Why do I pick certain book titles? 📇

Most of my book titles aren't selected just because they grab attention or suit the book, but also because they sometimes make a statement that I think is relevant. It might say something about human nature, the world we live in, or be a belief that I have about the world. 

I'll let you be the judge. Here are a few titles to consider:

Psychopaths Rule the World 

Do I have to explain this one?

We're All Criminals

Isn't there a 'bad' side to all of us? Do we not all have a dark side?

We're all Animals

In essence, we are all animals. Do we not have natural instincts that relate to those of animals? Are people all that different from one another?

Always be a Wolf

A quote throughout the series is; in a world full of sheep, always be a wolf. That seems pretty relevant in our times.

In the end, I guess it depends on the author's style and motives. Maybe they want a silly title that shows a lighthearted side to their writing. Then again, they might want something dark that suggests murder, crime, or horror. For me, my motive as a writer is to make people think. I guess I feel that if I can't get them to read the book, maybe I can accomplish this (to some degree) by demonstrating my titles. 

October newsletter 🎃🎉

It's the spookiest month of the year and that fits right in with my Hernandez series which doesn't need a special occasion to play the evil card. Jorge Hernandez is pretty good at terrifying people throughout the year. 

Let's check out what was new in September!  

To start with, I had an awesome article about my writing in the local newspaper - check out the article here (I believe you can sign up for FREE or click on the image in this newsletter and read it from the photo). It was probably one of my favorite articles about my writing and I was very excited when I read it.

Anything else?

I have one new video/blog to share with you:

How do I meet my characters 🤝

Blog 

Video

Last, but not least, I've added a new feature called BOOK BIRTHDAYS! With this, I will showcase whatever book has a 'birthday' for that particular month. For October, A Spark Before the Fire turns 10!! 🥳 This wasn't my favorite of my books, however, it was fun to write. Here's a quick review of what it's about:

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.

Thanks for the support!!

Mima 🌸

How do I meet my characters 🤝

It might surprise you to learn that meeting a character isn't all that different from meeting an actual person. I mean, there are some obvious differences, but in theory, it's quite similar. What do I mean? Let me explain.

When you meet a person, it takes time to get to know them. You can make assumptions about them, get your first impression, but it tends to take time to unravel the complexities of a human being. People are complicated. They're a series of experiences, heritage, genes, and self-concepts that makes them both fascinating and at times, difficult to understand. 

Characters are also complex, a product of their environment, experiences, and views of the world. And contrary to what many people might think, you can't decide ahead of time exactly who they are and fit them in a neat little box. It usually takes writing about them and seeing them in various circumstances and conversations to slowly reveal who they are and how they fit into the world. 

So, in essence, I meet my characters when they come along in the story, but getting to know them is a whole other thing.

- Mima

September Newsletter 🍁📰

Thanks for checking out my September newsletter! I only have a few things to report for August, so let's get started.

Most of my focus in August was on promoting my latest book, Psychopaths Rule the World. Hopefully, I've done so with new and creative ways to capture people's attention and interest. It's a struggle when you're up against famous names, but I do my best to let people know about my books. I'm currently contacting various libraries throughout the world. And of course, I'm also writing my 16th book. With working full-time, it's been a challenge, but I hope to have another book out this year.

Another project I've been working on is updating all my older blogs (eventually, I may do the same for my videos) so, I only have one new video/blog to share with you:

How Jorge Hernandez always gets what he wants 😱

     Blog

     Video

This is part of the Hernandez series of videos. For the complete playlist, go HERE. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel 😬

Have a wonderful September 🍁

Mima

My August newsletter 📰

Thank you for checking out my August newsletter. I'm reviewing what you might've missed during the hot days of summer!

As you might already know, I experimented with selling products with my book covers on them during July. Although the concept was great, I, unfortunately, had to close my store with a particular print-on-demand company because I felt their postage rates were too high. The good news is that if you ordered products from them, they should be arriving shortly, and I'm looking into some more affordable options. It was a learning experience and one that I'm still....well, learning about, as it turns out. I will say that I had a lot of interest from people wanting to buy products, which is exciting! 

What videos and blogs were new in July? I have a couple of new ones, and of course, you can always go back to check out my entire channel or blogs. Learn about my books, writing, and how I got started. 

Check out what was new in July:

Music and how it inspires my books 🎵🎸🥁

     Video

      Blog 

I'm not my characters 🙀

     Video

     Blog

That's about it for this month! I'm working on book #16 and already know what #17 is about and I'm super excited.  I'm also thinking of starting up a personal blog again soon. 

If you enjoy my videos, don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

Enjoy the rest of your summer. Thank you for your support. 

Mima. 

I'm not my characters 🙀

Shortly after publishing my first book, Fire, in 2010, I was surprised when people started to inquire if the protagonist's story was based on my own life. This came as a bit of a surprise to me. It never would've crossed my mind that people would assume that my books were autobiographical, but apparently, that was a common belief. 

As it turns out, I didn't spend my 20s in a rock band, with two of my bandmates in love with me. I didn't become famous, and most of all, my life wasn't quite as exciting as that of my protagonist, Tarah. Although, my protagonist and I did indeed have similar physical traits (petit and blonde), and that's pretty well where our similarities ended. If anything, I was living vicariously through my characters while writing the book. 

I would later write about vampires in The Rock Star of Vampires, and Her Name is Mariah, which seemed to end any speculation that my characters were representative of my own life. After all, I'm pretty sure no one thinks that I'm a vampire. Of course, if there had been any uncertainty, I'm sure that ended when I started writing the Hernandez series, which centers on a man who used to be in the Mexican cartel. 

Then again, one never knows what people think.

In my opinion, it's never a great idea to write about your own life or that of others you know, even if the book is technically fiction. In the end, it becomes more autobiographical, and rather than following a character and telling their story, you're telling your own. I can understand why someone might want to do this, but I would warn that this brings things a little too close to home, making it more difficult to see both sides of a story. To write a good book, I think you have to show other perspectives, not just that of your protagonist. Also, you have to consider whether or not you want people to figure out it's about you. There are things you might not want to share and books, even fiction, are deeply personal when unraveling your characters. 

That's not to say that it's always a terrible idea. If you decide to write about characters based on you, my advice would be to distance yourself to get a broader view.  I would switch up some details just to make sure no one catches on.  😉

Why I sometimes kick things up halfway through my books 🥾(Updated)

As a writer, the last thing you want is for your readers to be bored, so it's important to kick things up before the story has a chance to fall flat.

Every writer is different, but for me, I like to have a lot of balls in the air throughout the entirety of my books. Having said that, there's something about that halfway point that screams at me to throw another curb ball into the game to see what happens. I feel that it's usually the perfect time to add an extra element to completely stress out the protagonist, therefore creating excitement for the reader. 

Of course, this also means more of a challenge for the writer. But you're up for that. Right?

For example, in my book The Devil May Lie, I threw in a political scandal at the halfway point, causing a shift in energy for the story. This created a heavy, dark feel in the book. However, it was necessary to shift gears and move the story along. It was interesting to see what direction it took the characters and how everything unraveled.

It's important to keep readers on their toes. But of course, as a writer, it's not a bad idea to keep on your toes too. 

When really bad things happen to your characters 😭(Updated)

It can't always be smooth sailing for characters. There are times when the water is a little rougher than readers can handle. But does that mean writers should avoid uncomfortable topics?

If you're familiar with my writing, you already know that I hardly write about princesses and unicorns. It's not unusual for me to touch on some uncomfortable topics. Not to suggest there haven't been some that gave me a moment of pause, but in the end, I had to follow the story, and more importantly, follow the character and their journey.

Not to say that it's easy. 

It's also possible that your readers may complain about where the story sometimes goes, especially when things get dark. The truth is that for many people, reality gets pretty dark sometimes and for a group of characters to avoid this is simply unrealistic, especially when involved in a long-running series.

In the end, you have to follow the story wherever it takes you. I think a character that experiences some extreme highs and lows, creates compassion from the reader while giving characters more dimension. We connect more with people (in both reality and fiction) if we see they've been through some soul-searching moments in their lives because we relate to it ourselves. 

Why I'm an author with a social conscience 🌎(Updated)

For the most part, I'm willing to bet that most fiction authors have a social conscience. I say that because I see it in their writing. We see it on television. When you consider a classic television episode still very much alive in people's memory, it's perhaps because it brought up a social issue that was a particular concern during that time. 

Even when I published my first book and had no idea what I was doing, I still needed to bring up social issues that were important to me. Of course, I was still getting my feet wet back then, so it's mild compared to the topics I bring up in my more recent books, especially the Hernandez series. These days my books feature issues like racism, indigenous issues, poverty, homelessness, Big Pharma, mental health issues, bullying, political corruption, police misconduct, white supremacy, environmental concerns...and that's just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are other social issues I have missed. 

Not to say that I have an entire book about any of these topics. It could be as simple as a subject touched on in a book like environmental issues, or it could be something like racism, which comes up in most of this series. 

I like to bring up these subjects within the storyline because it puts a face on a topic. Readers see through the character's eyes, getting a peek into their world, which helps create compassion or, at the very least, some understanding of their point of view. 

Our world is much smaller than we think, and as people, we have more in common than our egos sometimes want us to believe. 

Do I have to read the entire Hernandez series to follow the latest book? 🧐(Updated)

No. 

Well, that was a short article.

Maybe I should elaborate.

A book should be strong enough to stand on its own. Sure, there should be some details explained in a general manner to give the reader some idea of the most relevant information. Of course, this is without spoiling the plot or digging too much into the past. One clean swoop should take care of everything the reader needs to know.

For example, if you wrote a book with a complicated plotline and followed it up with the sequel, you wouldn't give the reader every detail from that previous book but a vague and summarized explanation that keeps the reader on a need-to-know basis only. 

For example, in my Hernandez series, I often refer to Jorge Hernandez's shady past but never get into his complicated history. I let you know that he is brutal, dangerous and no one gets in his way. However, I don't go into an explanation of the crimes he committed. Nor do I discuss the revenge, the murders, the corruption, nor do I talk about the threats, manipulation, and ...I think you get the idea. 

In essence, he's crazy, he's dangerous, and you don't want to get on Jorge's bad side. 

In the end, there should be enough information about the previous books in the series to create intrigue. After all, if they fall in love with the book in their hands, chances are they'll want to snatch up the ones that precede it. 

We're All Criminals - the 9th book in the Hernandez series! ☠️(Updated)

 The 9th book in the Hernandez series is out! Check out the synopsis:

If there is one thing that Jorge Hernandez values as much as power and loyalty, it is his freedom. Despite his countless crimes and acts of vigilantism, he continues to plunge ahead into the 9th book in the Hernandez series, playing by his own rules. While others follow like sheep, Hernandez has always been the wolf, brutally ripping apart anyone who gets in his way.

When a cop has the nerve to show up at his door and harass him, Jorge's fury quickly ignites. However, rather than sinking his teeth into this one victim, he instead takes on the entire herd, deciding to use the second season of his docuseries, Eat the Rich before the Rich Eat You, to expose the dirty secrets and humiliate the Canadian law enforcers. While Jorge wants to exhibit his power and publicly taunt the police, his family fears that this time, he may have pushed too far. 

Even with his freedom in the balance, Jorge Hernandez won't back down. Then again, in a world of blurred lines and uncertain morals, are we all the judge and jury, or are we all criminals?

Get the book HERE! 

The future of my Youtube channel 📺(Updated)

The first time I recorded a YouTube video, I thought I was going to hyperventilate. I don't think I took a breath the whole time because I was so scared and definitely out of my comfort zone. Almost 200 videos later, I've long let go of these fears, as my confidence built over time. Now, I enjoy making videos and don't even give it a second thought. 

So why did I start? Well, it certainly wasn't to become a YouTube star. I created the channel in hopes of connecting with my audience and potentially finding a new audience. I wanted people to see who I was and to maybe learn a little about me. Also, it gave me a chance to talk about my books, my process and maybe answer a few common questions along the way.

I'm not sure if having a YouTube channel is common amongst writers, but I think it's a good idea. You never know who is watching, and that's kind of neat. 

My goal in the future is to improve and update my videos while diving into more topics that people want me to discuss. It's even been suggested that I start a podcast but I'm not quite there yet. 

If you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to contact me at info@mimaonfire.com. Sign up for my newsletter and keep up to date! Subscribe to my YouTube channel, hit the bell for notifications, and share the videos. Thanks for reading this blog. 

How do you start a series? 📚(Updated)

The idea of starting a series may seem exciting, but the truth is that you need a few factors to carry it through and keep it interesting. Here are some of my thoughts on what matters in a series. 

The first and probably most important factor for me would be to create compelling, 3-dimensional characters. Regardless of exciting plots, intensity, or the concept behind the storyline, if readers aren't interested in the characters, they will eventually lose interest in the series. Readers need to connect with characters, their issues, and heartbreaks. They also need to find them exciting and sympathize with their situation. 

I also find that an ambitious or conflicted protagonist also contributes to a series, especially if that character has lots of dragons to slay. When I introduced Jorge Hernandez in the second book in my Hernandez series, that's when things started to pop! This character seeks out and thrives on power and has no issue stepping up or on anyone in his way. For him, control is vital. Of course, it takes time to do these things, which is why the Hernandez series continues to grow. 

Of course, you need lots of excitement to keep a reader interested. It's a good idea to introduce compelling secondary characters with their journeys and issues. With lots of stuff always cropping up, it keeps readers from being bored. A mixture of plots and subplots keeps readers turning the page because it may not be the protagonist that captivates them but another character. 

I have one last note regarding creating a series. Some people like to figure out an outline before they start, but I would warn to keep them very general, allowing room for creativity and new ideas that might spring up once you begin to write. 

And last of all, if you find the idea of writing a series a bit overwhelming, I would suggest you don't think too far ahead. Sometimes you have to see how things naturally flow.

Should you put touchy subjects in your books? 😬(Updated)

These days I feel like any subject that is even the slightest bit contentious will get someone's back up, but it hasn't stopped me from bringing up some pretty controversial topics in my books. Why is that? Is it necessary to occasionally shake the controversy tree to see what falls out? 

Well, I certainly think so.

The beauty of books (both fiction and nonfiction) is that they present unique ideas that challenge readers. It allows us to view the world from a different perspective. It may not be one we agree with, but agreeing with the characters or the writer isn't the point. The point is to open your mind and understand one another while hopefully being challenged and entertained. 

I started to write as a teenager. I specifically remember that my goal was to make people understand and have compassion for one another. It was a more innocent time, so that was pretty reasonable. I now feel like people are becoming less open, less empathetic, and less interested in views that don't align with their own. It's a sad state when you consider the many issues in the world today. If no one bends and no one listens,  then we are essentially battling each other all the time. 

I continue to bring up contentious subjects in my writing because I think that's one of the reasons why I do what I do. I think my readers are intelligent and want something to think about long after they've finished the last chapter because a good book lingers. 

Why we love the softer side of a gangster character 💀(Updated)

Throughout the Hernandez series, readers are often surprised to see the softer side of the protagonist, Jorge Hernandez. Usually abrupt, in control, and dangerous, it's a surprise to see his vulnerabilities. This especially comes to light when dealing with either his children or wife, Paige. Something is appealing about the unexpected balance of his character.

In general, I think people enjoy discovering the unexpected when it comes to characters. There's something about getting past the mask, the bullshit, to learn who someone really is that is fascinating in both the real and fictitious world. I believe it's human nature to want to understand what makes people tick. Also, to see what we all have in common despite our backgrounds and status in the world.

I have said in the past that I normally don't write a love story. I guess it's perhaps my cynicism that makes me hesitant. However, I find the relationship between Jorge and Paige fascinating and adds an extra element to the series. I think the unlikelihood of two people who don't fit in well with the rest of the world meeting each other is somewhat inspiring. Throw in a couple of children, and the protagonist is forced to not always be in control, and as the reader, you get to see him unravel.

And there's something about seeing someone unravel that makes us see humanity. Which, I believe, is what we're often looking for in the first place.

Why I won't be putting THIS in my next book 🙀🦠(Updated)

With the recent pandemic fresh on people's minds, many have suggested that I might want to incorporate this scenario in a future book. Not a chance.

Of course, I completely understand why people would feel this way. It's not as if I have ever shrunk back from exploring controversial subjects, and I'm all for potential conspiracy theories. However, we are already living in Covid-19 hell 24/7, so I suspect that people want to read about it as much as I want to write about it. Even publishers have expressed little interest in taking on any dystopian nightmare story at present. It's just a little too real, folks.

This isn't to suggest that it's impossible. I'm sure there's a crafty author out there who can do it in such a way that people find it appealing, maybe even exciting. And who knows what we will want to read in the future, once this is all over. 

I doubt it. 

Everything goes in cycles, and the truth be told, what's going on in the world affects creativity and what we find enjoyable. However, sometimes it has the opposite effect, kind of like reading a Christmas book in July.

I will continue to write my twisted series because regardless of the state of the world, raw human emotions are always in style.

How do you keep track of everything?? 🤔 (updated from original)

After watching one of my recent blogs about how I have 10 different lives, (characters, I mean, just so you don't think I have a split personality....at least, nothing diagnosed 😜) a friend asked me how I kept track of everything. Not only do I have a lot of characters, but I also have a lot of books in my current series. I thought I had addressed this in a previous blog, but then, I wasn't sure if I covered the bases, so I thought I would dive into this question.

To begin with, I have a lot of stray notes that get stuck on a clipboard. These are comments in a specific character's voice, ideas, scenes, various things that I want to bring to light at some point in my book. Eventually, I take all these little notes and add them to a long list of things that are there as reminders of events and plot points coming up in the future. I don't necessarily use everything, and sometimes, these thoughts carry on to another book in the series. Sometimes they aren't used at all.

My most valuable writing possession (outside of my laptop) is a black book where I keep my writing notes. In the first section, I have a list of characters, notes about each one (age, family, etc.), and in which books you can find them.

The second half of this notebook is the notes for each chapter of every book in the series. I'm afraid the scribblings aren't necessarily as detailed as they should be but, they give me enough information to use as a reference point. That allows me to look up whatever book and chapter I need to review some material. Sometimes, for example, I have an old character returning to the series and have to remind myself what role they played, how they spoke, and their connection to the protagonist.

My little black book isn't perfect but, it gets the job done. It's the personal journal of my characters and their story.

Do we really need genres anymore? (updated)

It's not the first time I've talked about not wanting to be stuck in a genre: and it probably won't be the last. Are genres too confining?

The problem is that as soon as we put books in a category, it limits your audience. It suggests it's the central theme when most books, movies, and television shows can dip into a whole range of genres. You can watch a detective show and catch a little romance. You can read a detective book and stumble across some unexpected humor. Sometimes stating that a book is a specific genre only shows your potential audience a portion of what they can expect. It's like introducing your new friend and describing her as a journalist: when she's also a mother, a wife, an activist, and maybe even a volunteer in her community. The one-word description limits our view of who she is when she has so many aspects to her personality. Books are the same.

Another issue with having a specific genre is that it limits your audience. For example, if I learn a book is a 'romance', you've already lost me. It doesn't matter that perhaps it's only one element, and maybe the novel is full of humor, drama, and other things. I might enjoy it but, I've already written it off as 'not my kind of book'. This is another reason why I'm iffy on genres. I write books that more or less fall under the thriller-suspense categories, but I have a lot of other stuff going on, including romance, dark humor, maybe even a little horror from time to time.

I guess the point is that good books, movies and television shows have many different things going on. We have short attention spans and need lots of colors lighting up at once or we get bored. I'm not sure if genres are as important as they were in simpler times. What do you think?

Why I have 10 different lives 🤪(updated)

As if keeping track of my own life wasn't enough, I have about ten more to deal with every day. Of course, this is a statement most fictional authors can safely make. We got a lot of stuff going on in our heads, and somedays, it's easier to sort out than others.

When you think about it, fictional authors have to keep track of a lot of stuff: details about our characters, what they are doing, thinking, feeling, their quirks, what they love, and how they feel about other characters. In other words, picture your own life, times ten.

What makes things even more tricky is when you throw complex characters into the mix. Unfortunately, not all authors do, and that's why some books fall flat. We, as humans, are complex, so we most relate to characters who are the same. We don't always understand ourselves, and sometimes, we also don't understand our characters.

Keeping track of everything can be tricky. I have notes about each character, but sometimes I miss important details and have to backtrack. For example, I have one character who has celiac disease. Every time this character sits down to eat with the group, I try to make sure there's gluten-free food mentioned.

I think you have to be dedicated to your craft if you write fiction. Your mind has to be traveling in several directions at once and, it can be exhausting. Someone recently pointed out that this might explain why I'm so tired after writing. There are days when I literally could take a midmorning nap after an early morning writing session. It might also explain why I can't keep track of my own life. Who has the time?

    

Why I don't give away free books anymore 🧐(Updated)

Never say never. However, when it comes to giving out free books, I prefer to support those who support me.

When I published my first book in 2010, I was open to giving away some free copies. This was mainly through a contest in an online women's magazine (which may or may not have sent my books to the winners) as a way of finding new readers. In the end, this experiment was a failure; and although I've given away free books (both paperback and ebooks) since that time, in most cases, I'm sad to say that the books are often not even read, let alone reviewed. So, any hope of bringing in future sales or even feedback gave disappointing results to this experiment. This has led me to believe the old idealogy that people don't appreciate anything they get for free.

Of course, it's not always true. I find that usually, it's my most loyal readers that appreciate a free book now and then, and in fact, it's for those same people that I write for in the first place. Loyal readers are the first to give me feedback, reviews, and tell others about my books, and in fact, the people that writers should value the most. 

It's not my place to tell other authors what to do. My experience might be different from someone else. It's hard to say. I just feel like when you give something away for free, it can sometimes lose its value. I also know that writers spend a lot of time and energy writing books, that these characters are very close to their hearts, and like anything close to the heart, you must be somewhat protective. You must see that it has value and make sure others see this too.