Characters, Characters, Characters! Why we love Awesome Characters! 😇😈 (Updated)

Is there a character that you love? It doesn't matter if it's on television or in your favorite book; is there someone that stands out and is exciting to read about or watch? Why is character development so important??

If there's one thing that stands out to me in a great book or television show, it is specific characters. In my mind, these personalities (or lack thereof...) can make or break a show. You can have awesome plot twists and terrific writing, but if you don't have characters that people connect with, it things can fall flat.

We like variety, diverse and dynamic characters. As I've said before, we love personalities that jump off the page because they seem realistic and charismatic. They're the people you want to learn more about with every chapter or, in the case of a television show, each episode.

Characters should grow, especially in a series. Just like everyday people, it seems a bit unusual to not see growth or, at the very least, a change in opinion over time. As you learn about the characters, they're often learning about themselves. Even more interestingly, the characters you're drawn to might also be telling you something about yourself.

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.

Why it's important to see through the character's eyes 👁 (Updated)

One of the aspects I like best about writing has been getting inside a character's head. I love being able to see things from their eyes. I want to understand where they are coming from and how much previous experiences affect their decisions. Human nature is fascinating. 

With characters, you have no choice but to understand and appreciate their journey. This is probably the biggest lesson I've learned from writing and one that I apply to my everyday life. When I started writing as a teenager, this was the main reason it appealed to me. I felt people didn't understand each other and that through characters, we could all open our eyes a little wider and perhaps show some compassion toward one another.

Fast forward to years later, and I think this lesson is even more relevant than ever. When we look at our world today, we see a strong disconnect, a lot of judgment, and even more so, a vast divide. One of the beautiful things about the characters I write about is that they come from many different backgrounds and experiences, and I make great efforts to show how this relates to their current situations.

Interestingly enough, real life isn't that much different if we take the time to investigate.

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? 

It's All About Perception 🤔 (Updated)

We all have our unique perceptions. Two people can look at the same picture, watch a movie or read a book and interpret it differently and that's ok. We all judge things according to our individual experiences and opinions. For example, someone who's had a violent past may cringe if watching a movie filled with bloodshed, while someone else might love the same film.

For that reason, I don't think authors should be offended when people don't like their writing. It doesn't matter if you're a bestseller or a new author, there will be people who connect with your work and others who aren't interested. It depends on your topic choice, your writing style, and what captures the reader. And that's ok. You don't have to be for everyone.

It's just a matter of perception.

I've also had people read my books and interpret them very differently than how I had intended. I've had readers miss crucial points and others who didn't like certain characters. Of course, on the flip side, I've had readers that understood and connected with the plot, noticed things that even I had overlooked, and had a fascination with specific characters.

Unfortunately, many writers spend too much time focusing on the negative and unpleasant rather than the positive. I guess that's human nature. We zero in on the criticisms, and to a point, that's a good thing because it's sometimes a learning curve or a lesson for us. Other times it's irrelevant and not something we should spend any time overthinking.