Should we allow readers to be our censorship police? 🚓 (updated)

I often tell the story of a woman who criticized my first book, Fire. She said, 'If I took out all the F-words, your book would be half the size'. Of course, she was a bitch on a good day, so I wasn't surprised when she made this snarly remark to me back in 2010. If you've read any of my books since that time, you already know that her thoughts did little to sway me, and I continue to use a lot of profanity and graphic content in my books.

I don't do this for shock value (which has also been suggested by one particularly hostile reviewer back in the day) but because it is my style. This is how I write. I don't exactly sit in front of my laptop and consider how I can shock people, but I instead follow my writing instinct. Admittedly it sometimes takes me down a dark, twisted, and even questionable road, but one thing can be assured, I'm never bored. To me, this is a good sign. If the writer isn't bored, chances are good the reader won't be either.

The truth is that only in very extreme situations is a writer going too far. In the end, a writer must always express themselves and when writing fiction, must also tell the story through the protagonist's perception. It isn't for us to censor our characters (within reason, folks) but to tell their story with as much honesty and authenticity as possible. As a writer, I have the freedom to express myself as I see fit. As a reader, you have the right to choose what you do and don't want to read. It's as simple as that.  😉

Why words matter 🗣(Updated)

If you've ever been in an argument or had a misunderstanding with another person, chances are you're already aware of why words matter. We often find ourselves in situations where words should be picked carefully, especially when there's a risk of being misinterpreted.

Not to suggest that we're already great when picking our words. If you're like me, during particularly rushed or stressful times, an entire sentence can fly out of my mouth and not make any sense at all. It happens. We're human.

So, how important are words in writing?

When I create a scene, a conversation, or show what characters are doing, I am careful about picking words that establish the mood. For example, in And the Devil Will Laugh, I had help preparing the back cover because I wanted to be sure that I chose the best words that summed up my book. I wanted to show the intensity, the fierceness of the characters, and create a sense of what to expect.

...he and his loyal foot soldiers will muscle in and tear off a big chunk of it for themselves. 

This creates a pretty strong impression of the kind of characters in my book. If I had chosen instead to say that Jorge planned to 'move in and with the help of his associates, would take over,' it simply wouldn't have the same impact.

Also, keep in mind that each character has a unique dialogue. For example, Jorge Hernandez, the protagonist in my last few books, is known for often saying, "I don't got time." When he says this, it's usually a sign he's aggravated and is about 5 seconds from rushing out the door, and he wants a situation resolved now. Each of my characters has unique dialogue patterns and expressions.

With dialogue, it's also important to remember that it can vary according to a character's education, age, ethnicity, experiences, and even attitudes.

Words do matter. Pick yours carefully.

Start your book with a bang! The importance of chapter one 🤩(Updated)

Chapter one is your chance to grab readers by the throat and make them want more!

We see it all the time in television show pilots. It's up to that original episode to captivate its audience and make them come back for another week. Something has to shake things up to create an interest with the viewer, and books are no different. 

So what do people want to see? It depends. Some people are drawn in by action, adventure, drama, violence, and sex. Others might be intrigued by characters, unexpected events, or perhaps the protagonist is going through something that connects with the audience. The main point is that the start of anything, whether it be a movie, book, or television show, must make the reader or viewer want more.

I always say that chapter one should start in the middle of something relevant to the rest of the story. And the Devil Will Laugh begins with the protagonist and his associate are visiting the (soon to be) editor of a newspaper. Their goal is to sway him to write articles in favor of himself and the political candidate he is backing. Meanwhile across town, the protagonist's wife is murdering the current editor, who didn't go with his wishes. This ties in with the rest of the book because violence and media manipulation are a huge part of the story. Also, this is in the middle of an action. I didn't start chapter one with the characters discussing their plan to bully the media or the protagonist having breakfast before leaving the house. I jump right into the action.  

Catching a reader's attention is very important. With so many other books, the Internet, and of course, Netflix as ways to be entertained, readers can easily pass up on your novel and move on to something else. Instead, give them a reason to not put your book down.

Why L. M. Montgomery Rocks! 🇨🇦(Updated)

So why does L. M. Montgomery rock? I'm going to tell you.

To begin with, she wrote and published books in the early 1900s, which was a time that I doubt many women had careers, let alone authoring books. I'm no history expert, but I'm pretty sure that the usual life path for women in those times involved pots, pans, and many screaming babies, but as I said, I'm no expert.

Furthermore, she wrote about a feisty character named Anne - with an 'e', by the way - who was quite assertive, occasionally bold, and didn't have an issue with breaking a slate over a boy's head on occasion, if you know what I mean. She probably has a lot in common with my character Diego who likes hitting people with inanimate objects (except he prefers a baseball bat 🤭) and also he has a feisty streak.

That aside, we're talking about a female character in the early 1900s when children were to be seen and not heard and little girls were supposed to be ladylike and obedient. Anne was a strong little girl, which is quite admirable and something I have a lot of respect for as a writer. As a woman, I think this is important, and I believe L.M. Montgomery felt it was important too.

It's awesome to be from the same province as this legendary author. 🤩

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. 

A Spark Before the Fire 🎸 (Updated)

The character Jimmy Groome first showed up in my first book Fire, in 2010 and later became the protagonist in A Spark Before the Fire a few years later. Although the two books are connected, they overlap more than one being the continuation of the other. For example, in A Spark before the Fire Jimmy's story starts at age 10, when something traumatic happens to his character. However, the book follows him through his teenage years and into his early twenties, when he meets Tarah, the protagonist from Fire.

The cool thing is that you view things through his eyes, including a few incidents mentioned in Fire, where the protagonist is a woman. As you can imagine, these two characters often view the same situation through very different lenses. 

Here's a summary of the book:

Jimmy Groome never really believed that his life was worth anything. An overweight and unpopular teen, it takes a suicide attempt to bring a traumatic childhood experience into sharp focus. With some encouragement from family and a counselor, Jimmy picks up a guitar and it quickly becomes obvious that he has a natural talent. After losing weight and joining a band, Jimmy goes from being a shy and insecure child to an outgoing and self-destructive young adult. In a world where sex, drugs and rock n' roll goes hand in hand Jimmy’s future is uncertain.

In this prequel to Fire, we follow Jimmy Groome on his dark path, where he decides if he'll ignite the fire inside - or if he’ll let it burn out and fade away.

The Rock Star of Vampires 🧛‍♀️ (Updated)

The Rock Star of Vampires was my third book and the first time I tackled the topic of vampires. I would later follow it up with Her Name is Mariah. 

With this book, I explored the idea that perhaps vampires aren't so different from everyday people: with only a few exceptions, one of which was their need to drink blood. I compared it to most people's need for specific vitamins to maintain balance. Also, my vampires had heightened senses. For example, they can see the pollution on trees, have enhanced taste buds, and hear sounds from miles away.

Here is a quick synopsis of the book:

Did Hollywood get it wrong? A year after transforming into a mortal vampire, Ava Lilith continues to have a lackluster life. The new dietary requirements and the intensifying of her senses aside, she continues to face unhappiness rather than the glamorous and provocative lifestyle that television and movies would suggest. She then learns of an underground society of immortal vampires, led by the mysterious 'rock star of vampires' Cloaked in shadow, this Immortal sect controls the major powers of the world - from business and finance to science and politics - all manipulated for personal gain and to keep their existence concealed. Ava finds herself drawn to this secret world where she could live forever and pursue all her dreams. But what will she lose, in order to gain immortality?