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As an author, what scares me the most is that my readers will be disappointed in my story! When I am writing I try to not only sit in the story and absorb what’s going on in the scene, but I also think about pacing. What is going to keep the reader engaged in the story. What’s going to hold them in their seat until the next chapter.
The hardest part about writing for me is developing the characters while keeping the pace of the story moving forward. In Never Play Fair, I tried to reveal who the cast of characters are by how they reacted to certain events in the story. What is Sydney willing to do to help her boyfriend Alex? How does Ethan react when he encounters his brother once again?
For me, a story with terrific characters and exciting action is a home run. I love to see the person next door, put under intense pressure because it often prompts our own self awakening. If my boyfriend went missing in Costa Rica, would I fly down south to help the FBI find him? Even if my own life was at risk?
By asking these questions and revealing the answers through the story, my hope is that we can find a little bit of Sydney Evans in all of us!
Can Sydney find her boyfriend in time, or will they both sink to the bottom of the Caribbean Sea?
Instagram Influencer Sydney Evans finds herself entangled in a criminal operation, orchestrated by the Department of Defense in order to bring down an online casino crime ring.
But she only has one motivation: find her FBI boyfriend Alex before he becomes collateral damage.
Sydney must navigate her way through an exclusive Casino yacht party in the middle of the Caribbean sea put on by none other than the notorious Costa Rican gangster, Vincente Estavez.
Never Play Fair is a fast-paced standalone thriller. If you like real-world issues, lavish socialite parties, and electrifying twists and turns, then you’ll love Leah Cupps’ provocative cozy mystery.
Enjoy an Excerpt
Just two boats were left now, one already sidled up to the side of the ship, guests boarding one by one. Another waited about fifty feet away, giving the ship wide berth.
A woman with long blonde hair and a tight-fitting black cocktail waited anxiously with the others.
A few moments ago, she had noticed a drop in temperature, a few darker clouds and a rumbling in the distance.
There was a storm coming.
She moved closer to the man who was standing beside her. His cell phone had been taken from him at some point, as had hers. So, they both had little to do but stand and wait. Talking about what had just happened might give them away. And they were so close.
The last passenger boarded the boat in front of them. She was an older woman with white hair that was slicked back against her skull. The last lights from the yacht reflected on her sequined gown, the sparkles glimmering in the dark. Sydney watched her as if hypnotized.
After she had landed clumsily in her seat, the boat pulled away, and the last idling boat took its place. Sydney gripped the hand of the broad shouldered man next to her. Despite his size, his grip was weak.
They exchanged a quick look. His eyes were clouded, but she could see the relief softening his features.
Almost there.
As they moved forward to board, she noticed the sudden silence in the air. The fire alarm had stopped. A jolt of fear ripped through her stomach.
They must have put out the fire down below. Sydney looked around wildly.
Will the evacuation stop?
She pulled his hand towards the idling boat. They would be the first to board. The crew member on the boat gave her companion an odd look when he noticed his bloodied, swollen face.
“He fell on the steps,” she said, trying to assuage his alarm. The man simply nodded and gestured for him to move forward. The waves had gained strength in the last few minutes and the ropes from the boat stretched to their full length. The crew struggled to keep the smaller boat under control.
Another rope was tethered to the cleat alongside the massive yacht. A crew member reached for Sydney’s hand.
About the Author:
Leah Cupps is an entrepreneur and author. She writes Middle Grade Mystery Adventure Books as well as Thriller, Mystery, Suspense for Adults.
Leah’s novels are fast-paced mysteries that will keep you up at night as you can’t wait to see what happens in the next chapter.
Leah lives in Indiana with her husband, three young children and three dogs. When she isn’t losing sleep writing her next novel or scaling her next business, she enjoys reading, golfing working out and spending time with her family.
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