A very special thank you to Susan for showcasing me again today. It’s great to be here!
My newest book, Thárros, Book Two in the Elpida Series, and is a continuation of Christy and Michael’s story. It picks up where Ómorphi left off. The boys work to heal after Christy’s abduction and Michael’s daring rescue of him, and this story centers on the trial to prosecute Christy’s abuser and kidnapper, Yosef Sanna. It is understood that by writing books such as Ómorphi, Thárros, and Slaying Isidore’s Dragons, that I am revealed to be outspoken with respect male victims of sexual abuse and the lack of resources for them. I also write them in such a manner as to be readily transferrable to other mediums such as film.
Susan Mac Nicol is one of my favorite authors, and she and I constantly talk about single-handedly changing the world with a pen stroke. Though we love the craft of authorship, and wouldn’t trade it, we’re always looking toward the next advancement of humanity, the next form of media, the next frontier, so to speak. We’re active, we’re progressive, and we’re constantly moving forward with an eye toward the future.
By way of example, Susan joined and helped to develop the famously wonderful Divine Magazine, a place where you can find a bit of everything. Within a year of its creation, Divine Magazine roared to the forefront of media because of its relatable and timely content. This wouldn’t have happened without people behind it who knew what they were doing and Susan played a huge role as one of those people. She is dynamic!
Susan knows I’ve worked in film, and over the past couple of months, she and I have discussed ad nauseam the lack of progress with respect to LGBTQI characters in film. Recent media coverage about this issue is due in no small part to the article that appeared in the Hollywood Reporter: Disney, Paramount, and Warners Flunk GLAAD’s LGBT Film Report Card; and the article appearing in the Independent: Frozen 2: People are campaigning to make Elsa the first LGBT Disney princess. It goes without saying that we’d all like to see not only more LGBTQI characters in film, but more LGBTQI lead roles, and roles with more than 10 minutes of screen time. In order to effect such a change, we must not only assess risk and the present demand for such entertainment product, but we must mitigate risk by creating future demand. It takes a visionary to conceive of, foster, and implement the steps to create such demand, and Susan is one of those people. She is a visionary!
I can tell you from personal experience that, in order to be successful at ventures such as Divine Magazine and the production of film works, you must be driven. Regardless of your motivation, you must be focused, you must be solitary in that you do not allow yourself to be deterred, and you must aim your every action toward your goal—even if it is only to choose your battles wisely. Finally, you must not stop. Contrary to popular belief, timing is not everything, but it is critical. If you determine that it isn’t the right time for your venture, keep at it for the future!
What does this have to do with tea? Who wouldn’t want to have tea with Susan?!? Susan is dynamic! She is a visionary! She is a force of nature and I’m dying to have tea with her! In the meantime, go read our books!
About Cody
SUSAN MAC NICOL 