My first book - Fire 🔥😉(Updated)

Fire was my first book, published in 2010. The story follows protagonist Tarah Kiersey as she sets her sights on the music world, joining a band that gets signed. She learns the many ups and downs of working in the industry, how her life vastly changes (not always for the better), and how conflicts within the band can make everything stressful. Did I mention she has an affair with two of her bandmates?

First, there was a match.

In 1992, Tarah Kiersey wasn't feeling very optimistic about her life. From dead-end jobs to dead-end relationships, she failed to see how anything could ever improve. But at least, she had her music.

Then, there was a spark.

There was something about holding a microphone that made Tarah feel alive. And there was something about how she sang that made people listen. One of those people included William Stacy, a young musician who invited Tarah to join his band, Fire. She said yes, and her entire life changed overnight.

And now there s FIRE!

The book was quite popular and later followed up by A Spark before the Fire featuring a secondary character, Jimmy Groome. The books overlap, each having its unique perspective. 

Why Women Rule the World (or at least, why they should) 👸🏼 (Updated)

Do women rule the world? Maybe not quite yet, but there's something to be said about a strong female character, whether it's in books, television, or movies.

I'm not saying that females have to be tough as nails all the time. I'm not even sure if that is realistic when talking about any characters, whether they are male or female. However, there's a happy medium between Cruella de Vil and Snow White. I also don't think women find soft, weak characters a fair representation of who we are as a gender.

I think it's important that females are neck and neck with male characters. They should be confident, have self-esteem and be intelligent. They should be independent and empowered. Most of all, they shouldn't feel any guilt or shame for showing strength. 

I recently watched a television show that portrays women as weak. I know that for this particular program, it makes sense and serves as more of a warning than an accurate portrayal, but it was hard to watch. It was somewhat infuriating. It's not something I could ever do as a writer. Then again, maybe this would be a good challenge for me. 

Who are your favorite characters? 🤩 (Updated)

A few months ago, I took a survey with my readers. I asked them to pick their favorite character from my books. As it turns out, there are a few fan favorites. And now, the countdown.....

5. Paige Noël-Hernandez - The only female to make the top five, Paige is a character in my Hernandez series as the wife of Jorge Hernandez. People like Paige because she is strong and assertive yet has a gentle, almost zen-like side. She enjoys meditation, practicing yoga, and is an online self-help guru. Did I mention that she's also an assassin? 🔪

4. Jimmy Groome - A blast from the past! Jimmy Groome is the self-destructive, rebellious rock star from my second book. Readers often comment how they related to him since he was somewhat of a misfit. He struggled with his share of demons, learning many hard lessons along the way.

3. Chase Jacobs - Not surprisingly, the top three characters (and 4/5 on this list) are from my Hernandez series. Chase has been a part of this series from day one. He was the original protagonist for both We're All Animals and Always be a Wolf. People love his boy-next-door profile, his need to do the right thing, but mostly, he's honest and genuine. 

2. Diego Silva - This feisty character came along at the end of We're All Animals and has been along for the ride ever since. Diego is abrupt, fidgety, and carries a baseball bat in the trunk of his Lexus...you don't want to know why. 😏 This Colombian is the loyal sidekick of Jorge Hernandez and helps him with all his dirty work. 

1. Jorge Hernandez - Possibly the most notorious character I've ever written about, Jorge Hernandez came along at the end of Always be a Wolf and has been the protagonist for the rest of the Hernandez series. Arrogant, abrupt, obnoxious, and calculating at times, others would describe him as a leader that doesn't let anyone or anything stand in his way. A former king in the Mexican drug world, he now strives to have power over business, politics, and the media in Canada.