At the #CMCon Beach with Rebecca Zanetti

As one of the #CMCon21 featured bloggers, I get to have a little fun with a few of the fabulous authors who will be hitting the beach for Coastal Magic 2021 and introducing you to their many stories.

Writing short stories, even mini-fiction, can’t always be worked into a writing schedule; so for those authors who may not be able to let their characters play in the sand, I’ve invited them to a nighttime beach bonfire to have a drink, listen to the crashing waves, and answer a few questions of my own.

Joining me in the sand is Rebecca Zanetti, author of these fabulous series: Anna Albertini Files, Deep Ops, Scorpius Syndrome, and so many more.

Can you tell us a little about yourself, something readers may not have heard before? 

I’m pretty much an open book it seems like.  I write romantic suspense and paranormal romances, am happily married, have two kids, and live on a mountain.  I was an art curator as one of my many jobs before becoming a lawyer and then an author.

Official Bio: Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over fifty romantic suspense and dark paranormal romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. The New York Times reviews has found that in her books, “humor surfaces in even the tensest moments, giving the high-stakes drama humanity and warmth.”  She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. 

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Can you introduce us to the world(s) that you have created? 

I’ve created paranormal vampire worlds, post-apocalyptic romantic worlds, cowboy worlds, super-soldier worlds, and rag-tag odd group worlds where the good guys always win in the end and there’s a lot of kissing.

Will this be your first Coastal Magic or are you a veteran? What was it about Coastal Magic that drew you to it? Why have you continued to return? 

I’ve been to Coastal Magic several times and it’s the people who bring me back.  From the conference gang to the wonderful bloggers and readers, it’s always so nice to see everyone!  I miss seeing everyone.

If you’ve been before, what is your favorite CMC memory? If you’ve never been, what are you looking forward to? 

My funniest memory was the one year I brought my husband because we were having a very snowy winter and he needed sun.  It rained the entire time we were in Florida.  LOL!

Can you introduce us to a few of the side characters that stand out in your stories?

I think Roscoe the dog is a favorite character in the Deep Ops series.  Roscoe is a German Shepherd who has some issues.  He has a drinking problem and likes to wear high heels to make him seem taller. 

Which do you find is more central in your writing: the characters or world creation?  

For me, it’s definitely the characters.  In fact, I usually don’t know anything about the world or the plot until I’ve written the first chapter and the main characters have appeared.  Then I have to figure out who they are and what they want, which is the fun part.

What is your favorite scene?  What makes it so special – characters, setting, dialogue, action? 

For me, it’s always the first chapter of a book.  Those begin with me having an idea and writing it quickly (and usually having to put it away for a while as I work on contracted work).  Since I write romances, either the love interests meet for the first time or meet up again in the first chapter, and I love writing that because I don’t know anything about them at that point.

What makes a sex scene suck? Which tropes lead to epic eye-rolling? Is there a certain trope that will never go out of style? 

A sex scene that doesn’t further the plot or the characterization needs work.  The sex scene should create complications and not fix anything.  I think all the tropes are tropes for a reason—people like them.  I like the enemies to lovers trope usually.

What is the most painful part of the process for you when you’re writing a book? Why? 

The most painful part is probably after copy edits when I do page proofs (galleys).  This is after the book has been typeset, and I can only correct mistakes that were made during that process or blatant errors.  It’s so hard not to change the whole book at that time.  LOL!

Which authors do you read and/or think “Damn! I wish I had thought of that”? 

Lexi Blake and Christine Feehan are my ‘Damn, I wish I would’ve’ pretty much.  I read everything they both write.

If you could be any fantasy creature/person/magical thing, what would you be? Why? 

I’d be one of the witches from my Dark Protector series because they use string theory and an application of quantum physics to alter matter and make fireballs to throw at people.  That sounds like fun to me.  They also ride motorcycles a lot, which I enjoy.


Don’t miss your chance to meet over 40 fabulous urban fantasy, paranormal, and romance authors at Coastal Magic next February! This super casual book-lover weekend happens on Daytona Beach, and gives everyone the chance to hang out with fellow readers and amazing storytellers.

If you haven’t been to Coastal Magic yet, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. Be sure to keep up with all things Coastal Magic, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice:  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Tumblr | Pinterest | CMCon21 Reading Challenge

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.