Susan Mac Nicol
Guest Post for Worth Keeping Book Tour
How friends and family react to my work as a M/M Romance author
I've noticed in forums and Facebook conversations that some M/M and erotic authors have to keep their real identity a secret for fear of being 'outed' as a writer of erotic or sexy works. I'm sad that has to happen, but I understand it completely. One of the authors I know lives in a fairly conservative area of the Bible belt in the US and to proclaim herself as a writer of such fiction would not go down well.
I'm relieved that I can be myself and not have to worry about any of this. I've always been a 'take me as I am' kind of person and to have to hide who I am and what I write would be anathema to me. I'm lucky not to have think about this and I am extremely vocal and a bit of a tart when it comes to telling people what I write about.
I LOVE to shock people.
I went to a convention once which was full of really venerated historical and male/female writers and one of them asked me what I write. I said 'I write about gay man sex and I love it." Well, there was a little flickering of eyes and a slight turn down of the lips of the lady that asked but everyone else thought it was funny.
My husband embraces my quirky foray into the world of man on man love with a sigh, a shrug of the shoulders and a wonderful resignation. He is used to me talking about topics that as a straight man, he'd never even heard of and probably never did. But unfortunately he is not left immune to the research delights of topping, bottoming, rimming, BDSM, hot man kissing and the study of penises in various states of arousal.
My mother is seventy-nine. She blinked a little when I told her what I was writing but her first question was 'Does it make more money that your other books that you've written? If so, it's the right choice." My mum can be a little materialistic on my behalf as mothers are. She has yet to read one of my books, not because she doesn't want to but because they are only digital at the moment and mum will NOT invest in anything like a Kindle. But when they get into print, she'll be the first to buy the box set :)
OMG I'm going to bloody horrify her. Best have the paddles and someone experienced in CPR on hand when she gets to the first sex scene.
My son and daughter are true troopers, extremely proud of their mum and telling anyone that will listen how I used to own a sex shop (yes, hubby and I did, but it was online gift boxes with saucy toys - vibrators, beads -you get the drift) and writes books all about sex, whether it be man/woman or man/man. My daughter takes great pleasure in telling everyone her mother is an erotic gay sex writer, similar to the one who wrote Fifty Shades. No matter how much I tell her this is not so, she insists. It appeals to her to see men's eyes glaze over, and she's even been asked for my number so some dude can get his rocks off with me in his 'swing.'
So not an avenue I want to go down. Not unless it's Benedict Cumberbatch doing the asking.
My older sister is less enthusiastic about my choice of genre. She's a bit old fashioned that way. But she still supports me every step of the way and I can't ask for more. Friends are like voyeurs, wanting all the dirty details and when I go out and visit them the conversation invariably turns to sex. I get asked by straight men regularly to please write Lesbian Romances so they can read them. My answer is always a resounding, “No.” Not because I have anything against it, obviously, it's just I really fancy my man love genre and have no intention of stepping outside it for the time being.
I've been a lucky lass to be able to do what I do, love it, promote it and proclaim it from the rooftops without fear of being isolated, harassed or treated like a venereal disease. I think I'm one of the fortunate ones.
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Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Bookseller: Boroughs Publishing Group
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 REVIEWS
"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
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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.
http://www.susanmacnicol.com/
http://susanmacnicol.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/SusanMacNicol7
http://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6472959.Susan_Mac_Nicol
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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
Thank you so much for having me here, it's been a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Susan MacNicol's books. Interesting interview.
ReplyDeleteHi! I love Susan's books! I'd love to get a'hold of this one!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway and Happy Man Love Day! ;) Lol
-Sam Harlow