Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Good-bye 2019!! πŸ₯³ Year end in review! πŸ₯‚



Wow!! It's the end of the year and I have so much to tell you! 🀩

First of all, I want to thank everyone for all their support this year. All those likes, shares and retweets on social media never go unnoticed. Thanks for the book reviews, watching my videos and of course, buying and reading my books! πŸ“š


We have lots to celebrate, so let's get this party started! πŸŽ‰

Let's start with the books I published in 2019:    


The Devil May Lie
The Devil and His Legacy

Both books are part of my Hernandez series.
 

Media πŸ“Ί

P.E.I Writer Releases 11th Book – Journal-Pioneer, May 2019

P.E.I Writer Releases 11th Book – The Guardian, May 2019

The Devil May Lie – The Buzz PEI, May 2019

Mima  – C.E. Flores – March 2019



I recorded a lot of Youtube videos and wrote tons of blogs this year. Here's the complete list in case you missed anything πŸ‘‡πŸΌ

Let's talk about the media guy Tom Makerson πŸ“°Dec 29

     Video
     Blog
 

What is the crazy concept behind my series? 😱Dec 20

     Video
     Blog
 

A blurb from The Devil and His Legacy πŸ“–Dec 15

     Video
     Blog
     

Who's the Greek God? Let's talk Alec Athas πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·Dec 9

     Video
     Blog

Why do you need a sharp book cover? πŸ˜‰Dec 2

     Video
     Blog
 

How strong characters make us stronger πŸ’ͺ🏼Nov 27

     Video
     Blog
 

Should you read your own books? 😳Nov 21

     Video
     Blog

The Devil and His Legacy 🦁Nov 11

     Video
     Blog
 

The story of Miguel πŸ‘ΆπŸ½ Nov 5

     Video
     Blog

Do you have a side gig? 🀫 Oct 4

     Video
     Blog

Does my series normalize violence? Sept 26

     Video
     Blog

OMG! I finally fit into a genre! 😝Sept 14

     Video
     Blog

Why I do my research backwards 😯Aug 31

     Video
     Blog

Why it's important for art to hold a mirror up to society 🎭Aug 22

     Video
     Blog

Writing about characters that are vastly different from you 🀫 Aug 12

      Video
      Blog
 

Dialogue that pops! πŸ˜‰Aug 3

     Video
     Blog 
 

The super crazy last chapter 😜July 19

      Video
      Blog
 

Choosing the right words πŸ€“July 16

      Video
      Blog

Writing a pilot episode based on my book series July 11

     Video
     Blog
 

Why do you always write about criminals? πŸ”ͺ July 4

      Video
      Blog 
 

Why is the first paragraph so important? πŸ€“ June 29

      Video
      Blog
 

Why my characters aren't shooting as many people June 16

     Video
     Blog
 

Let's talk about the conspiracy theories in my books 😱June 2

      Video
      Blog
 

Moment of pause May 10

     Video
     Blog 
 

Plant the seed 🌱 May 3

      Video
      Blog
 

Can you learn from authors you don't like? 🧐 April 26

      Video
      Blog
 

Songs that inspired The Devil May Lie, April 19

      Video
      Blog
 

Do your books have social commentary? 🧐 April 12

      Video
      Blog
 

The Devil May Lie - Let's talk about a pivotal moment in the book 😱 April 2

      Video
      Blog
 

Does everyone have a creative side? 🎨 March 28

      Video
      Blog
 

The Devil May Lie - book 6 in the Hernandez crime family series 😈 March 17

      Video
      Blog
 

Does a weak moment make a weak character? Feb 27

      Video
      Blog 
 

Animals and Devils 🐺😈 Feb 8

     Video
     Blog 
 

Should characters ever be based on people you know? πŸ€” Feb 1

     Video
     Blog
 

Let's talk about Paige NoΓ«l-Hernandez 🧘🏼‍♀️ Jan 25

      Video
      Blog 
 

The loyalty factor πŸ‘ŠπŸΌ Jan 18

      Video
      Blog
 

Let's talk about Jolene Silva πŸ‘„ Jan 11

     Video
     Blog 
 

Do fairy tale endings really exist? Jan 4

     Video
     Blog



Wow! Almost 40 videos and two books this year. No wonder I'm exhausted. πŸ₯±


Thanks again for all your support. I wish you all the best in 2020!

Mima





















Sunday, December 29, 2019

Let's talk about the media guy, Tom Makerson πŸ“°(Updated)

Tom Makerson may be a secondary character in the series, but he plays a valuable role in the organization. When it comes to public perception, Makerson makes Jorge Hernandez look like a hero while his enemies like the devil. Talk about spinning a story!

Makerson came along in And the Devil Will Laugh when Jorge Hernandez needs someone he can control in the media. After having some issues with the newspaper Toronto AM, Jorge decided to cut (literally) the editor out of the picture. He picks someone else to take over the paper and in turn, take care of his profile in the media. When we meet Makerson in the first chapter, it becomes clear that he is intimidated by Hernandez and will do whatever he wants. Which, of course, is exactly what Jorge Hernandez wants.

Throughout the series, Makerson grows more comfortable with Hernandez, and the two work quite well together. Not only does Makerson create a pristine image of the CEO of Our House of Pot, but he's also given some big news tips from Hernandez that end up being breaking stories and, in turn, enhancing his career. Of course, there are always fringe benefits if you do what Hernandez wants, like having your condo paid off, but that's not for a couple of books later.

Do power and money slant the media? Is there corruption behind closed doors? I think we both know the answer to these questions.




Friday, December 20, 2019

What is the crazy concept behind my series? 😱(Updated)

Murder, blackmail, and conspiracy theories are frequent themes in my books, but why?

I'm going to tell you right from the get-go that my motivation as a writer has always been to make people think. That's not to say that ideas that spring up in my books are always cute and cuddly; I do like stirring up the question 'what if' in the back of people's minds.

One of the comments that my character Diego often says in my book series, is that in a world full of sheep, always be a wolf. Of course, this suggests that they believe people to be mindless followers. They constantly point out situations where people simply aren't paying attention to the world around them. Not to suggest that this theory is true, but we certainly can't deny that many people are overwhelmed with life and aren't always paying attention to trends in the news. In reality, the better way to explain it would be 'in a world full of information overload, many people don't have time to take it all in.

I enjoy challenging my readers and making them consider various topics. Whether I'm showing an example of racism, bringing up a conspiracy theory or some other 'what if' scenario, or simply reflecting something we're witnessing in the news, I love the idea of a reader rolling new concepts or ideas through their mind. It isn't that I want to make everyone paranoid but simply more aware.

Have you ever watched a movie, television series, or read a book that made you stop and consider something you hadn't thought about before? If so, that writer has done their job.


Sunday, December 15, 2019

A blurb from The Devil and His Legacy πŸ“–(Updated)

All of my books have a theme. This is something that I usually touch on in the first paragraph so that readers have a sense of where the protagonist is in life. It could be a struggle or simply their mindset that will follow the character throughout the book. As pointed out in the title, the theme for my latest in the Hernandez series is (obviously) legacy. 


I already knew the theme for my latest book while still writing my last one, The Devil May Lie. A prominent character is murdered in it, and for that reason, Jorge Hernandez starts to question his legacy. He wonders what he will leave behind. How will people see him? How will he be remembered? From this, The Devil and His Legacy was born.

The first paragraph talks about where Jorge Hernandez starts with the concept of legacy, while the first paragraph of the last chapter shows where he ends up on the topic. My goal is to show character growth as a result of his experiences throughout the story. You can learn more by checking out the video belowπŸ‘‡πŸΌπŸ‘‡πŸΌπŸ‘‡πŸΌand I promise, there are no spoiler alerts! πŸ€” πŸ€”


Monday, December 9, 2019

Who's the Greek God? Let's talk about Alec Athas πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·(Updated)

If you're familiar with my current series, chances are you've already encountered the politician that Jorge Hernandez snidely refers to as 'The Greek God'. We first met Alec in A Devil Named Hernandez, and unlike so many secondary characters, he has managed to survive through each book.

Alec is reluctant to get involved with Jorge Hernandez, knowing of his reputation but sees no way out. He's a powerful man who's quite intimidating. Also, he does have the ability to help Alec make some headway in politics which, in turn, will give Alec the opportunity to make a difference, which is his whole motivation for getting into the political game. He wants to make the world a better place.

The reader immediately sees the contrast between the two characters: a 'good vs. evil', which is why Jorge views the 'Greek God' as his nemesis. Unlike himself, Alec has a history of social work and helping people, whereas Jorge Hernandez has a history of intimidating and torturing those who go against him. The two men tend to complement one another, and sometimes it's up to Alec to be the voice of reason, but as the series moves forward, we begin to recognize what we see with all the salt of the earth characters in the series. Eventually, they all start to become like Jorge Hernandez.




Monday, December 2, 2019

Why do you need a sharp book cover? πŸ˜‰(Updated)

Book covers should symbolize the pages inside, but how much of an impact do they make? Do we judge a book by its cover?

I spend a lot of time thinking about my book covers and choosing the best option. Like everything else, I often overthink it, but in general, a cover must give an overall feel of the story inside. For example, many of my books have a dark, sinister vibe that is captured on the cover. These days, I write about criminals, so you wouldn't expect to find an image that is bright, cheery, and fun. It wouldn't make sense. It would be misleading and send the wrong message about the story and the characters involved.

Book covers should speak to their potential audience. To me, if something captivates them in the imagery, chances are it represents a curiosity about what may be in the pages. Much like a movie poster, a book cover should leave you with a sense of what to expect. Colors, the specific images, and the title create an impression and should cause the potential reader to be intrigued and want to sink into the pages.

A perfect example would be my Hernandez series. The protagonist is sinister, powerful, and dangerous. Both the covers in this article will show you the connection to this theme. I lean toward ominous imagery. I also have bright colors that are eye-catching and attractive against the black background. This is what captivates your audience.

In the end, each author has to decide which cover best represents their book while at the same time considering the marketing aspect and what will sell. It can be a difficult balance but is necessary when publishing a book.