Zara West's Blog, page 31

There’s a Party Going On for Beneath the Skin

Zara West Suspense

It’s coming. It’s almost here. My first romantic suspense, Beneath the Skin, will be available for pre-orders any day now and I am having a Pre-Order Round-Up party on my Facebook Fan Page. Come join the party!

Every day there will be a new question, a new poll, a new challenge, or a request for an opinion. Just post a comment to be in the running for a terrific prize. What will you win? Five brilliant romance novels for your summer reading pleasure. There’s paranormal, regency, and contemporary in the mix – all terrific stories of love with a happy-ever-after.

The party ends when Beneath the Skin can be pre-ordered on Wild Rose Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all the major book retailers, and that will be very soon!

Here’s the list:

Always by Lindsey Sands
The Match of the Century by Cathy Maxwell
Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett
Spider Game by Christine Feehan
Love Somebody Like You by Susan Fox

P.S. June 17th is Beneath the Skin’s Worldwide Release Day. Hang around for the BIRTHDAY PARTY!

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Tuesday Snippet: A Graffiti Artist Speaks

Zara West Suspense

Today’s snippet from Beneath the Skin is a bit of dialogue spoken by one of my street artist characters: El Toro. Street art is a major feature of the Williamsburg, Brooklyn area in which my romantic suspense is set. El Toro plays a major role in Beneath the Skin and will also be the protagonist in the third book in the series Within the Skin.

        
      

 

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Which do you prefer? Novels set in real places or imaginary ones?

Zara West Suspense

If you have been following my blog, you already know quite a bit about my characters: what they wear, where they eat, and what their problems are. Today I am going to give you some visuals of the setting: Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The Importance of Setting

Meredith Bond, posting on Romance University, points out the reason we read fiction is to be transported to another time and place and to experience life there. Setting, therefore, play an enormous role in a novel.  The weather, the time of day, the sounds, smells, and textures add to the mood of the story.

Now in some novels, such as fantasies and science fiction, the author creates an entirely imaginary place. But in a contemporary romance like Beneath the Skin, much of the story is built on real streets, real buildings, and real weather patterns. For example, in Beneath the Skin, the hustle and bustle of the city streets is always in the background as the characters go about their work and struggle to escape the villains.

Every day annoyances, such as catching a cab or tripping on a curb change characters’ moods or plans of action. Weather can change what characters wear or what they can do. However, even in fiction set in a real place, the novelist has the freedom to make changes. For example, the tattoo parlors in my romantic suspense are all fictitious as are the apartment and factory buildings where the characters live and murder each other.

Bedford Avenue is the place to find something to eat, something to read, and something to wear. In Beneath the Skin, this is where Bella’s fictional tattoo salon, The Siren, is located.

Here are some views from up and down the street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which do you prefer? A romantic suspense novel set in a real locale or one in an imaginary setting?

Let’s find out. Take my poll!

When you are done, post the setting of your favorite novel in the comments section.

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Beneath the Skin Release Date June 17, 2016

Zara West Suspense

Calling all readers!

I have just heard. The worldwide release date for my romantic suspense Beneath the Skin is June 17th, 2016. On that date, Beneath the Skin will be available for purchase through Wild Rose Press as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major book distributors. It will be offered as an e-book and as a paperback. Pre-orders will be available two weeks before the release date.  I will let you know specifically when.

I have lots of exciting book release events planned.

Beneath the Skin Book Trailer: Coming soon to the little screen – Ari and Melissa

Temporary Tattoos for You: A former art student of mine, now an accomplished tattoo artist, will be designing a Beneath the Skin temporary tattoo to be produced by Tattly of Brooklyn. I will be giving these out at book signings.

Facebook Trivia Party: What do you know about tattooing, graffiti, and life in Williamsburg, Brooklyn? This is your chance to share and learn, win prizes and become eligible for future giveaways!

Graffiti Mural Day: Explore the fascinating world of street art. Learn the difference between a tag, a fill, and a one-liner. Design your own tag and add it to our mural. Time and place to be announced.

Meanwhile,  here is another excerpt from Beneath the Skin:

“Ari shifted slightly, capturing her roving hand. His long, powerful fingers wrapped around hers. Melissa did not doubt they were capable of breaking bones, but they were also capable of the lightest of touches. She turned her head and looked at him. Ari’s eyes were open, a faint smile curving his lips. A well-satisfied man. A good time to root out his secrets, learn who he really was before she totally lost her heart.”

Let me know what you think…I love your comments!

Love

Zara

 

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What Makes A Villain in a Romantic Suspense?

Zara West Suspense

You can’t write a romantic suspense novel without a great villain. Now we all know that villains are evil and do very, very bad things. But a well-written romantic suspense needs a villain or antagonist who is more than one of those “I’m going to get you” cartoon characters. Judy Harvey at Fiction University has outlined ten characteristics of a great antagonist.

They want something, often for a good reason. Perhaps, they have been hurt in the past and want revenge. Maybe they have an idea that they think is a good one, despite what everyone else thinks.
They are highly motivated. They don’t just think about what they want to do, they have to do it.
Because they are motivated, they act, no matter what the consequences.
They know there are consequences but they either don’t care or they make plans to avoid those consequences even if that means they get hurt or more likely someone else gets hurt.
There’s a great big prize if they win.
They are smart. They adapt. They learn. They foil the hero or heroine at every turn.
They are complex. They have unique qualities. They may have something likeable about them or do something unexpectedly kind or be quirky.  In fact, many villains are actually quite nice people.
At the same time, they have a major flaw that will lead to their downfall in the end. They may be arrogant or not as smart as they think or that tiny ounce of goodness in them keeps them from striking the killing blow.
They have secrets.  There are things that if known would foil their plans or reveal who they really are.
Most importantly, the villain or antagonist wants exactly the opposite thing that the hero or heroine does…and that creates the whole story!

In Beneath the Skin, there is actually more than one villain.

One character wants revenge.
One character hates.
One character is greedy.

Oh my! I hope that you have fun trying to figure out just who the really, really bad guy is. The hero and heroine don’t until it is almost too late!

Who makes the best villain in a romantic suspense?

VOTE HERE

Check out the results of the vote ,  then share who is your favorite fictitious villain. 

Post their name and the book or movie they star in below. Let’s see who’s the most popular!

MARCH Giveaway Winner is PAT. S.
Congratulations!

Your name could have been here!

Be eligible for my monthly giveaways. Be the first to know the release date for Beneath the Skin!

Sign up for my free e-newsletter today.

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What Type of Romantic Suspense Novel are You?

Zara West Suspense

Katie J. Squires of Heroes and Heartbreakers has just posted a fun quiz you can take to determine what type of romance novel matches your taste. Give it a try.

PS: I hope you like the bad boys, because they are the heroes in The Skin Quartet. Enjoy!

PPS: Beneath the Skin will be released very soon, and here’s a special offer. I am looking for a few Advance Readers to read prepublication copies and provide endorsements and reviews. E-mail me if you would like a sneak peek.

 

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Graffiti Art in Beneath the Skin

Zara West Suspense

“Traditionally artists have been considered soft and mellow people, a little bit kooky. Maybe we’re a little bit more like pirates that way. We defend our territory, whatever space we steal to paint on, we defend it fiercely.”


Sandra “Lady Pink” Fabara in Chang, Jeff (2005). Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation . New York: St. Martin’s Press. p. 124.

 

Anyone who has visited Williamsburg, Brooklyn knows that graffiti art is a notable feature of the environment. Whether you consider it vandalism or art, graffiti has been around a long time. Ancient graffiti has been found on Egyptian monuments,  at Pompeii, at the citadel of Sigirlya in Sri Lanka, at Tikal, and in the Catacombs of Rome.

Most ancient graffiti was scratched into the surface. Today most urban graffiti is done with marker and spray paint. In most countries, it is considered vandalism if done to public or private property without permission. Graffiti is often used to mark territory or make a social statement.

Graffiti art plays an important role in my upcoming novel Beneath the Skin. Near the beginning of the story, Aristides Stavros, a renowned fine artist,  meets a young graffiti artist who challenges him to an art contest. El Toro is the leader of a graffiti “crew” called T-Crew. Here is an excerpt from that scene:

Twenty some odd blocks south, Ari found himself in graffiti wonderland. Plywood fences covered in Full Monty murals stretched block after block. He stopped and reread the note El Toro stuck to his door.

“Right place, hombre,” El Toro said, slipping up beside him. He waved his hand. “Meet the judges.”

 Ari stared at the bunch of young men wearing baggy pants, sweatshirts, and multi-pocketed vests. There were four of them. A tall black kid, skinny as a lamp post, with a shaved head, called Fur Tree; two mixed-race twins with Hispanic accents and matching black T-shirts reading “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” who went by Neto and Solo;  and someone’s hyperactive teenage brother. The kid, introduced as Hanger On, swung back and forth from a stair railing, his too-large pants threatening to slip off at any second.

 Ari gave them his best scowl, and when they didn’t flinch, turned it to a smile. “So where’s the wall?”        

Try creating your own unique tag here.

   How do you feel about graffiti? Is it vandalism? Is it art?

Please comment below.

 

 

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Romantic Suspense Beneath the Skin is Different

Zara West Suspense

Now that the Leap Year Giveaway book has been awarded. (See below for the winner) It ‘s time for me to pick the next romantic suspense. One of my purposes in giving away these books is to whet your appetite for my upcoming novel Beneath the Skin.

Now I read a lot of romantic suspense novels. I love them. Why else would I write them? I like the fact that there is plenty of mystery and threatening villains along with the love story. I like the complexity of the plot and the challenge of weaving the romance so tightly into the suspense plot line that if you took out the romance  or took out the suspense plot the story would fall apart.

To do that you need a special type of hero and heroine and a very threatening villain. Most romantic suspenses, therefore, usually have at least one and sometimes both main characters working for the military, especially the SEALs,  or for the police or in some CIA or FBI undercover operation investigating a crime or trying to stop terrorists or other very bad bad people. Blood Code featured the CIA against a crazy Russian premier. Exit Strategy starred an ex-military guy protecting his assigned victim from being assassinated.

Beneath the Skin is different. My heroine is an anthropologist. The hero is a world-renowned artist living the good life. Not military, not undercover, not police. So why don’t they go to the police when Bella Bell is kidnapped? Unfortunately, both have something in their past that makes them wary of legal authorities and by the time, they realize they are in too deep, it’s too late.

The book I am giving away for March is Low Pressure by best selling author Sandra Brown. The hero and heroine in this book are more like mine in Beneath the Skin. In this book, the heroine is a writer and the hero is a pilot. Like Melissa and Ari, they start looking for answers and end up running for their lives.

Now for the Leap Year Winner!
Karen K.

Your book Blood Code by Misty Evans is in the mail!!!!

If you want to be in the running for Low Pressure,

Click here!

 

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