Paranormal romance and something called 'romantasy' are a thing now; and people wonder I'm not writing now?

Sometimes, I enjoy entering Goodreads giveaways. I win more than you’d think. I’m sometimes unsure if the book would interest me if I do win, but if not, I'll donate it to my local library or give it to a friend.

One thing I’m noticing more and more is a category called ‘romantasy'. Now, I had to look up what that was all about because it was a new one on me, but as I expected, it wasn’t something I would be interested in. Apparently, it focuses on a ‘magical world’ with morally grey areas for the ‘love interest’. What does that mean? Honestly, it sounds the same as paranormal romances, also a category I have no interest in, which apparently is about having romances with vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts....it just gets weirder the more I go on, so I’ll stop here.

Needless to say, I’ve written a couple of books about vampires. Still, humans having vampire qualities (which can be taken in a less literal sense) feels less weird than having a romance with a werewolf because a werewolf is essentially a wolf, which is an animal. Think about it.

Although it’s insisted that these two categories are different, I fail to see how. I also don’t care. Either way, there’s a mighty big psychological study just brewing at the surface of this one, because one has to wonder why so many young women are drawn to these dark, non-human romances in the first place.

Other than the fact that our world is clearly fucked ten ways to Sunday, choice in entertainment may just be Exhibit A in this trial. Not to mention that a lot of young people now have AI relationships, as in ‘dating’ a NOT REAL person, so I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that they can’t even have a fictional book that teeters on the side of realism. Of course, is it simply an escape from reality? Maybe if I were much younger, these categories would have more of an appeal. And in the end, it's really none of my business what people choose to read. I'm just happy they read at all.

Art imitates life. And here we are.

My writing update 👩🏼‍💻

I've had many people ask me if I'm currently writing. Actually, I've also had others assume I was on to another book, since historically, that's usually been the case. Those who know me are usually surprised when I say no. I don't go into an explanation because I'm not entirely sure why I'm not writing. It's more like combinations of reasons.

After writing so much for so long (sometimes up to two books a year), I got burned out. I can't imagine successful authors, bestsellers, whose fans are always expecting the next book to drop. Then again, if I had that, I'd want to be writing all the time. Although the pressure could be a lot. 

After my last book, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, I just wanted to take a break. I wanted time to actually read books, rather than write them. I wanted time to relax, regroup, and see where the next book would be going. Unfortunately, that's where things stopped. I have notes. I have ideas. I'm sure if I started to write, I would get back into it like other times, but I just don't feel inspired to start.

Part of it is because I'm not successful. It's a lot of work and time for the few readers I have, despite all the efforts I've made to market my books over the years. The second reason is that people don't seem to read anymore. I can't tell you how many times I've had people say to me that either they don't like to read, or used to read but no longer can concentrate. I can't compete with that little device you have in your hand almost every minute of the day. Unfortunately, that device matters more to most people than books, actual relationships with other people, or even work, in some cases. Plus, throw in AI (and yes, there are books written with AI now), and concerning new bills being brought forward in some countries (including mine), I'm not sure if I have to worry about a censorship law creeping up on me. 

Not to sound like I'm making excuses either. If I really wanted to write a book now, none of that would stop me. I think my instincts are telling me it's not the right time....yet.

What do I think when I read my books NOW?

Time has a way of changing your views. What makes sense today sometimes won't make sense a week, month, or year from now. Of course, this is normal. We change as time moves forward. We see things differently, as we investigate and grow. It's progress.

Having said that, I often look back at various blogs, videos, and even my books and second-guess what I said, wrote, or even thought back when they were first created. That's not to say I always cringe when I read an old passage from one of my books or have the urge to delete blogs or videos from years ago. It would be more fitting to say that I understand where I was coming from at the time, but I feel differently now. Sometimes, it's about wanting to add to or expand the ideas I had back then; other times, I would've gone in a completely different direction. I've even considered remaking old videos for my YouTube and Rumble channels, but is that the best use of time? As for the books themselves, I definitely won't be rewriting 18 books!

Having said that, the work isn't terrible, but it isn't necessarily sitting as well with me as time moves on. I sometimes feel like a hypocrite because my views changed so much, and that's definitely reflected in my writing. But then again, I guess I don't have a large audience, so perhaps it doesn't matter anyway. 

I'm just curious if other artists have ever felt the same way? I wonder if readers even really notice or care? It's something I've given a lot of thought to lately. The funny thing is, for all the thought I've given it, no one else probably has even noticed. 

Do you prefer movies or a television series?

A few months ago, I had a discussion with a friend about which we preferred: movies or television series. He insisted that movies were better, and while he didn't say it, I have heard the argument that years later, we remember movie lines and scenes more than we recall the same from a series. There’s something that stays with you, much like a memory from your own life.

I tend to disagree because I feel like it takes time to warm up to characters. But then again, I prefer stories that are character-driven. A movie just doesn't do it for me. I'm not still thinking about most movies once I finish watching them, whereas I often will when it's a show I've been watching for a season or two. I'm assuming that the actors and writers for that specific show learn more about their characters and watch them evolve over time, similar to what I've always discovered when writing a book series. There are many layers, and some are removed faster than others. 

I've always had a difficult time writing one, standalone book that doesn't connect with others. Without getting into the full list of my books, I will say that the first four were couples, whereas everything after was part of my Hernandez series. Even Different Shades of the Same Color had a brief overlap that would drift into the series (that wasn't meant to be a series). It's kind of to the point that I assume that it's just not in me to write a book that's not at least a part of a couple, if not a series. It would just feel weird, and there's always so much story to tell. It's difficult to bluntly end it in one book. 

So, do you prefer watching a movie or streaming a series? Would you rather have a standalone book or one that leads to another....and another...... 

Book sale! Book sale! Everyone loves a book sale!

I was just on Amazon and noticed a couple of my books are reduced in price. Check it out 👇🏼

And the Devil will Laugh is ONLY $9.91! Last week it was around $30. This is a great deal! And We're All Criminals is only $6.37!! Only one left in stock so grab it now! 

Thanks for your support and have a wonderful weekend! 

The real reason that I write

If I had to get to the heart of why I write fiction, it would be to create powerful, fearless characters. And in turn, it’s with hope that it creates a powerful, fearless reader. Do I think that characters can influence the person on the other side of the page? I’m not sure, but I certainly will try.

This isn’t to say that all my characters start off in the best mindset. Many have to fight to survive, whether it’s from insecurities and bullies like Jimmy in A Spark Before the Fire or if it’s from losing a brother and being blamed, often brutally beaten like Jorge in the Hernandez series. Many haven’t started out strong, but they certainly rose to the challenge. And in a way, it teaches others that they must do the same.

We live in a difficult world now, and one where it’s often expected that you stay quiet, don’t speak out when you see something is wrong, and simply follow the herd. But the herd can eventually become your enemy if you let them. They can walk you right over the cliff. Unfortunately, we also live in a society where the need for acceptance is stronger than the need for truth. People just want to get through the day, and I do understand that, but you have to look at what’s on the other side of that day. 

So, who's really getting money from the Canada Council for the Arts?

I recently recorded a video where I talked about the Canada Council for the Arts. At that time, I stated that I was by no means an expert on the council, nor had I done deep, investigative research on the group; however, I did question why I was seeing their logo on almost every book published in Canada. I thought it was an interesting topic to ponder. 

In my limited research, I did see that there were questions surrounding the money spent (or misspent) within the organization, which seemed to favor urban areas, while not so much a fan of indie authors. As an indie author, I wasn't surprised; these kinds of organizations have poo poo indie authors for as long as I have been one, something I would've fought in my earlier writing years, but now see them as nothing more than another elitist organization. If you aren't a writer, you probably aren't aware that there's a general snobbery toward indie authors, supposedly because we are 'less than' the traditionally published lot. And if you know me, you also know I couldn't care less. 

But getting back to the topic at hand, I simply questioned how Canadians felt about more of their tax-paying dollars, in the tune of millions, being pissed away  distributed to particular Canadian artists. Knowing how most of our tax dollars are misspent, I'm guessing that most citizens are simply in a constant state of shell shock and really can't process it at this point. Our government spends like a billionaire on a minimum wage salary. 

Personally, as an author, I think it's only my responsibility to fund my writing projects and expenses, not the government. And definitely not the taxpayers. And if publishers in Canada can't stand on their own two feet, perhaps they should look inward and ask why, or, like most good businesses, start making cuts or changes. 

I know, what a strange concept. To learn more, check out my video.

Learn about my books! 📺

Check out What are my books about - both part 1 and 2!!

Video 1

Video 2

Thanks for checking them out! Learn more at mimaonfire.com

Mima

It's Chaos out there! 😱

 From a recent newsletter...

I am so honored to be a part of the second edition of a NEW Canadian magazine, Articulated Chaos! The issue will be available (both print and digitally) on October 24, 2025. Check out their website and also find them on social media. 

I have plans for some new videos and blogs in the near future. Please stay tuned. Thanks for your support!

Mima

PS. If you're looking for a spooky Halloween read, check out House of Hernandez

Can writers predict the future?

We've all heard about the comparisons to the book 1984 and our current life, but was that a creepy prediction that came true, or simply an educated guess? Can writers predict the future, or is it much deeper than that? Is it intuition or just a fluke? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What's with the cartoonish book covers for women?

It's interesting how a reader can browse the books in a second-hand store and usually tell the period most fiction was published simply by looking at the cover. There's a different vibe for each decade, especially those 30-40 years ago. Book cover art changes, but is it always for the better? And more interestingly, how does it reflect on society?     

    If you've ever seen book covers from 100 years ago, they were often classy, sophisticated, and had a touch of elegance that made them as much a pretty addition to the room as well as a great piece of literature. Fast-forward to the current times, and it's doubtful that the cover of a book, or even the contents inside, come close to the expectations of those days. But then again, can't we say that about a lot of things?

Not to suggest my books or my book covers are outstanding. I'm hardly a great writer of our times, and my covers are not necessarily works of art, but at the same time, I do put effort into choosing what I want for the cover image. It may not always be precisely what I had in mind, but I do ponder it for much longer than people realize. With each book cover, I could tell you a story of the process of choosing it.

What I never wanted for my book covers was anything that looked cheap, tacky, or as if my book was not to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, that puts me against the grain when it comes to modern fiction. I don't want to pinpoint any specific author because I generally blame the publishers and marketing people behind the scenes, but many books directed at women these days tend to have cartoonish-looking covers. It's something that started a few years ago and has never grown on me. The stories between the covers could be outstanding, but I generally avoid a book cover that looks like it may be directed at a child as much as a woman. Maybe to these big publishing houses, there's no difference, I'm not sure.

Again, I don't necessarily blame the authors. I'm sure they have a hand in choosing their covers, but I think there's a lot of pressure for them to go with what's considered the current trend, which appears to be book covers that mock the intellect of women. It's condescending and insulting. And perhaps I'm being too harsh, but I've talked to many avid readers who tell me they feel the same way. They want serious covers, not bubblegum-smacking, hair-twirling, ditzy covers. 

And hey, I could just be a bitch. I accept and acknowledge that fact. But there's something very disappointing about the fact that walking into a bookstore, specifically a section directed at women, has the same color scheme as a candy store. It's ridiculous. If you don't believe me, go check out some of the authors who's books are more directed at men. Nothing cartoonish going on there, is there? Can you imagine James Patterson's next book being bright blue with a cartoon man running down the street? Not likely. So, how come it's different for books mainly directed toward women? 

A gangster who controls the prime minister...is it fiction or reality? 🫣

If you are familiar with my Hernandez series, you already know it centers on a former Mexican cartel boss who comes to Canada with intentions of being a 'legit' businessman. Despite all that, he continues to demonstrate the same violent methods he used in the cartel, not to mention finding a way to control the police, the government, and, of course, the prime minister. 

When I originally added these details to my series very early on, it kind of gave me a moment of pause. Although I had no doubts there was corruption in Canada, would it really go that far up the chain? 

Then this year, I read some articles by Canadian journalist, Sam Cooper, and I discovered that perhaps, I wasn't so off track after all. I highly recommend his Substack or his book, Wilful Blindness. 

Have your book tastes changed?

"Who's that?" An older lady with blue eyeshadow awkwardly pointed at the back cover of a novel. We were standing in the middle of a yard sale, and as usual, I was looking at the used books. "She looks familiar."

"It's the back of the book, so I assume it's the author," I suggested, what I thought would be obvious. 

"Oh, I never read," She replied and walked away. 

I've had this conversation so many times. Knowing I'm an author, people often share their reading habits with me. Even though I'm interested, I rarely ask because I don't want to seem as though I'm about to launch into a marketing campaign for my latest book. But I always listen when people want to share.

The next most common explanation people give is that they don't have time to read. We all understand that reason. After all, we live in a social media, fast food world that doesn't have much use for anything that requires focus or commitment. And let's face it, books require both. Of course, in a world where the same people spend hours scrolling, I recognize it's also a choice made, and books aren't likely to create the same dopamine hit as short videos and easy-to-digest content. This is a reality most authors are faced with.

Of course, for other people, their book tastes change over the years. Mine have. What about yours?

I've gone through a Beverly Cleary and Sweet Valley High stage as a child, later to move on to VC Andrews books.  Celebrity and rock star memoirs are one of my favorite categories throughout the years. I also dove headfirst into the self-help genre to discover that much of it is empathy and connection more than actual help. I've also read most genres of fiction and non-fiction over the years. I've realized that different phases of your life create different interests. We require a book that fills a gap, whether that's in knowledge or a specific form of entertainment. There's a reason, if you really want to look into it. 

What are you reading now? How have your tastes changed? If you're a writer, how have your genres changed? I'd love to hear!

Are celebrity book clubs for real? Does anyone even care? 🤷‍♀️

The title says it all. Do celebrity book clubs still hold a lot of weight with readers? I know they once were very powerful, especially if your name happened to be Oprah and you recommended a book. Reese Witherspoon has a book club these days, and I’m curious if she has as much influence on book buyers. What about programs like Canada Reads? I've seen a display at the local library, but not many takers. But are any of these things real? Does anyone or anything (like money, for example) influence their choices and enthusiasm for these particular books? Why is a celebrity endorsement more relevant?

If one were cynical, one might wonder if these celebrities are paid off. We now see, more than ever, that propaganda and sneaky marketing (not to mention fake reviews) are a thing. It’s not impossible. Authors would all love to believe that a celebrity is curled up with our book, but how often does it happen? Unknown writers try to climb that hill of notability, even if that means being just a full-time writer. Fame and money aren’t the shiny objects to most writers that you’d think. As a reader, I assume it would be discouraging to run out and buy a book that Oprah or anyone else recommended, only to find it doesn’t live up to the hype. It’s a matter of opinion, and everyone looks for something different. That’s why I never know what to recommend to someone when they ask what I’d suggest. Reading is a very personal thing. It’s like picking something off the menu for you, and quite frankly, I wouldn’t want to do that either. 

Do you think celebrity book clubs are for real? If so, who do you trust and why or why not? Let me know in the comments. 

Writing scams!!! 🚨 There's lots of them

If you’re a writer, especially an independent author, you’ve probably already dealt with at least some of the many writing scams today. From phone calls to emails, and even fake ‘author friends’ on social media, they’ll do everything except show up at your door and that’s probably only because they don’t have your address. Writing scams have taken off over the last few years and become more clever and insidious.

I started getting these calls a few years ago. They were always from the Philippines, with offers of marketing, republishing, and even creating a script for my books. They get writers desperate to get noticed in a very saturated publishing industry, which isn’t easy to do. Furthermore, they work on your ego; your book is the best they’ve ever read, they want so much to help you, they draw a picture of huge financial success, maybe even fame. They’re usually very excited to help you. And hey, the person on the other end of the phone may not know the difference. They might be merely doing a typical call center job and think they work for a legit company, or maybe they’re assholes too, I’m not sure. However, the calls always have a little ‘too good to be true’ vibe and that’s because they are a crock of shit. The company names change, the person calling you may have a different name, but they’re always scams. I tell authors or aspiring authors to check Writer Beware for information on all these scams, how they work, and a long list of fake companies.

With the calls, you’ll also get emails to correspond. My spam box is full of them every day.

Recently, I started to get fake friends on social media supposedly from other authors concerned with my marketing, asking about what I’m writing now, some AI-generated bullshit. The questions are always the same. Authors, real authors that is, are getting quite annoyed with the fake social media garbage and have been expressing it, especially on X.

What can be done? I’m not sure. I know there was an arrest around the holidays, you might want to read about it HERE. What frustrates me is the amount of money these snakes have scammed people out of; authors who worked hard to write their books, wanting to do whatever they can, to feel that all that work was justified. It isn’t even about the money, it’s about sharing your creation, and your heart with others, to feel that it was worth it. These scammers take advantage of this vulnerability, and for that reason, I hope the FBI makes many more arrests. 

Writing updates - my Substack, why I haven't started a new book and general ramblings

 

Are my characters evil? 🙈

The wonderful part about writing fiction is that you enter this crazy world where your characters can do anything. The issue is that the best characters take off running and all you can do is follow along. For that reason, I never tended to give much thought to whether or not my characters act morally or responsibly, simply because I'm not them. It's not my job to harness them in but rather, tell their story. 

Lately, it has occurred to me whether or not my characters are evil. I suspect some people avoid my books because they assume they are and simply want nothing to do with them. And, you know, fair enough. You'll never find the Hernandez series in the Christian section of your bookstore. Is it my duty to represent morals and values in my books? And does anyone else? 

To answer that question, you have to go back to why I started writing in the first place. Back in the early days, when I was a teenager attempting to pull a novel together, I never did so with the idea of inspiring anyone. In fact, my whole goal (even back then) was to make people think. I wanted to hold a mirror up to the world and tell you what I saw. I've been doing that ever since. 

What I'm trying to say is, that my characters are complex. My strongest character is Jorge Hernandez and although he certainly could be called evil, you also see his compassionate side in many situations. In some cases, he can even act as an anti-hero, retaliating on those who are evil themselves. Overall though, I feel my books and characters are a reflection of the world. And unfortunately, if you look under the hood, that's not a pleasant sight these days. 

2024 year end review!!

Break out the champagne! 2024 is almost over! 🥂 I want to thank everyone for their continued support. It doesn't matter if you buy my books, borrow them from the library, or even watch (or share!) any of my videos. It all helps and I appreciate it.  

Before I give you the rundown of the past year, I want to make a note about some changes in my newsletter. In the future, rather than doing a monthly newsletter, I will instead send one out whenever I have anything to announce, a new video, or a giveaway to tell you about. That way, you're always up to date. And of course, don't forget my social media. You can find me on most platforms under @mimaonfire - this includes X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, Goodreads, Instagram, TikTok and blogger. You can also find me on Rumble. 

Now, let's review 2024!

March 2024
Where do I begin??

First I'm going to tell you about the FREE copies of my latest book, Everybody Wants to Rule the World. No strings attached. This isn't a scam. It's in PDF form and it can be yours for free. Simply reply to this newsletter. (PS this is still available and I may have some hard copies too - reply to this email or message me at mima.michellemary@gmail.com for more information)

Check out my latest videos and blogs -

"Sorry, I only read non-fiction"  Rumble/ YouTube/ Blogger 

Do you need the author's POV in a biographies Rumble/ YouTube/ Blogger

My characters display 'toxic masculinity' for some readers Rumble/ YouTube/ Blogger

Does a writer have to write everyday Rumble/ YouTube/ Blogger

This is the video where I read to you Rumble/ YouTube/ 

April 2024

Who Rules the World? 
     Rumble/ YouTube/ Blog 

Do we live in a fictional world? 
     Rumble/ YouTube/ Blog 

June 2024

My first two books - Fire and A Spark Before the Fire
      Rumble/ YouTube/ Blog

My Vampire books - The Rock Star of Vampires and Her Name is Mariah
      Rumble/ YouTube/ Blog 

July 2024

Protagonist switch...what does that mean? Rumble/ Youtube/ Blogger

Everything an author does (other than write books) Rumble/ Youtube/ Blogger 

Helping other authors Rumble/ Youtube/ Blogger 

Why I no longer bug the shit out of people for reviews (and what is way easier...) Rumble/YouTube/Blogger

Gangsters, villains, and vigilantes....and my Hernandez series 🔪 Rumble/YouTube/Blogger

September 2024
My books are more dark comedy than gory Rumble/YouTube/Blogs

October 2024
Want to see my books? 📚 Rumble/YouTube

November 2024
Books I'd Recommend 📚 Blog / Rumble / YouTube

Why I'm not writing right now 😬 Blogs / Rumble / YouTube

Do I always agree with my characters? 🫣 Blogs / Rumble / YouTube

Strong masculine characters - why we need them in books and in real life 💪🏼 Blogs / Rumble / YouTube

December 2024

Let's start with my personal blog post:

Women's magazines have changed a lot in 100 years

What's new with my writing? Here's a couple of new posts and videos. If you enjoy them, please like, share, and subscribe to bring my eyes to my work. It can be a struggle when you're an indie author.

Why I love Twitter (X) and BTW, what the hell is Bluesky?

Rumble / Blog / YouTube

Why people love powerful and fearless characters

Blog / Rumble / YouTube

Thank you for another wonderful year and all the best in 2025!! 

Mima

Do Canadians support Canadian artists? 🎭🎤✍🏼

After publishing my first book in 2010, I bent over backward to get attention for my work. I contacted the media, tried to run ads, attempted to have contests, and offered to have a signing at a large Canadian chain, you name it. I did everything I could think of, but all this was relatively new and quite terrifying to me, but I recognized that I had to at least try. Everything felt like three steps forward, two steps back, and sometimes, it felt the other way around. 

As the years moved forward, I continued to push forward, continued to write, and continued to get frustrated. At a certain point, I decided to just do my thing and make an effort, but I was constantly swimming against the tide. I had some local media (mostly newspapers and a rare CBC radio interview) but it was hard and I didn't know the best strategy. It was like being stuck in quicksand and trying to move ahead. I finally decided to focus on my writing and not stress so much about my success rate. 

It was during those early years a former coworker told me something that struck home. She said her boyfriend was studying journalism and how it was apparently well-known that the industry in Canada didn't support their artist after they found success. Although I was still terribly insecure about my writing skills, something in that statement rang true. And to be honest, in years since, I've heard the same thing repeatedly for Canadian artists. Those powerful enough to help an artist move forward in their career often show no interest until they've found success elsewhere, then consider them 'Canada's own' with a sense of pride. It's kind of a kick in the ass. 

Of course, I'm not talking about the fans. Fans are a whole, different thing. Canadian artists often have a lot of support from those who appreciate their work, although I'd be lying if that was always the case. It sometimes happens that people can also be contrary until the artist has shown success, but overall, I think most people want to see their hometown talent shine through. It's just unfortunate that elitists at the top can't see that.

Catch up with the news!!! 🗞 December 2024 👀

I can't believe that I'm writing the final newsletter of 2024! Of course, I always send you a year-end review (check out last year's to see what you're in for 👀) but it doesn't feel like it should be December. Time sure does fly. 

I've been diving into some of my personal blogs again lately and writing some notes for a potential upcoming writing project.  Will there be a book fourteen in the Hernandez series? Would you like one? Remember, you don't have to read the entire series to enjoy any of the books. I try to make them standalone. I still have some FREE e-books (PDF files) left for Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Send me your email, and I will send you my publisher's link with your unique code. 

Let's start with my personal blog post:

Women's magazines have changed a lot in 100 years

What's new with my writing? Here's a couple of new posts and videos. If you enjoy them, please like, share, and subscribe to bring my eyes to my work. It can be a struggle when you're an indie author.

Why I love Twitter (X) and BTW, what the hell is Bluesky?

Rumble / Blog / YouTube

Why people love powerful and fearless characters

Blog / Rumble / YouTube

Thanks for checking in. Please reply to this email if you wish to have the FREE PDF I mentioned earlier in this newsletter. Check out the Amazon version and read a FREE sample. 

Merry Christmas 🎄 Hope it's the best one yet! 

Mima