Hey peeps, today we bring you Susan Mac Nicol and her new release Worth Keeping. Susan discusses with us her research *cough*, we have both Cat and Tams reviews and a fantastic giveaway from Susan and Boroughs Publishing where you can win copies tour wide of Stripped Bare and Saving Alexander. So without further ado I give you Susan Mac Nicol, good luck chaps and remember to click that Rafflecopter link 🙂 ~Pixie~
Official Tour Page:
http://authoressentials.virtualwritersinc.com/2013/12/worth-keeping-book-tour-with-susan-mac-nicol/
Book Trailer:
Guest Post by Susan Mac Nicol:
Oh how the world turns – Or, research CAN be very interesting…
I think I’ve said this before but I’m going to bore you and say it again. I love my new role as a writer/published author/scribe/wordsmith/woman of letters.
Whichever way you look at it, it has changed my life to the point where I meet the most interesting, supportive, funny and downright irreverent characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. And now that I have ‘branched out’ into writing stories about the world of the gay male romance relationships, it’s just gotten better. I do talk about things in this post that may offend sensitive viewers, so feel free to look away now.
This group of writers is incredible. In the words of the ladies in that wonderful British sitcom, they are ‘Absolutely Fabulous.’ Eddy and Patsy would be so enamoured with this lot.
You can read more about Ab Fab here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105929/ if you’re interested. It’s a classic if you like neurotic, sarcastic, chain smoking, drug popping and hard drinking women with attitude. And let’s face it, who doesn’t?
Anyway I digress. Back to this group of writers who have given me such pleasure over the past few months. Not the pleasure your dirty mind is thinking of, although… hmm, I guess there is an element of that when you’re reading hot, loving, gay man sex scenes.
Despite me being a relative newbie to the sub-genre, they have taken me into the proverbial fold, offered me support and encouragement, some jaw dropping moments, an education beyond compare in the ‘ins and outs’ of writing this type of story and a lot of entertainment.
Like my beta reader for ‘Stripped Bare’ (a well-known author and gay man who was sense-checking some of my scenes) coming up to me and saying ‘Sue, page 14 – honestly, cum doesn’t travel that far.” Ahhh. That’s telling me isn’t it? Right, I had to revisit that bit. The realistic distance of travelling cum needed to be addressed. (I have to say I think he said this for maximum impact when there were other people around who may not have known what we were talking about. He can be such a tease that way. I shudder to think what they thought, but they were too polite to say anything if so.)
There was the debate on whether a tongue stud will affect a blow-job and if so, in what way? Good, bad? Anyone tried it, have an opinion? Of course they do. I am now enlightened up and beyond the call of duty on the effect of a tongue piercing on a man’s penis.
There was the whole online discussion about solo shower masturbation and whether men used this as their happy time to relieve themselves. That garnered quite a few responses.
Then there’s my personal favourite, another fellow author, also a gay man, who offered to ‘test drive‘ my sex scenes with his boyfriend so that my research could be validated. Whether it actually happened or not I have no idea but this man and his partner deserve a commendation for their commitment to duty. If there’s an Oscar out there for this, someone let me know. Maybe we should think of a name for it. Feel free to give me your suggestions. Not too rude please. It might have to be mentioned on national TV.
The wonderfully named Gayology101 forum on Goodreads is a complete eye opener and I thank the stars we have actual gay men and women answering questions that we straight women pose on their sexual activity. It gets a little raw in there I can tell you, but nothing we writers can’t handle in the name of ‘research.’
I mean, honestly, where else could one talk about these sorts of things without feeling like a pervert? And believe me, getting it right is extremely important. There’s nothing worse that the research not being done properly and ticking someone off when they’re reading a book because it’s so blatantly wrong or unrealistic. You may not get it all right, and others may disagree with your take on some things but at least you tried like hell to do it right in the beginning.
Of course, all of the above applies to heterosexual sex as well, but I have a far better idea how that works, being an active participant myself. But when you’re writing about something you’ve never physically experienced or done (note, I don’t say visually experienced and I shall leave you all to ponder on the relevance of that statement) you need help to make it work.
So befriending these authors, most of whom are more experienced in writing in this genre than I am, who have already run the gauntlet and had their men have mind blowing sex with each other, was a privilege and an honour. Discussing things in forums, which may seem a little ‘out there’ was an education. Reading their books and finding out how they tackled the subject matter was enlightening and rewarding and most pleasurable. I doff my hat to them all.
All in all, I am enjoying this phase I’m going through and have every intention of continuing it. After all, David Sarnoff, businessman and pioneer of American radio and television said, “Whatever course you have chosen for yourself, it will not be a chore but an adventure if you bring to it a sense of the glory of striving.”
Well, I am definitely striving, so the path ahead can only be a LOT of fun.
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
”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
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.
Tour-Wide Rafflecopter Giveaway:
Worth Keeping Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Event Pages (Facebook and Goodreads):
https://www.facebook.com/events/202803816578033/
https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/917002-worth-keeping-online-book-tour-giveaway
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.
Title: Worth Keeping
Author: Susan Mac Nichol
Genre: Contemporary Romance with a dark edge
Length: Novel, 256 pages
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing (December 23rd 2013)
Heat: Explicit
Heart: ♥♥♥♥ 4
Reviewer: Tams & Cat
Blurb: 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
Tams review: Heart: ♥♥♥♥ 4
Nick Mathers.. dark and brooding, artist and light house keeper in his small corner of the world. To say his past is the stuff of nightmares is an understatement. Violated and abused as a teen, his own mother was the enabler. And then in his confusion he mistook a controling and domineering man for love. His body, both inside and out, carry the weight of the hard life he’s lead, and he remains isolated in his light house, pondering ending it all. Until he meets Owen.
Owen Butler is no stranger to heartache himself. His lover was killed in random act of violence and he’s never quite recovered. He does a little more than ponder an ending, and winds up washing ashore on Nick’s light house beach. The energy between these two is electric, and they act on it immediately. Nick decided long ago that he was better off alone. His scars run way too deep to even consider a lover. His emotions are so out of sync that his mind sometimes blurs the lines between reality and the past. And he refuses to hurt anyone, or let them in.
Both men are stubborn, strong willed and determined. Owen has fallen in love and will do whatever it takes to gain Nick’s love in return. The push and pull at times is extreme. The question is, can they find a balance between the push and pull. When your entire life has been a series of nightmares, self loathing and pain; can you find a way to love again? Owen is more than willing to draw him a map!
I’m reminded of a movie quote with these two, “Don’t say we may not be right for each other. Because the way I see it, we may not be right for anybody else!”
This is a dark love story with a lot of mystery and suspense. I loved the six degrees of separation aspect to the story line as well, in the end, all things were connected. People, places and things that were seemingly random throughout, actually converged for a tumultuous ending. There was passion, steam and just the right amount of angst for these two lovers as well. The shower scene alone makes this book a must read! The fact that the story itself is well written and the characters have depth and a certain reality to them is just a bonus.
Cat’s Review: Heart: ♥♥♥♥ 4
I really liked this story. It is full of depth and emotion and touches on some very disturbing topics. I will say however that there is a lot going on and at times I was a little overwhelmed with all the emotion, angst and different things happening. Still it is a beautiful and poignant story.
There are a lot of characters in this story also, but I really like that. Nathan is a dark brooding man, who wouldn’t like him but I have to say that at times I wanted to just slap him and say get over it. Owen I loved!! He is the perfect character and the dream man everyone would want no matter what sex you are! Both men are broken and so different that they complement each other well. Socks… I think he stole the show. I absolutely adored him and now I want a pet monkey.
If you like stories with angst, broken men, which deal with abuse, loss and suicide, devoted adoptive fathers, fate, a love worth keeping, and MONKEYS! You will love this story
Worth Keeping Tour Dates
Worth Keeping Blog Tour Dates
Monday 3rd February – Sid Love (review and interview)
Tuesday 4th February – Virtual Writers, Inc. (interview) & Mandie Foxylutely (review and guest post)
Wednesday 5th February – Gay List Book Reviews (review and guest post) & Pip Gilmour from Live Your Life, Buy the Book (review and guest post)
Thursday 6th February – Charlie Cochet (guest post) & Sarah Madison (review and interview)
Friday 7th February – Kathryn Lively from All Romance (guest post) & Scuttlebutt Reviews (review and guest post)
Saturday 8th February – Beckey White from In the Pages of a Good Book (guest post)
Sunday 9th February – Twitter Interview with Susan Mac Nicol (6pm GMT) (under hashtag #WorthKeeping)
Monday 10th February – Twinsie Talk Book Reviews (review and guest post) & Shh Moms Reading (review and bonus scene)
Tuesday 11th February – Zipper Rippers (guest post) & Cup O Porn (guest post)
Wednesday 12th February – Tammy Middleton from TTC Books & More (review and guest post) & Scott Burkett from Gay. Guy. Reading (bonus scene)
Thursday 13th February – Susan Mac Nicol’s site & Sophie Sansregret from Evolved World (review and guest post)
Friday 14th February – Hearts on Fire Reviews (review and guest post) & Joyfully Jay (original excerpt)
Saturday 15th February – The Novel Approach (review)
Sunday 16th February – MM Good Book Reviews (review and guest post)