while it might have been tough going, I knew Owen was there waiting for him.

SL: Okay – brag away on this one please, I won’t have it any other way – which was the chapter of this book that you wrote so brilliantly that you felt accomplished? and why?

SMC: I don’t know about brilliant, I’ll leave that to readers to perhaps tell me their views -but the one part I really enjoyed writing about was the abortive blowjob encounter in the car. It might sound like a strange fave scene, but this whole episode really cemented these two men together (pun intended 🙂 ) I wanted to get the message across of Owen’s total willingness to please Nick, to show him he loved him and to make Nick feel better even to Owen’s own detriment. And I wanted Nick to be able to realise at that moment just how much Owen cared for him, idolised him almost to do something so alien. I think this simple, humorous scene showing weaknesses and vulnerabilities really achieved what I wanted it to do in my mind. 

SL: That was so not bragging but it seems I’ll have to live with that. 😛

SMC: LOL sorry Sid, I’m not really a bragger. I find it a little difficult to blow my own trumpet!

SL: Ah, you don’t know how much fun you are missing. 😉 Tell me one thing, when you write, is it you who control the characters or is it vice verse?

SMC: The characters definitely write themselves as I go. I start out with an idea as to how I’m going to show them but during the writing process, they evolve. In Saving Alexander, Sage was supposed to be a really nice guy until he decided he really needed a bit of a bad side to him to make him more interesting. He told me he didn’t want to be a saint lol. So he became a bit moody and bad tempered. Shane Templar from Stripped Bare was a snarky brat but brilliant , who grew into his persona as the story developed to show a really compassionate and loving side. So they all tell me how they want to be shown 🙂

SL: Impressive. And I am sure you just love being dominated by all these hot guys, eh? I know I would have loved that… *ahem*

SMC: Oh Sid, have you got a camera in my house? You know my deepest, darkest secret…. Absolutely, I love these men, these strong yet vulnerable and flawed characters. Each one is very special and it becomes a real treat to write ‘The End’ at the end of a book knowing they are all happy and getting on with their lives with their special someone! Call me a romantic but I love it. Hmm. Perhaps we need a camera in YOUR house seeing your last statement *grins cheekily*

SL: In my defense, it’s been only over a couple of years since I have stepped out of my teens. My hormones still run pretty wild, lady 😛

Is there any writing ritual you follow?

SMC: No, I’m pretty much a’ fly by the seat of your pants’ writer. I don’t have to fondle the lucky rabbit’s foot, or turn around three times before I sit down or pray to the Writing deities to flood me with creativity and wisdom (although if there was such a thing I’d always appreciate a little personal attention!) I just sit down in my corner of the couch with laptop perched on lap and ignore everyone and everything when I’m in the zone. Sometimes I’ll put the earphones on and listen to Muse, Foo Fighters, The Killers and 30 Seconds to Mars as inspiration to keep the writing flow going.

SL: You used to write M/F before you decided to join us all on the dark side. I know it’s a bachelorette’s party here all the time and we get to see shirtless men stripping for us, but other than that what attracted you to begin writing M/M Romance?

SMC: I was writing an erotic crime thriller called Born Human and the villain is a bisexual serial killer who uses his sexuality to get what he wants from people. Part of his control over his boyfriend is sex., I needed to know what it was all about. I’d never even been exposed to such a thing before, never even thought about it. So I started ‘researching’ *sniggers* and reading M/M books to see how other writers tackled the subject. I found it completely riveting, hot and within the first couple of books I was completely hooked. I read so much that eventually I thought ‘you know what, I think I can write this too’ and Stripped Bare was born. Thank heavens as this genre has been a godsend to me in many many ways.

SL: Ah the “researching” excuse… always works out 😉

Well, now that you are here with us on this side, we will make sure not to let you return!

SMC: I don’t think there’s any chance of that. The welcome I’ve had from this genre has been truly mind blowing, the camaraderie between fellow authors and bloggers/reviewers like yourself so intense and warm that I’d be daft to leave it behind for something else. It is truly a genre all on its own and I’d love it to get far more recognition than it does.

SL: And the plan seems to be in works to keep you motivated. Not only Stripped Bare and Saving Alexander, but also “Worth keeping” is averaging at over 4 Stars on GoodReads. On the scale of 1 to 10, how happy and satisfied are you with the reception?

SMC: Ah, you’ve asked a very sensitive question there. Ask anyone who knows me, including my publisher, and they’ll tell you I have extremely high expectations. While I’m loving the attention my books are getting, I always expect better from myself. It’s in my nature never to be satisfied with my performance and my poor publisher tears their hair out when I grumble about wanting to do better. But I know I’ve done well for only being in this writing industry less than 18 months, coming from nothing to having three best sellers, and a dedicated and brilliant fan base like I have and I know I should give myself a pat on the back. So here’s me doing that *slaps herself silly* before someone beats me on the head with a heavy book in frustration. 😉

Like I said, I’m not good at bragging :O

SL: That is a nice attitude to live with. I mean, there’s always a room for improvement. And I am sure, with you, that room will keep getting smaller and smaller as you grow to become one of the big names in the industry. You have published your M/F books with Boroughs, I noticed. I don’t think I have seen any other M/M books published under this banner. Was it for you they opened the door to a whole new genre?

SMC: Yes, I’ve given them their first (and only at the moment) books in this genre. It’s been a learning curve for them too so we’ve been learning together. However I have my first book out with Dreamspinner in February, who as you know are a specialist in this niche market and I’m looking forward to seeing how that works. I’ve heard good things about them from fellow DS authors like Rhys Ford and Sue Brown.

SL: That is great. Congratulations. Dreamspinner is indeed a brand in itself.

Let’s take a break from books and writing and focus a bit on you. How long have you had a crush on Benedict Cumberbatch?

SMC: OMG since January 2012. I saw him in Frankenstein and Sherlock and fell in love. You know how that goes. I have no idea why I have this complete fan girl crush, I’ve never fan girled before-well, maybe over Michael Landon in Bonanza when I was a little girl. (Now I’m showing my age). It’s a crazy obsession and one that my friends and family just don’t understand.

SL: Don’t worry I am the one who totally gets you because I am right behind you in the line to grab that fine piece of ass any chance I get. He is brilliant in Sherlock!

SMC: I watched the first episode of Series 3 on Sunday. *swoons* the man is a fine specimen of manhood and with brains – *faints* even better.

I love your description of the Batch as a fine bit of ass. Truly says it all.

SL: And him almost kissing Moriarty – though being a dream sequence – was my dream come true. How I wish I was even that close to those kissable lips…

SMC: I know!!! I was shouting , ‘Do it, do it and make it bloody last!!’ at the screen. My family thought I was bonkers…

SL: LOL! Well, we know someone is aggressive about it. “Sherlock is not my boyfriend. I am not gay!”

SMC: I’m very fortunate to have his publicists direct email and anything I do that showcases him I send to her for what I call ‘the Batch Scrapbook’. I have no idea what she does with it, but I think this blog post will be one of the things I email onto her! And yes, poor John – me thinks he doth protest too much lol

SL: You should totally do that. Well… people are gonna wonder what we are on about. So hard as it is, let’s move on from Benedict to you becoming a Wiccan? How did that happen?

SMC: I’m not one of those really devout ones, I’m more of a ‘live by their beliefs’ Wiccan, as I find their tenets and more open ideas more to my liking. I’m not religious at all, but the whole philosophy of Mother Earth and just being a good human being to all appeals. I don’t see it as religion, just a set of human beliefs to live by.

SL: Still – that makes you like a half-witch. How cool is that?!

SMC: LOL Sid, very cool. People look at my bookshelf and tremble. I have my own Book of Shadows, loads of books on witchcraft and the occult and a very fancy version of the Malleus Maleficarum, the old book on witch hunting written in the 1400’s. It’s an interest I have and a passion. In fact I have a new M/M paranormal series called Double Alchemy coming out which is about Warlocks and witches in my home town of Essex which was part home to the Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins.

SL: I would definitely like to read that! What’s the expected publication date?

SMC: They are with my editor now, both of them and I think it will be Feb/March for Book 1 and April May for Book 2. At least that’s the plan. You can check them out on my Pinterest board if you like..http://www.pinterest.com/susiemax777/double-alchemy-karma-and-cade/

SL: That definitely deserves a double thumbs up. Are you a fan of Harry Potter?

SMC: Love Harry Potter! Incredible series and J K Rowling’s work was fantastic. I’m very into the magical and spiritual stuff, like the work of Phil Rickman, a Welsh writer here. I love the unknown and the different.

SL: So if you were a character out of the HP books, which one would you like to be? and why?

SMC: I’d be Dumbledore 🙂 Wizard extraordinnaire, powerful, able to turn people into toads…definitely Dumbledore.

SL: And if you were a character out of your own books, which one would you be?

SMC: I’d definitely want to be Shane. The thought of wreaking havoc with people’s bank accounts, finding out everything I want to know about anyone, and being able to track through cyber space and find out if aliens truly do exist, appeals to the geek in me. Make no mistake, I’m a lady geek. I love technology, computers and smartphones and being able to live in a virtual world. Then again, Alex was modelled on my inner dream and wish to have a TV series made out of her books so that I could ask Benedict Cumberbatch to star in them (my Starlight series) -so maybe Alex! I even wrote a screenplay for this one just in case ….

SL: Can you tell us a bit about your Feb release from DSP?

SMC: Sure. It’s called ‘Waiting for Rain’. It tells the story of Toby Prentiss, ex foster kid and now General Manager of a quaint English hotel in Stamford, and Rain Engel, carpenter and wood worker who comes to the hotel to build a custom bar. Of course, their first meeting is a little tense but they finally bow down and admit their attraction to each other. It’s a lot softer than any of my other books, definitely more romancey, funny possibly and with some wonderful village scenes. Oh and lots of pole dancing…and sheep.

SL: Intriguing and great title too! We will keep an eye out for it. So, before we wind up, do you have anything more to add?

SMC: It’s been wonderful being here with you, finding out a bit more about you too -(I mean, who knew you had such a Cumberbatch Crush)- and I’m truly pleased that people might like to hear about me and my books. I’m having such a lot of fun writing them and promoting them and being involved in things like this really make me happy. Other than that -I think I’m all tuckered out for the night. Good Night everyone!

SL: Thank you Susan for being here with us. Now that you are contributing as a monthly blogger for TBSL, we hope to see you around more often.

SMC: I’m looking forward to it Sid. 🙂

BOOK TRAILER

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Worth Keeping

Author: Susan Mac Nicol

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group

Bookseller: Boroughs Publishing Group

Excerpt: Worth Keeping Excerpt

Nick Mathers pulls Owen Butler from the freezing waters off the Norfolk coast, but Owen’s love can carry Nick back from the edge of oblivion.

Abused horrifically as a boy, Nick Mathers has come to terms with his existence as a man. Mostly. Other days life seems a little much. Especially when Nick knows he’ll always be alone.

On those days his thoughts turn black. He walks the Norfolk coast and considers the frigid embrace of the waves. And then, one stormy night, he finds someone who’s tasted just that. The beautiful stranger on the beach is near death, and Nick rushes him home to slowly nurse back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other. Owen Butler’s body is as warm as the sea was cold, his heart as big as an ocean. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor. Nick can yet be saved from himself, and he will see that he is indeed a man…

WORTH KEEPING

READ DONNA’S 5 STAR REVIEW – HERE

”We have to re-iterate that this Author will always be an automatic one-click for us. Her writing is flawless and her flawed characters are completely lovable. There’s always something quirky and fun in her stories as well as drama, angst and heaps of passion! We can highly recommend!!” – Gitte & Jenny – Totally Booked Blog

“The cast of supporting characters adds depth and color, and the subplot of impending danger is artfully woven into the fabric of two men learning to overcome their own limitations, to open to the possibility of love and to redefine who they are. … this is a novel… Worth Keeping.” – Beach Bum Books

“Susan has written what I found to be a truly wonderful story about two damaged men that fit together in a way that gives them a relationship that can be everything they never dared to dream of.” – T. Kurtz, Book Addict

“…it is a beautiful story of survival. It is a story of two men who fought for their lives and there are times they can trip and fall, but somehow they do manage to pick themselves up and face life. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Love it.“ – Johanna Alba Bilbao

“Susan has been hailed as a genius writer of male/male literature. Her Saving Alexander has been nominated for several awards and has been reviewed widely. Congrats on all your success, Susan. You have earned it.” – Gay Lit Authors

ABOUT SUSAN MAC NICOL

                     

Susan Mac Nicol was born in Leeds, UK, and left for South Africa when she was eight. She returned to the UK thirty years later and now lives in Essex. Her debut novel Cassandra by Starlight, the first in a trilogy, was published last year by Boroughs Publishing Group in the US. Sue’s latest story, Worth Keeping is her third m/m romance.

Sue has written since she was very young, and never thought she would see herself being a Romance writer, being a horror/psychological thriller reader all her life. But the Romance genre is now something very close to her heart and she intends continuing the trend.

Sue is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Romantic Novelists Association here in the UK.

To learn more, visit Susan on her website and blog on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and Pinterest.

Susan Mac Nicol is also author of The Magick of Christmas, Confounding Cupid, Cassandra by Starlight , Together in Starlight, Stripped Bare and Saving Alexander.

 

TOUR GIVEAWAY

Susan and her publisher, Boroughs Publishing Group, will be awarding a copy of Stripped Bare and a copy of Saving Alexander to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway