You may have spotted Sarah Zama leaving a comment here and there. She has now published her first book, Give in to the Feeling, and asked me for my help in promoting it.
As she had described it as romance, I was worried it might not fit into the rest of the blog, so I asked her for an ARC, which she kindly provided.
I received it around 10 pm. My intention was to flick through it to make sure it was appropriate to my blog, then head to bed – which I estimated I’d do some 10 minutes later. Instead, I was sucked into the world of Susie and the 20s Chicago.
What started out as a love triangle between Susie, a Chinese dancer at a speakeasy; Simon, the owner of the joint; and a haunting stranger called Blood, soon took a sinister, paranormal turn. And I kept turning the pages, not turning in until after midnight…
What is it about?
Click for a free chapter
Chicago 1924
Susie has never thought she might want more. More than being Simon’s woman. More than the lush life he’s given her when she came from China. More than the carefree nights of dance in his speakeasy.
Simon has never asked her anything in return but her loyalty. Not a big price.
Until that night.
When Blood enters Simon’s speakeasy, and Susie dances with him, she discovers there’s a completely new world beyond the things she owns and the things she’s allowed to do. A world where she can be her own woman, where she can be the woman she’s supposed to be. A world of sharing and self-expression she has never glimpsed.
But she’s still Simon’s woman, and he won’t allow her to forget it.
Soon Susie will discover there’s more than two men fighting over her in the confrontation between Blood and Simon. There’s a fight breaking through the wall of the real world, into the spirit world where Susie’s freedom may mean life or death for one of them. And if Susie gives in, she will lose more than just her heart and happiness.
Available for Preorder
Sarah is offering the book at $0.99 only for the pre-order period, and sweetens the deal further with a gift: If you email her the receipt of your purchase at this email, she will send you a wallpaper inspired by her cover for your phone. It is a very exclusive wallpaper she will offer only for the preorder time and never again.
You can preorder Give in to the Feeling on:
Who is Sarah Zama?
Sarah Zama was born in Isola della scala (Verona – Italy) where she still lives. She started writing at nine – blame it over her teacher’s effort to turn her students into readers – and in the 1990s she contributed steadily to magazines and independent publishers on both sides of the Atlantic.
After a pause, in early 2010s she went back to writing with a new mindset. The internet allowed her to get in touch with fellow authors around the globe, hone her writing techniques in online workshops and finally find her home in the dieselpunk community.
Since 2010 she’s been working at a trilogy set in Chicago in 1926, historically as accurate as possible but also (as all her stories are) definitely fantasy. She’s currently seeking representation for the first book in the Ghost Trilogy, Ghostly Smell Around.
In 2016, her first book comes out, Give in to the Feeling.
She’s worked for QuiEdit, publisher and bookseller in Verona, for the last ten years.
She also maintain a blog, The Old Shelter, where she regularly blogs about the Roaring Twenties and anything dieselpunk.
Connect with Sarah:
Good luck with the new book, Sarah!
Thanks Ali 🙂
It’s such a weird sensation having a book out there and seeing people are buying it.
You’ve worked for it for so long and now it’s finally here. Enjoy it!
Wonderful to meet Sarah. I haven’t followed SciFi or fantasy but this post has me on the edge of my chair. Sounds fascinating. 🙂
Oh, wow, thanks so much 🙂
It’s happened to me on a few occasions that people told me: never read fantasy before, but I love your story. That’s the best thing a genre writer can hear, in my opinion 🙂
Nice review, Nicholas. The paranormal element is a great way to get sci-fi/fantasy readers interested in a romance. I’ll cross that bridge 🙂 Good luck with your book, Sarah!
Thanks Wallace 🙂
I never meant to write a romance. I ended up thinking promiting it as such because of the ‘love triangle’. But I’ve notice one thing: all people who read the story said the same thing: it isn’t exactly a romance.
So now I’m rethinking this part of my promotion. It may be worth taking a different path 😉
I don’t usually read romances (all the romance authors out there are wagging their fingers at me and frowning, yikes). But I do like a good romantic relationship and it shows up in my books too. You might think about marketing it differently if the feedback is consistent. I’m certainly not an expert, just a thought. Nicholas is a great resource. 🙂 Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy this exciting time!
Thanks for the kind mention! To be honest, I’d be forwarding all questions to my go-to romance expert, MMJaye (https://mmjayewrites.com/) 🙂
I was referring mostly to the marketing/industry end of the author adventure. You’re a fount of wisdom 🙂
Aw, you! 🙂
I’ll be looking forward to seeing the results when you do 🙂
I’m so excited for you, Sarah. Congrats again on your debut!!!
Thanks Sue. I’m so nervous and excited! It’s so near now!
Just try to remember to breathe. Not saying it’ll be easy, but try. And know, we’re all behind you 100%.
This has an unusual theme, and an interesting setting. I enjoyed a look around Sarah’s blog, whilst listening to her clip of Lotte Lenya singing!
I wish her well with the book, and good luck with her future projects.
Best wishes, Pete.
Many thanks for reading, Pete 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog beetleypete 🙂
I’m happy you enjoyed the clip too. I’m becoming fascinated with Weinar Germany.
I can recommend the Berlin stories by Christopher Isherwood.They based the film’ Cabaret’ on parts of them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Berlin_Stories
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you for sharing that, Pete! I was reminded of the amazing comic (or rather graphic art novel) Berlin by Jason Lutes.
Thanks so much for the spotlight, Nicholas, and well, your mail back that night you read the story is the best compliment I’ve received so far 🙂
The book is due out in two days… I can barely stay in my skin!!!!!!!!!
Yay! Go, girl 😀