Under the Skin
Zara West
Publication date: June 6th 2019
Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller
A billionaire bridge builder
A gifted thief
A ruthless criminal
Can he save her before it’s too late?
—
Interview with Zara West:
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Since my Kitty is sitting right beside me, at this moment, I know she would be very upset if I didn’t answer cats. Cats make a perfect writing companion. They are content to sit and dream while you bang away at the keyboard. They can also inspire your writing.
Cats play an important role in my Skin Quartet series. One of the lead characters cares for strays and participates in a spay-and-release program. In Book 2 Close to the Skin, the man she loves wins her over with a box of stray kittens.
How many hours a day do you put into your writing?
I find that the longest I can write and still be coherent and creative at the same time is about four hours a day. My usual writing schedule is to write from six in the morning until ten o’clock. Except in exceptional circumstance, I write every day, seven days a week.
Do you read your book reviews? If yes, do they affect what you write in the future?
I find book reviews very helpful. I love to know what my readers like best about my stories, and I do respond to what they say. In one case, a book reviewer wished my next book would be about one of the graffiti kids who appeared in Book 1 Beneath the Skin. So, I changed the main character to Toro, who in Beneath the Skin was revealed to be a girl pretending to be a boy. It made writing her story a real challenge
Do you leave hidden messages in your books that only a few people will find?
All my characters have secrets, but by the end of the series all the secrets are revealed. That is why, even though each book is a stand-alone, some reviewers have suggested reading the series in order so as a reader you can experience the reveals
Would you rather
Read fiction or non-fiction?
This is hard question because I read both. I would say fiction based on real life is my favorite.
Read series or stand-alone?
Again, I read both all the time. But if I find a set of characters and a setting I love, I truly enjoy watching a series unfold. Some of my favorite romance series are those by Dorothy Dunnett, Mary Balough, Lisa Marie Rice, and Marie Force.
Read Science fiction or horror?
Science fiction is one of my favorite genres. I don’t read horror at all, although I have written and published several flash fiction horror stories. Doesn’t make any sense, but somehow the stories I intended as romances took a turn for the worst at the end.
Read Stephen King or Dean Koontz
Neither. They both give me the creeps.
Read the book or watch the movie?
Definitely read a book. While I find movies entertaining, I prefer visualizing the story inside my own head free of the influence of the background music and the looks of the actors.
Read an ebook or paperback?
I read both. My e-book is great for when I go on vacation as I don’t have to take bags of books with me. But when I want to reread or go back to reexperience a novel, I much prefer a paperback. For non-fiction, I only use paperbacks and hardbacks.
Be trapped alone for one month in a library with no computer or a room with a computer and Wi-Fi only?
As a writer I have to say a computer with WiFi
Do a cross-country book store tour or blog tour online?
Blog online. While I love to travel, a book tour can be very stressful and tiring.
Author Bio:
Zara West loves all things adventurous and heart-stopping as long as they lead to true love. Born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Zara spends winters in New York where the streets hum with life, summers in the Maritimes where the sea can be cruel, and the rest of the year anywhere inspiration for tales of suspense, mystery, and romance are plentiful.
An accomplished artist by training and passion, she brings a love of art to every book she writes. When not marooned on an island or chasing after Greek shepherds, Zara tends her organic herb garden, collects hats and cats, and whips up ethnic dishes for friends and family. Learn more at http://www.zarawestsuspense.com
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8 comments:
Thanks for being on the tour! :)
Great interview, Zara! I have a kitty mascot as well - although sometimes he serves more as a paperweight, hehe.
I enjoyed the post it's so nice to get to know an author. The book sounds very intriguing and congratulations on your tour Zara.
Great interview! Loved both the questions and your answers. Best of luck with the new release.
Thank you for having me on your blog and doing this great interview.
Most of your answers are similar to what mine would be. Good luck, Zara.
The cover is so pretty! Thank you for sharing the interview
A gorgeous cover and an intriguing excerpt. This is a must read for me. I enjoyed reading your interview. I am a huge sci-fi fan as well.
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