Author Interview: Zoey Zane

I Designed Zoey Zane’s New Book Cover!

If you’re new to my blog, I was an illustrator and graphic designer before I was a writer. This is a great skill, because it allows me to design my own book covers (which I do).

Last month I got a real treat. For the first time, I designed a book cover for someone else. And I’m so excited to share it with you!

May I present, my friend Zoey Zane’s new book:

Available April 6th, 2023

When a forbidden kiss sparks a trip to the Bahamas with her father’s business partner, it’s only a matter of time before pleasure becomes trouble in paradise.

Lily: When my dad’s grumpy business partner and best friend of twenty-plus years tells me to pack a bag, we’re going to the Bahamas–I don’t question it. Much. We’ve shared one explosive kiss in a dark alley, and it’s all I can think about. As I pack my bag, I can’t decide whether to see where things go or ignore the kiss and focus on the impromptu business trip ahead.

Jax: When I invite my business partner’s idealistic daughter to the Bahamas, I keep telling myself it’s just for business. And yet, I can’t get that kiss out of my mind. This business is all I have. But she may be the one thing I need even more.

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Author Interview: Zoey Zane

Hi, Zoey! Introduce yourself to my readers: Hi, y’all! My name is Zoey Zane. I’m a 30-something author with four books under my belt (Unwrapping Spring Break will make it five!). I write contemporary stories with lots of spice and just a smidgen of darkness. There’s fun banter and some BDSM, among many other things, in a small town called Crimson Mountain.

If you had a band, what would your band’s name be? Bad Decisions. We’d be a pop, punk, rock band.

What is Unwrapping Spring Break about in 5 emojis? 🌴 🏖️🍹 💥 How about four? LOL. I couldn’t find a cigar (the cigarette doesn’t quite fit the story).

Describe your hero Jax in three words: Jax: grumpy, sophisticated, reserved. He’s got a tough exterior, but he knows how to take care of Lily.

Describe your main character Lily in three words: Lily: playful, fierce, passionate. She knows what she wants and is determined to stand up for herself.

What are the top 3 things you love about Unwrapping Spring Break? 1. How determined Lily is. 2. The tropical locations. 3. The cover!

What’s the spice level of Unwrapping Spring Break? 🌶️🌶️🌶️ I’d say it’s probably a 3. There are some open-door situations/scenes, but it’s vastly different than my other books (that do hit the erotic 5 ).

Unwrapping Spring Break takes place in the Bahamas. Have you ever been there? Sadly, no. However, when I was 13(ish), I did visit the Cayman Islands, Belize, and Honduras on a cruise. I don’t remember too much, so I’d love to go back someday. Let’s go to all the tropical places while we’re at it.

What was your last 5 star read? This Is Reckless by Kennedy Fox.

Tell us about the Crimson Mountain Series: Crimson Mountain is a beautiful small town in rural Kansas and holds an abundance of char, where secrets are hard to keep because everyone sticks their nose where it doesn’t belong. The fresh air always does the soul wonders, while the myriad of locally owned businesses keep residents here and the visitors coming back. Each book is a standalone story with interconnected characters, but it’s not necessary to read them in order.

What was the best part of Unwrapping Spring Break to write? The end!

What was the hardest part to write? The chapter right before the end. I was torn between ending it how I did or making it longer and adding another book to make it a duet. Lily and Jax didn’t like that. Instead, I wrote the ending and will do the extras as a reader magnet. It’s in the works when I revamp my newsletter.

What was the cover design process like for you? It was a unique process! My other covers are premades where I submitted my information (blurb, title, etc.) and maybe one change, and the designer sent everything over, and I was good to go. USB took me to a new level in a sense. The cover designer (you!) asked me a lot of questions about my style, books, and brand. I did get stumped a couple of times with some of the questions because they were questions I hadn’t given much thought to. You pointed out aspects I didn’t realize I had done. For example, the font on the books. I’ve used block fonts paired with a script/cursive font. That wasn’t something I did intentionally (wasn’t even aware I did it), but I like it, so it works.

I will admit, I was a little intimated and did second guess myself at times. It ended up being a good thing because now I have more awareness of where I want to take my brand. I have quite a few more stories in the works and will take the things I learned here and grow.

Describe the perfect book boyfriend: I’ve always had trouble with this question! I remember back in elementary school, we were asked to describe what our life would look like in 15 years and in 20 years. I had some of it figured out (and no, it didn’t go the way I imagined), but mostly it was a list of qualities I wanted him to have. And it was perfect with no issues. He would be a good father, good husband, a good friend, a good brother/son, etc. But that’s all it was, good. There wasn’t anything to determine what makes a “good” father, husband, friend, brother, son, etc.

Then, the more I grew up, the more I realized perfection doesn’t exist. I will never be a perfect mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter, etc., so why would I expect my partner to be? Perfect is boring. I need my reality to be real, and real isn’t perfect. It’s chaotic and messy. It’s sad and depressing, but it’s also happiness. So if I had to describe my perfect book boyfriend, he’d be grumpy when he’s had a long day at work but would always smile when I come for a hug. He’d be supportive and considerate of me (feelings and all), but would put me in my place when I get too cocky. We’d wreak havoc together and still have our own world of peace.

If you were a superhero what would be your superpower? Invisibility! My husband says it’s so I could see everyone naked. But honestly, it’s so I could disappear and read/write without interruptions. Oh, the dogs need to go outside? You can’t see me, do it yourself. Oh, the kiddo needs some dinner? Nah, he can make it himself; I’m nowhere to be found.

If you could dye your hair any color of the what color would you pick? Let’s see… I’ve dyed my hair black, red, blonde, blue and green. Brown is my natural color. This time, let’s go pink! Or a deep yellow and orange like a sunflower.

Anything else you want to share? A million thanks for creating the USB cover. You are a rockstar!

Like Age-Gap Romances? Get He Calls Me Bug on S.A.L.E!

💥 He Calls Me Bug is on S.A.L.E. for 99 pennies. Get to know another couple from Crimson Mountain while you wait for Jax and Lily. (Grab it here: https://books2read.com/He-Calls-Me-Bug).

🖤 Age gap  🖤 Forbidden Romance  🖤 Dad’s Best Friend

Sky: Dirty thoughts flutter inside my head when I’m around him. It’s forbidden to lust after him, but it’s even more forbidden to fall in love with him. I can feel it in my heart. After waiting for what feels like a lifetime, I’m ready. I’m about to take what I’ve always wanted. His name is David—my dad’s best friend.

David: She’s all grown up now, right before my eyes. I blink, and she’s the mistress of seduction. I know she isn’t the one I should want; to want a taste of her is forbidden. I know I should stop it. I know I shouldn’t fall in love with her. With every shared moment, she’s blurring the line between right and wrong. She’s my Bug—my best friend’s daughter.