I'm not my characters 🙀

Shortly after publishing my first book, Fire, in 2010, I was surprised when people started to inquire if the protagonist's story was based on my own life. This came as a bit of a surprise to me. It never would've crossed my mind that people would assume that my books were autobiographical, but apparently, that was a common belief. 

As it turns out, I didn't spend my 20s in a rock band, with two of my bandmates in love with me. I didn't become famous, and most of all, my life wasn't quite as exciting as that of my protagonist, Tarah. Although, my protagonist and I did indeed have similar physical traits (petit and blonde), and that's pretty well where our similarities ended. If anything, I was living vicariously through my characters while writing the book. 

I would later write about vampires in The Rock Star of Vampires, and Her Name is Mariah, which seemed to end any speculation that my characters were representative of my own life. After all, I'm pretty sure no one thinks that I'm a vampire. Of course, if there had been any uncertainty, I'm sure that ended when I started writing the Hernandez series, which centers on a man who used to be in the Mexican cartel. 

Then again, one never knows what people think.

In my opinion, it's never a great idea to write about your own life or that of others you know, even if the book is technically fiction. In the end, it becomes more autobiographical, and rather than following a character and telling their story, you're telling your own. I can understand why someone might want to do this, but I would warn that this brings things a little too close to home, making it more difficult to see both sides of a story. To write a good book, I think you have to show other perspectives, not just that of your protagonist. Also, you have to consider whether or not you want people to figure out it's about you. There are things you might not want to share and books, even fiction, are deeply personal when unraveling your characters. 

That's not to say that it's always a terrible idea. If you decide to write about characters based on you, my advice would be to distance yourself to get a broader view.  I would switch up some details just to make sure no one catches on.  😉

Are your characters RUDE?? 🙀

I never really understood why so many writers feel the need to make their protagonist the saint and innocent victim of life, but I tend to play my cards differently. There are many of my characters that might be considered rude, and I'm ok with that. 

It all started when I wrote about a guy named Jimmy Groome in my first book (who came along as the protagonist in my second book, A Spark Before the Fire) that I discovered that writing about characters with an edge is fun. Although we learn that Jimmy was originally quite shy and bullied as a child in his back story, he eventually became a talented musician, which brings with it, popularity. That's when his rude side came out and often to those who were mean to him in his childhood. His remarks were often downright mean, but you could understand where this snappy attitude came from as a reader. 

Later, I would write about a sassy, young vampire named Mariah (Her Name is Mariah) who was bold and had an attitude, but we understood once you know her back story. She grew up with an alcoholic mother and a father who left the family while Mariah was still a child. She grew a sharper edge because she needed it to survive. Determined to be no one's victim, Mariah never felt the need to hold back on her direct comments and attacks. 

Of course, my sharpest, most abrupt, and rudest protagonist of all would have to be Jorge Hernandez (Hernandez series). He has few limits when it comes to rudeness. When you're on his bad side, Jorge has no limits to what he will say, with little concern about hurt feelings. Often a fine line between rudeness and threats, he once told an annoying telemarketer that if they called again, he would find them and cut their fucking throat. Needless to say, he's pretty extreme in his rudeness. 

Rude characters can seem inappropriate to the very sensitive but let's face it, they're kind of fun to read (and write) about because they say things that sometimes, we wish we could say too. 

- Mima

Let's talk about the Hernandez series ☠️

A former Mexican narco transitions into Canadian life with family, politics, and business while holding tight to his ruthless, criminal ways. Meet Jorge Hernandez.

Starting with We’re All Animals we follow naive Chase Jacobs from small-town Alberta to the big city, where he unknowingly is employed by a group of sinister characters. The truth slowly reveals itself in Always be a Wolf, but a horrific tragedy rocks Chase’s world, and quickly discovers that his new family will do anything for him. Anything.

Jorge Hernandez takes over as the protagonist in the third installment of the series,  The Devil is Smooth Like Honey. The beloved character is bold, blood-thirsty, and always gets what he wants because he sees no boundaries. Nothing and no one stands in his way. 

In A Devil Named Hernandez  Jorge is muscling in on the Canadian legalized pot industry but is distracted by enemies that crop up to threaten someone he loves. Do they really want to dance with the devil?

The collusion, corruption, and murder continue right through to And the Devil Will Laugh where he successfully takes over the pot industry despite a few obstacles that get in his way…but isn’t there always some collateral damage?

In The Devil May Lie,  Jorge Hernandez is groomed for Canadian politics with hopes of saving one of the major political parties after a public uproar. Will the Canadian political landscape ever be the same again? 

In The Devil and his Legacy, Jorge Hernandez starts to questions his own legacy after one of his foot soldiers is murdered. He opts for a simple life but will the simple life opt for him?

In She Was His Angel, Jorge uses his political influence to cripple his nemesis Big Pharma while simultaneously backing the incriminating docuseries Eat the Rich Before the Rich Eat You. Jorge might win the battle but can he win the war?

When a cop has the nerve to show up at his door and harass Jorge in We’re All Criminals, his fury quickly ignites. While Jorge wants to exhibit his power and publicly taunt the police, his family fears that he may have pushed too far this time. 

Subplots, conspiracy theories, and a cast of characters that will jump off the pages. 

Loyalty above all. There are no exceptions.

For more information on all these books, click HERE for a complete synopsis.  Watch the playlist on YouTube.

Why I'm an author with a social conscience 🌎(Updated)

For the most part, I'm willing to bet that most fiction authors have a social conscience. I say that because I see it in their writing. We see it on television. When you consider a classic television episode still very much alive in people's memory, it's perhaps because it brought up a social issue that was a particular concern during that time. 

Even when I published my first book and had no idea what I was doing, I still needed to bring up social issues that were important to me. Of course, I was still getting my feet wet back then, so it's mild compared to the topics I bring up in my more recent books, especially the Hernandez series. These days my books feature issues like racism, indigenous issues, poverty, homelessness, Big Pharma, mental health issues, bullying, political corruption, police misconduct, white supremacy, environmental concerns...and that's just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are other social issues I have missed. 

Not to say that I have an entire book about any of these topics. It could be as simple as a subject touched on in a book like environmental issues, or it could be something like racism, which comes up in most of this series. 

I like to bring up these subjects within the storyline because it puts a face on a topic. Readers see through the character's eyes, getting a peek into their world, which helps create compassion or, at the very least, some understanding of their point of view. 

Our world is much smaller than we think, and as people, we have more in common than our egos sometimes want us to believe. 

The future of my Youtube channel 📺(Updated)

The first time I recorded a YouTube video, I thought I was going to hyperventilate. I don't think I took a breath the whole time because I was so scared and definitely out of my comfort zone. Almost 200 videos later, I've long let go of these fears, as my confidence built over time. Now, I enjoy making videos and don't even give it a second thought. 

So why did I start? Well, it certainly wasn't to become a YouTube star. I created the channel in hopes of connecting with my audience and potentially finding a new audience. I wanted people to see who I was and to maybe learn a little about me. Also, it gave me a chance to talk about my books, my process and maybe answer a few common questions along the way.

I'm not sure if having a YouTube channel is common amongst writers, but I think it's a good idea. You never know who is watching, and that's kind of neat. 

My goal in the future is to improve and update my videos while diving into more topics that people want me to discuss. It's even been suggested that I start a podcast but I'm not quite there yet. 

If you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to contact me at info@mimaonfire.com. Sign up for my newsletter and keep up to date! Subscribe to my YouTube channel, hit the bell for notifications, and share the videos. Thanks for reading this blog. 

What is the Hernandez series about? ☠️(Updated)

If there ever were characters that not only made it their business to color outside the lines but seemed oblivious to living any other way, it would be the group in the Hernandez series. Living by their creed of love, loyalty, and winning above all, this is a series where readers witness characters who don't let anyone stand in their way. With their unique sense of what's right and wrong, we follow them down a countercultural path that goes against the usual, 'the good guy always wins' theme. And to readers, this is refreshing.

A former Mexican narco transitions into Canadian life with family, politics, and business while holding tight to his ruthless, criminal ways. Meet Jorge Hernandez.

Except for the first two books, the series centers around the protagonist Jorge Hernandez. With his combination of daily life problems, (not to mention, his unique way of solving them) and enemies coming out of the woodwork, Hernandez shows the strength and resilience that is alluring to the reader. Somewhat of an anti-hero, this villain reveals the darker side of society, one where corruption, collusion, and conspiracy are often the name of the game.

As the CEO of Our House of Pot, Jorge gives the impression of an immigrant that came to Canada to strive while at the same time demonstrating how public image and reality are often a million miles apart. 

This is a series for people who enjoy being entertained while being open to the other side of many situations. And often, it's a side that asks as many questions as it gives explanations. But isn't that what any good series does?

She Was His Angel ☠️(Updated)

From my press releases: 

The Canadian author known as Mima published her 13th book (9th in the Hernandez series). The book is titled, She Was His Angel. 

A former Mexican narco transitions into Canadian life with family, politics, and business while holding tight to his ruthless, criminal ways. Meet Jorge Hernandez.

Power-hungry CEO of Our House of Pot, Jorge Hernandez, holds tight to his ruthless ways in the 8th book in the Hernandez series when he decides to take down the pharmaceutical industry in one powerful swoop. The man once known as the Mexican cartel leader El Diablo isn’t satisfied controlling the monopoly in the Canadian marijuana industry but wants to make Big Pharma squirm under his thumb. Using his political influence to cripple his nemesis, while simultaneously backing the incriminating docuseries Eat the Rich Before the Rich Eat You, Jorge might win the battle, but can he win the war? 

Recognizing that he’s started a bloodthirsty game of cat and mouse with a sinister opponent, Jorge enlists the help of the only person that he considers his equal. Former assassin Paige Hernandez, one of the most dangerous women in the world, takes on her husband’s advice to do her worst. But when an unexpected adversary forces her hand in a no-win situation, Paige is left with a heart-wrenching decision of who will live…and who will die.

When the couple unites forces, they discover a bloodbath overflowing in deception and disloyalty that shakes them to the core. Together with Paige, Jorge fights their enemy to the end because he is the devil and she was his angel.

This book centers on celebrating strong, powerful women who can take on the world. I also use this platform to resurface many stereotypes that women encounter throughout their lives, as well as the struggle of balancing family and work....and of course, in Paige's case, murder.

How do you keep track of everything?? 🤔 (updated from original)

After watching one of my recent blogs about how I have 10 different lives, (characters, I mean, just so you don't think I have a split personality....at least, nothing diagnosed 😜) a friend asked me how I kept track of everything. Not only do I have a lot of characters, but I also have a lot of books in my current series. I thought I had addressed this in a previous blog, but then, I wasn't sure if I covered the bases, so I thought I would dive into this question.

To begin with, I have a lot of stray notes that get stuck on a clipboard. These are comments in a specific character's voice, ideas, scenes, various things that I want to bring to light at some point in my book. Eventually, I take all these little notes and add them to a long list of things that are there as reminders of events and plot points coming up in the future. I don't necessarily use everything, and sometimes, these thoughts carry on to another book in the series. Sometimes they aren't used at all.

My most valuable writing possession (outside of my laptop) is a black book where I keep my writing notes. In the first section, I have a list of characters, notes about each one (age, family, etc.), and in which books you can find them.

The second half of this notebook is the notes for each chapter of every book in the series. I'm afraid the scribblings aren't necessarily as detailed as they should be but, they give me enough information to use as a reference point. That allows me to look up whatever book and chapter I need to review some material. Sometimes, for example, I have an old character returning to the series and have to remind myself what role they played, how they spoke, and their connection to the protagonist.

My little black book isn't perfect but, it gets the job done. It's the personal journal of my characters and their story.

Do we really need genres anymore? (updated)

It's not the first time I've talked about not wanting to be stuck in a genre: and it probably won't be the last. Are genres too confining?

The problem is that as soon as we put books in a category, it limits your audience. It suggests it's the central theme when most books, movies, and television shows can dip into a whole range of genres. You can watch a detective show and catch a little romance. You can read a detective book and stumble across some unexpected humor. Sometimes stating that a book is a specific genre only shows your potential audience a portion of what they can expect. It's like introducing your new friend and describing her as a journalist: when she's also a mother, a wife, an activist, and maybe even a volunteer in her community. The one-word description limits our view of who she is when she has so many aspects to her personality. Books are the same.

Another issue with having a specific genre is that it limits your audience. For example, if I learn a book is a 'romance', you've already lost me. It doesn't matter that perhaps it's only one element, and maybe the novel is full of humor, drama, and other things. I might enjoy it but, I've already written it off as 'not my kind of book'. This is another reason why I'm iffy on genres. I write books that more or less fall under the thriller-suspense categories, but I have a lot of other stuff going on, including romance, dark humor, maybe even a little horror from time to time.

I guess the point is that good books, movies and television shows have many different things going on. We have short attention spans and need lots of colors lighting up at once or we get bored. I'm not sure if genres are as important as they were in simpler times. What do you think?

Let's talk about my YouTube channel 📺(Updated)

In a world of glitzy, glamorous, and finely-crafted YouTube channels, mine is a bit of a clunker in comparison. But that's ok.

When I started making YouTube videos, it simply was to tell people about my books. I wanted to keep it straightforward, not get into anything fancy but use my channel as a way to connect with others. It allowed me to reach people from across the world and show them the person behind the books. The idea of editing, creating an intro, considering lighting, etc wasn't my biggest concern.

Now, I'm close to 200 videos in, and all these things still aren't important to me. What is important is showing people the real me. I speak honestly about my writing and giving viewers some information. I have considered putting more work into the channel but at the end of the day, it should be more about my writing than becoming a YouTube star. Not that I'm saying anything negative about those who make the extra effort, quite the contrary, but for me, my focus isn't the number of views and subscribers (which is good because I don't have a lot 🤣) but simply putting the information out there for those who are interested.

I enjoy doing these videos and having the opportunity to talk about my writing. I'm very fortunate to live in a time where all this is possible. 😃

Why Counterculture should be a genre 🔪(Updated)

Most people associate the word 'counterculture' with the hippie movement of the 60s and the change in previous attitudes about government, music, social norms, and of course, overall appearance. However, it's a more general term to describe people that go against the 'social norm', and if you've ever read one of my books, you're probably well aware that this accurately describes most of my characters.

I will point out that I'm hardly the first or only writer whose work could fall under this potential category. Many books, television shows, and even movies follow a counterculture of people, often criminals or other social misfits that live a completely different lifestyle from what is considered 'the norm' to the rest of us. Often they are swept under another category, such as crime, or end up with descriptions like 'quirky', which is a little easier to digest than something as broad as the counterculture. I think people associate the word with different things, so perhaps it might cause some confusion.

The reason why many counterculture characters are also criminals is that they go against social norms. This often includes the law. You might even see it to a lesser degree when characters go off the grid, pull their kids out of schools, and live with no fixed address in the middle of the woods. Although they aren't hardcore criminals shooting people, they are probably breaking laws not because they are rebels, so much as they don't acknowledge society's rules.

Although some people mightn't agree with me, I believe counterculture themes will see growth in the upcoming years. With so many crazy things going on in the world right now, I think people will become intrigued with an alternate lifestyle fantasy as a way to escape our stark reality.

Writing blocks and roadblocks 🚧(Updated)

Writer's blocks are a lot like roadblocks in that you find yourself suddenly stuck in the middle of nowhere, and you can't get out. The problem is in both cases, the more you focus on the fact that you're 'stuck', the more frustrated you get, which in turn makes the whole ordeal even more frustrating. And if you're a writer, that's when you stare at a blank page and contemplate banging your head against the wall until an idea pops out.

Of course, you should never bang your head against the wall. You got precious stuff going on in there, and you might damage it. There are other, more productive ways to get past the block if you want to make any progress.

The first is to calm the fuck down. The more angry and anxious you are (this applies to most problems) the worse everything will seem. As humans, we tend to get wrapped up in our minds, and suddenly we're falling down the rabbit hole of craziness. You can't do that. The more you think about how you're not accomplishing anything, the more you'll not accomplish anything.

The second thing you need to do is get back to your center. What is your center? It's the place where you feel balanced. Some people get there by exercising while others meditate. Some people might do it by staring out the window at nature (if you happen to have any nature out your window) while others might do it by playing a video game or reading a book. The key is to distract your mind from the craziness. Maybe you're overtired and need to take a nap. Everyone is different. 

I need to have headphones on when I write. I listen to music that tends to be calming (nothing with lyrics) and try not to think about anything else going on that day. It's better if I don't have time restraints too, so I'm not looking at the clock trying to rush like a maniac. The key is to be relaxed and really to listen to your inner voice. The creative world is very mysterious, which is why artists tend to be so infatuated with the entire process. We don't know where those words, characters, or creations come from; they just arrive. Your job is to open the door so that they can get in. 

Bookmark giveaway! 🤩

While supplies last, I'm giving away bookmarks! 

Making and giving out bookmarks is something I started a few years ago because, quite frankly, I thought it was fun. It seemed only fitting to give out something that demonstrated my hard work, like a business card that carries a punch. Whether or not it created book sales wasn't something I thought about, nor did I want people to feel obligated to purchase my books. Although I must admit when people get something free, they tend to be suspicious. 🤭

If you would like some of these bookmarks, I will send you a few in the mail (while quantities last!). I will need your mailing address (if you're not comfortable giving out your home address, you can always give me your work address) and your name, of course. There are a few ways to contact me:

My website email or private message me on either Twitter or Facebook. Please don't post your personal information on my wall or in the comment section of this blog for your protection. Please put 'Bookmark giveaway' in the subject line.

As I said, quantities are limited, and depending on where you are in the world, it may take some time for the bookmarks to get to you. For more information on my books, check out my website mimaonfire.com and thanks for your support!

Good-bye 2019!! 🥳 Year end in review! 🥂

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! 📚 We have lots to celebrate, so let's get this party started! 🎉 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 📺 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 👇🏼 Let's talk about the media guy Tom Makerson 📰Dec 29      Video      Blog   What is the crazy concept behind my series? 😱Dec 20      Video      Blog   A blurb from The Devil and His Legacy 📖Dec 15      Video      Blog       Who's the Greek God? Let's talk Alec Athas 🇬🇷Dec 9      Video      Blog Why do you need a sharp book cover? 😉Dec 2      Video      Blog   How strong characters make us stronger 💪🏼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 👶🏽 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! 😉Aug 3      Video      Blog    The super crazy last chapter 😜July 19       Video       Blog   Choosing the right words 🤓July 16       Video       Blog Writing a pilot episode based on my book series July 11      Video      Blog   Why do you always write about criminals? 🔪 July 4       Video       Blog    Why is the first paragraph so important? 🤓 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? 🤔 Feb 1      Video      Blog   Let's talk about Paige Noël-Hernandez 🧘🏼‍♀️ Jan 25       Video       Blog    The loyalty factor 👊🏼 Jan 18       Video       Blog   Let's talk about Jolene Silva 👄 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. 🥱 Thanks again for all your support. I wish you all the best in 2020! Mima

Let's talk about the media guy, Tom Makerson 📰(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.