Relationship ups and downs between characters 😍🤬

Just like in real life, characters also have relationship ups and downs. All it takes is an issue or argument to throw everything off course. But why is this important in fiction? Why can't everyone always be happy and get along?

One of the most important aspects of a book has to be the connection with the characters. How do we connect with characters the most? It tends to be because we relate to a situation they are dealing with. And what better relatable situation than having relationship ups and downs with people in their lives? Hey, we can all relate to that, can't we?

Relationships tend to go in cycles. Even the people we get along with the most will irk us sometimes. It's human nature. I often notice that when writing, I'm running into this situation. You have to consider the values that characters have and how someone else's comment or decision affects them. Again, like real life. If your cousin is sensitive about her weight and you comment on how she looks thinner, how will she react? What if you tell her she looks like she gained a few pounds? How do these two comments affect your relationship? Remember that characters are the same.

Of course, even if relationships go off course, they also can come back. Depending on the state of the relationship, this can sometimes happen more quickly than others. Then again, there are some relationships that will always be a bit prickly. 

Why people love the twisted relationship between Jorge & Paige Hernandez ❤️(Updated)

A reader once referred to Jorge Hernandez and Paige Noël as 'the twisted couple of the literary world' but is this why fans love such an unconventional couple?

I think that once upon a time, we mostly saw 'too good to be true' couples in television and books, but somewhere along the way, we moved to the other extreme, where fictional couples appeared to have a lot of issues. Jorge and Paige are a couple that deals with problems but still manages to contain some of the 'magic' that we love to see in fictional relationships. There's a strong, almost instant connection between the two that is fascinating and yet they strive to deal with daily issues most couples have, such as dealing with children, jealousy, and worrying about your partner's safety. Granted, the latter probably is compounded by their less than traditional lifestyles.

The couple met in a very unconventional manner in my book, The Devil is Smooth Like Honey. Despite the dangerous circumstances, Jorge was immediately attracted to Paige, bolding making her aware of his feelings. Although she was hesitant, the two ended up sharing a glass of wine and had a very unexpected, whirlwind romance that quickly led to marriage. Although this isn't the kind of thing that I usually write about, there was just something so uncharacteristic about Jorge Hernandez being in this kind of situation that made me want to explore it. This storyline developed a part of his personality that countered his usual violent and heartless reputation, allowing readers to see another side of him.

As for Paige, it was interesting to see how someone calm, balanced, and yet very dangerous would react to the bold, abrupt Mexican because their personalities could've easily clashed. However, both find comfort and are fascinated by one another. Perhaps part of the intrigue is the fact that they demonstrate how two vastly different people can bond over their similarities and mutual respect, despite their many differences.

Love, Romance and Fictional Couples ❤️ (Updated)

A romance writer, I am not. However, you will find some love connections in a few of my books, specifically my most recent series involving a group of gangster-type personalities. This may not seem like the most natural place to find a romance, but then again, isn't that what makes things a little bit more interesting?

Someone once commented that Jorge Hernandez and Paige Noël-Hernandez were the 'twisted couple' of the literary world, and I certainly can't argue with that point. The couple hooked up in The Devil is Smooth Like Honey and have continued to be together throughout the Hernandez series. The pair didn't exactly meet most conventionally (I don't want to spoil the surprise 😉) but because of their shared attraction to depravity, their connection was a natural one.

What I love about this couple is that they are equals. Both are strong, vicious, and slightly sadistic in their ways, but there is also a soft side; Paige meditates and does yoga while Jorge has a very soft spot for his children. The couple is vastly different in personality. Jorge is loud, obnoxious, and blunt, whereas Paige is quiet and calmer, however, this is why it works. They balance each other out, yet neither feels the need to change the other. Perhaps this is why people find them so endearing.