We need more diversity in books 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇨🇴🇵🇭🏳️‍🌈 (Updated)

More than ever, I believe diversity is important in books. Having said that, when I started writing back in 2009, it hadn't even crossed my mind. Much has changed since those days; my most recent books feature characters of various ethnicities, different economic levels, some of which are from the LGBTQ community, and although I don't bring up religion often, the topic has come up a few times in my books. 

As a child growing up in Canada, I don't recall reading many books about characters that weren't white, which seems unusual for a multicultural country. When considering many of the books I've read over the years - including bestsellers - I believe the majority featured mainly Caucasian characters. Interesting.

I now go out of my way to read and write books with characters that reflect diversity. Why is it important? Well, because it's realistic. That's our world. Why do we need it now more than ever? Turn on the news, and you might get an idea. Governments and narrow-minded groups are attempting to divide us in many different ways, but the beauty of books, movies, and television is that we can bring us together and show that we aren't so different after all.

The Curse of Chapter Two! ✌🏼(Updated)

For some reason, I often have issues writing chapter two. I guess it's because there is so much drama in chapter one that it seems to kind of fall flat in comparison. Also, I'm responsible for setting up the story and introducing the characters in the first couple of chapters, and in the second chapter, I have to find a way to finish pulling it all together. 

At least, that's what I try to tell myself.

In honesty, since recording this specific YouTube video talking about the issue, I've been going out of my way to make chapter two as dynamic as the first chapter. But for some reason, I still find it hard to get on track, very much in the same way as I have difficulty getting on track before my first cup of coffee. Or maybe my second cup of coffee. It's just an awkward chapter for me, but maybe it's a personal thing. 

Is there a curse of chapter two? Maybe it's simply just a challenge. 

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? 

How do I get ideas for my books? 💭 (Updated)

I cover a lot of topics in my books. It's never just one specific area that I focus on, but you can find a whole assortment of thoughts, ideas, struggles, and conversations that contribute to each novel. Sometimes within one chapter. 😄

People often ask me where I get these ideas. It's kind of a complicated question to answer. I find inspiration from different areas, including everyday life, what I see on the news, documentaries, books, and even comments people have made at some point in my life. There is a whole swirl of crazy activity in my brain, and I'm never quite sure how it will land on the page but somehow it always comes together.

I guess it's what stands out to me. If a topic or comment is grabbing my attention, I will work with it. If something is on my mind, it might land on the pages of a book. It's usually not based on my life, but more likely something I've noticed. 

Plots come to me all the time. Usually when I'm working out (especially when listening to music) is when I get my strongest ideas. I will often visualize a scene and rush to jot down notes. It may not make sense at the time, but it will when I sit down to write it.

Speaking of characters, they take the wheel when it comes to storylines. Each has its district personalities, experiences, and issues that float to the surface, which is something else you must always keep in mind. After all, where would we be without characters?

It can be a magical experience.

Do I need to read the entire series to understand the new book? 🧐 (Updated)

People often ask me if they need to read my entire Hernandez series to understand my latest book. The answer is no. 

To begin with, I attempt to write each novel as standalone as possible. I want people to be able to pick up the most recent book and read it with ease and no confusion. For this reason, I often refer to previous events from other books, in short, digestible descriptions. This gives the reader what they need to know without too much detail.


Essentially, I want the reader to understand the context of the book without having to wade through the previous storyline. I've done this many times and find it's the best method to keep everyone happy. It also gives them some clues to older books and maybe entices them to check them out too.  

The interesting thing about this series is that the first couple of books (We're All Animals and Always be a Wolf) center on the character Chase Jacobs, who tends to be slightly naive about what kind of world he is entering. A young man from rural Canada, his eyes are slowly opened up to the crime world he has joined.

All my books since have Jorge Hernandez as the protagonist, and while Chase is trusting and gentle, Jorge is strong and defiant. It's interesting because you get to discover the contrast between the two characters, but you can finally see the flip side of the story as you enter the criminal element of the story. I love that there is a slow discovery in the series, allowing the reader to see how someone unexpected might get pulled into this dark, underground world.

Of course, I explain this much better in the accompanying YouTube video. 👇🏼

How music has become my co-writer 🎼 (Updated)

I often talk about how each of my books has a 'soundtrack' that inspired me during the writing process. These aren't songs that I select but more like the other way around. I often wonder why specific music grabs me during the writing process and won't let go until the book is finished. Not that I don't like or listen to these songs after that point, but they are no longer in the forefront of my mind.

It started with my first book, Fire. Of course, it made sense since that music was prevalent since the book was about the music industry. However, this pattern continued. One example is with We're All Animals. While writing this book, I couldn't get Pink Floyd's music out of my head. The funny part was that I hadn't been a big fan until that point. Suddenly, I was listening to their music non-stop. It was a powerful force while writing the first book in the Hernandez series. 

It's actually to the point where hearing certain songs will automatically make me think of the chapter in one of my books that it inspired. I guess it's no different than how most people connect certain music to periods of their lives, memorable moments, or an emotion. Except, of course, those are real things and not made-up people in a story. 😊

The fascinating thing about the process is that the topic of a song is often different from the scene I see in my imagination. For example, a song could sound very seductive but inspire a murder scene in my book or....well, vice versa. 🙄 It happens. There's something about certain songs that has the power to pull a story from a dark place in my mind. I'm not sure what causes it, but it works for me. 

Should you be a writer? ✍🏼 (Updated)

One of the most common questions I get from people is whether or not they should become a writer. For me, it's difficult to answer that question because it's not for me to say. How passionate are you about writing? Do you have the time to put into it? Are you willing to learn the craft? Why do you want to be a writer?

For some people, the idea never leaves the thought process, and for others, they jump right in and start writing. If you're thinking about it more than doing it, your heart may not be into it. Writing requires a lot of time and dedication, so if you aren't truly inspired, then chances are, it may not be for you. And hey, there's nothing wrong with that! 

Then again, not everyone has to write a book either. Some people are more inclined to work on a blog, while others might want to write in a journal, create poetry or even come up with songs. It depends on your style and interest. For me, I can't imagine ever writing a short story. I also can't envision writing a song or poem. I'm not interested in all the research required to write a non-fiction book, but fiction? Now that's my baby!

Of course, you have to also look at why you're doing it. If your only interest is writing a best seller and becoming rich and world-famous, you might want to change your plan. Not to say that this isn't possible, but it rarely happens overnight. Writing books is like starting a business. You probably will put a lot of work into it before you start seeing results as you slowly build an audience. Then again, if you're writing because you can't imagine not writing, then you are probably on the right path.

As I said, writing can take many forms. You don't necessarily have to write a book, but if you want to, then don't overthink it. Just do it. 

Why I Hate Being Stuck in a Genre 😩 (Updated)

I hate the word ‘genre’. It sounds so limiting. As if you define your book in one, single category rather than having it overlap in many areas. Then again, is that surprising since we also live in a world that wants us to define ourselves into small categories that are easily digestible, uncomplicated, and make other people comfortable?

I stopped trying to define my books. Except for The Rock Star of Vampires and its follow-up, Her Name is Mariah, I have always stuck with the genre of ‘fiction’ when checking in with my publisher and later when asked which category my books fit. For me, a great book should overlap into many genres. There should be some romance – but not too much. There should be some drama – but not to the point that it becomes unrealistic. There should be some suspense but not necessarily non-stop from chapter one. There should be some erotica but not in the Fifty Shades extreme. I think readers should get a glimpse of themselves in the story as well as a fantasy version of themselves.

When I write a book, I visualize it as if it were one of my favorite dramas on television. I like surprise twists and turns. I love strong emotions. I like diving into dark topics. I love contradictions. I like the light side of our personalities that makes us human. 

Genres tend to be suffocating. When asked for themes in my first book, I stupidly suggested ‘romance’ even though it was only a fraction of the book. My publisher immediately suggested that I change the ending and do things differently to connect with the ‘romance’ fan. I wasn’t about to make my book into a tacky, $2 trash romance book and immediately said no. Same thing with the vampire books; I was told they weren’t ‘vampiry’ enough, not what fans wanted in this kind of genre – but to me, that was the point. Who says that all vampire books have to be the same? Isn’t the point of creativity to be unique? Sometimes I think this is no longer the case. 

Why read a book when you have Netflix? 📺 (Updated)

I sat in a dentist's chair when I decided to sign up for Netflix. My hygienist told me about the (at the time) relatively new site, how it worked and why she loved it. My curiosity peaked, and it only took some mild convincing from her to encourage me to go home and sign up.

And it was fantastic! I had the opportunity to watch various series from episode one and explore new movies, and it was all at a price I could afford.

I was in love.

So with this in mind, why are people still reading books? What do they have to offer in the world of Netflix, the Internet, and five billion television channels? 

People have asked me these questions more than once, almost as people were challenging why I even bothered writing books. What could I possibly offer them that other forms of entertainment - entertainment that takes far less effort than reading a book - couldn't surpass? 

Fair enough.

Movies are easy. Television is easy. You flick them on, and off you go. But they do have limits.

I recently read a book that blew my mind. The ending wasn't anything I could've anticipated. I was stunned. I was impressed that the author had managed to surprise me. Knowing this book was also made into a movie, I didn't hesitate to check it out.

I hated it. The movie didn't live up to the book. It was terrible. Some important parts of the book were removed, and the ending completely changed. It was boring and terrible. I was horrified that the writer allowed her book to be butchered. 

We've all seen great books annihilated by soulless Hollywood producers, but that isn't always the case. I can also think of a great television show based on a series of books that I found very lackluster.

The point is that movies and television are different monsters. It's hard to beat the visual aspect of an action-filled car chase or the beauty of a sunrise in a far-off land. 

On the other side, movies and television have limits. The average length of a movie is 130 minutes, so audiences have to be pulled in fast and told a story that makes sense, with all the key points at a pretty accelerated pace. Directors and producers are limited by their budget and may not be able to film specific scenes because they would cost too much. Other factors such as investors may also factor into what does and doesn't make the final cut. And, of course, the right actors can make all the difference in the world. 

Books are the wild west of the entertainment world. There are no limits. You can write a 200 or 1000-page book; it's up to the author. Details and descriptions can be never-ending or limited. Editors may suggest you cut down the length or make other suggestions, but I feel that a writer has a little more room to breathe and can choose to work with publishers that share their vision.

Plus, there is a connection with the characters. If you're reading a book, it's over some time. You read their most inner thoughts, fears, and desires. This isn't always as easy to do in movies or series. It may take a few episodes of a show or a good portion of a movie before you decide how you feel about a character. It depends on their vulnerability or relatability. 

It might be just a personal thing, but I find that there's something peaceful about grabbing a book and spending time alone, getting absorbed in the pages, and doing so at your own pace. You can read quickly, finishing a book in a night. Or you can slowly absorb each line, each paragraph at a relaxed pace that allows you to not miss a detail. You can see yourself in each character or envision a celebrity in the role. To a certain degree, the story is as much yours as the authors because you can envision the scenes, the characters, and every detail in just the way you wish.

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

 

Mima is the author of Fire and the prequel, A Spark before the Fire, as well as The Rock Star of Vampires  Her Name is Mariah and Different Shades of the Same Color. Join Mima on Facebook, Twitter, G+ and Goodreads also, check out her Amazon Author Page

For some reading, check out her blogs – personal or writing

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