Page 57 - Reader's House Magazine

A selection of Susan
Mac Nicol’s beloved novels, showcasing her diverse range and cap- tivating storytelling.
Cassandra by Starlight was inspired by your admiration for Benedict Cumberbatch. How did your fascination with him influence the creation of the character Bennett Saville, and what challen- ges did you encounter in adapting the story from
screenplay to novel?
Oh there’s such a story behind the creation of this novel. I am obsessed with the man to the point that my readers and friends send me anything they find about him, knowing I’ll love it no matter what. I was so keen on him that I decided I wanted one of my own. The only way to do this was to write a novel where he, (aka Bennett Saville) fe- atured in his own story. I modelled Cassandra on me (being a woman ten years older) and then I could express my fantasies and desires in the story using Cassie as an unwit- ting alter ego. It was wonderful. When the opportunity came to write a pilot episode for a film fes- tival, I did so and won the award.
It was the first time I’ve ever done
for people to escape into, especially as my reading audience tends to be people in the US. I wanted them to go on an adventure with me to see this part of the world. I’ve been to every place I use in the book, including
Cumberbatch loving presenter, while we discussed everything Benedict.
Welcome to Fetish Alley introduces readers to the quirky and intriguing world
of London’s fetish community. What drew you to explore this setting, and how did you ensu- re authenticity and sensitivity in depicting this subculture in your writing?
I am very fortunate to have met many wonderful people in my time writing gay romance, or as we call it, Male/Male romance. My connections with some of these individuals allowed me to do the research (as some of them are in the BDSM and fetish scene) and find the best ways to portray the characters to their very best. This series is less about the Fetish scene and more about the writing of detective stories and romance set in a backdrop of a very special fetish club and with some rather unique appetites. It was huge fun learning about this world and I do hope I represented it with respect and sensitivity. One of my books, Saving Alexander, which features BDSM, is actually recommended by a therapist in the US as a book to read and understand the torment of a traumatic past and abuse.
As an award-winning scriptw- riter, how does your expe- rience in scriptwriting inform your approach to writing novels, particularly in terms of dialogue, pacing, and visual storytelling?
My editor has a way of bringing me down to earth when she rings me up and tells me, “Sue, you aren’t being paid by the word for your books, so less wordy, more show and tell, please.” Script writing gives you this discipline to say something that in a novel may be a scene, but yet in a screenplay is merely a sentence. Of course, the positive side is you have the film director’s and the actors vision of how the scene will play out, so this alleviate the writer from too much exposition and description. Dia- logue is also one of my favourite things to write, so script writing allows me to release that energy I have for my characters to verbally communicate.
Your writing spans genres from contemporary romance to romantasy, with elements
of suspense, grit, and dark- ness woven throughout. How do you balance these diverse elements to create stories that are both entertaining and emo- tionally resonant for readers?
I’m a huge reader and I read
a variety of genres, from MM romances, to Urban fantasy, to dystopian novels and anything else that takes my fancy. The diversity
I see in these stories brings me a solid grounding in the genre to develop the knowledge to create my own worlds and characters with a different twist. I’m a BIG believer in research for my next series called Monarchs of Magic, so I went to Scotland to scope out the valley the book is set in, and spoke to some wonderful Highland locals about their experiences. I’m also very much into realism, and love to factor in real life emotions and experiences into my books.
I think this is what makes my stories resonate because people can identify with the experiences and the characters.
In addition to writing, you’re also a fan of theatre, live music concerts, and horror films. How do these interests influence your storytelling and creative process, and do you draw inspiration from specific experiences or moments in these activities?
The best show I ever saw in London was Phantom of the Opera - three times. The sheer magnifi- cence of the music, the captivating lyrics, and the incredible story- telling made me want to create something similar. I may not have done an Andrew Lloyd Webber, but I do think I’ve created worlds and people within them that people love to read about and identify with. I’m a very visual person, so watching live acts on stage and theatre really stimulates my crea- tive spirit and the muse becomes animated and tells me to get the hell to work. As for horror books, my favourite writer is Stephen King and his novel The Stand was the benchmark against which I compared every horror novel I read thereafter. I adore horror films, but not slasher movies, only the real psychological terror invoking pro- ductions that make you sit on the end of your seat, and which have a chilling finale.
- ahem - Hampstead Heath where I believe Mr Cum- berbatch swims in the heath ponds. No ulterior motive there then... :)
Susan Mac Nicol captivates readers with her dynamic storytelling, creating unforgettable characters and richly detailed worlds that resonate deeply.
any screen writing and it was a lear- ning curve. As a novelist I tend to
be rather wordy, so condensing my words into short, pithy screen writing pro- ved much a challenge.
I was told
that if I could get my screenplay green lighted, Benedict’s casting agent (who I was in touch with at the time) would see if the divine Mr Cumberbatch fancied the role, because he was wanting to do something romantic! I was even on a local radio station with another
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