Susan Mac Nicol's Blog, page 24
December 7, 2013
Queer Town Abbey Christmas Blog Hop – Christmas and Family Ties
The hop runs Dec 8th 12:00 am EST through 13th 11:59 pm EST and there are some fabulous prizes for the big Christmas giveaway!
This is the link to the full blog hop http://queertownabbey.com/qtas-christmas-blog-hop/
All you need to do is answer one simple question, (the answer to which can be found in this blog post) then head on over here
a Rafflecopter giveaway
and leave your details and enter your answer. It’s a rafflecopter giveaway and you’ll see there what you need to do to enter.
The question is- What’s the name of the man Nick Mathers finds washed up on the shore?
What Christmas means to me and my family
This year I have to confess I’ve been a bit of a Grinch. For some reason I’m not just not into the whole spirit of it like I was before. But then I took a look at some old photos my family and I took when we went to Austria in 2009, to the Weismann Hotel in St Georgen. It was my husband, my son and daughter and my mother. We took a coach trip from the coast at Dover, onto the ferry and into the beautiful country of Austria. It was snowing as you can see from the picture of the hotel. The picture that looks like a gingerbread house was one I took of a house we could see from our hotel room. It was all geared up for Christmas and was absolutely charming. We went to the local Christmas market, drank gluhwein, ate warm muffins and wrapped up warm against the cold. We visited the beautiful Lake District, took a ride on a sleigh drawn by two ponies (no reindeer unfortunately) and simply enjoyed the best this country had to offer. It was one of my most remembered Christmases even if my mum did moan about the lack of decent gin in the hotel 
Our dining room was festive, with a lovely tree in the middle and our hosts were gracious and welcoming.
We were all together, happy and fed, warm and in the Christmas spirit and it made me thankful for my family, the ones who have stuck me through me in thick and thin, supported me in my single minded quest to be a writer and forgiven me when I snarl at them for interrupting me when I’m in the process of having two men make out passionately in a number of places. So I guess that perhaps Christmas spirit is catching and maybe, just maybe, I might start getting it back soon.
I have a new release coming out in December, date still to be announced. I can’t show you the cover yet as we have a big cover reveal planned, but it’s called ‘Worth Keeping’ and you can find out a little more about it here on my Pinterest board.
Nick Mathers rescues Owen Butler from the Norfolk shore, but Owen’s love brings Nick back from the edge of oblivion.
Abused horrifically when just a boy, Nick Mathers is a tortured soul. He’s mostly come to terms with it, but sometimes it all gets a little much. On those dark days, he tends to think about dying—a lot. Then, one stormy night on the Norfolk coast when he’s about to take the plunge, he finds a body, a beautiful stranger washed up on the beach and near death. Nick takes him home and slowly nurses him back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other. Owen Butler’s body is as warm as that water was cold, his heart as big as the sea. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor and save Nick from himself, for Nick is indeed a man…
WORTH KEEPING
Now we also needed to post our favourite Christmas Cookie recipe…so here’s mine
Ingredients:
• 225g butter
• 1 cup castor sugar
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups plain flour
• 1 teaspoon bicarb soda
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 eggs (59g)
Method:
Preheat oven to 180ºC. Line baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, sift in the flour, bicarb soda and cream of tartar. Mix until a smooth dough has formed.
Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface, wrap in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Roll the dough between two sheets of baking paper until about 5mm thick. Cut out biscuits using Christmas shaped cutters and place on prepared baking trays. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Have fun with the icing and get creative!
VOILA!!
These are the other authors participating in the blog hop- why not pay them all a visit?
December 4, 2013
My latest release ‘Worth Keeping’
Hooray!! It looks like I have a confirmed date for the release date of my new book, ‘Worth Keeping’. It’s the 23rd December so Nick and Owen (and Socks the monkey) will be here in time for Christmas. (Owen’s the dark haired one -sexy isn’t he?) And Nick’s yummy too. And even more exciting is that there will be an exclusive *Cover Reveal* with Shh Mom’s Reading (http://shhmomsreading.com/) on the 12th December with an Excerpt and Giveaway too.
Oh and don’t forget the bonus scene from ‘Saving Alexander’ with Alex and Sage with http://shhmomsreading.com/ on the 17th December along with their review as well. Wow, that’s lots to look forward to. It must be Christmas lol.
This is what ‘Worth Keeping’ is all about….
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
Lighthouse on the coast
Nick Mathers
Owen Butler
Socks, Nick’s pet
See all the pictures for this book on my Pinterest Board
November 27, 2013
Hot Autumn Nights Blog Hop
This is the link to follow the other wonderful bloggers on this hop – there is a GRAND PRIZE too, so take a look.
http://www.hdthomson.com/blog-hops/hot-autumn-nights-blog-hop/
WHAT’S YOUR IDEA OF A HOT AUTUMN NIGHT?
Hmm. Difficult one. The first things that come to mind are hot chocolate or gluhwein, a crackling fire, warm blankets, soft rugs on the floor before the fire and a warm body to cuddle up to. Soft music playing- maybe Gotye or something classical, strains of soft, romantic musical note drifting through the air like warm breaths.
Then there’s the other fantasy – sexy, hot men all decked out in leather, performing a pole dancing show just for me and perhaps a few other lucky ladies (depending on how nice they’ve been to me that week), a few bottles of good red wine, dim lighting, sexy, amazingly burlesque music humming through the room as these dancers wind their sinuous limbs around poles that make you wish you were one.*Shivers* I think I prefer this one myself.
I seem to have developed a thing for sexy male pole dancers. I have a new release coming out in February 2014, called ‘Waiting for Rain’. It’s being published by Dreamspinners. One of the MC’s, Rain, is a sexy beast and he’s a bit of an exhibitionist. He loves dancing and -you guessed it- pole dancing in particular. His hero (and mine) is the incredibly limber Evgeny Greshilov. Take a look at this video and tell me you wouldn’t prefer this to be part of YOUR Hot August Night, man or woman…
You can find out more about ‘Waiting for Rain’ here
GIVEAWAY !!
To celebrate this blog hop, I’m giving away two e-book copies of my recent release, ‘Stripped Bare’, and my new release, ‘Saving Alexander’, which is out on the 29th October. Two lucky winners, drawn at random, will win either one of these books.
You only have to leave a comment to enter but if you’d like to increase your chances of winning one of the books, then you can do one or all of the following – these are optional and if you only leave a comment, you’ll still be entered into the giveaway -
Follow my blog at http://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com
Follow me on Twitter @SusanMacNicol7
Connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
You can find me here too – http://www.susanmacnicol.com/
Once the blog hop is over, the random winners will be drawn and announced here on my blog. I’ll also contact you via email. In your comment, leave me the following -
Your email address -Very Important!
Preference for which one of my books you fancy if you have one
If you followed or connected, which one of the above?
If you want to tell me what e-book format you’d prefer if you win, feel free.
And most of all – thanks for stopping by, participating and making contact.
In case you missed it this is the link to follow the other wonderful bloggers on this hop -
http://www.hdthomson.com/blog-hops/hot-autumn-nights-blog-hop/
November 26, 2013
Gay rights in Russia and the Winter Olympics
Violent attacks on lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in Russia are sky-rocketing. And they’re being fuelled by a new law that make it a crime to be open about who you are and who you love.
In less than 100 days, all eyes will be on Russia for their Winter Olympics. But behind the excitement and sporting drama will be thousands of people hiding and living in fear.
But what if instead of facing the handful of people in Russia brave enough to stand up to terrifying violence and state power, the Russian government faced a movement of millions around the world?
The Olympic games are our best chance to end to Russia’s outrageous anti-gay laws – but to do it, it’s going to take lots more of us to speak out about what’s happening in Russia right now.
Watch this beautiful 2-minute video, and then sign the petition: https://www.allout.org/Olympics
Thank you for going All Out.
Andre, Guillaume, Jeremy, Leandro Tile, and the rest of the All Out team.
PS: If the Russian government attacks LGBT people and there is no response from around the world, leaders in smaller, less powerful countries might think it’s safe to copy them. And things could get worse for many more people around the world. So if you haven’t already, please sign the petition here: https://www.allout.org/Olympics
November 20, 2013
Winners of the Big Cocks and Broomsticks Blog Hop
Well, the blog hop is officially over and it was great while it lasted. To everyone that participated, swung by and left a comment – thank you. We couldn’t have done it without you.
And as a reward, of course there are winners to be announced! So without further ado, here are the winners of the copies of Stripped Bare or Saving Alexander. Rest assured if I know what format you wanted, an email would have been sent to you already with the requested book. If not, you’ll see an email asking what format you fancy. Oh by the way, this is a virtual hug for all of you
And the winners are
Jill – jillprand@outlook(dot)com A copy of Stripped Bare
Lisa – lisahelo@outlook(dot)com A copy of Saving Alexander
I did a bonus draw too and the winner of a copy of Saving Alexander is : *drum roll*
Elise – eliseanstegan@gmail(dot)com
Congratulations to the winners ! If you’d like another chance to win a book, then pop on over when I take part in the Hot Autumn Nights Blog Hop from 25 November to 2 Dec.
November 14, 2013
Saving Alexander by Susan Mac Nicol
Reblogged from MM Good Book Reviews:
Title: Saving Alexander
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Genre: BDSM
Length: Novel (256 pages)
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group (October 28th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb:Punishing himself for a horrific past that is not his fault, bestselling author Alexander Montgomery seeks redemption and love—and perhaps he will find it.
Famous author though he may be, Alexander Montgomery is not someone you take home to meet Mother.
I received a wonderful 5 star review from fellow author Portia de Moncur for my latest release 'Saving Alexander'. Portia reviews for MM Good Book reviews and you can find the full review at the link below.
November 4, 2013
Guest Interview – Rory Ni Coileain and review of Deep Plunge
Today I have the pleasure of hosting the lovely Rory Ni Coileain on my blog. Rory is here to tell us more about herself, her books and her Muse, or Muses….
Welcome Rory.
How would you describe your latest book ‘Deep Plunge’ in 20 words or less without using the blurb?
A Fae healer discovers how much he will risk, how far he will go, to save his human SoulShare’s life.
How would your friends describe you in 20 words or less?
Big-hearted cat-loving Irish lawyer with a wicked imagination and an encyclopedic memory missing a few volumes.
Sue – errm, a bit like this then? *chuckles*
State a random fact about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I have arthritis in my tailbone, as the result of an injury sustained while demonstrating a tango move in the Irish dance class I was teaching. (I think that’s about as random as it’s possible to get in a single sentence.)
What started you on your journey to be a writer?
That journey’s had several starts. The first one was when I was about six years old, and first realized that books didn’t just appear on shelves; someone had to write them, and I decided I wanted to be one of the someones, someday. I never really took my writing seriously until college, though, when I decided to major in creative writing. The only problem was, back then hardly any colleges offered it as a major, so I had to design it myself. I ended up with close to a triple major, in English, social sciences, and medieval history. I had a wonderful major advisor, a graduate student by the name of P.C. Hodgell, and if you want to see where my prose style comes from, pick up any of her books. But right out of college, still very much wet behind the ears, I submitted a short story to Marion Zimmer Bradley, for one of her “Sword and Sorceress” anthologies. I was nineteen years old, and I’m sure my story was very… well, nineteen years old. And fangirl to boot. Plus, I’m not sure I really read the submission guidelines. But the rejection letter I got from her totally crushed me. She told me that she couldn’t understand why anyone who wrote as badly as I did even wanted to try to be a writer. So for the next thirty years or so, I wrote for my own amusement only. Then, about two and a half years ago, I happened to see a manuscript call for an anthology of BBW stories. I’d never had any interest in writing in that genre, but something whispered in my ear that it would be a fun challenge to write something completely “to spec.” Not to mention an interesting challenge to see if this Irish girl could meet a deadline and a word count! I did it, and I sent it off… and it was funny, suddenly after all these years, I was thinking of myself as a writer again. NaNoWriMo that fall was just the icing on the cake.
Do you see yourself in any of your characters?
Several of them, actually. Kevin Almstead, in HARD AS STONE, is a lawyer, as much because I wanted to redeem my own profession as for any other reason. And he gets in trouble as a lawyer for the same reason I did at his age, he’s not a shark. Josh LaFontaine, in GALE FORCE, shares my tendency to put pretty much everyone in his life ahead of himself, only I think he’s less neurotic about it than I am. But I think the character I identify the most with is Garrett Templar, from DEEP PLUNGE. He’s a dancer, which I was for years, and he has my childhood and my general outlook on life. Once I had a dream where I looked in a mirror, and saw his face looking back at me.
Why did you choose the genre you write in?
I think it chose me. Seriously. Two years ago, I was doing a lot of adult role-play writing, purely for the fun of it, but I’d never written m/m. In fact, I was absolutely certain I couldn’t. But a dear friend asked me to try it, as a favor to her. So I created a character, and I found an amazing writing partner who challenged me to go places I’d never gone. And I fell in love. Completely. And I stay here because I love it here. When I sent my first book off to a gay friend of mine for, um, fact-checking – as in, “Is that even physically possible?!?” – he came back with “Have you been a gay man in drag for the last 20 years and you just never told me?” There are wonderful stories to be told here, and I hope I’m doing something good for the LGBT community as well, by showing that those stories are as compelling as any other.
Which genres do you prefer to read?
I would give any nonessential body part to have time to read. But when I can steal time for it, I love to wallow in fantasy and science fiction. They were my first loves – I should probably have listed DUNE as one of those journey-starting moments, I think I was in seventh grade when I started in on Frank Herbert. I tend not to read my own genre, though – which is probably very bad of me, but I swear I’m a sponge for writing styles and I would hate like hell for anyone to think I was cribbing from them on purpose!
What projects are you currently working on right now? Would you mind sharing them with us?
My current work in progress is the second in a series of novellas I’m doing for Ellora’s Cave. The series is called Tales of the Grove, and it’s about tree spirits out of Scots legend, called the Gille Dubh. The first one, HEART OF THE OAK, is due out as part of Ellora’s Cave’s “Boys Will Do Boys” release, the first or second week of December; it’s set on the shore of a loch on the Isle of Skye. (Yes, I know which loch it is, and the names of all the hills around it, and the nearest town, and how long it takes to drive from that town to Glasgow and the route one takes. I’m a little retentive that way.) The work in progress, TEMPTED FROM THE OAK, is set in the Highlands, not far from Ben Nevis, which is the highest mountain in Great Britain. In Scots legend, the Gille Dubh are something like male dryads, and in my books they live in certain ancient and magickal oak trees. And when a Gille Dubh encounters a human male, a whole different kind of magick happens. After that? I’ve just finished the first four Fae books, and I have another set of four planned, though I don’t have titles for them yet. The first four were the SoulShares; the next four are the Broken Pattern.
When choosing the title for your book(s) do you have a process or do you wing it?
I pretty much wing it. The Fae books have an elemental theme, because the Fae are of four Demesnes, or Houses, Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. The Grove stories, I’m trying to stay with the Oak theme. Other than that, it’s mostly a matter of waiting for the right title to hit me over the head.
Do you ever use someone in your life as a sounding board for ideas or are you a lone wolf?
I have several friends I turn to when I’m stuck. My Muse is stubborn as hell, but he (or she, I was told in a tarot reading recently that Brigid is one of my Muses) can’t stand it if I start complaining about how stingy he’s being with me, and usually starts giving up the goods at that point.
Sue – I rather like this idea myself…
If I give you a time machine, what time period and in what place would you travel to?
I’d be sorely tempted to hunt down the Tenth Doctor… but if I had to pick just one time and place, I think it would probably be Washington, D.C. in 1860. My ‘random fact’ could just as easily have been the fact that I’m a thorough student of the life of Abraham Lincoln, and I would purely love to have the opportunity to get to know him.
Do you have any favorite writers of gay literature? Tell us what draws you to these authors, or what in general you admire in other writers.
I’m having a really hard time answering this question. But it’s a GOOD hard time. Like I said before, I don’t read in my own genre. Maybe after I have a couple of dozen books under my belt, and am a little more secure in my own voice (well, hopefully it won’t take a couple of dozen…), that will change. Also, frankly, I have a very bad tendency to measure myself against other authors, and to see myself as coming off worse, every time. I think a lot of authors struggle with that – the insidious voice in the back of the head, whispering “You’re only playing at this, you don’t belong at the table with the grownups, it’s just a matter of time before everyone finds out what a fraud you are.” The only way I’ve ever been able to shut that wench up is to smother her with a pillow—not give her any grist for her mill. But as for what I admire in other writers… Diane Duane, Jane Yolen, Ursula K. LeGuin, David Brin, Tanith Lee, Elizabeth Hand… they all have a gift both for seeing the wonderfully fantastic in the everyday world, and for making even the most fantastic world seem so normal that I’m surprised I don’t wake up in it after I fall asleep reading. The trouble with a lot of “high” fantasy is that it’s just that—high. As in removed, out of reach. Their gift is a quality I strive for in my own writing, to make it both fantastic and real. I think it’s just as important in erotic fiction as it is in any other kind of fantasy, and I hope I pull it off.
Where can readers find your books?
I’m on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, ARe, and Ravenous Romance’s own Web site (which sells in all three of the major e-formats). If you’re a Kindler, the easiest way is probably to go through my Author page,
http://www.amazon.com/Rory-Ni-Coileain/e/B009M8XQP2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 .All three of the novels are there, plus a couple of great anthologies I had the pleasure and honor of contributing to.
Thank you so much for being here, Rory and giving us some wonderful insight into what makes you tick as a writer. I can identify with your comment about reading other author works in the same genre, and finding yourself thinking you don’t measure up. It happens to me too more times than I can count on one hand. But the answer to that is what Neil Gaiman said below- each of us has a unique voice that no one else in the world can imitate so we need to revel in that as an individual and do the best we can with it.
And so you can get an idea of exactly how great a writer Rory is – here’s my review of ‘Deep Plunge’, a definite 5 star read in my book.
I’ve read each SoulShares book avidly, salivating at the interaction between the strong, sexy men that they feature, marvelling at the intricate world building and snorting in amusement at the banter and snarkiness between the characters. I’ve hissed at the Marfach – tried to boo it out of existance, (it and its horrible decaying human host Janek)- and wished for the combined army of Tiernan, Conall and Lochlann to blast the damn thing out of existence so these guys and their soulshares, or their ‘scair-anams’ can live happy, danger free and fufilling lives. But no, Rory keeps bringing the damn monster back to wreak havoc on their lives. But it does mean we hopefully get more SoulShare books so in my view the damn boogeyman is a double edged sword I have to live with.
And once again in the story of Lochlann Doran- a Fae who’s lived a long time without his magic- and his soulshare, the damaged, beautiful Garrett Templar, dancer extraordinaire, Rory weaves a tale of magic, lust, romance, love and endurance, all spun together within the inextricable pull of the human and Fae love dance, each man unique in their own way yet bound together so tightly in each other’s hearts. I loved the character of Garrett, so noble, brave and steadfast even in his darkest moments. And believe me, it doesn’t get any darker than what he suffers. We should all have a Garrett in our lives and I love the way Lochlann gives him hope, embraces him so fully that Garrett can’t possibly resist.
The book blurb tells you everything you need to know about the basic story. What it doesn’t tell you is about the wonderful writing, the humour and the passion between the lovers, the friendships between the Fae and their human SoulShares and the emotional voyage of discovery as each brings their own special talents and emotions to bear on the story. It’s a magical tale of escapism, fantasy and pure, feel good emotions as you live and breathe with each and every character.
I simply can’t wait for the next one, as I find each time I read one, Rory brings yet another breath taking level to her work that leaves me breathless and impatient to turn the next page.
If you love the paranormal genre and want to read something that plucks at both your heart strings and your nether regions with warm, fluid sexy scenes and romance, then the SoulShares series is a must read.
October 29, 2013
Happy Release Day to me! Saving Alexander is live….
Happy Release Day to me! And I’ve had my first 5 star review on Amazon for ‘Saving Alexander’ only released today.
When a writer sits down to write a story, I’m betting that he/she has no real idea exactly how it’s going to turn out. So when I said to my editor, ‘Jill, I fancy writing a bit of S and M,’ she didn’t even flinch. Her words were, ‘Go for it, see where it takes you.’ I’m glad I did write this story. It has a lot of my own wishes and desires in it (no, not the S and M bits per se), more the one where you wish your book becomes a NYT best seller, you get an offer for a TV series and get to choose who’ll play the characters. That’s my deep and dark desire.
Ermm, as for the S and M stuff- that’s a discussion for when we know each other a little better *winks*
But in writing Sage and Alex’s story, I found a new appreciation for the elements of story telling that I love- the angst, the emotion, the coming together of two souls by karmic means, as in other circumstances, they may never have found each other.
It might sound cliched but I have a firm belief that things are meant to happen the way they do. Things happen for a reason for the most part even if we don’t quite understand them at the time.
October 22, 2013
Wicked Warriors Halloween Blog Hop
This is the link to follow to see everyone participating in the hop and to see the next blogger on the list-
There is a Grand Prize up for grabs here too – 1 Kindle Paperwhite and 5 autographed copies of Unbound…so there will be 6 winners!! So make sure you enter the Rafflecopter…
WICKED WARRIORS INDEED.. don’t we all just love them?
I’m sure we’re going to see all kinds of deliciously decadent and wicked warriors on this blog hop. Vampires, Werewolves, Devils, Angels, supernatural beings that tantalise our senses, drain our bodies of emotions and make our loins flutter in sheer, heavenly pleasure….so why should I be any different?
I’ve got a two book supernatural series in the works called ‘Double Alchemy’. It’s about Warlocks, Water Sprites, Witches and dastardly villains intent on destroying our hero and a lot of others in the process. It’s also sexy man on man romance, filled with conflict, magyck and plenty of hot action, both in and out of the bedroom. This is a little bit about it….
Quinn Fairmont is a warlock, a remnant from an ancient family just trying to forget about it and live in the 21st century. But he’s not averse to using a little warlock magyck when it suits him. Inside him dwells his Withinner, an alter ego called Taliesen, his dark, magyck side. Cade Mairston is an anthropologist, passionate about his work and career. Their attraction to each other is sparked from their first chance meeting. As things heat up between them, they form an uneasy alliance to fight off the evil that threatens to harm them and at the same time come to terms with each other in a way they would never have envisaged.
Oh yes. Quinn is a Warrior indeed – ruthless, single minded, tough, dangerous and not just to Cade’s senses and sanity. Quinn is a man on a mission, with a terrible responsibility to a whole race, let alone his partner. Being a Warlock, Quinn has to do things that are not particularly socially acceptable in the real world. He has death on his hands. But he’s also loyal, fiercely protective and fair and will go to the ends of the earth to keep Cade and his friends safe from harm. And of course, Quinn’s dark alter ego, Taliesin, a sixth century Welsh Bard and Sorcerer, is a force to be reckoned with too. Dark and brooding, imbued with a power even beyond Quinn’s, Taliesin is the very definition of a mighty warrior.
You can see all the pictures for this book on my Pinterest boards
The character of Quinn takes inspiration from the sexy and tough looking Daniel Craig. I confess, I love him as James Bond and next to Sean Connery, he’s been the best one yet in my opinion.
In case you missed it, follow this link to find the other bloggers on the hop -
GIVEAWAY !!
To celebrate this blog hop, I’m giving away two e-book copies of my recent release, ‘Stripped Bare’, and my new release, ‘Saving Alexander’, which is out on the 29th October. Two lucky winners, drawn at random, will win either one of these books.
You only have to leave a comment to enter but if you’d like to increase your chances of winning one of the books, then you can do one or all of the following – these are optional and if you only leave a comment, you’ll still be entered into the giveaway -
Follow my blog at http://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com
Follow me on Twitter @SusanMacNicol7
Connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
You can find me here too – http://www.susanmacnicol.com/
Once the blog hop is over, the random winners will be drawn and announced here on my blog. I’ll also contact you via email. In your comment, leave me the following -
Your email address -Very Important!
Preference for which one of my books you fancy if you have one
If you followed or connected, which one of the above?
If you want to tell me what e-book format you’d prefer if you win, feel free.
And most of all – thanks for stopping by, participating and making contact.
October 20, 2013
The Big Cocks and Broomsticks Giveaway Blog Hop – and all about HOPE
Here’s the link to follow for the blog hop and to find the other bloggers -
I once wrote a blog post about the research writers do for their books. You can read it here – http://www.susanmacnicol.com/oh-how-the-world-turns-research-serves-its-purpose/
I am forever intrigued by the subjects tackled in other author’s books. I’ve read some incredibly fascinating ones lately. Take ‘Omorphi’ by the charming and glitter bedazzled Cody Kennedy (he apparently needs need regular Vitamin G injections lol). Cody’s book tackles the subject of extremely disturbing child abuse and I can’t imagine the research he had to do to write such a thoughtful, sympathetic and heart wrenching story. It’s tasteful, emotional, beautifully written and the character of Christy is simply breath taking.
Then I had the pleasure of reading Disasterology 101 by Taylor V. Donovan. Her book tackles the subject of OCD and germophobia with tenderness, empathy and the emotions of two men who find each other at the most bewildering times of their lives.
Then there was the wonderful ‘Junk’ by Josephine Myles. This was the story of a man who couldn’t stopped hoarding ‘stuff’ and who lived in chaos – organised chaos by his standards – until he found someone who could help him tendencies to collect anything he thought he needed and support him as he came to terms with his situation.
So these are all fascinating studies of the human psyche, the human ability to adjust, adapt and heal from circumstances that some of us may find untenable. They are glorious missives of just how someone else’s love, affection and support can heal and make people feel worthy of their attention. These books show men being patient, kind, understanding and most of all, offering hope to those who feel that perhaps that they are not worth saving.
And stories like these are hard to find in today’s world and we need more of them. I say well done to each one of these author’s for tacking subjects that may be controversial and difficult to write about. I enjoyed each one of them and in reading each one, I took something warm and fuzzy away with me – the faith that human nature CAN offer solace and hope in days when despair is all too prevalent.
I’ve written my own books on the subject of hope – ‘ Saving Alexander’ and ‘Worth Keeping’ and you can find out more about them here on my Pinterest boards -
In case you missed it, follow this link to find the other bloggers on the hop or click on the linky below-
Grandprize:
$100 amazon or b and N choice!!
second place: $50 amazon or b and n card
3rd place: $25 amazon or b and n card
GIVEAWAY !!
To celebrate this blog hop, I’m giving away two e-book copies of my recent release, ‘Stripped Bare’, and my new release, ‘Saving Alexander’, which is out on the 29th October. Two lucky winners, drawn at random, will win either one of these books.
You only have to leave a comment to enter but if you’d like to increase your chances of winning one of the books, then you can do one or all of the following – these are optional and if you only leave a comment, you’ll still be entered into the giveaway -
Follow my blog at http://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com
Follow me on Twitter @SusanMacNicol7
Connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
You can find me here too – http://www.susanmacnicol.com/
Once the blog hop is over, the random winners will be drawn and announced here on my blog. I’ll also contact you via email. In your comment, leave me the following -
Your email address -Very Important!
Preference for which one of my books you fancy if you have one
If you followed or connected, which one of the above?
If you want to tell me what e-book format you’d prefer if you win, feel free.
And most of all – thanks for stopping by, participating and making contact. This is what Martha Beck had to say about human contact -
Basic human contact – the meeting of eyes, the exchanging of words – is to the psyche what oxygen is to the brain. If you’re feeling abandoned by the world, interact with anyone you can.
