Susan Mac Nicol's Blog, page 45

"To be a writer is to sit down at one’s desk in the chill portion of every day, and to write; not..."

“To be a writer is to sit down at one’s desk in the chill portion of every day, and to write; not waiting for the little jet of the blue flame of genius to start from the breastbone – just plain going at it, in pain and delight. To be a writer is to throw away a great deal, not to be satisfied, to type again, and then again, and once more, and over and over….”

- John Hersey (via ilivetowriteandinspire)

I think this might be very true…

I think this might be very true…

I just love this picture of Stephen King and his...

I just love this picture of Stephen King and his characters….too wonderful. I’m a great fan of the man having written everything he’s written over and over again. I have to say my favourite book was The Stand, followed closely by The Shining (of course)

It’s a great dream of mine to one day walk up the path to his rather quirky Maine home and introduce myself. Perhaps share an iced tea or whatever it is they drink out there. Maybe one day when I’m famous…

caleidoscopicaa:BookloverHas anyone out there fallen madly...

caleidoscopicaa:

Booklover

Has anyone out there fallen madly in love with me? If you’re rich and famous, by all means give me a call. Or if you’re a certain gentleman…

On female on male rape

On female on male rape:

siryouarebeingmocked:

Girl-With-A-Pearl-Earring:

How horrible is it that while I believe that woman-on-man rape** is possible, I get nervous when it comes to the forefront of the discussion of rape?

I don’t want to minimize the trauma of male victims and I want people to take w-on-m rape seriously, but like in the case of domestic violence, focusing on woman-perpetrated events when they are the extreme minority takes the attention away from the thousands of events perpetrated against women that never get reported or are downplayed by society/authorities/etc. It is so easy for us to minimize violence against women by making it (mansplaining) into an issues for men and women alike. Men are victims, but if w-on-m rape becomes a topic of discussion (like w-on-m domestic abuse) we will spend a disproportionate amount of time discussing the man-based minority than heavily female-affected norm.

(**I don’t include man-on-man rape in this discussion) 

jlandrith:

Wow @girl-with-a-pearl-earring, so men like me who were raped by women should just shut up and sit in the corner quietly because there are fewer of us? How is that not minimization and trivialization????????? I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT. We are here and deserve to be treated like human beings. Get used to it. 

Also, this discussion has not been brought to the “forefront.” It is being talked about along side the ZILLIONS OF DISCUSSIONS centered solely on male on female rape. Really. You consider that the “forefront”????

I am so tired of this argument being used by some to silence any recognition of male survivors and female predators. Why participate in the discussion if you only want to talk about female survivors and male perpetrators. Why can’t others practice their empathy for ALL survivors and disdain for ALL perpetrators, without it being trivialized and basically described as not important enough to mention.

Put yourself in the shoes of a man who has been raped by a woman and think about how your words would appear to them. I am such a man. I feel like you are trivializing my experiences and promoting a hierarchy of survivorhood based solely on the gender of the perp. What about women raped by other women? Do you know how many of them remain silent due to such attitudes? I hear from them often as I tell my own story publicly.

I assure you - my PTSD is just as real as that of a female survivor of a male rapist. I’m so tired of this bullshit argument bandied about every time the tiniest acknowledgement of female predators and male survivors occurs. This discussion has not in any manner impeded anyone else from having their own discussions about male on female rape.

It hasn’t. IT HASN’T.

It worries me that there are so many feminists who honestly think any discussion of male issues whatsoever automatically threatens to drown out the discussion of female issues, and any man bringing up male issues in a feminist space is trying to “derail” the discussion. Of course, that’s logically identical to saying “we don’t want to talk about male issues”. And as was pointed out, if the vast majority of your movement’s conversations are about women’s problems, why are so many feminists threatened by the possibility of discussing men’s problems even once?

Guest interview- author Serena Clarke

Hi Sue, and thanks for having me here on your blog. Like you, London is one of my very favourite places – and it features in my new book. 

Tell me a little about yourself

I’m a terrible dreamer – I often wonder what I could have achieved if I’d concentrated at school! On the other hand, all that not concentrating led to an entertainingly diverse CV and a passport full of stamps, and I do tend to throw myself into all kinds of unlikely things! Inevitably, there have been disasters alongside the adventures, at home and abroad. I always joked that “it’s all good material for the novel” – but I was never certain I’d actually write one, much as I wanted to! I live in New Zealand, with two gorgeous boys and an unbelievably supportive husband. And as my bio says, I write smart, sweet and sassy fiction that reflects my determined belief in magic, possibility and second chances – and happy endings!

  How much real life do you put into or influences your books?

Well, some real life – but I’m not saying what! Every single experience has an influence I think, directly or indirectly, and sometimes I’m surprised at what I remember and can draw on. I think you have an advantage if you come to writing when you’re a bit older. The more life experience you have, the more perspective it gives you. For me, life has more shades of grey (no pun intended!) as time goes on. I can see more and more sides to every situation, which is helpful when you’re thinking about your characters’ feelings and motivations. I know some people write incredible books at a very young age – but I don’t think I would have been one of them!

  When choosing the title for your book(s) do you have a process or do you wing it?

For this book, I wrote lots of words and phrases, mixing them up until I hit the

right combination. All Over the Place seemed to perfectly reflect the journey Livi goes on to find the place she’s meant to be, and the person she’s meant to be with – around the world, and in her head and heart.

I actually have a bit of a thing about titles – good ones seem to be everywhere I turn! I write them in a notebook, and they’re a great source of ideas. Remember the Goosebumps books by R.L. Stine? He says all his book ideas come from thinking of a really good title, and seeing where that leads. Brain Juice, Elevator to Nowhere, Jekyll and Heidi…they’re all crazily evocative – and more than 400 million book sales prove him right!

Do you ever use someone in your life as a sounding board for ideas or are you a lone wolf?

Writing is such a personal thing – you’re really putting yourself out there for people to judge. I only told a couple of people I was writing All Over the Place, and I only told everyone else once I had a contract in hand! And I definitely wouldn’t tell anyone the specifics of the story until the first draft is done. I know lots of writers find it helpful to share their work as they go along, but it’s all too easy to kill the magic if you expose it to the cold light of day too early.

Do your travel to research for your book(s)?

I’ve travelled a lot in my life, so I have lots of experiences and memories to draw on, and I have a big trip planned later this year. But I don’t think you have to travel to write. I was lucky enough to hear Diana Gabaldon speak once, and she said she’d never even been to Scotland when she wrote Cross Stitch (called Outlander in the USA). Anyone who’s read that knows how incredibly she captured a place – and time. Writing is about using your imagination, after all. And research! And of course, what’s dull and everyday to one person is exotic and exciting for someone far away. So your own back yard is as good a place to start as any!

What are your current projects?

Another contemporary story with a chick lit feel, set between England and California. Obviously I can’t say too much for fear of jinxing it! But (using key words only!) it may or may not involve: matchmaking, bees, Iggy Pop, flash mobs, loss and acceptance, secrets and sandcastles, a hostage drama, people power in a hyper-connected world, true love, and the trials and joys of sisterhood. Or it might turn out to be something else – I’m not finished yet, so you never know!

And lastly, do you have anything you would like to say to your current readers or to those that haven’t yet read your work(s)?

Never turn down an adventure! But keep hold of the quiet magic that’s in everyday life too. I hope that anyone who reads All Over the Place comes away with the feeling that there’s something extraordinary in the ordinary, and with renewed belief in friends, family and true love. And I hope they enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

I really enjoyed our interview Sue! Thanks again for having me, and good luck with your latest book Together in Starlight. I’ve bought it, and I’m looking forward to finding out about Cassie and Bennett’s latest adventures!

 

  Blurb:

Livi Callaway has fled back to London after a reality TV disaster in New Zealand. Safely anonymous in the big city, she’s determined to stay under the radar from now on. But her attempts to build a new life are complicated by unexpected visitors from her old one, and new dangers and temptations lie in wait.

  Late one night, she meets a mysteriously sexy American on the Underground – and the events that follow take her from Pooh Bear to the golden lights of Paris, via a trail of rock stars dead and alive. A family in disarray, a determined Swede, a crazed Australian and a childhood friend (who might yet be more than that) have her all over the place as she tries to discover the American’s secret – while keeping her own.

  With help – and occasional hindrance – from her friends, what she eventually finds is something unexpected…sometimes, running away can lead you to exactly what you didn’t know you needed.

 

 

Find Serena here

http://www.serenaclarke.com

https://www.facebook.com/SerenaClarkeAuthor

https://twitter.com/Serena_Clarke

 Buy All Over the Place here

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Place-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00B2B0X9E/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Over-Place-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00B2B0X9E/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/all-over-the-place/id594641901?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-over-the-place-serena-clarke/1114286511

 

dauntless-avenger:Marvel comics advertisement - trying to...

dauntless-avenger:

Marvel comics advertisement - trying to explode tumblr since 1939.

We do make some bloody wonderful shows don’t we….the BBC and the wonderful British talent we have just simply ROCKS!

This is quite an incredible app. It takes your online activity...

This is quite an incredible app. It takes your online activity and puts it into a wonderful interactive display of what you’ve been up to.

Check out my Vizify Bio. It certainly tells you all about my main interests and what I find to talk about. No surprises *chuckle* It’s exactly what you’d think it would be about.

CAMBRIDGE CHAT INTERVIEW: Bennett Saville, star of Gabriel, bares it all!

by Leslie MacIntyre

I’m ready and waiting for my guest for the evening, Bennett Saville, to get ready for his interview. He arrived a few minutes ago and is now busy being fitted for the mike and dusted with the powder that takes the sweaty shine off our faces under the glaring lights. His curly auburn hair is being styled and I see him grimacing as they try to tame it. It’s fairly long, apparently in preparation for his latest appearance as the sexy, cavalier, and slightly sinful professor turned wizard in his TV series Gabriel. He smiles at me as I watch him, appreciating the figure he cuts in his tailored grey suit, looking for the entire world as if he’s just stepped out of a fashion magazine. He certainly wears clothes well, and it—dare I say—looks effortless. I suppose his stylist put it all together. Very, “Darling, what? This old thing?”

God, I envy his tailor at being able to have their hands all over that well-developed and what looks like a pretty muscular body. I chide myself for sounding like some sort of middle-aged groupie, feeling my face flush as he grins at me. He has the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen on a man, like emerald chips—

Leslie MacIntyre, for God’s sake, contain yourself, woman! You’re a level-headed Scotswoman. Contain yourself.

But that is easier said than done. I’m about to interview an up-and-coming film star, a young man who’s handsome, sexy, rich, successful, has seen his fair share of trouble and trauma, and is engaged to a woman ten years older than he is and seven years older than me. His fiancée, Cassie Wallace, is a very beautiful woman. I’ve seen pictures of her on his arm in the tabloid magazines and the glossies, and she looks nowhere near her reputed age. She looks classy, refined, and always has a rather mischievous smile on her face, as if she’s saying, “Ladies, he’s mine. Eat your heart out.”

I want to ask him about his relationship with her, but this man has a definite no-fly policy on discussions about his personal life and his fiancée in particular. I once saw him walk out of an interview when the interviewer wouldn’t stop prying. He’d been extremely polite about it, but his resolve was unwavering.

He’s finally sorted to the satisfaction of Mona, the makeup artist. She grins and gives me the thumbs up. Bennett Saville walks over to the stage, settles himself down very elegantly into the rather uncomfortable tub chair. I notice his plain black socks leading down into a rather recently shined pair of what look like Armani shoes. Nice. The man has big feet, and that sends me wandering along a path I really shouldn’t travel at this precise moment.

He looks at me enquiringly.

“You have a fascination with my socks?” he drawls in amusement, in that voice like melted chocolate. I shiver.

“Better than your underwear,” I say without thinking. Then I blush crimson.

He laughs loudly, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he leans back and settles comfortably into the chair. “Touché. At least I’m wearing some tonight,” he murmurs. When my jaw drops open, he chuckles and then adjusts the mike on his lapel. His eyes gaze at me in challenge, and for the life of me I can think of no smart-mouthed rejoinder.

I see Mike wave at me from behind the camera, and I know we’re ready to rock and roll. The lights in the small studio dim, the chattering ceases and there’s an air of expectancy. I’m ready. The intro music cues to introduce the programme, and a minute later I’m sitting with my notepad on my lap, leaning in to address the camera that’s beaming my face and Bennett’s out into the world beyond. I’m also trying not to think about the man in front of me with no underwear on.

“Good evening. I’m Leslie MacIntyre for Cambridge Chat, and with me is the wonderful Bennett Saville, star of the TV series Gabriel, winner of the Best Actor - Film and Television Award for his performance in the same show, and stage star extraordinaire at his very own theatre back home in London. Welcome, Bennett. It’s lovely to have you on the show and in my home city of Cambridge.”

Bennett smiles widely and inclines his head. “Thanks, Leslie. It’s good to be here. I’m not sure about all the accolades you just heaped on me…but I’ll take them if you’re offering.”

He grins, and I can just imagine females everywhere swooning at this cheekiness. This man is definitely a woman’s wet dream. God, Cassie Wallace is really lucky.

I lean forward. “No, it’s our pleasure. I know you’re no stranger here, having done quite a lot of filming at the actual University of Cambridge, which is where Gabriel is set.”

He nods. “Yes, we did spend some time there. It’s an incredibly atmospheric place. It makes it easier to perform when you’re surrounded by an ambience like that.”

“One of the reasons your TV show has taken off—I understand you’re due to film a fourth series toward the end of this year—is that your character is such a cad and a charmer. And of course he’s a wizard, too, which helps attract the ladies. How do you find playing such a character? Are there any similarities we can tell the viewers about?”

He laughs and reclines, stretching out his long legs. “I suppose there are people who will tell you I’m both of those things. It depends on who you talk to. I can say I’m definitely not a wizard. Gabriel is fun to play because he’s been catapulted into this supernatural lifestyle and given the chance to get out from behind his books and his teaching and into something he never dreamed. He tends to go a little bit haywire with the ladies, though, and definitely enjoys his new attraction for them. I can honestly say I’m not really like him—my fiancée would kill me if I was.” He grins. “But Gabriel has some really redeeming qualities. He’s fair and principled and knows his boundaries. I think that while viewers enjoy his womanising and his…more dubious activities, they recognise that beneath it all is the heart of a good man.”

I nod and smile as I shift in my chair. “You’re also busy filming your new role as Hugh Conway in the remake of Lost Horizon, aren’t you?”

“Yes. That should be all wrapped up in the next few weeks, and then a week or so after that we start rehearsals for our new play, Lonely Dove, which will be showing at The Val the end of July. The Valedictorian theatre.” He leans forward as he corrects himself, his hands waving and his eye sparkling, and I can tell this is what he loves. “I’m looking forward to that. I really love performing on stage, and this play is unlike anything you’ll have seen before. It’s an incredible opportunity for me to be in it.”

I smile at him. “Yes, I’ve seen all the promotional flyers and the press releases. It sounds like a fascinating story—a haunted theatre?—especially when it’s based on actual events.”

I hesitate, a little nervous at my next subject, but then I go for it: “Now, I know you’ve had quite a rough time this year”—I see the slight scowl forming on his handsome face and hasten to reassure him—“and I’m not going to be asking you anything about it, because I believe you have a bit of a hissy fit whenever anyone does…” He laughs loudly, relaxing at my returned cheekiness. “But I have to ask: With all the obvious publicity you’ve been attracting, do you also know the huge amount of attention you get on the internet, especially through your fan club, Savillicious?”

The man sits right back again, and the most amazingly warm smile breaks over his face. “I know about that, believe me. I think I can share with you that I was accosted personally towards the end of last year at the film studio, and it was quite an eye opener.” He leans forward, his face animated. “But I’m flattered by the other attention. There’s such a lot of concern for my well-being and my activities. It’s a little scary, I admit, having everything you do out there for everyone to see and comment on. And I’m not particularly fond of all this social networking stuff, as much as Cassie tries to get me to be more ‘out there.’”

He grimaces, but I’m happy he actually mentioned her name on air, his taboo subject. He must really like me.

“But I think their hearts are in the right place, and from what I’ve been shown they do a lot of good with some of the charities I support and are very generous. So, I’m very proud I have such a wonderful group of fans out there. Thanks, ladies.”

“And gents as well, I imagine?” I say slyly.

He chuckles. “God forbid I’m a misandrist. Of course. Gents too.”

            I have no idea what a misandrist is, so I skirt over that. I hope it’s not something really rude he’s just said on air, but I doubt this man would do something like that to me.

            “I have to say I’ve Googled you a couple of times to prepare for this interview, and some of the things I found online were fairly…shall we say, extreme?” I see his hands slowly stroking an invisible line on his immaculately pressed trousers, and I wish it was my leg underneath. But his face flushes ever so slightly, and I press home my advantage. “Are you aware there’s a lot of rather risqué stuff out there showing wonderfully Photoshopped pictures of you in some rather compromising positions? They’re very creative, I have to say.”

            He smiles, a little more edgily this time I think. “Yes, I have seen those pictures. My fiancée takes great delight in finding them all and then moving them to her personal inbox for posterity.”

I laugh loudly at this. “A woman after my own heart, I have to say.”

He relaxes again, smiling at me, his eyes glinting as he shrugs. “I can’t control what’s out there, and if that’s what people are doing, so be it. All I can ask is that there be some respect in whatever they do. But if people choose to ignore me, that’s their choice.”

I notice my producer making cutting gestures with his hand across his throat, and I know I have to wrap this up. I really don’t want to. I could talk all night to this man while trying to find out what makes him tick.“So, Bennett, we have you finishing work on your latest big-screen film, starting rehearsals for your play and future filming on series four of Gabriel. Is there anything else we can expect out of you in the months to come?”

            He crosses his legs, his face thoughtful. “Those are the major projects that I’m busy with. I still do voiceovers for radio commercials, and occasionally I get asked to take a turn on the catwalks at some of the fashion dos, but the ones you mentioned are my immediate priorities. I imagine there will be a fair amount of promotional activity for all three, so that will be happening soon too.”

“You’re going to be pretty busy,” I say. Duh. I really want to ask how his fiancée copes with all this activity but don’t dare. “Have you any plans to relax, take a short break perhaps?”

He looks fairly guilty. “Erm, not in the immediate future. Things are pretty much hectic from now up until the end of the year, and next year looks just as jam-packed. I’d like to get away for a while, though.” His voice is slightly wistful. “I have a friend’s wedding coming up, so I guess that weekend away will have to do.”

I realise the interview needs to end, and I lean forward to smile one last time at him. “Bennett, I’m afraid we’re going to have wrap this up.” When he graciously inclines his head I add, “It has been a wonderful privilege having you on the show tonight and hearing about your future plans. I think I speak for everyone when I say we wish you all the best with all the things you’re busy with, and we look forward to seeing you on stage and screen again.”

“It’s been lovely being here. Thanks for having me on the show.”

His voice is sincere as he twists to take a sip of water. The lights dim, and the cameras turn away as the signature music is cued. The show is over.

I reach across and undo the mike from his lapel, and he grins in thanks and stands up to stretch. I have to say, the sight of the man doing that certainly gets the ovaries tingling.

“Thanks for the interview, Leslie,” he murmurs as he finishes his mind-blowing calisthenics. “You were great. Some interviewers try riling me a little for their ratings, and I have to say it doesn’t normally end well—for them.” He smiles wolfishly, and I can see the steel behind the charming exterior. The man has just become even more attractive. I just love bad boys, and I get the feeling this one could be very bad indeed.

“You’re welcome. There’s no point in getting someone upset so that they don’t want to come back. That’s a little short-sighted, not to mention disrespectful. So, I’m glad you had fun.”

We shake hands, smile at each other, and he walks away, no doubt going home to his lovely fiancée. His backside is definitely worth looking at. I spend quite a lot of time watching it.

“Tongue in, Leslie.” I hear the sly voice behind me and turn to see my producer, Grant, smirking.

“I’m allowed to look and perv over the people I interview,” I say loftily. “It’s one of the perks of the job.”

Grant chuckles and disappears. I sigh. Time to get home. I have a date tonight with a man I’ve been seeing for a few weeks. I need to come down to Earth and forget the sexy Bennett Saville. Picking up my handbag, I make my way home to reality.

The man in my previous post (shown below) was the inspiration for the character of the sexy Bennett Saville.

suzukakenoki:SCREEN April, 2013...

suzukakenoki:

SCREEN April, 2013 issue
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00B73U8TC/

FLIX April, 2013 issue
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00ARANP0A/

What is not to love about this man and these pictures. So stylish and elegant. Classic.