~ The Release Day is Only One Week Away ~

Under the Skin, Book 4 in The Skin Quartet, will release on June 19th. For those of you who have been following the series, this is the book that brings Hanger On’s story to a close.

Hanger’s Story

We first meet Hanger, who’s real name is Mircea Vargas, as a thirteen-year-old in Beneath the Skin, Book 1 in the series. Hanger’s sister Toro is a street artist. So it is not surprising that Hanger also wants to be one. In Book 2 Close to the Skin, Hanger has a crush on Serena Patras, a renowned tattoo artist, or as she known professionally, Bella Bell. He has decorated Brooklyn with images of her as a well-endowed mermaid. When Bella Bell is attacked, Hanger uses his street smarts to help save her.

In Book 3, Within the Skin, Hanger makes the mistake of spray painting graffiti on the wrong car. He is kidnapped by Serena’s attacker, Shark Man, and, although he is rescued by his sister Toro and her boyfriend, Pharaoh, Hanger suffers a grievous injury. Because of this, he loses his happy, carefree attitude, and as Book 4, Under the Skin opens, an older and wiser Hanger is depressed about the fact that he will never be the street artist he dreamed of becoming. Nevertheless, now a billionaire bridge designer and builder, Mic still gets his happy ending.

Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone, but as one reviewer wrote:

“Here’s a hint regarding Zara West’s The Skin Quartet Series: Read it in order. While the books can stand on their own, reading in sequence will give you a sudden dose of shock when you realize that there’s a lot more to El Toro.

I loved how the author introduced El Toro and T-Crew in the first installment. A lot of work went into creating this motley gang off the street, skilled at leaving graffiti in their wake. It was obvious in the beginning that they were destined for more with Ari’s financial investment into their future.” Romancing the Book

The Use of Nicknames in the Skin Quartet

If you have read the other books in the series, the main character in Under the Skin may at first seem like a stranger. That’s because as an adult he is using his real name Mircea or because he hates being named after Dracula’s father, Mic Vargas. One thing  that characterizes this series is the use of nicknames or street handles. I used these for several reasons. For one, to mirror reality – street artists use handles because what they are doing is usually illegal. Another reason is that it reflects a less formal approach to life. Finally ,by using nicknames that contain elements of the character’s personality, I can deepen the readers response to the story. Can you think of a novel you love that uses nicknames for the characters?

Special for my fans: A list of characters who have street handles or nicknames 

Ari  –  Aristides Stavros

Bella Bell  – Serena Patras

Fur Tree  –  Fernando Pharaoh

Gav – Gavril Corovic

Hanger or Hanger On – Mircea or Mic Vargas

Shark Man or Shark Tooth or Kiro  –  Cole Tuccio

El Toro – Alba Vargas

 

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Here is special giveaway just for my blog readers.

Make a comment  by June 19th on this post and get your name in the hat to win a $10 Amazon or B&N  gift card.