Zara West's Blog, page 14

3 Ways to Renew Your Writing Life

~ Renewing the Joy of Writing ~

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you sit down to write and do the same things every time? Turn on the computer? Open your draft? Stare at the screen? Then pray the words come? I do. For the past month, I have thought long and hard about ways I can renew myself as a writer.

RENEWAL is not change. Change means to transform or give something a totally new form—like writing my novel in a journal or using a speech-to-type program. But the basic writing process is not one we can totally remake.

I don’t know about you, but no matter what CHANGES I make, I am still going to have to turn on the computer at some point and type words on the page if I want to get my book written.

So how can I bring renewal to this process? The key is to focus in on that little word inside renewal—new.” Here are three things I came up with to make typing my novel draft new.

ONE – Move the computer to a new location. Find a spot with a view or a different setting. Work outside on a nice day. Try a different room or a porch. Or even a someone else’s porch.

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TWO – Invigorate your fingers. Instead of unconsciously dropping your hands on the keyboard and chugging away, take a moment to do a simple set of hand movements. I have a sea-smoothed piece of quartz that I pick up and roll between my hands, pinch between my fingers, and rub over my palms.

Or you can do one or two of the many finger exercises found on the web. Here is a slideshow of six such exercises you might enjoy. Repeat this finger action every once in a while as you type along, perhaps at the end of scene or a chapter and feel your hands and finger renew themselves.

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THREE – Renew your brain. Sit down at the computer and instead of diving into your manuscript, take a moment to breathe deeply and oxygenate your brain. Deep breathing has been shown to increase one’s attention span so you will be able to focus on your writing longer. It also reduces stress. Repeat every time you come to a natural stop or run out of words to write.

Keep the practice simple. Here is the method I use. Sitting straight in my chair, I inhale as deeply as I can through my nose and then exhale as slowly as possible through my mouth. I do this about ten times and then start writing. Or you can try Belly Breathing.

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So far, I am finding merely doing these three things have cleared my head and helped me make more progress on my current work in progress than I had been.

Have you tried any of these methods to reinvigorate yourself? Or do you have another technique you can suggest?
I welcome your thoughts and comments.

The post 3 Ways to Renew Your Writing Life appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Jenn Bokal Has a New Cowboy Romance for You

_~ What Skiing Can Teach A Writer ~

 

Let’s give a big welcome to Harlequin romance writer, Jenn Bokal. She is here today to tell us about her newest release from Harlequin, share a bit about herself, and to give us two wonderful writing tips.

Jenn, can you tell us a little about yourself

A little about me: I wrote my first book at age eight. An early lover of the written word, I decided to follow my passion and become a full-time writer. From then on, I haven’t looked back. I earned a Master of Arts in creative writing from Wilkes University and became a member of the Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. I am the author of the bestselling Ancient World Historical Romance, The Gladiator’s Mistress, and the second book in the Champions of Rome series, The Gladiator’s Temptation. I have also written the Rocky Mountain Justice series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense (Her Rocky Mountain Hero, Her Rocky Mountain Defender, and Rocky Mountain Valor), as well as writing in the multi-author Bear Creek Rodeo series. Happily married to my own Alpha Male for twenty years, I enjoy writing stories that explore the wonders of love. My manly husband and I live in upstate New York with our three beautiful daughters, two aloof cats, and two very spoiled dogs.

Is there an event in your life that affected your writing?

This isn’t about writing, per se, but I grew up in Colorado and spent much of my childhood skiing with my brother and father. When I was an adolescent, Skier Magazine, named three runs on the town side of Telluride as the most difficult in North America. My brother and father were excited to conquer the mountain, and I went along for the experience. After much cajoling, my father convinced me to try the easiest of the three runs. We got off the lift, came around the side of the mountain, and I was feeling confident. The slope was difficult, but not so much that I was struggling. THEN, we dropped off a lip, and I stopped short. The moguls were HUGE. The pitch was steep, and I was definitely on a slope that was beyond my comfort level. In fact, I thought about taking off my skis and climbing back to the lift and coming down an easier run, but it was too far to be practical. My father saw my distress and skied up next to me. I couldn’t do it, I told him. Then he asked if I could ski to the next mogul down. I could, so I did. My dad followed. Can I do another mogul? he asked. I could, and again—did.

 Step by laborious step, I made it down the mountain. It was then that Dad told me one of the most important things I ever learned (when I was willing to talk to him again, that is!). I need not take on any challenge all at once but simply complete the next step. That lesson has stayed with me to this day and is something I often remember when a book seems too challenging. I just write the next word, the next sentence, the next paragraph.

Are there certain characters you’d like to go back to or is there a theme you like to work with?

 I gravitate to having heroes or heroines who are parents in my books. I think that’s because I’m the mother of three. Another theme I like, and hope to explore more, is to have seasoned heroes and heroines—as in above age 40. I am in this age category and find that I sometime have a hard time as a reader connecting with characters who are the age of my kids! I think that there is a certain amount of wisdom that comes with age, along with compassion and forgiveness—all very attractive attributes.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

I do! Mastery of any skill—writing included—takes 10,000 hours. If writing were your full-time job, and you worked 40 hours a week, for 50 weeks a year, taking 2 weeks for vacation, you would write 2,000 hours in a year. That means it would take 5 years of full-time writing to get to 10,000 hours. It seems incredibly daunting, I know. But I share this with folks so that they will hopefully do two things. First, I hope that they are kind to themselves. 10,000 hours is a long time, and they shouldn’t be disappointed if mastery and success don’t happen in weeks or months (or sometimes, years). Second, in order to get better at writing, one must write. Finally, I had professional success before I put in10,000 hours of writing time.

What project are you working on now or what book will be next?

I have a book coming out with Harlequin Romantic Suspense this fall. Under the Secret Agent’s Protection is an October 2019 release. This is a continuation of the Rocky Mountain Justice series, and I don’t want to give anything away, but I’m super excited.

Is there anything special that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Thanks for stopping by Zara’s site! This has been a fun interview and I hope you enjoyed it!

The Cowboy’s Secret Lover by Jenn Bokal

Retired bull rider, Kurt Crawford, has made a mess of his life. He’s in debt and his daughter needs lifesaving surgery.[image error] There’s only one way he can make enough money to pay for the procedure. Kurt has to return to rodeo—and win another national championship. The road to nationals leads through his hometown of Bear Creek, Texas. When Kurt gets thrown from the bull and knocked unconscious on the first night of competition, he never expected to find his first love, Faith McGregor, providing emergency care.

Faith McGregor has found herself in an impossible position. Her ex-boyfriend is her newest patient. As a nurse practitioner, she knows that he has to give up bull riding for good. Because of so many previous injuries, another fall could be deadly. Yet, when Kurt shares that he’s hoping to make enough money to pay for his daughter’s surgery, Faith finds it difficult to force Kurt back into retirement. All the same, she can’t let him endanger his life.

When Kurt’s daughter goes from bad to worse, Faith devises a plan to save the young woman’s life. Will it be enough? And, what will come of the renewed romance between Kurt and Faith when the rodeo is over?

Available from

AMAZON

[image error] Learn More About Jen Bokal’s Romances

Harlequin Author Page

Webpage

Facebook Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenn Bokal would love to hear from you.
Post your thoughts and comments below.

The post Jenn Bokal Has a New Cowboy Romance for You appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Amber Daulton is Back with Lyrical Embrace a New Romance

~ Plotting on Napkins ~

Today, fellow Wild Rose Amber Daulton talks about her newest release Lyrical Embrace, inspiring travels, and why writing for a small publisher is a great idea.

Welcome, Amber!

What was the most interesting place you ever visited?

My husband, Greg, and I went to St. Augustine, Florida a few years ago for our fifth wedding anniversary. It’s a beautiful place and rich with Spanish culture, but a bit of a tourist trap. We showed up on Monday and everything seemed normal in the town, but by Friday the whole town was abuzz. Greg and I had no idea what was going on. The Castillo de San Marco (the oldest surviving fort in the US) was shut down for tourists, and townspeople were dressed in colonial clothes. Turns out, the king and queen of Spain was visiting the city that day. Greg and I saw the crowd of people gathering in the streets to greet the royals, but we didn’t get to see the royal couple.

Anyway, while walking around Old Town (the former colonial section), I thought of a story idea involving three royal brothers finding love with the most unlikely of women. I haven’t written those stories yet (I have dozens of ideas written down on paper and napkins, and stuffed in a folder), but I really hope I’ll be able to get to it someday.

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

Last year, I published Arresting Mason, book one in the Arresting Onyx series, and my first book with The Wild Rose Press. Lyrical Embrace is book four in the Deerbourne Inn series, a multi-author collection of novellas.

The next installment of the Arresting Onyx series should hopefully be out in late 2019. Arresting Jeremiah follows hard-nosed parole officer Jim Borden and his obsession Calista Barlow as they stick their noses where they don’t belong and fall deep into the trouble with the criminal organization known as Onyx.

The Arresting Onyx series is a set of five romantic suspense books with a standalone HEA for each rough-and-tumble hero and their spunky heroines.

While I’m in the process of getting the Arresting Onyx series published, I’m also editing a series of unpublished vampire novels that are truly dear to my heart.

Is anything in your book Lyrical Embrace based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

This story is pure imagination, but I’m sure it could happen in real life.

I love writing and reading small town romances, especially ones with a kick and a little bit of danger weaved in. When plotting this story, I first pictured a young woman running away from the big city to escape her abusive ex-boyfriend. I think a lot of readers can sympathize with a woman in a bad situation, in particularly those readers who have experienced neglect from someone claiming to love them. Even though the heroine, Erica, is on the run, the story is still upbeat and fun. The characters are genuine and flawed. I really enjoyed writing it, and I hope readers will love it.

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with from Lyrical Embrace?

I would love to write a second story in the series. Dylan, the hero from Lyrical Embrace, has a sexy older brother named Birley. I’m not sure who his romantic interest would be yet, but I find hot single dads completely mouthwatering, which Birley so is. As of now, each author writing for the Deerbourne Inn series only gets one story, but hopefully that will change in the future.

Do you have a writing tip that has really helped you get published?

For a new writer, don’t waste your time submitting your manuscript to one of the top five traditional publishers. It’s not impossible, but it’s very difficult to get noticed and chosen by the top dogs. With the way the publishing world is nowadays, it seems you need to know someone already in the business and/or writing for that publisher to help you out as a reference. In my opinion, it’s best to start with small presses and work your way up the ladder. After you get a few stories published and have firmly planted your feet in the publishing pool, then submit to bigger publishers, if you still want to.

FYI, writing for small and indie presses allows you as the author more freedom to write the stories you want to write. The guidelines aren’t as strict, and the presses accept a boarder range of stories and writing styles than the traditional publishing houses accept.

Lyrical Embrace by Amber Daulton

Out-of-work violinist Erica Timberly decides enough is enough. She leaves her abusive [image error]boyfriend and flees the big city, but then her car breaks down in the middle of the night. Though wary of men, she accepts help from Dylan Haynes, a stranger driving by on the road, and soon recognizes him as the sexy former drummer of her favorite indie rock band. Maybe, just maybe, her run of bad luck is finally turning around.

Music teacher Dylan Haynes knows Erica is in trouble, and her black eye is only the first clue. The stubborn yet vulnerable woman needs a friend, but he’s determined to give her everything she deserves.

Will Erica listen to the music in her heart and trust Dylan, or will her past always threaten her future?

 

Available from

 

 AMAZON  | B&N  |  iTUNES  |  Google Play  |  KOBO

[image error] About the Author

Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press and Books to Go Now, and are available in e-book, print-on-demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

Amber lives in North Carolina with her husband and four demanding cats. Feel free to visit her at http://www.amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com.

  Social Media Links

Facebook Author Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/amberdaulton5/

Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624921.Amber_Daulton

Amazon Author Page – http://amzn.to/14JoZff

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amberdaultonauthor/

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amber-daulton

Do you read romances published by small presses?
Amber Daulton is waiting to hear from you. Post your questions and comments below.

The post Amber Daulton is Back with Lyrical Embrace a New Romance appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Rasha Selim has a New Series for Us

~ Plans, Travel, and the Importance of Friends to Text ~

Fellow Wild Rose author Rasha Selim is here today to talk about writing, travel, and her newest romance novel.

Welcome Rasha…

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born in Cairo, Egypt, and moved to Dubai, United Arab Emirates when I was four. For the next 13 years we lived between both countries. I moved to New York to pursue my college education with plans on remaining Stateside when I was done. My parents are passionate readers and I grew up reading my mom’s romance novels, and my dad’s true crime novels. Early on my passion for understanding the criminal mind, especially that of a serial killer, grew in leaps. I studied Forensic Psychology in my higher education with a plan to join the FBI when I got my American Citizenship. Although, I became an American Citizen, the FBI was not my future. I worked with children from middle school to high school ages at risk for incarceration, then worked with males in prison. I loved my job, but it was draining and with children on the way, I wanted to commit my time to family. I decided to be a stay-at-home mom and that’s when my passion to write re-ignited. I wrote my first novel when my first born was one but that will never see the light of day. I attended a few on-line classes as my three boys grew older, all the time telling myself it was for self-improvement. Yet when I found myself an “empty nester” when my youngest started Kindergarten, I wanted more and wrote the first book I was okay with publishing. To Honor is my third published novel.

Do you have an unusual hobby?

When I was younger I used to cliff dive. Loved it. Spent many a day at the Red Sea jumping head first of cliffs and not understanding why my mom cringed every time. I used to windsurf as well. However, I now live in the mountains of New York. No ocean in sight. I tried skiing, but it wasn’t for me.

Do your travels influence your writing?

My dad was an avid traveler. Always wanted to explore. He loved all things Asian, so that’s the continent we have traveled most. My favorites were always the beach communities, Bali, Okinawa, Krabi, Mykonos (Greece) are just a few. They definitely influenced me as a person. I’m wild in nature, always in the thick of things. I love adventure. New cultures, meeting people. Beach communities always subdued me. Made me stop and smell the ocean breeze. I am calmest by water. I used to have pen and paper with me, and I wrote many short stories with my toes in the sand. They are some of my favorite stories. I have no desire to publish them, but I do go back to them often. They transport me back in time, and I find inspiration in them and the memories they elicit.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

I don’t think I experience writer’s block in the traditional sense. I am never at a loss of ideas—at least thus far—but I get stuck with wording. English is my second language and there are many times where I stumble on sayings, euphemisms etc. I hear them said, and I note them down for later use, but I often find myself stuck coming up with the right order of words. My friends laugh because that’s when they get random texts from me. It might go something like this—Hey …Fill in the blank for me. Kettle, black, calling something or the other—I actually know this one, but I’m using it as my example, because at this very moment, I’m having a brain fart and can’t think of any others. See what I mean?

In Dubai, I went to a British-based school, and my grammar and wording tend to lean toward the British. My first English college professor told me I had horrible spelling and grammar—this was before the red and blue squiggly lines—and almost failed me until we talked, and he understood my background. My first book editor corrected all my British sayings, but I have learned how to keep a few in each novel. Sorry I went off on a tangent here. So back to answering. No, I don’t experience writer’s block. Thus far I have too many ideas still swirling in my head. I have two great plotting partners who help me get over humps I encounter, especially when I write my characters into a hole, and I have a friend who answers all my American-based English questions for me without hesitation.

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

To Honor is the first in an eight book contemporary romance series I am working on with The Wild Rose Press, Inc. However, my roots keep coming back to haunt me…so to quiet them down, I am working on another series of romantic suspense. Murder, mayhem, and strong heroines. I have pitched the idea to several agents and have received great feedback. The challenge is to find time to continue writing in the Evergreen Point series, while working part-time, raising my boys, and writing a whole other series. Having said that, I am eager to write the murder, who-done-it books with a romance twist. The first book is partially written, but I have six others plotted out. If there were more hours in a day, I would fill them up with both projects, as they call to me constantly.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

All my books, both published or living in my hard-drive, have many elements from my life, whether it be friends, or experiences. I tap those for inspiration and expand on them with research. I do my best thinking and plotting while driving, which is a good thing since I do play chauffeur to my children seven days a week. I talk to text via my Bluetooth and then sit in bed at the end of the day and turn my thoughts into viable novels. I’ve been known to walk away mid-conversation to take notes as ideas pop in. My friends describe it as my quirky habit. They have also become quite accustomed to receiving random text questions. They no longer ask me why I’m asking them something, they simply reply.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Best compliment – “Damn you. I stayed up way too late reading your book.” I stay up so many nights when I know I have a full schedule the following day just to finish reading a book so when anyone tells they did that with mine, I appreciate the sentiment. Worst criticism – I haven’t really got any. I’ve gotten a lot, A LOT, of feedback, but it was constructive. On that note, I have to admit I did receive a hurtful comment once. It didn’t pertain to my actual writing, nor was it constructive. It was prejudiced in nature and had no basis on what I do. Writing romance is fun, but sometimes upsetting, especially when my characters are apart for whatever reason, but in the end I’m smiling because I love me a good HEA.

There are people who view my writing as frivolous and ‘stupid’.  What they don’t realize is writing a feel-good story can be gut-wrenching. It takes time to cultivate relationships, pain to hurt my characters on purpose, and many re-writes to make the story flow flawlessly. I keep working on honing that skill and in the end, I hope I give my readers a story they enjoy and a smile on their face, with a few tears thrown in and some belly-laughs to go with it. Whenever I remember that person’s comments, I remind myself that at end of the day I’m doing something I like, something satisfying, following a dream. I set an example for my kids. Do it, and be proud.

To Honor by Rasha Selim

One kiss, two destinies. Love or loyalty? Friend or family?[image error]

Firefighter Pax Anderson has a job he loves, a family he cherishes, and a code of conduct he lives by. He should be on top of the world, but he’s not. The one thing that would make his life perfect—the woman of his dreams—is his brother’s best friend…and off limits.

 Susan Hayes has had a crush on Pax for years, but after her mother’s death, the Andersons became her surrogate family and she won’t risk her relationship with them. Her thriving animal shelter helps keep her thoughts off Pax, but when he chooses her shelter for a fundraising event, her resolve goes up in smoke.

When a dangerous force threatens to drive them apart, Susan and Pax are put to the ultimate test.

Buy Links
AMAZON  |  B&N  |  iBook  |  KOBO

[image error]About Rasha Selim

RASHA’S RAVENS FACEBOOK GROUP  https://www.facebook.com/groups/332475540759412/

FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/authorrashaselim/

INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/rashaselim/

TWITTER https://twitter.com/RashaSelimS

GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7834544.Rasha_Selim

 

How do you rely on your friends?
Rasha would love to hear from you. Please comment below.

The post Rasha Selim has a New Series for Us appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Tackling Instagram: Planning and Posting for Writers

Are you an avid user of Instagram? Well, I am not. I love Facebook and post regularly on Twitter. But for a long time, I ignored Instagram. For one thing, you had to do everything on your phone and for another, Instagram is a visual platform, and most of my photos and graphics are edited and stored on my computer.

However, everyone is saying Instagram is where it is at, so with the release of my newest romantic thriller, I decided it was time to learn how to use this media platform.

Designing your Instagram Presence.

First off, I wanted to see if there was anyway to post to Instagram from my computer. A search of the Internet turned up https://www.plannthat.com.  This is a site that helps you create beautiful, color-coordinated posts organized in a way to best market your book or product. PlannThat.com, with its ability to edit your photos and apply the best hashtags, is absolutely fantastic for showing your best “face” on the platform. Unfortunately, at this time, it only uploads your posts created on the computer to iPhones.

If you have an Android device as I do, you have to download the app to your phone and use it there.

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 Uploading to Instagram on your Computer

So, although I now have a marvelous tool for planning and presenting my posts, I am still stuck, uploading my photos to my computer, editing them, and then retrieving them back to my phone and finally posting to Instagram. Ugh!

So I did more research and here is what I found. Yes. You can upload directly from the computer. It’s just a bit tricky. However, once I did it a few times, I got the hang of it. So don’t be put off by these technical sounding steps.[image error]

Open your Chrome Browser.
Sign in to your Instagram account on the computer.
Click on the three little dots in the upper right corner of the browser menu
Open and scroll down to MORE TOOLS
In the window that opens, select DEVELOPER Tools at the bottom.
A split window opens. At the top of the Code panel on the right, click the tiny blue rectangle that sort of looks like a tablet with a cell phone on top of it.
The screen on the right that is showing your Instagram account will convert to a phone view.
At the top of the Instagram view, Click RESPONSIVE and select the phone that is closest to what you use. [image error]
Now for the most important step. REFRESH the Screen. You will now, if you scroll to the bottom of your Instagram image see the square with the plus sign in it and be able to upload your edited photos and graphics right off your computer.
And don’t worry. If you make a mistake, just close the Chrome browser and next time you open, you get to start fresh. Unfortunately, this means you have to redo all these steps every time you sign in, but as I said—it gets automatic after a while.

Waiting for PlannThat

For the time being, I will be satisfied with this rather clumsy method. But I am hoping that Plannthat.com will soon work with Androids.

Another approach I might take as well is to use my Buffer account to schedule my posts to Instagram. The problem with that is you can’t see the total aesthetic effect of your posts nor get the theme effects or post planning help that PlannThat offers. I guess I will have to do all that on my own.

How do you post to Instagram?
I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

The post Tackling Instagram: Planning and Posting for Writers appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Under the Skin is Coming! Hanger Finally Finds Love

~ The Release Day is Only One Week Away ~

Under the Skin, Book 4 in The Skin Quartet, will release on June 19th. For those of you who have been following the series, this is the book that brings Hanger On’s story to a close.

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Hanger’s Story

We first meet Hanger, who’s real name is Mircea Vargas, as a thirteen-year-old in Beneath the Skin, Book 1 in the series. Hanger’s sister Toro is a street artist. So it is not surprising that Hanger also wants to be one. In Book 2 Close to the Skin, Hanger has a crush on Serena Patras, a renowned tattoo artist, or as she known professionally, Bella Bell. He has decorated Brooklyn with images of her as a well-endowed mermaid. When Bella Bell is attacked, Hanger uses his street smarts to help save her.

In Book 3, Within the Skin, Hanger makes the mistake of spray painting graffiti on the wrong car. He is kidnapped by Serena’s attacker, Shark Man, and, although he is rescued by his sister Toro and her boyfriend, Pharaoh, Hanger suffers a grievous injury. Because of this, he loses his happy, carefree attitude, and as Book 4, Under the Skin opens, an older and wiser Hanger is depressed about the fact that he will never be the street artist he dreamed of becoming. Nevertheless, now a billionaire bridge designer and builder, Mic still gets his happy ending.

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Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone, but as one reviewer wrote:

“Here’s a hint regarding Zara West’s The Skin Quartet Series: Read it in order. While the books can stand on their own, reading in sequence will give you a sudden dose of shock when you realize that there’s a lot more to El Toro.

I loved how the author introduced El Toro and T-Crew in the first installment. A lot of work went into creating this motley gang off the street, skilled at leaving graffiti in their wake. It was obvious in the beginning that they were destined for more with Ari’s financial investment into their future.” Romancing the Book

The Use of Nicknames in the Skin Quartet

If you have read the other books in the series, the main character in Under the Skin may at first seem like a stranger. That’s because as an adult he is using his real name Mircea or because he hates being named after Dracula’s father, Mic Vargas. One thing  that characterizes this series is the use of nicknames or street handles. I used these for several reasons. For one, to mirror reality – street artists use handles because what they are doing is usually illegal. Another reason is that it reflects a less formal approach to life. Finally ,by using nicknames that contain elements of the character’s personality, I can deepen the readers response to the story. Can you think of a novel you love that uses nicknames for the characters?

Special for my fans: A list of characters who have street handles or nicknames 

Ari  –  Aristides Stavros

Bella Bell  – Serena Patras

Fur Tree  –  Fernando Pharaoh

Gav – Gavril Corovic

Hanger or Hanger On – Mircea or Mic Vargas

Shark Man or Shark Tooth or Kiro  –  Cole Tuccio

El Toro – Alba Vargas

 

Here is special giveaway just for my blog readers.
Make a comment  by June 19th on this post and get your name in the hat to win a $10 Amazon or B&N  gift card.

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The post Under the Skin is Coming! Hanger Finally Finds Love appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Under the Skin Book Trailer is LIVE!

~Making the Under the Skin Book Trailer ~

I am excited to announce that the  Under the Skin Book Trailer is now viewable here on my website and on YouTube.  I hope that you enjoy watching it.

How I made the Under the Skin Book Trailer

Using a New Video Editor – CyberLink Power Director

This now my fourth book trailer, and I have learned a lot since making my first one for Beneath the Skin. For one thing, I have had to find a new video editor, since my old computer died, and Microsoft no longer provides Live Movie Maker in its bundle. After trying out several video editors, I settled on Cyberlink PowerDirector 16. This one was the closest to Live Movie Maker in feel. The only thing I really disliked about Power Director is that you have to constantly switch back and forth between two different views during the editing process. In Live Movie Maker everything was on one screen.

Nevertheless, there are some features that I did appreciate. For example, you have complete freedom in designing the captions and titles and placing them with the images. Also you can paste photos on top of videos. I did that at the end of the trailer where you see the four books over my bridge video. It was also a breeze to convert the rough format to the finished video. It helped that my new computer has a ton of RAM and storage- essential when making videos.

Creating the Content

In many ways creating a book trailer script is much like writing a blub. You introduce the characters, state their problem, and end with a cliff hanger or hook. Since Under the Skin has a complex plot with several problems, I was forced to simplify it in order to fit it into a minute video. I chose to emphasize the romantic relationship over the thriller elements in the script, but chose thriller type visuals and a tense music line to give it that dark threatening feel.

Working with Media

Finding just the right videos and photos is always a challenge and is the most time consuming part of making a video. I was able to find some free images from Unsplash, Pixabay, and Pexels. Several I purchased from Deposit Photos and 123rf.  All the images came with commercial licenses which is important in a promo video.

I found the music for this video several months ago. I subscribe to the HungryJPEG, and every month they have freebies, as well as every Friday they have discounted media of all types. The minute I heard Epic by audiojungle, I knew that was just the right background for Under the Skin. The music builds in a way that matches my page-turning story. But it is not as scary as the music I used in the Close to the Skin trailer, which reflects the softer nature of my Under the Skin hero, Mic Vargas..

Tying It All Together

One thing I did to make the photographs fit together was I used Photoshop to add a blue-gray tint to many of them. This unifies them in a subtle way, even though they come from different sources and lighting situations. PowerDirector also has ways to do this too, but I am more experienced with Photoshop. I also used Photoshop to make sure all the photos were in the 9 by 16 ratio, which I hadn’t done in my earlier videos. All in all I think this is the best of my trailers so far.  But there is still much I need to learn. Now I have to publish my next book, so I can make another trailer. (I have already started collecting the photos!)

Have you watched all my Book Trailers?
I have a YouTube Channel, or you can visit each of the Book Pages here on my site.
Let me know which one is your favorite.

The post Under the Skin Book Trailer is LIVE! appeared first on Zara West Romance.

20 Ways to Show Love: Writing Romantic Suspense Heroes

~Show Them Love~

It takes a special kind of man to be a hero in his lover’s eyes. He doesn’t have to be muscle-bound. He doesn’t have to be domineering. He doesn’t need to smash and kill every enemy. Nor does he have to be a member of the military or the police force or the CIA. Yet, if you pick up a romantic suspense novel, those are the types of characters that you find.

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Now I like reading about dangerous missions and sneaky spy operations as much as the next romance reader. But if you really study these stories, you will discover that those he-man, alpha-male, romantic suspense heroes win their counterpart’s love by doing the opposite of the cliché. When they are with the person they love, they are gentle, respectful, and protective in situations where danger lurks around every corner.

Here is a list of the things heroes worthy of love do in romantic suspense novels and hopefully in real life too.[image error]

Feed them.
Keep them warm and safe.
Listen to childhood hurts and joys.
Share secrets.
Spend time together.
Do some small disagreeable task for them.
Surprise them with a gift or outing or celebrate a special occasion.
Introduce them to other family members.
Be patient.
Kiss and touch them when they are not expecting it.
Tell them what you love about them.
Be truthful with them.
Look into their eyes when you listen to them.
Do things that make them happy.
Communicate your feelings and needs.
Don’t bad mouth them or argue in public.
Put their needs before your own.
Be a shoulder to lean on.
Sacrifice something you love doing or having for them.
Risk your life for them.

So, the next time you read a romance novel (or if you are writing one), be looking for the hero to be doing many of these things that show love.  And if you would like to meet some romantic suspense heroes who are not alpha males working in one of the protective services, read my Skin Quartet series.

My heroes are men who do not fit the image of the typical romantic suspense hero. In Beneath the Skin, the hero is a scarred, ex-Olympic wrestler.In Close the Skin, the hero is a crime boss. In Within the Skin, the hero is a tattoo artist caught in a web of crime. And in my newest novel, and last in the series, Under the Skin, the hero is a billionaire bridge building who is also an amputee. Yet, every one of them would risk their loves to save the woman they love.

As one of my reviewers wrote: “Ms. West turns this stereotype on its head and makes it do handsprings. ” 5 star AMAZON review

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Looking for your own romantic suspense hero or writing one?

Here are some resources about loving relationships.

10 Ways to Show Your Partner You’re in Love

Relationship Rules for Successful Love

More on writing romantic suspense.

What Makes a Romantic Suspense Suspenseful?

What Makes A Villain in a Romantic Suspense?

I love to hear from my readers!
Do you have a favorite romantic suspense hero?

 

The post 20 Ways to Show Love: Writing Romantic Suspense Heroes appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Jo McNally Writes Small Town Romance

~ Jo McNally and The Power of Love ~

Romance author Jo McNally is here today to tell us about herself and the wonderful romances she writes. You can find my review of her romance the Life She Wants here.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi, everyone! I write contemporary small town romance for Harlequin, and my stories have emotion, humor, and heat. I’m married to my soul mate and best friend, but we both traveled some pretty broken roads to find each other. That’s what taught me the overwhelming power of love. Originally from the Northeast, we now live in eastern North Carolina with our 100-lb rescue dog, Tully. It’s basically her house–we’re only here to serve at her pleasure.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I wrote my “first romance” when I was around ten. All I remember is that it had a heroine named Destiny and horses and a tornado. I played with writing on and off for decades, but never dared to think I could do it for a living. I focused on my business career and climbed the corporate ladder (twice!). Then I went to a Career Night at a Girl Scouts meeting when I was almost fifty, and a little girl asked me if I was doing what I dreamed of doing when I was her age. At the time, I was the Director of Customer Service for an international manufacturing company. That was NOT what I’d dreamed of doing! Within months, I was writing seriously, and a few years later, I sold my first book, She’s Far From Hollywood, to Harlequin.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

Well, for a long time, the answer was yes. What was supposed to be the first book of my Lowery Women series didn’t get published because it had a ghost in it, and Harlequin Superromance didn’t do paranormal stories. Over a period of 3 or 4 years, I tried to get it published through different lines. But guess what? That first book is finally getting published! It Started at Christmas is coming in December from Harlequin Special Edition, as a prequel to the Gallant Lake Stories. The romantic ghost will be more of a legend, but still a powerful part of the story. Never give up!

Where do you get your ideas?

Literally…everywhere. I listen, watch, and read all the time. I generally start a book with the characters. What would happen if a Hollywood diva had to hide out on a Carolina farm? What if a domestic violence victim on the run met an ex-cop whose partner died on a domestic violence call? What if an uptight city-girl accountant had to work with a laid-back winemaker to save her aunt’s winery? Then I work with those characters and grow a story around them.

What would one of your characters say about your writing?

Ha! They’d probably ALL agree that I need to step aside and let them tell their stories. When I get bogged down in a story, it’s usually because I’m trying to “force” characters to do something that’s not authentic for them. I’ve learned to stop fighting them and listen.

Do you have a new book coming out soon? What’s the release date?

After a year with no releases, I have four books from two new series coming out this year! First up is Slow Dancing at Sunrise from HQN. It’s Book 1 of my new Rendezvous Falls series, set in the Finger Lakes of New York State. This book releases on June 25th. What makes the Rendezvous Falls series special is the meddling senior book club, where members are more likely to be cursing and drinking than knitting and baking cookies. And in each book, one of the book club members has their Point of View in the story.

Book 2 of this series will be out in November. It’s a holiday romance titled Stealing Kisses in the Snow. In September, my new Gallant Lake Stories series begins with A Man You Can Trust from Harlequin Special Edition. Gallant Lake is a fictional resort town in the Catskills that’s seen hard times, but is making a comeback thanks to the Gallant Lake Resort. The second book from Gallant Lake will be coming in December. It Started at Christmas is the origin story I mentioned earlier, and will tell how the resort got started.

Do you have any advice to give aspiring writers?

Read. Read. Read. In your genre. Outside your genre. Craft books. Just keep reading (and writing, of course). And remember–it’s never too late!

Slow Dancing at Sunrise by Jo McNally[image error]

Welcome to Rendezvous Falls, New York, where love is where you least expect it…

When accountant Whitney Foster’s carefully calculated life blows up, she escapes to the one place that’s always felt like home. But Rendezvous Falls has changed since she’s been away. Her aunt Helen’s winery is in trouble. And she doesn’t trust the sexy, surly stranger working the vineyard as far as she can throw him.

Luke Rutledge would do anything for Helen, who’s been like a mother to him. Revive the winery? Sure. Repair her property? No problem. Tolerate Helen’s infuriating, big-shot niece? Well…maybe. But as he and Whitney are forced to work together to rebuild the business, her chilly facade reveals a woman as complex and intoxicating as a fine merlot. Throw in a matchmaking book club hell-bent on happily-ever-after and it’s a potent cocktail.

Love should never be calculated. But it doesn’t take Whitney’s math skills to see that this is adding to up to one tantalizing adventure…

Buy 
AMAZON  |  B&N |  KOBO  |  iTunes  |  Harlequin


[image error] Learn more about Jo McNally

Website: https://jomcnallyromance.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JoMcNallyAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.mcnally/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoMcNallyAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15850595.Jo_McNally

Do you love small town romances?
Jo McNally would love to hear from you.
Post your thoughts and comments below.

The post Jo McNally Writes Small Town Romance appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Luanna Stewart writes Victorian Romance

~ A Victorian Romance Set in Canada ~

Romance writer, and fellow Wild Rose and Nova Scotian, Luanna Stewart, is back to tell you about her newest novel and share some writing tips and inspiration. Welcome, Luanna…

What do you do when you’re not writing?

When I’m not writing you can find me in the kitchen. I love to cook and am always trying new recipes. I spend far too many hours perusing cooking blogs, drooling over yummy looking pictures, and getting ideas for our meals. There just aren’t enough days in a year to cook every recipe that I want to try. I enjoy baking even more than cooking. I’ve had a sweet tooth since forever and I have no will power. We have dessert every night of the week and it’s always home baked. I bake all our bread – the standard sandwich loaf as well as sweet breads like cinnamon rolls, and fancy things like croissant. To counteract all the goodies, I exercise every day either by doing a video routine or by riding my bike along the local trails.

What was the most interesting place you every visited?

This is an easy question to answer because we just returned from Cyprus and it was definitely the most interesting country I’ve ever visited. I’ve travelled around Europe and the UK a few times but always in the northern region – France, the Netherlands, etc. So a Mediterranean country was quite a revelation. We were on the Greek side of the island, a half hour from Paphos, up in the hills amongst the goats and the donkeys and the wild orchids. Truly magical.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I’ve read all sorts of books for as long as I can remember. Our city library’s bookmobile parked at my elementary school every two weeks – the highlight of my young life. I’d return home with arms overflowing with mysteries, historical fiction (Jean Plaidy was my idol), thrillers I probably shouldn’t have been reading, and romance novels. While I enjoyed all of it, the romance stories constituted the largest to-be-read piles. My first love was historical romance – dashing dukes or lairds, strong-willed damsels in fine gowns with petticoats and corsets. All so foreign and thus a fantasy life for which I yearned. Since I can’t travel back in time I do the next best thing, immersing myself in the Victorian era alongside my characters.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

I’m not sure if I have ever experience writer’s block – the symptoms are almost as varied as the writers who report them. But I do get stalled in my stories from time to time. Several “cures” work for me depending on the cause of the affliction. If I don’t know my characters very well, I get them to tell me about their childhood – a best friend, a beloved pet, a schoolyard bully. That’s usually enough to get my writing engine cranking. If I’m unsure of what should happen next in the story, I’ll backtrack a few pages in the book and see if I should have turned right instead of left, metaphorically speaking. Maybe a secondary character needs to play a greater or lesser role in the story. Or maybe someone needs to die . Regardless of the cause for the stall in writing, I benefit from leaving my computer and writing with a pad of paper and my trusty purple-ink-filled fountain pen.

Have you written a book you love that you haven’t been able to get published?

My first completed manuscript will never see the light of day in its present form. It was my learning book in which I discovered the importance of GMC (goal, motivation, conflict); the joys of introspection; and the horrors of backstory dumping. It’s also the book in which I discovered my author voice, a bit formal and a bit snarky and ever so slightly steamy. One of these days I’ll wade through the dross and the clichés and get it published because I love the characters and they deserve to tell their story.

Can you tell us anything about upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

Just like I’ll never cook all the fabulous recipes I want to try, I’ll never write all the stories spinning in my head. But I do have a few things in the pipeline to be released later this year. My publisher has launched a series for which I’ve written a novella. I adore my hero, the plot has equal measures of humour, angst, and sexy times, and there are recipes – go figure. I’ll also be releasing a few books in a new contemporary romance series set in a fictional town that is loosely modelled on my own town. Again, with equal doses of light-hearted banter, difficult discussions, and dirty talk. Look for the first in the series at the end of summer.

How did you come up with the title?

This book is the third in the series and I honestly can’t remember how I came up with the “love and xxx” format. The first, Love & Mayhem, is my Victorian set version of “girls just wanna have fun”. My heroine, Sybil, wants what she wants and doesn’t care if she causes mayhem along the way. The second book, Love & Turmoil, is filled with turmoil, internal and external, for both the hero and heroine. And now with Love & Redemption, both Mary and Finton need to come to terms with their past actions and decisions, and find a way to forgive themselves and each other, all presented with humour, tears, and heat.

Love and Redemption by Luanna Stewart [image error]

Mary Taylor abandoned her silk gowns and sparkling jewels when she quit her position as one of London’s highly prized courtesans. She’s determined to earn her living with a paintbrush rather than between the sheets. Starting fresh in a new country, she masquerades as a widow running a tearoom in Halifax while perfecting her art. But when she’s hired to finish the portrait of a handsome judge, she risks everything by surrendering to her lustful craving.

Finton Morash, youngest judge on the Queen’s bench, believes people are either good or bad. The dowdy widow painting his portrait is surely one of the former. After discovering the sensual beauty hiding beneath shapeless gowns, he wonders at her other secrets.

When whispers circulate about Mary’s nefarious past, she must find the courage to face the consequences. And Finton must decide whether love is worth the risk.

Buy

 

Amazon US |  Amazon CA |  Amazon UK |  Amazon AU  |  B&N  |  Kobo 

 

Learn More About Luanna Stewart

[image error]Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. As soon as she discovered her grandmother’s stash of romance novels, all plots had to lead to a happily-ever-after.

Luanna writes full time, concentrating on sexy romantic suspense, steamy paranormal romance, and spicy historical romance.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Luanna has recently returned to the land of her birth with her dear husband and two spoiled cats. When she’s not torturing her heroes and heroines, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious.

Find her:

Website:  http://www.luannastewart.com/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/luanna-stewart

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Luanna_Stewart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuannaStewartAuthor/

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/luannastewart/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14104212.Luanna_Stewart

Amazon Author Page:  www.amazon.com/author/luanna_stewart

Are you a fan of Victorian romance?
Luanna Stewart would love to hear from you.
Post your questions and comments below.

The post Luanna Stewart writes Victorian Romance appeared first on Zara West Romance.