With: Zara West
Congratulations to "Chris B.", the winner in Zara's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
Hi everyone! Please comment at the end of the
post with your name and contact information for your chance to win an
electronic copy, my newly released romance suspense BENEATH THE SKIN.
Now come travel with me…
In this day and age, it is easy to go online
and find maps, photos, videos, and detailed descriptions of just about every
place on earth. Using Google Earth, you can drive down streets, stop and stare
into store windows, and even fly like a bird over roofs of the cities and the
towns where your story is set and peer into peoples’ backyards. You can find
menus for local restaurants and recipes for regional dishes. Sometimes you
might wonder if it is worth the hassle of waiting in security lines, staying in
hotels, and eating strange foods just to experience the setting of the novel
you are writing, especially if it’s a romantic suspense, and all the action is
focused on the survival of the two main characters.
I am going to tell you that yes—it is definitely
worth the effort. There are three major things missing from the digital
experience—smells and sounds and tastes. Only by experiencing these things up
close and personal can you add the sensory elements to your stories that make
them come alive for your reader who may never have been to that locale and who
are relying on you to transport them from their everyday existence to some
place new and exotic.
In addition, during your travels, you will
pick up nuances of language and gesture that add depth to your characters. You
will try foods cooked using traditional ingredients and utensils. You will
breathe in the scents of local plants and flowers and hear the hubbub of
conversation, street traffic, and sounds of animal life found only in that
place. Your skin will remember the changes in temperature and your feet will
imprint the textures of the pavement, stone, and soil under your feet.
In my newly released romantic suspense Beneath the Skin, I have drawn not only
on the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg where I was born, but also on my
extensive travels in Greece. My hero, Aristides Stavros, is a multi-billionaire
owner of a Greek island, modeled on an an incredibly beautiful isolated island I
visited during one of my many trips to Greece.
Based on my experiences living in Greece, I have
woven elements of village life from chickens to hand-milling grain into Aristides‘ backstory and included common
sayings as well as bits of the Greek language and familiar gestures to create
his unique personality. This level of detail would have been impossible if I
had never been to a Greek island.
So when deciding whether it’s worth hopping
on that bus, getting on that train, boarding the next plane, or slipping behind
the steering wheel, say yes and enrich your writing and your reader’s
experience tenfold!

Ex-Olympic wrestler and reclusive billionaire artist Aristides Stavros has one mission—to rescue his sister, a popular tattoo artist from the old enemy who has kidnapped her. But at every turn, he is confronted by anthropologist Melissa Dermot. Is she just an innocent girl in over her head, or is she working for the international crime boss holding his sister?
Only one thing is certain--when Ari holds the beautiful Asian-American in his arms, questions of guilt and innocence fade against an undeniable fiery attraction. But can their wild passionate love survive the tangled web of long-buried secrets, intentional deceit, and murderous revenge that lie just beneath the surface?
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Wild Rose Press
Giveaway:
Please comment at the end of the post with your name and contact information for your chance to win an electronic copy of Beneath the Skin, first in the Skin Quartet Series
Author Bio:
Zara West loves all things dark, scary,
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.
A member of RWA, Zara is an award-winning author of both
fiction and non-fiction. This is her first romantic suspense.
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST June 24th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@justromanticsuspense.com with a subject title of JRS GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
Check out more giveaways on the JRS SHOWCASE
The book sounds great. Huge fan of Wrestling. Loved high school, college and Olympic. I also love to travel whenever possible. Love driving and flying both when taking vacation. Best vacation was to Nashville during CMA Fest about 5 years ago. Christinebails@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI love to travel. Currently, I am only able to do day or weekend trips which limits the distance I can travel.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
Don't measure travel by distance. Even short trips to places not familiar to you will enrich your writing. Try a new restaurant. Explore a new park. Visit an unfamiliar store. All these experiences will add depth to your reading and writing.
ReplyDeleteI was just in Nashville on Memorial Weekend. Love the music and the gorgeous flowers.
ReplyDeleteinteresting post
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Digital can't beat the real deal.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Yes, i agree - traveling broadens a person in ways staying at home researching can't. And meeting new people is a big part of the experience, too! I think it's easier to understand how we are all alike, to recognize our human emotions when we encounter others in a new way. Best wishes with your book release!
ReplyDeleteI agree that a writer needs to experience "life away from home". Great blog. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I agree just mingling with anyone in a different space is inspiring especially for writers. We absorb every detail.
ReplyDeleteActually going to places also keeps writers from making crucial mistakes. You really need to know a place if you're going to set a book there.
ReplyDeleteI got roadblocked on your trip to Greece, a place I'd love to see!!! But I agree--travel gives us new perspectives!
ReplyDelete