Let's talk about Maria Hernandez 🌸 (Updated)

She's feisty, strong-willed, and bold; some might even say, she's just like her father. Meet Maria Hernandez.

We first meet Jorge Hernandez's daughter in The Devil is Smooth Like Honey and, she continues to be one of the most popular secondary characters throughout the series. Unlike a lot of children in books, Maria isn't falling into the background. She has many storylines of her own, which form into intriguing subplots.

With a flair for the dramatic, Maria has often been involved in creative pursuits such as acting and music. Her goal to 'become famous' concerns her father, who believes the world of fame and fortune is a path to misery full of vultures and disappointment. As a strict disciplinarian, Jorge often is abrupt and harsh with his daughter in tone, causing his wife Paige to swoop in and remind him that this will not support his goal to be closer to his daughter.

It's an ironic twist when readers learn that Maria is a victim of bullying. While her father is a blood-thirsty and aggressive criminal, he feels powerless when his daughter is a casualty of other kids. Then again, where Maria starts as a victim, she often goes overboard when she retaliates, indicating that she is a chip off the old block. Needless to say, Jorge spends a lot of time in the principal's office, often yelling at school officials.

As much as she likes to see herself as a grown-up, Maria still carries the innocent eyes of a child that adds contrast to the books while bringing out the softer side of all other characters in the series. She often shines a light on the heart of Jorge Hernandez, showing that as much as he's a criminal without a conscience, he's also a father that loves his children more than anything. ❤️ ❤️

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.

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.

Why do you need a sharp book cover? 😉(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.

How strong characters make us stronger 💪🏼(Updated)

Have you ever tried to emulate a strong character on television, from the movies or a book? Are we more drawn to characters representing the kind of person we want to be, or do we prefer characters that remind us of ourselves?

I think it's safe to say that the answer to both these questions is probably yes. We often connect with those who remind us of ourselves, but I think there's also a side of us all that seeks out characters that demonstrate the person we would like to be, especially when they are more strong and powerful.

Of course, this is just a theory of mine, but you have to admit, it does make sense. When we consider some of the most admired characters in television, movies, and books, most are admired for their strength and ability to withstand anything thrown at them. In a way, it gives us hope. If our favorite character is resilient in the worst circumstances, then perhaps we can be too.

Regarding my series, many readers have told me that they admire Jorge Hernandez for his strength and boldness, regardless of the situation. He is fearless, powerful, and without a doubt, not someone you want to piss off. Who wouldn't want to have those kinds of traits? After all, life has a way of stepping on us all from time to time, so we find assurance knowing that there are powerful people out there that can withstand anything - even if those powerful people are fictitious characters.

Do you have a character that you've admired for their strength? If so, who is it? I'd love to see your thoughts in the comments.

Should you read your own books? 😳 (Updated)

After revising, editing, and rereading your manuscript a million times before publishing, you might think the last thing you want to do is to pore over it again. However, there are many benefits to reading your book after its release.

Let's start by getting the negative stuff out of the way. One reason to curl up with your own book is to find errors. I'm not suggesting you 'proofread it' again, but take note if you notice anything that you might've missed during the editing process. Do you see something you should've added or could've taken out?

Of course, we're all a work in progress so reading your book also allows you an opportunity to see things you can improve. What would you do differently in the future?

At the same time, don't forget everything you've done right! What stands out about your book? Did you write snappy dialogue? Was there one particular scene that stood out? What grabs your attention? Try to see it through the reader's eyes. Don't be your worst critic but remember to pat yourself on the back for what you've done well.

And finally, why not read your book? You've worked hard, so why not snuggle up with a hot drink and get lost in the fantasy that you created.

The story of Miguel 👶🏽(Updated)

There's a very tragic story behind how Miguel Hernandez got his name,  and it's a story that tells you as much about Jorge as it does his son.

Anyone who follows the series is probably familiar with how Jorge Hernandez lost his brother. He often refers to a childhood incident when his older cousin drops by with a new dirtbike. Being a rambunctious thrill-seeker as a child, Jorge automatically decides he's going to take it for a spin. While his cousin is in the house, the twelve-year-old encourages his hesitant brother to join him on the bike, and the two take off. Unfortunately, Jorge is only mildly familiar with how to drive it, and the two end up having an accident where his ten-year-old brother dies.

Broken by this loss, Jorge finds no compassion from his own family. Instead, they blame him for this reckless behavior. His father savagely beats him while his mother looks on. Not only does his family hold him responsible for Miguel's death, but Jorge also blames himself throughout his life. The relationship he has with his parents never recovers, forcing Jorge to become stronger to protect himself. This incident gives us a better idea of why he grows into the man he becomes.

Many years later, Jorge has a son and automatically knows he must name him Miguel. He talks about how looking into his son's eyes heals him. Of course, his sense of protectiveness for both his children resulted from the horrific tragedy of his childhood. His sense of loyalty and family is also very important to him because he lacked in this growing up. In a way, the Miguel story comes full circle.

Does my series normalize violence? (Updated)

Anyone who's ever read my books knows there's a body count, but it didn't start that way. You might wonder how it happened.

I always say that this is the series that wasn't meant to be a series, but I can take that one step further and say it became the violent series that wasn't planned. Originally We're All Animals was meant to be a standalone book, but as the story moved forward, it became clear there was much more coming down the wire. With each book, the series grew until it became brutally violent.

The thing is that this isn't so unusual in our society. Many things become normalized over time because they build slowly into everyday life. Things escalate. Smoking starts with an occasional cigarette, often with no intentions of becoming a habit. However, many things are insidious. They grow over time until it becomes the new normal. We regularly see it in our culture, especially in the news. 

The interesting thing I noticed while working on my 12th book is how Chase - the character who has been along this journey since day one - started so naive and shocked by the same violence he later participates in. We see this in the real world too. It's not just fiction.

OMG! I finally fit into a genre! 😝(Updated)

For all the times I complained about not wanting to be stuck in a genre, I've finally found the perfect one!

Ever since my first book, I've never been comfortable classifying any of my books into a specific category. Nothing ever quite fit. There was romance, action, suspense, murder, dark humor, and even some vampires thrown in a couple, but none of these specific genres felt right. It was as though all my books included so many things that it was difficult to categorize them properly, so I chose instead to toss everything into the 'dark fiction' category. It seemed like the most accurate, if not the ideal category.

Recently, I stumbled across the concept of counterculture, and I was immediately intrigued. What was that exactly, and why did it sound so appealing? As it turns out, counterculture tends to be a way of life that goes against social 'norms'. This demographic rejects 'conventional' society choosing instead to live by their standards. 

This grabbed my attention.

In my first two books (Fire and A Spark before the Fire), my characters reject society's values by striving to become rock stars, which in itself tends to be a very counterculture lifestyle.

In my third and fourth book, The Rock Star of Vampires and Her Name is Mariah, I tackle the underground world of vampires. You can't get much more counterculture than that, can you?

Maybe so.

In my current series, my cast of characters tends to go against pretty much all social norms. They make their own laws, follow their own rules and do so without a second thought. Murder, corruption, collusion, and torture are engrained into their lives as if they were the most natural thing. That's pretty counterculture.

My books finally have a home, and it's pretty awesome.

Why I do my research backward 😯(Updated)

I've always said that writing is, for the most part, a lot about instincts. You have to follow your characters and trust where they want to take you. For that reason, I often do my research backward.

What does that mean exactly? For the most part, I write whatever I sense the characters are saying, doing, or experiencing, and generally, I will later find out that I was on the right track. This isn't to say I'm always correct, but I think sometimes we gather and retain more information than we realize over the years. So, even though we may not be fact-checking while writing, chances are the information is hidden away in the back of our minds. After all, isn't that instincts are in the first place? Information stored away from previous experiences or hidden knowledge we forgot we had?

Of course, there's also an argument that the muse is key to art. For me, a big part of being a writer is accepting that I'm not necessarily in the driver's seat when it comes to my books but merely going along for the ride.

One great example was from my book And the Devil Will Laugh. In it, Jorge Hernandez reconnects with his mother after she's kidnapped, in an attempt to fix their broken relationship. However, this attempt is dropped when she meets his wife Paige, a white Canadian woman. She bluntly informs her son that he should've married a 'nice, Mexican girl' instead. This happens in front of Paige, who doesn't react. But Jorge and his daughter Maria quickly put Jorge's mother in her place.

At the time, I wondered if perhaps this was too harsh. I then read a blog by a lady who is a white American living in Mexico, married to a Mexican man. In one particular post, she talked about how her mother-in-law reacted in much the same way when her son married a woman who wasn't Mexican. As it turns out, my original instincts weren't too extreme at all.

This is just one of many examples of how I research backward.

Why it's important for art to hold a mirror up to society 🎭(Updated)

As long as there's been art, there's been artists who hold a mirror up to society. It shows us who we are, who we potentially could be, and gives us ideas about things we perhaps never considered.

This is important because there's a lot of people who won't turn on the news, won't pick up a newspaper, or read about current events online, but they will watch a movie, read a book or listen to music. When artists point out certain aspects of society in their work, it allows the reader or viewer a first-hand perspective into their world. It's perhaps the closest they will ever come to 'walking in their shoes' and seeing what it's like to have these experiences. 

In many of my books, I have situations, points of view, and even passing comments that bring up what I'm seeing in the world around me. I leave it open for the reader to consider. I'm not attempting to convince or change anyone's mind. My books are very much about counterculture and often take things to extremes, but I think that in today's world, this is sometimes what you have to do to stand out and make a point. 

In the end, I believe that it's the art that shakes things up that has a lasting effect. It's the movies, books, and music that captured a segment of our society that will always stand out in my mind because they made points that mattered.

Writing about characters that are vastly different from you 🤫(Updated)

Different ethnicities, the opposite sex, and even vampires; is it difficult to write about characters when they are nothing like you?

The truth is that we're usually writing about characters that aren't necessarily like ourselves. Even if you write about characters of the same sex, age, or even from the same part of the world as you, they still are not you. If the character is the same as you in every way, then your book is autobiographical, not fiction. 

In my first book, Fire, I wrote about a young, blonde, white woman named Tarah. Many people seemed to draw a parallel between her and me because we had a similar physical description. However, that's where the similarities ended. Her story was vastly different from mine, meaning I had to dive deep into my imagination to connect with this protagonist. She was a musician turned rock star and had experiences I knew nothing about. Her life was vastly different from my own at that age. 

I then wrote A Spark before the Fire, which followed a teenage male character.  I feared that this was way out of my comfort zone. After all, how could I write from the voice of a male teenager? Where would I even start? When I began to write, I was surprised when the inner dialogue of a young male flowed naturally. It was very instinctual, and that's been my process as I continue to write about characters vastly different from me. 

I've since written about vampires, narcos, assassins, children, and people of various ethnicities, ages, and sexual preferences. The key is to listen for the character's voice, and it will tell you everything you have to know. 

I'd recommend anyone struggling with this to find a quiet place and time to do their writing and focus on their inner voice. Stay calm, stay centered, and start writing. If your instinct is to write about a specific character, chances are they're ready to come out and play.

Dialogue that pops! 😉 (Updated)

The sure sign of great dialogue is when readers recite lines from your books! It's the ultimate compliment. 

We've all had friends quoting characters from their favorite television shows and movies. Some lines are almost as legendary as the programs themselves, and yet, some people aren't aware of what's involved in writing great dialogue. There are a few things to be considered.

1. Keep it fresh. We don't need to hear the same lines already overused in television, books, and movies. The only exception is when it's being used on purpose to be ironic. For example, in The Devil May Lie, there's a point when Jorge Hernandez, a bloodthirsty criminal, quotes a line from I Love Lucy that greatly contradicts the lighthearted comedy from the '50s. I think he might even have a gun to someone's head when he uses the line, "Lucy, you got some splainin' to do."

2. Keep it interesting. Let's bypass the same boring conversations you'd have with your great aunt at a wedding. Avoid talking about the weather (unless it's relevant) and the "hi, how are you?" dialogue, if at all possible. I only use something like this if purposely trying to show awkwardness in a conversation. People are bored enough in real-life conversations, so keep your character's dialogue engaging. 

3. Don't ramble. I'm the queen on rambling (which you'll know if you ever watched my YouTube channel 😝) but when it comes to characters, make them get right to the point. Don't beat around the bush. Storylines are limited to a certain amount of many pages. Your job is to get everything packed in tight like a suitcase about to be weighed at the airport. Don't bring boring shoes you don't need.

4. Remember each character has a dialogue pattern. Your best friend or crazy aunt uses specific words, speaks distinctively, and responds predictably. For example, I once worked with a girl who never went to the bathroom, but the facilities' Some people mispronounce words while others use slang terms or swear when they speak. Depending on where they live, their status, and their first language, you might expect vastly different dialogue patterns. Someone who grew up in the UK, for example, may use a word that has a vastly different meaning in North America. A middle-aged woman who works in an office setting may speak differently than a 20-year-old man who works in a garage. Many of my characters are from Latino countries, so it's not uncommon for a little Spanish to get mixed into their conversations.

5. Don't overthink conversations. In real life, if you overthink a conversation, it tends to sound too stiff. The same goes for characters. Stay balanced and go with the flow when writing dialogue. See where it takes you. Sometimes, it might move the story in an unexpected direction, and as I always say, if you don't expect things to go a certain way, neither does the reader!
In the end, you want sharp dialogue that's dramatic and honest. Make the conversation pop!