So today I have… **consults her notes** Oh, YAY. **does a little dance** My favourite author to interview. Any guesses? My most frequent guest… the lovely Nic Starr!
Nic: Am I the most frequent guest? What an honour! I do hope I’m not boring everyone to death **wink**
Renae: Hi Nic! Nah – not boring. Just the first person I go to, and I always have a spot for you on my blog. What can I get you to drink? Coffee? (Please – no one else seems to want to drink coffee with me…)
Nic: Sure. I’ll have a large flat white. I’m fairly basic with my coffee order. Actually that’s another thing I’m nervous about with my upcoming trip to the US. Have you seen the choices at Starbucks?! I’ll have to get someone to translate ‘large, flat white’ into Starbucks speak for me so I’m all prepared.
Renae: Ok! **dashes off**
Nic: **Googles Starbucks** Venti? Grande? Huh?
Renae: Back! **hands Nic cup and sits down, wriggling to get comfortable** Okay. Now, let me see. What are we… **gasp** You have another release? Wow – go you, Nic!
Nic: LOL. I’ve been busy, but I still can’t believe how quickly October is coming around.
Renae: Yay. So, More Than a Friend releases next Wednesday on the 7th. Let me check out the blurb…
More Than: Book Two
Tim Walker is a free man. He’s broken up with his girlfriend and is ready to move on to a new relationship. But the relationship he wants to pursue is fraught with challenges. Firstly, Scott Richardson is a man, and only Tim’s closest friends know Tim’s bisexual. Secondly, everyone knows Scott relishes the single life. And then there’s the big one: Scott is the younger brother of Tim’s best friend, Paul.
Scott can’t deny an attraction to his brother’s friend Tim. Lean, dark blond, and blue-eyed, Tim is hot and hard not to notice—especially since Scott and Tim work together. Too bad the man is straight, and too bad Scott worries how Paul will react if Scott hooks up with his best friend.
Tim and Scott want to see if there’s a chance for more than friendship between them, but neither of them wants to lose Paul. Together, they must find the courage to follow their hearts and find a way to have it all.
And WOW – going after the best friend’s brother?? Isn’t that taboo in some social rule?
Nic: There is definitely a social code that raises questions about falling for your besties’ brother or sister. When I started writing the story, I did some online research, and found a huge volume of articles and advice columns, all expressing different opinions, but it seems a lot of people are asking the questions. Tim definitely fell into the camp where he didn’t want to put his relationship with his best friend in jeopardy.
Renae: And Tim is bisexual? Do you think there are a lot of guys out there who are bisexual, but we just don’t know about it because we assume they are straight when we see them with their girlfriends?
Nic: I don’t know about a ‘lot of guys’ but you are right with the assumption part. It’s easy to see a man and woman in a couple, and assume both partners are straight. I’m sure it’s not even a conscious thought, more a given.
Renae: So Tim is bi, and he’s just broken up with his girlfriend? Has he had a boyfriend before, or will this be his first steady male relationship?
Nic: Tim’s had some experience with men, but nothing serious and nothing that would be termed a relationship. His first serious relationship was with this ex-girlfriend.
Renae: And Scott is determinedly single? Is it just a case of having the right woman man come along?
Nic: LOL. For Scott it’s a matter of timing. And finding that perfect man.
Renae: Okay – now I’m thinking about the brother, Paul. His best friend and his little brother together? OMG – I would be terrified. I’m sure both of them would know secrets about me I wouldn’t want the other to know.
Nic: I’d love to know your secrets! Maybe you could introduce me to your bestie, Renae? Or you have a few siblings, so I’m sure one of them would be willing to spill the beans!
When things come out into the open, Paul isn’t too worried about his secrets getting out (probably because he doesn’t have too many), but there’s a natural fear that important relationships will change. Luckily, Paul wants his brother and his best friend to be happy. However, Tim and Scott hide their relationship from Paul, and no one likes to be lied to by the people they love, which creates some tension.
Nic: I think hooking up with someone related to an ex-lover, is a different scenario, to the one in this story. If you’ve already had an intimate and sexual relationship with one sibling, then move to another, it does have a certain taboo. For example, if Tim and Paul weren’t just best friends, rather they’d been lovers, then Tim hooking up with Scott would be seen differently as Tim would have been in a sexual relationship with both brothers. The intimacy of sex complicates things.
Renae: Now – I need a sneak peek at the story so I can imagine… tell me, is it “I’ve had my eye on you for ages” type scenario on both sides?
Nic: Oh yes. There’s been some unresolved sexual tension for a while now. There are hints of it in the first book.
Renae: Do you think both characters experience the thrill of the forbidden?
Nic: Sorry to disappoint but not really. They experience the thrill of being with each other - Scott excited to find out Tim is open to a relationship with a man, and Tim thrilled that Scott wants him. In fact, things would be easier if they didn’t have to deal with worrying about the impact of their relationship on Paul.
Renae: Now, this is a series. Is there more to come in the series?
Nic: Definitely! There are three more stories planned. The next is More Than Money where the main characters have a value conflict. This story features the oldest Richardson son, James, who works in his family business. Jamie falls for Daniel, the owner of the Coffee & Sunshine café, but his father’s plans for redeveloping the small town, drive a wedge between them.
Renae: Do you need to read the first one in order to understand the second?
Nic: The enjoyment of More Than a Friend, would be enhanced by getting to know the characters in the first book, More Than a Superstar. It would also put the secondary characters into context. So reading the first book is my recommendation.
Renae: What are you working on now?
Nic: Busy, busy, busy! I’ve just finished edits for my upcoming Christmas story (The Proof is in the Pudding comes out in December – obviously!) I’ve also completed my first novel set in Australia. Rustic Melody is the first book in my new Rustic series and will be released early in the new year. I have a number of works in progress nearing completion including Patricks’ Savior (book #3 in my Heroes series) and Rustic Memory.
Renae: Where can people find you?
Nic: You can find me on key social media sites. I love it when readers get in touch.
Website & Blog: http://www.nicstarr.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Nic-Starr/e/B00MAWRRQG/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicki.nicstar
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NicStarrAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicstar000
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nicstar000/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8139967.Nic_Starr
Renae: Thanks for joining me (again!) I promise to stop hassling you… oh, I don’t know… in about ten years time? **wink**
Nic: I love being hassled by you so look forward to the next ten years J
Renae: Congratulations on the new release, and I hope it does spectacular!
Nic: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure chatting, as always.