My first two books - Fire and A Spark Before the Fire

Back in 2010, I published my first book. I remember being terrified because publishing was a whole new experience for me. I've since built my confidence in writing and the industry in general, but it took a long time. I eventually wrote the follow-up to this book, which followed another character from the original, with the two books meeting. Click on the link and read a FREE sample. 

Fire

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!

A Spark Before the Fire

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 go 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.

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.

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.

What is Your Song? 🎶 (Updated)

I've often mentioned that each of my books brings a soundtrack. This is a collection of songs that inspired me throughout the writing process. These songs suddenly get in my head and stick around until the book is complete. Interestingly enough, once the process is over, the song seems less prevalent in my subconscious.

Not only does each book develop a collection of songs that take me through the writing process, but I've noticed that there's always one song in particular that stands out as being the one that best represents the protagonist. I'm sure the same can be said for each of us too, and in various phases of our lives.  

In my first book, Fire, Tarah Kiersey's song would probably be Possession– Sarah McLachlan 

This song went through my mind for months, possibly even years, before I started to write this particular manuscript. At the time, I would envision a scene that would later fit into my first book, even though I wasn't yet sure of its significance. All I knew was that it was powerful and that the character behind it was pushing her way through to tell her story.

A Spark before the Fire was the prequel to Fire and discussed the life of a strong character from my first book, Jimmy Groome. There are so many songs that could fit this character, but if I had to choose one, I would say Something in the Way by Nirvana. Depending on how you interpret this song, you could view this in a couple of different ways, and in honesty, either would apply in this situation.

I switched things up when I decided to write about vampires in The Rock Star of Vampires and a young woman named Ava Lilith. She lived a secret life that had to be hidden from everyone around her. Her song was Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. 

In my first book in the Hernandez series, We're All Animals, I would say Chase Jacobs' theme song would be Animal I Have Become by Three Days Grace. This song suits him to perfection. It describes the raw power behind the story.

My Hernandez series have so many songs that have popped up along the way. So many have inspired my writing and characters. If I had to pick one, I would say it's Masters of Puppets by Metallica. It's powerful and intense, just like Jorge Hernandez. 

So what's your theme song? Tell me about it in the comment section. 

What my Characters Teach ME 🤓 (Updated)

My readers might be surprised to discover that each of my protagonists develops from a place deep inside me and transforms before my eyes as I tell their story. Readers may be even more surprised to discover that with each lead character comes a great lesson.

So what kind of lessons have I learned along the way? Check this out.

Ava from The Rock Star of Vampires: 

In The Rock Star of Vampires, Ava underestimates her powers. However, after a few mishaps (including a powerful hex that put her boss in the hospital) Ava began to recognize the power inside herself. Ava learns she's capable of doing things that she had never imagined possible. Most of us don't realize we are much more powerful than we ever thought possible. We just have to believe.





Mariah from Her Name is Mariah:

In Her Name is Mariah, the protagonist grows up in a difficult family situation and learns resiliency at a very young age. She's forced into young independence that serves her well as an adult, better preparing her for a tough world. One of the strongest characters I've ever written about, at one point Mariah Nichols declares herself the wolf in a world full of sheep. She intimidates, manipulates, and never allows anyone into her heart. Mariah Nichols teaches us that our strength is often much more powerful than we ever thought possible, and it's something we should embrace with no apology.





Natasha from Different Shades of the Same Color:

Natasha in Different Shades of the Same Color wanted to make the world a better place. She saw the importance of reaching out, connecting with people, and doing what she could to help those vulnerable in society. I think we sometimes get caught up in our own lives and forget the importance of connecting with our community. Natasha wanted to be their voice when they couldn’t speak, something we all should do. She also was goofy, not afraid to wave her freak flag and love life. Isn't that what life is all about?

Jorge from the Hernandez series

The sly Mexican fox himself has a way of reminding us that power is a state of mind. Where other people may feel helpless in various situations, Jorge is always locked in his sense of power. Whether or not it is true, or just in his head is irrelevant. It is because he believes it, that others do too. 

Paige from the Hernandez series

The wife of protagonist Jorge, it's not surprising that she's his opposite. Where he is loud, abrupt, and often rude, Paige is calm, centered, and level-headed. I often think I would like to have these same traits, but more times than not, I feel like I'm a little more Jorge than I am Paige. 

The characters are, in essence, a part of the author, and writing a book is often a very cathartic experience. I know it is for me.

Canadian author Mima is known for her complicated and diverse characters, a dark style, and for never shying away from controversial topics. To request an interview or if you are interested in doing a book review, please send requests here  

 

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The Lost Testimonials are back! (Updated)

My website has changed a great deal since the early days of my writing career. From stumbling through a webs.com site in 2010 to nervously wandering into the world of domains and 'real' websites a few years ago, I experienced a learning curve and continue to educate as much as possible in this area.

In the shuffle between websites, I lost one of my favorite pages. It was titled 'Testimonials' and contained various reviews for my first books, contributed by my original readers. It meant a lot because it was early in my writing career, and it showed support for what I was doing. 

So today, I  was really excited to find some of these old reviews for my first two books and would like to share them with you! 

Fire

Starlily - "First there was a match, then there was a spark, and now there's Fire!" Fire chronicles the rise, triumphs, and heartbreaks of a band in the '90s. Mima clearly has put a lot of research, effort, and heart into her first novel. She takes an honest and unflinching look at the music industry and the ups and downs of the decade. Tarah's story drew me in and I finished it in a half a weekend. Can't wait for A Spark Before the Fire!

Joe - 'From the front to the back cover Fire is a book that cannot be put down. The gripping action goes from page to page with a climactic ending. This novel showcases the rise and tribulations of bands in the 90 s music scene, which the author catches very realistically in the characters, which are portrayed in this novel. Mima has done an amazing job on this book and I can’t wait for Spark Before the Fire.'

Maxine - 'What a great read. If you haven't read a book in a while, grab Fire and find a quiet corner. You can feel yourself becoming involved in every aspect of this story. You get to know every character, and can really visualize every scene. I cannot wait for Spark Before the Fire!! Great job Mima. Looking forward to many more books from you!!'

Jamie - 'When I read 'Fire', I couldn't put it down! The characters were so real and beautifully described, you felt yourself cheering them on when something great was happening, and worried and anxious when they were faced with challenges and difficult life decisions. Mima has beautifully crafted this wonderful piece of literature, greatly detailing the time, the culture and sub-culture of the 90s, and the unforgiving music scene. I am anxiously awaiting Mima's next installment to read more about the 'Fire' characters!'

Evelyn - 'When I read Fire I couldn't put it down. I sat and read it from cover to cover. Then I told lots of my friends about it and they bought the book and told me the same thing. It was happy, sad, exciting, and the edge of your seat reading. I can't wait for the next book to come out. I am looking forward to reading it and I know it will be just as good or better than the first'

Linda - 'Congratulations on a great story. I very much enjoyed the storyline. Just so different from anything that I have read. Looking forward to the sequel.'

Nadine - 'Fire was so well written! The details were there exactly when needed. I could imagine everything so vividly. The story was intense and so interesting I had a hard time putting down the book. I read it until my eyes got dry! When I was at the end, I just wanted to keep reading and was hoping for another book to continue this one and now there is one. I read the first chapter and can`t wait to read the rest. BTW the sensual scenes made me hot!!! Thank you MIMA for the excellent entertainment and information because this book was also very well documented.'

Lisa - 'This is a book everyone can relate to because at some point in your life you must have seen or even done.. sex, drugs, and/or rock and roll. I could see either myself or my friends in the main character Tarah on many occasions, I have known many guys who were like William or Jimmy and Michael is a hateful character who I've known a few of as well. As previously mentioned in one of the comments "Fire was so well written! The details were there exactly when needed. I could imagine everything so vivid." I can't wait to read about Jimmy's life and I would absolutely love to see this made into a movie. Great job Mima and congratulations on a super awesome book!! Keep them coming and I will keep reading!'

A Spark Before the Fire

Sherry - 'Just finished reading A Spark Before The Fire. Absolutely loved the book. Could not put it down, I loved reading about the life of Jimmy, I could defiantly picture this as a movie just like Fire. I would love to read another book on what happened after Fire. Do you think you would continue with this story? I look forward to your next book. All the best!'

Joseph - 'KUDOS TO MIMA. ANOTHER AMAZING READ.THE PREQUEL TO FIRE PORTRAYS A GRIPPING REALITY OF NOT JUST LIFE ISSUES BUT THE UPS, DOWNS, AND TRIBULATIONS OF TRAGEDY TO FOLLOW A DREAM TO ITS FULLEST. THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN CHARACTERS DRAWS YOU INTO EVERY PAGE AND MAKES YOU WANT TO CONTINUE ON TILL THE END. CONGRATULATIONS ON ANOTHER WRITING SUCCESS. TO EVERYONE I RECOMMEND YOU READ FIRE. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED'

Maxine - 'If you've never taken a day off work to complete reading a book, then you've never read Spark Before the Fire!! I have not found myself engrossed so deeply in a book since the release of Fire. My world disappears, and Jimmy's springs before me. Not one detail is left out, yet a lot of "didn't see that coming" surprise moments spring up. A must-read for everyone. Kudos to Mima. Yet again, you have caught and kept my focus on your words. Keep up the great work'

Jean - 'I have just finished reading A Spark Before the Fire, another excellent book by Mima. Like her first book, Fire, each chapter brings a surprise, you never know what to expect with each chapter. She tells the story of a young boy, who suffers a traumatic experience as a child and it haunts him through his teen years. It affects his lifestyle for many years. It shows how one person's actions can affect the lives of so many innocent people. Mima deals with the issues very well, making people see that bad times can be worked through and good things can happen to people who never give up. Reach for your dreams you can make them come true, that is what she shows in this novel. Looking forward to reading many more books by Mima. If you haven’t read Fire or a spark before the fire, then you don’t know what you're missing. '

Canadian author Mima is known for her complicated and diverse characters, a dark style, and for never shying away from controversial topics. To request an interview or if you are interested in doing a book review, please send requests here  

 

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