The Life and Times of Sue Mac Nicol in Africa
by Susan Mac Nicol
My mother tells me I was a stubborn and independent child who terrorised the neighbourhood on her three-wheeler. I do remember that there were two enormous Great Dane dogs down the street that the other kids were terrified of. But I loved them and they seemed to like me. One day I let them out and my mum says she saw me peddling after them furiously on my trike, chortling in glee as the Danes bounded down the road, scattering kids like marbles. That was fun.
In 1969 we left England to move to Johannesburg. Things have changed now since I was there, in fact, even when we lived there Jo’burg was in the process of transformation, some good, some bad. I worked there for a long time and love the vibe and the buzz of city life.
I lived in Hillbrow, a very cosmopolitan area, diverse in both colour and culture. I lived in a commune with a bunch of gay men who treated me like a little sister. It was a real adventure until they ran out of money, ate all my food leaving me with nothing. I had no money to buy anything-I was skint, so ate pickles for a week, got sick and developed pneumonia. I called my mother to come fetch me and that was the end of my commune living days.
I was picked up for being a prostitute in Hillbrow on my first day at a new job (you can read all about here on my website http://www.susanmacnicol.com/the-time-i-was-mistaken-for-a-prostitute-honestly/).
My first boyfriend was a boy called Archie Clack who rode a bicycle. I was sixteen, he was a year older. We never kissed, he was a true gentleman and rather shy as was I. We were found in the dark just sitting together at a church picnic- well, there was an eclipse that night and we took the opportunity to disappear together -then the church group kicked me out as being a bad influence. I was only there for Archie anyway not for any religious reason. I actually got the chance to meet up with Archie about five years ago when he came to visit a friend of mine in Dorset. He hadn’t changed. He was still one of the funniest and sweetest men I’ve ever known. It was as if we’d never been apart.
My best and oldest friends from this time are all scattered across the globe. Debbi is in the US as VP for General Electric in their music division. Michelle runs her own training company and still lives in Jo’burg. Dianne is my friend in Dorset – we’ve known each other since we were ten. I went to rescue her once from her crazy mother who was running down the road trying to stab her with a kitchen knife. My dad and I rescued her, getting her to the car, then Dad panicked and drove over her foot. She was very polite. “Mr. Jagger, do you think you could remove your car from my foot” were her exact words.
We also trespassed together as teenagers on a private munitions dump called Modderfontein which was the local dynamite production factory and which exploded fairly regularly causing the nearby houses, (which included ours, to shatter their windows and shake like being caught in an earthquake). The two of us were run off by men on horseback and a helicopter. We ran bloody fast I can tell you. Those brawny buggers didn’t stand a chance against two young teens with a desire not to go to prison.
These are a few of the stories I can tell you. The one about my sister having to flee SA to the UK because her husband, who was involved with the Portuguese Mafia, put a hit out on her, the uncle who murdered his wife and then concealed her body on the Yorkshire Moors then killed himself drinking battery acid, the various ups and downs I’ve had as the sober member of a pretty alcoholic family – I’ll not mention those much because I wanted to keep this light. But my life has been pretty eventful and here’s an novel idea – maybe one day I’ll write a damn book.
Title: Stripped Bare by Susan Mac Nicol
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Romance, Suspense
Length: 290 pages (estimated)
Summary:
Now that Shane Templar has stripped the armour from Matt Langer’s heart, will either of them ever be safe again?
Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to fall for him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far he’s already fallen. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who has broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.
Excerpt: http://authoressentials.virtualwritersinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/STRIPPED-BARE-Excerpt.pdf
“Sexy, warm and funny. Dirty. And heart-wrenching.”— Bestselling Author Kindle Alexander
“LOVED it. Matthew stole my heart…but Shane OMG. I want one of him.”— bestselling author of ‘Grand Slam’ JT Cheyanne
“Unashamedly strong and sexy, this story shows just how fast and fierce love between two men can be. And, boy, does Ms. Mac Nicol know just how to turn up the steam!”— John Trevillian, The A-Men trilogy.
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Author Bio
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 earlier this year by Boroughs Publishing Group in the US. Sue’s latest story, Stripped Bare is her first 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 and Pinterest.
Susan Mac Nicol is also author of The Magick of Christmas, Confounding Cupid, Cassandra by Starlight and Together in Starlight
Contest
Susan and her publisher, Boroughs Publishing Group, will be awarding a five-book subscription to their Lunchbox Romances, two of which will be Susan’s stories, Confounding Cupid and The Magick of Christmas, plus a copy of Cassandra by Starlight, the first book in her Starlight trilogy to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Follow the rest of the tour HERE.
Thanks – I really enjoyed your book trailer! I like the colours and the writing is clear and the special effects are great too.
Melody
Thanks Melody, I’m glad you liked the book trailer. Virtual Writers did a great job with it!
Thanks for featuring me on your really lovely site, Kathy. It was lovely being here.
This sentence had me giggling: “My mother tells me I was a stubborn and independent child who terrorised the neighbourhood on her three-wheeler.”
You’ve had a very eventful life, Sue! Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you for featuring Sue, Kathy!
Glad you liked the book trailer, Melody.
Thanks for the giveaways and for sharing your stories!
Hi there, thanks for the comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Hopefully you’ll be a winner in the giveaways!
Interesting post!
Hi Timitra. I’m glad you found it interesting. It’s always a challenge to find something that will entertain people when you write these posts 🙂