Hazel B. West's Blog

 Today I'm sharing a character interview I did with one of the cast of Mara Tran's debut novel THE WARD.

Introducing Luc Montague, the Piper. Let's see what he has to say on the subject of the mysterious murders happening in Venisia and the Black Masquerade. 

Thanks to Luc and Mara for doing this interview with me!
Please check out THE WARD if you haven't yet! You can get the paperback or Kindle copy on Amazon

 

I am so excited to share this cover reveal today with all of you! My good friend and writing buddy Mara is finally publishing her debut novel and I actually cannot wait for all of you to be able to read it because it's amazing.
But for now, check out this lovely cover art


Mara is currently running a pre-order for SIGNED copies of the book with exclusive merch (including a very lovely pin!) You can find that on her Ko-fi shop HERE or the book will also be available on Amazon on December 1st



I will also be hosting an author interview/ Q&A with Mara on December 9th! Follow both of us on Instagram to make sure you don't miss that. | Mara | Hazel |

I've extended the Hardcover Preorder period until October 8th so there is now only ONE WEEK left to preorder the special edition hardcovers of The New Emperor's Concerto and Sweet Vendetta Blues (they will only be available through the preorder so if you want to get one, order before October 8th!) 

The hardcovers have dust jackets + laminate covers underneath with the cover art on them. They both include exclusive full color character art and The New Emperor’s Concerto also has an additional prequel story in the back.

If you don’t want a hardcover, the ebook and paperbacks versions are available for both on Amazon!

Sweet Vendetta Blues

 

Hardcover Preorder 
Amazon Kindle 
Smashwords (for those who don't have a kindle)
Paperback 
The New Emperor's Concerto 
Paperback
Ebook
Preorder the Hardcover

Don’t forget to get your swag packs if you order a copy! If you’ve ordered an ebook or paperback, fill out the claim form below and I will send out your swag packs including a signed bookplate or bookmark

 

I am also planning on doing a live book signing and Q&A on my author instagram (@modern_bard67) when I get the hardcover copies in. The date Is still TBD but I will let everyone who has bought a copy of the book know in time if you’d like me to sign your book or bookplate live, or just want to come hang out and ask questions about the book and writing :) If you bought an ebook and filled out the swag form, I will also be signing bookmarks.

Claim Your Swag Here! (US and International)

 

Taking a little break from Sweet Vendetta Blues to celebrate Concerto today!
Fun fact, this is one of my favorite books that I have written. I had such a good time revisiting it and getting to do some extra art for the back of the book. 
I am also so pleased that the hardcover came out gorgeous! (see pictures below) The hardcover edition is still shelvable even if you want to take the dust jacket off of it. The title is still on the spine, but there is no text over the art. 
You can also purchase the updated copies of the ebook and paperback but these don't have The Butler's Story or the artwork included.
Purchase Links
PaperbackEbookPreorder the Hardcover

And don't forget that there is swag up for grabs, including the chibi sticker sheet! All you have to do is fill out the claim form (if you buy a hardcover, the swag already comes with it) Fill out the form HERE

I will also be doing a live signing and Q&A on my Instagram after the hardcover copies come in. I will be signing those, and any bookplates and bookmarks for people who have purchased paperbacks or ebooks. The official date is still TBA considering that I don't know exactly when the books will arrive, but probably sometime mid October. Make sure you fill out your swag form so that I'll have your stuff ready!

Now check out the lovely Concerto Hardcover!

What goes into creating a character for a book? We can talk all day about characteristics, figuring out what kind of cast will serve a book best, and then still being surprised when your planned villain doesn’t want to be as evil as you expected, or the random side character you put into a scene as a throwaway becomes part of the major plot. Characters can definitely have a mind of their own, and we, as authors, in the same way as parents, really have little control over how they turn out.

 

But today, my main focus is more on the character’s physical design, which is actually a lot more important than you might think. There’s a lot of things that go into the visual design of your character that can affect the story itself. I’m approaching this topic as both a writer and an artist. I love drawing my own characters, and it can take just as many drafts as a story itself. My goal with this post today is to help writers think about their own character designs. For the artists among you, I hope this might help you streamline the process a little, and for the non-artists, this might also help you give a more detailed description in your stories or even when commissioning art from other people.

 

First, we start with the general appearance of the character. I usually use these blanks: Name (of course), Age, Eye Color, Hair Color, Ethnicity, Distinguishing Features (like if your character has a scar, always wears a certain necklace, or something else that is unique about them.) I’ll usually then follow this up with a short character description, and backstory which is also very important. Backstory can often determine how your character acts, dresses, even their features in some ways. Do they have a traumatic backstory? Were they born in a different country? Do they have a specific accent or mannerism? Why is that? This isn’t even all stuff that you ever have to use in the story itself, but it’s good to know. For example, it took me a while before I knew why Sebastian wore eyeliner, but I never wrote that into the book either because that wasn’t really important to the storyline. 

 

Clothing is also very important to think about. Obviously, you’re probably not going to put your medieval fantasy hero in jeans (unless that’s part of the aesthetic you’re going for!) But say you want to write a steampunk novel. You can look up Victorian fashion to get ideas and then modify the outfits the way you want. Is your character an orphan, are they from the upper classes? Are they more nomadic? If you’re writing a historical novel, it’s a good idea to research the period’s clothing so that you can accurately imagine what your character’s clothes and hairstyles might be like. How well would they be able to move in it? A fantasy sword fighter? They can 100% have a cool coat, but maybe consider designing it so that the sleeves are detached at the armpits or there’s a slit in the back for better movement. Practical and aesthetically pleasing. Want something futuristic? Come up with your own materials. I had a fun time thinking about bulletproof materials for everyone’s coats in The New Emperor’s Concerto. Jack and Sebastian might want to ask the British about that at some point.

 

Do you ever have the issue with pinning down exactly what your character looks like? It can take a while. For me, I either have a solid idea via some pre-existing reference, or it takes me a little bit to actually come up with the character’s looks. This is why I love being able to draw my characters myself, because it helps me go through designs that just don’t work. My advice to artists who want to come up with a character design is just do stream of consciousness sketches until you find something you like. They don’t have to be detailed, in fact, vague shapes are often better, and eventually you’ll figure something out.

 

For example, here is the complete evolution of Jack and Sebastian’s character designs from my very first one, to the finalized character art:

Very first boys, Jack had floofy hair

Some outfit designs I did not entirely keep

Figuring out hair (again, rejected uniformed detective Jack)

I don't know if I've mentioned how much I love holsters (also Sebastian's tattoo moved around a lot in early stages)
More finalized designs (First attempt at Jack's arm)


The sketches I did for the final character sheets that are in the hardcover

And of course, the final colored art

So that’s a brief example of how I go about designing my characters. I really think having visuals, even if it’s just a Pinterest board makes for a richer experience and also helps ease the way for descriptions that will help the reader to better see what you do when you’re writing.

 

If you have any questions about character design, drop them below!

 It's The official release day for Sweet Vendetta Blues! All versions of the book except the Hardcovers which are still only available as a preorder, are now available!

Hardcover Preorder (Open through October 2nd)
Amazon Kindle 
Smashwords (for those who don't have a kindle)
Paperback 
Get your copy today! And don't forget to send in your swag claim form to get your swag pack! (This will be open through the end of October)Swag Claim Form

If you buy a copy now, I will be signing hardcovers, bookplates, and bookmarks or character cards for anyone who sends in swag forms LIVE on my Instagram sometime in October!
Also...we finally have actual pictures of the hardcovers!

 

Jack and Sebastian have volunteered their time to answer your questions about the book, their lives, or whatever else you might be curious about. Leave your questions in the comments or submit your questions on Instagram 

The post with their answers will be going up Friday!

 

Join in on the official Release Tour for Sweet Vendetta Blues!
Schedule

Monday Sep 26th

Tour Intro here at Character Purgatory (this post!)

IG Spotlight @nickichapelwayauthor

 

Tuesday Sep 27th

Release Day!

 Review at The Bluestocking Biblio Buttery

 IG Spotlight at @deborahocarroll

Jack and Sebastian Q&A Opens on IG @modern_bard67 And here on Character Purgatory

 

Wednesday Sep 28th

IG Spotlight at @sarah.taleweaver

IG Spotlight at @brshutt

Ebook Giveaway starts at @onemorechap

 

Thursday Sep 29th

Review at @idreamofcraftz

Blog Post: "Designing a Character" Here at Character Purgatory

 

Friday Sep 30th

Author and Character Interview at Dreams and Dragons

Guest Post at Bluestocking Biblio Buttery

Review at @mannyroborovski

(Each spotlight will have a different excerpt from the book, so make sure to check them all out!)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It’s been eight years since Jack left his life in the mafia. Eight years since his adopted father was murdered. Eight years since his own brother shot him in revenge and he had to go into hiding, nothing but a dead man.

 

When the past comes back to haunt him in the worst way possible, Jack is forced to leave his new life as a homicide detective to flee his faceless enemy, leaving a dead partner in his wake. But the bodies keep piling up and Jack can no longer avoid his past when he finds out that all of the deaths turn out to be connected to one person—The Don of Rosa Nera.

 

Things get even more complicated when his brother shows up out of the blue, leading his own investigation with information that their adopted father, Paccioretti, had gathered before his death. Despite their turbulent past, Jack and Sebastian decide it’s in their best interests to join forces and fight against the enemy who took so much away from them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Add Sweet Vendetta Blues on Goodreads

Purchase Links: 

 

Kindle: 

Smashwords

Paperback

Sweet Vendetta Blues Hardcover Preorder Link

Prequel Backstories

 

Also don't forget to also check out the hardcover special edition preorder of The New Emperor's Concerto!

Concerto Hardcover Preorder Link

Swag is up for grabs! Any copy you buy qualifies! If you buy a paperback or ebook, just fill out the claim form and you will receive your swag around mid to late October (hardcover preorders come with the swag already) US or International


I am also going to be holding a live book signing and Q&A on my Instagram live when I get the hardcovers from the preorders in, so if you'd like the chance to have me personally sign and book or bookplate for you, make sure to get a copy now! I will be announcing the actual date as soon as I have a better idea of when the hardcovers will arrive. But it will probably be sometime during mid to late October.
I hope you'll check out the rest of the tour! Stop by daily and make sure to check out all the posts!

 

Watch the SVB trailer on Instagram!

In addition to the hardcover, the Ebook version of Sweet Vendetta Blues is now available for Pre-order! The paperback will be available later this month as well, but Amazon doesn't let you put paperbacks up for pre-order so it will be just a little bit longer for that one.
You can order your preferred copy below!
Hardcover Preorder (Open through October 2nd)Amazon Kindle Smashwords (for those who don't have a kindle)Paperback (Coming Soon!)


If you order an ebook or paperback, don't forget to claim your pre-order swag! All you have to do is send your proof of purchase (a screenshot of your order receipt is fine) to this form and I will send you your swag pack! (If you have preordered the hardcover, your swag will come with your book)
Swag Claim Form
Just a reminder that this will be the only opportunity to get a hardcover version of this book. I don't know if I will have any extra copies after the preorder is over, so if you want to guarantee you get one, please make sure to order before October 2nd! 
What's different between the paperback and the hardcover? These will be signed personally by me and personalized if you wish! The hardcover also contains 10 pages of full color character art by me. You can also remove the dust jacket and still have a copy that will look nice on your shelf.

 It's finally time to reveal the Cover for Sweet Vendetta Blues!

Without further ado:

It’s been eight years since Jack left his life in the mafia. Eight years since his adopted father was murdered. Eight years since his own brother shot him in revenge and he had to go into hiding, nothing but a dead man.

 

When the past comes back to haunt him in the worst way possible, Jack is forced to leave his new life as a homicide detective to flee his faceless enemy, leaving a dead partner in his wake. But the bodies keep piling up and Jack can no longer avoid his past when he finds out that all of the deaths turn out to be connected to one person—The Don of Rosa Nera.

 

Things get even more complicated when his brother shows up out of the blue, leading his own investigation with information that their adopted father, Paccioretti, had gathered before his death. Despite their turbulent past, Jack and Sebastian decide it’s in their best interests to join forces and fight against the enemy who took so much away from them.

 

Set in the same world as The New Emperor’s Concerto this new novel by Hazel B. West contains the overarching theme of family woven throughout a noir adventure with a cross-country road trip for information and justice. 

Add to your TBR on Goodreads!

~~~~~~~~~

What do you all think? 
Along with the cover reveal today, I'm also extremely excited to share that the pre-orders for the hardcover editions of Sweet Vendetta Blues AND The New Emperor's Concerto are now live! (The paperback and e-book versions of SVB are going to be available for preorder soon as well)

Pre-Order HERE

Pre-Order HERE
The kindle and paperback editions of Concerto have also been re-edited, and though they don't include the character art, if you would rather have a paperback or ebook copy, you can still get some swag if you buy either before the end of September! (Paperback orders will recieve a signed bookplate along with the rest of the swag!) All you have to do is send proof of purchase to me through THIS FORM
I am also running a giveaway for a signed copy of the prequel bind-up on my Instagram this week so hop over there and enter for a chance to win!

Enter Giveaway HERE

Also don't forget to grab the Ko-Fi goodies this month and check out the Concerto Draw or Color this in Your Style Challenge!