Love, Romance and Fictional Couples ❤️ (Updated)

A romance writer, I am not. However, you will find some love connections in a few of my books, specifically my most recent series involving a group of gangster-type personalities. This may not seem like the most natural place to find a romance, but then again, isn't that what makes things a little bit more interesting?

Someone once commented that Jorge Hernandez and Paige Noël-Hernandez were the 'twisted couple' of the literary world, and I certainly can't argue with that point. The couple hooked up in The Devil is Smooth Like Honey and have continued to be together throughout the Hernandez series. The pair didn't exactly meet most conventionally (I don't want to spoil the surprise 😉) but because of their shared attraction to depravity, their connection was a natural one.

What I love about this couple is that they are equals. Both are strong, vicious, and slightly sadistic in their ways, but there is also a soft side; Paige meditates and does yoga while Jorge has a very soft spot for his children. The couple is vastly different in personality. Jorge is loud, obnoxious, and blunt, whereas Paige is quiet and calmer, however, this is why it works. They balance each other out, yet neither feels the need to change the other. Perhaps this is why people find them so endearing.

How do you get your ideas for books? 💭 (Updated)

One of the most common questions people ask me is how I get my ideas for books. It's not an easy one to answer but here goes!

Generally, I write about topics that interest me. I don't think about what is popular or what I think people might like to read; I write about things that I'm passionate about and that intrigues me. For example, my first couple of books were about rock stars because I love music. My second two were about vampires because I found the topic fascinating, and finally, I started to write about gangsters and criminals. This subject intrigued me because I felt drawn to the antihero concept. With all the corruption, collusion, and everything else we see in the news, it's becoming more and more evident that it's not always clear who the 'good' and 'bad' guys are anymore, and something is interesting about this concept. 

For my ideas from chapter to chapter, I follow my instincts. I have a lot of snippets of conversations and scenes that show up in my mind, and I immediately jot them down. Eventually, they find a place in one of my books. Often I have no idea how or why it fits in, until it happens.

I generally follow the storyline and the characters to see where they take me. Characters have unique personalities, and like people in everyday life, you can often predict how they will react in specific situations. That in itself usually moves a story in the direction it's meant to go.

My ideas come to me all the time. The key is to be open to everything without questioning it. In the end, it usually finds a place in a book.

What are my books about? 🤔 (Updated)

One of the most common questions I get asked is what my books are about, and I always struggle to answer. That's because it's difficult to accurately sum up all my books in a few short sentences. But, here goes.

My books tend to be counterculture, dark fiction. I cover controversial topics such as Big Pharma, political corruption, collusion, propaganda, and I'm just getting warmed up! I want to give readers something to think about along with being entertained.

I make a point of having my books move along quickly. Many novels tend to be slow and steady, but I feel like people want to be grabbed by the throat and pulled right into the story. People are used to watching fast-paced television shows with a lot of drama, complex characters, and non-stop action, so in my mind, books must compete. When I'm writing my books, I see them like a television show running in my head, so I write them accordingly. I believe that is where books are going in the future.

My books root for the underdog, the bad guy, or the ostracized. We can't all write about superheroes and superhumans. 

So what do I write about? I like to think I write about cool topics; vampires, rock stars, gangsters, all the sexy areas the top television shows centre on. We love the antihero these days much more than we love the boy next door. We love characters that jump off the page, that are full of passion and excitement. And why should we settle for anything less? 

My books are for people who like to be challenged and love action. I can tell you one thing for sure; I don't write books that your grandmother's going to be reading. 🤭

How shocking!??!! 😱 (Updated)

We all love a good shock - well, in our books and movies, not so much in real life. There's nothing like a great twist in a story to keep the reader staying up late at night. The goal is to keep you interested, keep you turning the pages, and excited about the story ahead.

But it's not for shock value. That's a whole other thing. Contrary to what people have said, I don't choose topics only to be controversial. My goal is to follow the story and see where it takes me. As it turns out, my imagination takes me to some pretty wild places. I guess it works out well for both the writer and the reader! 😜

You can say many things about my writing, but you can't say you were bored. 

People want to be shocked. They want to be surprised. They want to be on the edge of their seat. Real-life is boring. Why should their entertainment be boring too? 

Why Editing Almost Made me Quit Writing 😩 (Updated)

Most writers go through a phase where they want to quit writing. There are numerous reasons they are discouraged, especially when you are first starting. For me, editing was the fly in my ointment. 

With my first book, I hired a professional editor. I paid a lot of money to have my work fine-tuned and, I thought, perfected. How did that work out? 

I had readers complain about the errors and grammar. 

With my second book, rather than hire a professional editor, I had a few people with a good eye for grammar to edit my manuscript. One of these people complained that my first book had many 'distracting' errors, so I thought this would be the perfect person to help. How did that go?

People complained about the errors and grammar.

By this point, I wanted to quit writing. I tried the two logical ways to resolve this issue only to get shit on regardless, so I was hesitant to try again.

Did I mention that my most vocal critics were other writers?

At any rate, I feel I've since worked out the kinks. I decided not to let these criticisms hold me back from doing what I love. It's been a learning curve, and 16 books later, I think I have a grasp on things. 

Here are a few suggestions for other writers who struggle with editing:

1. Check grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. I recommend using something like Grammarly, and I've also used Polishmywriting.com. Sometimes these sites catch things you might miss. 
2. Check for any unnecessary words. For example, I tend to overuse the word 'just'. So I go through my manuscript to see when I can delete it. There are many other words like 'really', and I think 'always' is another. I would do a Google search to see what other overused or unnecessary words you can cut out. 
3. Do things make sense? Do your character's reaction fit their personality? Is that a normal reaction? I once read a well-known book where a character couldn't perform an important task due to illness and had her (clearly) less mature and inexperienced friend take it on. Who does that? Most people would either look for a better alternative or drag themselves from their deathbed. 
4. Do things line up? Did your character schedule a party for next week, and suddenly it's taking place a month later? Did she leave the house wearing a red dress and come home to remove a black one? Is she blonde in chapter one and suddenly a brunette in chapter two? These errors are easy to make, especially when you have a lot going on in your manuscript and many characters.
5. Not only do you need to worry about typos for words, but what about people, places, etc.? Your character may live in 'Lonemon apartment buildings' in chapter three, then 'Lomemon apartment buildings' in chapter twenty. It's easy to make this kind of mistake. I have a 'Maria' in my books but have checked through the final manuscript for 'Marie' just in case. It's easy to miss this sort of error; and even easier to do so when typing fast.
6. It doesn't hurt to fact-check if you aren't 100% sure of something. I have some Spanish in my books, so I often research to confirm that I have the correct spelling and meaning. Sometimes I will check other things I'm iffy on; for example, is it 'toe the line' or 'tow the line' 
7. Always have help. If you can't afford a super expensive editor, find some reliable friends and family members with a good eye. They may catch things you've missed along the way. 
8. You're not perfect, and chances are, some errors will still slip through. Don't hate yourself for it, and certainly don't quit writing if it's your passion. No one is perfect. Not even other writers (or your critics)

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.

What's the best order to read my books? 📚 (Updated)

People often ask in what order they should read my books. Although I think most are standalone, I will break things down for those who might be checking them out for the first time. ☺️Here goes....

The Rock Star series:

Fire (2010)
A Spark before the Fire (2012)

The Vampire series:

The Rock Star of Vampires (2014)
Her Name is Mariah (2015)









Different Shades of the Same Color (2016)



The Hernandez series:

We're All Animals (2016)
Always be a Wolf (2017)
The Devil is Smooth Like Honey (2017)
A Devil Named Hernandez (2018)
And the Devil Will Laugh (2018)

The Devil May Lie (2019)

The Devil and His Legacy (2019)

She Was His Angel (2020)

We're All Criminals (2020)

Psychopaths Rule the World (2021)

Loyalty Above All (there are no exceptions)  (2021)

You'll notice that Different Shades of the Same Color stands alone. There is a minor connection to my current (Hernandez) series. One of the characters from the Hernandez series was mentioned in a couple of chapters, but that's about it. It's a weird book that doesn't have a place on the list.

I always encourage people to go online to learn about each book, read a chapter and see which one speaks to them. My writing is dark fiction, including graphic sex, violence, and inner conflicts. Oh, and there's some dark comedy in there too. 😉

Does violence in books and television dehumanize us? 🔪 (Updated)

We often see people dehumanizing each other on television and in books. This, unfortunately, has become the 'norm' in our society. I'm pretty conscious of this kind of behavior, and for that reason, it also has become a part of my books, but should it be?

As a writer, I've always felt that what I put on paper (or on a laptop screen, I should say) tends to reflect what I'm viewing in the real world. The situations might be different, but the sense I'm getting from life,  always creeps into my books. Therefore, it makes sense that dehumanizing and violence have become the new 'norm' for my books. Sadly, the reality of violence in our society has become more prevalent....or has it?

Well, yes and no. The thing is that the world has always been a violent place, and depending on where you grew up, it might've been just outside your door. If you grew up in a safer place, you should consider yourself pretty lucky because many people in the world can't say the same.

I've had it pointed out to me that displaying such brutal violence in my books could potentially dehumanize people to the reader. When we stop being seen as humans but disposable, it could cause readers to devalue human life. This tends to be one of the explanations for things such as school and mass shootings. When you're used to viewing someone being shot on television, reading about it in a book, or even 'being' the shooter in a video game, some will walk away with a complete disconnect from reality.

I understand the concern, but I also believe other factors play into these situations. Few things in life are black and white, and as with many topics, I think there are a lot of grey areas to consider. Anyone who takes something meant to be for entertainment purposes and turns it into a reason or an excuse to brutalize others already has some issues.

Why Jorge Hernandez is a fan favorite? 🤴🏽(Updated)

Jorge Hernandez has quickly become a fan favorite for many reasons. When asked, most readers comment on several things that stand out about this character despite his devious side, (although some people seem to like that too 🤭) he has some characteristics that make him quite appealing.

To begin with, Hernandez is a bold, powerful heavyweight in the criminal world. Remember that he's survived 20 years in the cartel, which is a massive accomplishment. If Mexican news and documentaries have taught us anything, it's that the cartel life is dangerous. However, all that aside, let's look at when this character joined the gang so you can have a brief introduction.

Fans of this series will recall that Jorge Hernandez came along in the latter part of Always be a Wolf. He popped in and out of the book but essentially took over the series as the protagonists in The Devil is Smooth Like Honey. He continues to lead the series. 

Fans enjoy this antihero, alpha dog character simply because he is strong, confident, and unapologetic. His loyalty lies with his close friends and family, which is something many people appreciate. He would do anything for the people he loves: literally, anything. He's very passionate about life and goes after what he wants with complete confidence that he will get it. It is probably because of this arrogant insistence that he is so successful.

Of course, he also has a surprisingly sensitive side when it comes to his family. His daughter will often tug at his heartstrings, as does his wife, which we don't expect from a gangster-type character. You know where you stand with Jorge Hernandez. He never hides how he feels. 

He is the king.

Do I need to read the entire series to understand the new book? 🧐 (Updated)

People often ask me if they need to read my entire Hernandez series to understand my latest book. The answer is no. 

To begin with, I attempt to write each novel as standalone as possible. I want people to be able to pick up the most recent book and read it with ease and no confusion. For this reason, I often refer to previous events from other books, in short, digestible descriptions. This gives the reader what they need to know without too much detail.


Essentially, I want the reader to understand the context of the book without having to wade through the previous storyline. I've done this many times and find it's the best method to keep everyone happy. It also gives them some clues to older books and maybe entices them to check them out too.  

The interesting thing about this series is that the first couple of books (We're All Animals and Always be a Wolf) center on the character Chase Jacobs, who tends to be slightly naive about what kind of world he is entering. A young man from rural Canada, his eyes are slowly opened up to the crime world he has joined.

All my books since have Jorge Hernandez as the protagonist, and while Chase is trusting and gentle, Jorge is strong and defiant. It's interesting because you get to discover the contrast between the two characters, but you can finally see the flip side of the story as you enter the criminal element of the story. I love that there is a slow discovery in the series, allowing the reader to see how someone unexpected might get pulled into this dark, underground world.

Of course, I explain this much better in the accompanying YouTube video. 👇🏼

The Jorge Hernandez BLOG 🙀 (Updated)

Jorge Hernandez checked into my seventh book, Always be a Wolf, and essentially took over. There was no way he couldn't have become the protagonist because his presence was much too strong to be a secondary character. The Mexican-Canadian was charming, powerful, and dangerous. Unlike other antiheroes in books and television, we weren't just viewing his forceful side but getting a peek into his everyday life. As it turns out, even this was anything but boring.  

I decided to write a blog from this character's perspective because I wanted to introduce him to those who haven't read my Hernandez series yet. I've only written a few posts so far, but I plan to continue to add more in the future. I hope that it gives people an inside view of his life, and unlike my books, it's written in a first-person perspective, hopefully creating a more personal connection between the reader and the character. 

We follow Jorge's journey through the series. Learn more HERE. 

Do your characters have quirks? 🤭 (Updated)

Quirks are odd behaviors or habits that people develop, and as it turns out, characters are no different. Most of the quirks that my characters demonstrate aren't planned but pop up in the story and stick.

What makes quirks fun is that they usually tell you something about the character. For example, many quirks that I use in my books seem to be associated with nervous or anxious behavior. I have one character that twitches and jerks a lot, especially when he's uneasy, whereas another character (who's bilingual) switches back to his native tongue when very upset.

What I love about quirks is that it makes a character more three-dimensional. This is especially true when the character regularly demonstrates the behavior. As I mentioned in the earlier examples, two of my characters tend to react in specific ways when presented with stress. This becomes consistent throughout the books to the point that you begin to expect it in the same circumstances.

Of course, not all quirks connect to emotions. A quirk could be someone not wanting the food on their plate to touch or refusing to drink out of a blue glass. One of my characters, for example, has a lime tree in his condo. He's obsessive about it and treats it almost like a child that needs constant care. That might also be considered a quirk. Then again...maybe that's just weird.

What are some of the quirks you've noticed with your favorite characters?

Should you be a writer? ✍🏼 (Updated)

One of the most common questions I get from people is whether or not they should become a writer. For me, it's difficult to answer that question because it's not for me to say. How passionate are you about writing? Do you have the time to put into it? Are you willing to learn the craft? Why do you want to be a writer?

For some people, the idea never leaves the thought process, and for others, they jump right in and start writing. If you're thinking about it more than doing it, your heart may not be into it. Writing requires a lot of time and dedication, so if you aren't truly inspired, then chances are, it may not be for you. And hey, there's nothing wrong with that! 

Then again, not everyone has to write a book either. Some people are more inclined to work on a blog, while others might want to write in a journal, create poetry or even come up with songs. It depends on your style and interest. For me, I can't imagine ever writing a short story. I also can't envision writing a song or poem. I'm not interested in all the research required to write a non-fiction book, but fiction? Now that's my baby!

Of course, you have to also look at why you're doing it. If your only interest is writing a best seller and becoming rich and world-famous, you might want to change your plan. Not to say that this isn't possible, but it rarely happens overnight. Writing books is like starting a business. You probably will put a lot of work into it before you start seeing results as you slowly build an audience. Then again, if you're writing because you can't imagine not writing, then you are probably on the right path.

As I said, writing can take many forms. You don't necessarily have to write a book, but if you want to, then don't overthink it. Just do it. 

Why authors should challenge themselves 🤓 (Updated)

Let's face it; it's easy to fall into the comfort zone and not want to get back out again. It's human nature to want to feel comfortable and to be in control, but is it good for us?

I think we know the answer to that question.

As a writer, I've traveled out of my comfort zone many times. Sometimes it is topics that make me uneasy; other times it's something like self-promotion or social media that has made me anxious. Of course, this is normal. When we aren't familiar with something, we become nervous, fearing that we will make fools of ourselves or do or say something wrong. In reality, we are on a learning curve. Not only does it help with your end goals as a writer, but it also builds confidence.

One of the biggest challenges I've had as a writer early on is doing interviews. The first few times I've done them, I felt a bit dumbfound and not always sure what to say. I've had one journalist bite my head off because I wasn't giving her a 'good quote'. I didn't have media training and attempted to answer questions to the best of my ability. 

Since that time, I started a YouTube channel. It wasn't something I did casually. I was terrified at first, but it turned out to be a great decision. Not only did it help me build confidence, but it also forced me to express myself better. I needed to be able to articulate what I wanted to say about my writing and books. A couple of hundred videos later, I now love recording for my channel, and readers have the opportunity to learn about me and my books. 

I've also dealt with writing topics that have challenged me. Believe it or not, I've never been in a cartel, never sold drugs, never been in politics, never been an assassin, never been a vampire or a rock star, and yet, these are all topics that I've covered in my books. Not only have I done the research, but I've also paid attention to the world around me; the news, documentaries, films, webinars, books...there are many sources of information out there and many trails away from just the facts to more personal experiences. We have to put ourselves in many shoes when writing and give it fair consideration, and that sometimes is a challenge in itself.

Authors are faced with many challenges that aren't even related to writing itself. Marketing, media, government forms, and technology are just a few things that might come along your path. But aren't challenges a part of any career? 

Why we need more strong female characters 💪🏼 (Updated)

It should be a given that we need strong female characters in our books and television shows. And to be honest, I've seen an improvement in this area since first writing this article, but are we there yet? 

It's disappointing that I still see a few cringe-worthy examples. I recently caught part of a soap opera where a woman talked about how she 'found happiness' with a new man in her life, which suggested that she couldn't be or wasn't happy before he appeared. In the same show, a woman played the whole eye-lash-batting, I-don't-like-you-but-I-do game that caused me to roll my eyes.

That was a fail. Women don't need to play games or feel less valuable when they're single, and TV shows that perpetuate this scenario need to refresh their storylines and remember it's 2022.

Not to suggest that my female characters are always strong. They have their weak moments, just as we all have but for the most part, I like to think that they are powerful, independent, and self-reliant. Paige Noël-Hernandez and Jolene Silva from my Hernandez series are excellent examples. Physically and mentally, these women can take on any situation fearlessly; no hand-holding or white knight is required.

One of the things that I think is important to mention is that I'm not just talking about adults when I insist on strong female characters. My series has a young girl, Maria Hernandez, who demonstrates a great deal of strength. I think we sometimes forget that young girls are learning how to be young women in our society, and it is important that they aren't taught to take a weak position to get attention or be accepted. Maria tends to stand her ground, and although she can get a little out of hand sometimes, for the most part, she demonstrates a strong, confident child who's an independent thinker and fearless by nature. She is smart, articulate, and bold.

I don't tend to write about the 'damsels in distress', and I'm certainly not writing a fairy tale scenario where the prince swoops up on his white horse...I will leave that book for someone else. 😒

A Devil Named Hernandez by Mima 😈 (Updated)

In the thrilling sequel to The Devil is Smooth Like Honey, Jorge Hernandez is muscling in on the Canadian marijuana industry, unleashing the same savagery that made him a big player in the Mexican drug cartel. Whether it’s controlling politicians, and government officials, or using intimidation and violence to get what he wants, few people dare stand in his way. 

  

Although he takes on his enemies with deceptive ease, it only takes a single threat to his family to bring out the demon inside of him. Fueled by blinding rage, he attacks with relentless brutality, showing no remorse and offering no mercy.

In a world tainted by racism, corruption, and greed, he proves once again there is a devil, and his name is Jorge Hernandez.

In this eye-opening look into the life of the silver-tongued Mexican fox, you find yourself rooting for society's underbelly, as sex, drugs, and death intermix with family, love, and friendship. 

Learn about the entire series HERE! 

Also, check out my latest YouTube video, where I discuss this book in more detail.

Learn about the entire series HERE! 

Also, check out my latest YouTube video where I talk about this book in a little more detail.

Why I Hate Being Stuck in a Genre 😩 (Updated)

I hate the word ‘genre’. It sounds so limiting. As if you define your book in one, single category rather than having it overlap in many areas. Then again, is that surprising since we also live in a world that wants us to define ourselves into small categories that are easily digestible, uncomplicated, and make other people comfortable?

I stopped trying to define my books. Except for The Rock Star of Vampires and its follow-up, Her Name is Mariah, I have always stuck with the genre of ‘fiction’ when checking in with my publisher and later when asked which category my books fit. For me, a great book should overlap into many genres. There should be some romance – but not too much. There should be some drama – but not to the point that it becomes unrealistic. There should be some suspense but not necessarily non-stop from chapter one. There should be some erotica but not in the Fifty Shades extreme. I think readers should get a glimpse of themselves in the story as well as a fantasy version of themselves.

When I write a book, I visualize it as if it were one of my favorite dramas on television. I like surprise twists and turns. I love strong emotions. I like diving into dark topics. I love contradictions. I like the light side of our personalities that makes us human. 

Genres tend to be suffocating. When asked for themes in my first book, I stupidly suggested ‘romance’ even though it was only a fraction of the book. My publisher immediately suggested that I change the ending and do things differently to connect with the ‘romance’ fan. I wasn’t about to make my book into a tacky, $2 trash romance book and immediately said no. Same thing with the vampire books; I was told they weren’t ‘vampiry’ enough, not what fans wanted in this kind of genre – but to me, that was the point. Who says that all vampire books have to be the same? Isn’t the point of creativity to be unique? Sometimes I think this is no longer the case.