Thinking about doing a video blog and actually doing it! 🎬 (Updated)

I wasn't exactly comfortable recording my first video blogs. I barely breathed while recording the first several videos, but I also recognized that this was a challenge I had to take on. I needed to get more comfortable talking about my writing. 

Over 200 videos later, I'm probably a little too comfortable on camera, but I certainly don't have it perfected. With each video, I see what I can improve. I make a lot of mistakes, but I'm having fun. 

The beauty of recording a video is that people can see who you are, and if you do so without editing or overproducing, it's much more authentic. The idea of perfecting my makeup, figuring out perfect lighting, and other details might improve the overall look of the videos, but for me is a waste of time. The short videos that I make are to talk about my books and answer common questions that I get asked. I'm not trying to become a television or Internet star.

I know people who've talked about making videos but never get beyond the talking stage. Most of the time, it might be due to a lack of confidence or maybe no sincere interest in doing the work. Doing these videos is relatively easy, but you have to be ready to jump in front of the webcam and not overthink every detail. You have to consider your content and not which shirt to wear. If anyone is watching your videos and are more concerned with your appearance, chances are they aren't interested in the topic you're discussing anyway. (unless you're talking about fashion, makeup, or hair)

The best tip I can give anyone interested in recording a video is to do it. It doesn't matter if it's perfect or if you even share it with the world, but you should try.

How do I pick out my book titles?? 🤓 (Updated)

People often ask me how I come up with book titles. The key is to pick something catchy and demands attention. That's not to say that all my titles fall under these categories, but I like to think I'm getting better at titling my books.

With my first book Fire, it was pretty straightforward. The story was about a fictional band in the 90s called 'Fire', and that's as creative as I got with that title. The follow-up was A Spark before the Fire, which was pretty much an attempt to connect the two titles, letting people know that this book was kind of the prequel to Fire. There's also a line in the book where the protagonist is called 'a spark in the sky'.

I thought my third book, The Rock Star of Vampires, had a pretty catchy title. It stems from the protagonist looking for the 'rock star of vampires' throughout the book. 

Most of my titles come from a line in the book. There is a significance that the reader will discover as they work their way through the story. Other books like Psychopaths Rule the World is a combination of plot significance and my reflection on the world. Always be a Wolf is simply an idealogy repeated throughout the series, as is Loyalty Above All (there are no exceptions). 

A title should capture the essence of a book and give readers a sense of the overall theme that awaits them.

Check out this video from a few years ago where I talk about some of my older titles. 

Why do authors bug the shit out of you for a review! 🙄 (Updated)

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not shy to ask for a book review. It doesn't have to be a long review. It doesn't have to have a lot of detail. It just should reflect what the reader thought of the book. A simple 'I enjoyed this book' would be sufficient.

And it's not about ego. Authors don't chase down reviews to feel good about themselves but because it gives new and potential readers some insight into what kind of books they write. I can say whatever I wish in my YouTube videos but sometimes what people want is an outside party's point of view. What kind of book is it? Was it a fast read? Did it keep you hanging on? Was it exciting? Did it leave you wanting more?

Not that authors don't appreciate positive comments outside of reviews. We love them!! Unfortunately, people who aren't familiar with us or our work might be skeptical. Many readers stick with the tried and true authors, the ones everyone is raving about online and whoever is on Oprah's reading list, and that's understandable, but it makes our job finding readers challenging.

A review can make a difference. I know I've certainly hesitated to purchase a product (especially online) unless I could compare reviews to see what other people think. And if you're an indie author like me, it can help make you stand out from the crowd.

Switch away from the protagonist?? Don't mind if I do! 😃 (Updated)

There's a little something I like doing at least once in most of my books. I like switching away from the protagonist. So essentially, I have another secondary character take over the story for one chapter, usually around the middle of the book, to give the reader another perspective. It also allows me to shake things up a bit. It adds another layer to the book.

The beauty of it is that you can have a better overall view of the protagonist. For example, if your protagonist has a specific point of view about themselves, you might swing around to another character who draws a different picture. It gives the reader food for thought. Maybe the impression that the protagonist has given isn't accurate. Then again, it might change your opinion of the secondary character as well, since you will be seeing them up close and personal.

I do this with almost every one of my books and find that it gives me a different perspective. Sometimes the only way to understand where a secondary character is coming from is to climb inside of their mind. It's fascinating.

Always be a Wolf 🐺 (Updated)

Always be a Wolf is my seventh book and the second in my Hernandez series. It follows We're All Animals. Here's a quick synopsis of the book:

In the gripping sequel to We're All Animals, Chase Jacobs moves to Toronto with his Colombian bosses, Diego, and Jolene Silva, where they expand their elite sex party business. The underground's best-kept secret is going legit, but just as Chase starts a brand new life, tragedy strikes.

The heartbreaking lessons ahead of him are the most difficult he's ever had to face, and Chase must rely on his new family to help him through. But will his blind faith in Diego and Jolene prove to be a mistake, and has he underestimated just how far they are willing to go to prove their loyalty?

He learns there are times when passion and anger cause you to throw away the rule book even in the face of deadly consequences. He learns that words have a great deal of power but not as much power as silence. But most of all, Chase learns that in a world full of sheep, one should always be a wolf.

The series continues. Learn more about all the books HERE.

Let's talk about Chase Jacobs 🥊 (Updated)

Chase Jacobs is a fan favorite because he is gentle, kind, and very much the boy next door. He tries to do the right thing in most situations and is known overall as a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. However, as the series moves forward, this changes. 

Chase came along in the first book for the Hernandez series, We're All Animals, and has stuck around ever since. When we first met him, Chase is 18 years old and just graduating high school. Suddenly dumped by his high school sweetheart, he's hanging out at a house party, confused and depressed. When party guest Audrey sets her sights on him, she slips something in his drink to 'loosen him up', and the two end up hitting the sheets. Although it was automatically a regrettable mistake for Chase, it becomes more so weeks later when he learns that she is pregnant. From this point on Chase's life starts to spin out of control.

We continue to follow along with Chase as the protagonist in Always be a Wolf, and we later switch gears when Jorge Hernandez jumps in the driver's seat from that point on. But don't worry, Chase continues to go on for the ride. 

Let's Help One Another! (Updated)

Independent artists and small business owners have a lot in common. They both work hard to get noticed (often as a side project along with a job) and don't have much money to invest in advertising. It's a struggle - but it's a struggle that's filled with passion. Anyone who has a side project probably isn't doing it for money alone because any new business owner or indie artist will tell you, it takes time to show a profit. They'll probably also tell you that they wouldn't be doing it if they didn't love it.

Somewhere between the time I published my first and second book, I had a friend insist I was crazy. Not to suggest she wasn't completely wrong, but her specific reason was that I invested in a book and advertising and wasn't making stacks of cash back. To her, I was wasting my time. Here's a spoiler alert; we weren't friends much longer. 😄

We have to follow our passion. It's not just for potential financial gains but the personal growth stemming from the challenges and the many learning opportunities along the way. Had I never written a book, would I be the same person? Where would I be now? Would I still be friends with that imbecile I mentioned in the last paragraph? I can't even imagine.

Artists and small business owners need to work together and help one another out. Be open-minded and know that by helping someone else, you're indirectly helping yourself too. It's an unselfish act that makes you feel pretty good about giving a hand to someone you know has been working hard to get ahead. Always be open to new ideas. Maybe you never considered (or wanted to) having a YouTube channel, but another artist suggests you start a project together. Maybe another business owner wants to collaborate on a promotion. Hear people out and consider their ideas. You never know where it might lead.

Follow your dreams because without them, what do we really have?