Do you need a website? 💻 (Updated)

If you're an author, I recommend you have a website. If you're a creative of any kind and want to get your work 'out there', I strongly suggest you have a website so people can find you.

The beauty of a website is that it is a place where people can learn all about you; your work, the latest news, how to connect to your social media, how to sign up for your newsletter, etc. It depends on what you wish to put on your site. The bottom line is that you need all your information put together in one place.

I'm not an expert on websites. My first site was free and created by a friend. Since that time, I've moved on to get a domain name and a site that I threw together myself. It's not elaborate, but it works. It's simple and contains information on my books, interviews, articles I've written, and a little about me. Again, nothing fancy, but it serves the purpose.

I think it's also important to note that websites should be simple. People go to sites to find out basic information, and if you're an author, that could be to find a list of your books, learn who you are, check out your interviews, and social media. If your site is cluttered, confusing, or lacks the information people want, it's counterproductive. You need your information easily accessible. 

If you aren't super techy and a little intimidated by creating your website, I'd recommend you ask around for someone locally who can help you. Large website hosts and designers aren't as personal, especially if you aren't familiar with tech lingo, or new to this world. They can intimidate you more and not necessarily be looking out for your best interest, whereas a smaller business may take the time to explain anything that confuses you and help you out. 

What is a 3 dimensional character and why do we need them? 🤔 (Updated)

I recently watched a show where a young actress was showing her outrage. Interestingly, she appeared the same as when she was sad or happy. The point is that her acting wasn't very three-dimensional. It fell flat.

Sometimes characters in books can also fall flat, so writers must be vigilant. There should be depth to characters. They should demonstrate a vast array of emotions and reactions, and most of all, readers should be able to see their many layers. Just like real people, (hopefully) characters have to have complexity because that is, after all, human nature. Sometimes we don't even understand ourselves, and characters are pretty much the same way. That's all part of the human struggle, and it's necessary for growth; whether it's your own life or a character's development, it matters.

I certainly make great efforts to show the many sides of each of my characters. For example, as much as Jorge Hernandez (the protagonist in the Hernandez series) is generally a very tough, alpha male, who can be abrupt, direct, and occasionally cruel, he also has a soft side when with family and especially his wife. He has much inner turmoil stemming from his childhood. Jorge fears being a bad father and worries about the future. For this reason, when asked to describe his character, I find it a bit difficult because there's no simple answer. Then again, when describing most people that I know, I run into the same problem.

Characters should grow throughout a book or series. It is fun to see where they will go and what will happen. You know, kind of like real life. Well, sometimes.

Why authors should challenge themselves 🤓 (Updated)

Let's face it; it's easy to fall into the comfort zone and not want to get back out again. It's human nature to want to feel comfortable and to be in control, but is it good for us?

I think we know the answer to that question.

As a writer, I've traveled out of my comfort zone many times. Sometimes it is topics that make me uneasy; other times it's something like self-promotion or social media that has made me anxious. Of course, this is normal. When we aren't familiar with something, we become nervous, fearing that we will make fools of ourselves or do or say something wrong. In reality, we are on a learning curve. Not only does it help with your end goals as a writer, but it also builds confidence.

One of the biggest challenges I've had as a writer early on is doing interviews. The first few times I've done them, I felt a bit dumbfound and not always sure what to say. I've had one journalist bite my head off because I wasn't giving her a 'good quote'. I didn't have media training and attempted to answer questions to the best of my ability. 

Since that time, I started a YouTube channel. It wasn't something I did casually. I was terrified at first, but it turned out to be a great decision. Not only did it help me build confidence, but it also forced me to express myself better. I needed to be able to articulate what I wanted to say about my writing and books. A couple of hundred videos later, I now love recording for my channel, and readers have the opportunity to learn about me and my books. 

I've also dealt with writing topics that have challenged me. Believe it or not, I've never been in a cartel, never sold drugs, never been in politics, never been an assassin, never been a vampire or a rock star, and yet, these are all topics that I've covered in my books. Not only have I done the research, but I've also paid attention to the world around me; the news, documentaries, films, webinars, books...there are many sources of information out there and many trails away from just the facts to more personal experiences. We have to put ourselves in many shoes when writing and give it fair consideration, and that sometimes is a challenge in itself.

Authors are faced with many challenges that aren't even related to writing itself. Marketing, media, government forms, and technology are just a few things that might come along your path. But aren't challenges a part of any career? 

Why we need more strong female characters 💪🏼 (Updated)

It should be a given that we need strong female characters in our books and television shows. And to be honest, I've seen an improvement in this area since first writing this article, but are we there yet? 

It's disappointing that I still see a few cringe-worthy examples. I recently caught part of a soap opera where a woman talked about how she 'found happiness' with a new man in her life, which suggested that she couldn't be or wasn't happy before he appeared. In the same show, a woman played the whole eye-lash-batting, I-don't-like-you-but-I-do game that caused me to roll my eyes.

That was a fail. Women don't need to play games or feel less valuable when they're single, and TV shows that perpetuate this scenario need to refresh their storylines and remember it's 2022.

Not to suggest that my female characters are always strong. They have their weak moments, just as we all have but for the most part, I like to think that they are powerful, independent, and self-reliant. Paige Noël-Hernandez and Jolene Silva from my Hernandez series are excellent examples. Physically and mentally, these women can take on any situation fearlessly; no hand-holding or white knight is required.

One of the things that I think is important to mention is that I'm not just talking about adults when I insist on strong female characters. My series has a young girl, Maria Hernandez, who demonstrates a great deal of strength. I think we sometimes forget that young girls are learning how to be young women in our society, and it is important that they aren't taught to take a weak position to get attention or be accepted. Maria tends to stand her ground, and although she can get a little out of hand sometimes, for the most part, she demonstrates a strong, confident child who's an independent thinker and fearless by nature. She is smart, articulate, and bold.

I don't tend to write about the 'damsels in distress', and I'm certainly not writing a fairy tale scenario where the prince swoops up on his white horse...I will leave that book for someone else. 😒

Why do I need a newsletter? 🗞 (Updated)

When I first started publishing books, I didn't have a newsletter. The idea of even creating one felt like one more thing that I didn't have time for, and so, I put it off. Eventually, I realized that this was an important tool for getting information to my readers.

So, do you need a newsletter? If you're a writer and have published anything, even a blog, I'd suggest you consider it. If people are interested in your work, they want to keep up-to-date. Direct contact allows you to communicate with fans about what's the latest and the greatest regarding your work. ☺️

One of the mistakes creators make is assuming that if someone is interested in their work, they will automatically check their website, go on their Facebook page, or other social media accounts to keep up to date. Unfortunately, even if people have the best intentions, we live in a fast-paced world, and everyone is busy. So as much as someone might love to read your latest blog about your frustrations with publishers or how you've finished a new book, it might not be on the forefront of their mind either. A newsletter lands in their mailbox and is there whenever they have time to read it. 

So what should you put in a newsletter? Everything! Links to your latest interviews, blogs, new books, images of your latest cover, the synopsis for your novel, YouTube videos you posted, reviews, links to your social media: anything relevant to your writing career. These are some things off the top of my head, so chances are you will have much more creative ideas to make your newsletter come alive.

I also believe that newsletters should be short, sweet, and to the point. If you feel the need to write a longer newsletter, however, be sure to put your main points in bold print to catch the reader's eye in case they are skimming it. Sometimes these key points might make the difference between someone deleting or saving it to read later.

How often should you send a newsletter? There is a school of thought that you should be consistent and weekly, but I think it depends on what you're doing. I try to avoid sending them more than once a month unless a lot of stuff is going on in a short period (this tends to happen the week that a book is published) because people also get pissed off if their mailbox is full. I've unsubscribed to emails that interested me because I was tired of my mailbox being loaded to the brim every day. Also, don't be spammy or push your product too much because that turns people off and causes them to hit the unsubscribe button - and fast!

Are you ready to start your newsletter? Check out MailChimp as an example of free newsletters. There are others available that you can find with a quick Google search.

Remember that people sign up for your newsletter to keep posted. So be consistent and most of all, show gratitude for their loyalty. A simple 'thanks for your support' goes a long way. 😄

Sign up for my monthly newsletter! 

Let's talk about the character Diego Silva 🏳️‍🌈🇨🇴 (Updated)

The character Diego Silva came along at the end of We're All Animals. He's a fan favorite with a very distinct personality.

Diego Silva is abrupt, vocal, and direct, but he also carries this nervous energy, almost as if he's wired on caffeine (and probably is 😄) and can't stop moving. He's known for his sudden, loud remarks, almost as if he has anxiety brewing underneath the surface. Of course, he has an unexpected soft side that sometimes comes out, but it's not something everyone sees and certainly not his enemies.

Diego is the brother of Jolene Silva, the woman who hired Chase Jacobs in We're All Animals. He made a surprise appearance at the end of the book but had such a strong presence that I just had to continue to write about him. The second book in the series, Always be a Wolf, is as much about Diego as Chase, even though he's the protagonist. The book centers on their friendship and learning about Diego through Chase's eyes. It's an interesting interpretation considering that Chase is highly observant and sensitive.

Something that isn't obvious to readers right away is that Diego is gay. He doesn't try to hide it, but it's unexpected due to his lifestyle and associates. I like that Diego is a 'gay gangster' because we are so used to seeing these mobster-type guys as womanizers who attempt to show off their idea of masculinity, whereas Diego breaks that mold in a sense. He is a 'tough guy' like others, but when he's spending time with Paige Noël-Hernandez, his close friend, we often remove this mask to express himself in a more sensitive, gentle manner.

It's also interesting that Diego would end up being close friends with Jorge Hernandez, an alpha male who is in many ways his polar opposite. However, he makes many references within the books as Diego being his hermano or brother, and other than occasionally teasing him about his sexuality, Jorge shows no judgment or prejudice.

There's something special about Diego that draws people to him. Whether it's other characters or readers, I think he has a unique combination of characteristics that we both relate to and admire.

Learn more about the Hernandez series HERE. 

Why do I make YouTube videos? 📹 (Updated)

If you are a writer and have a new book, should you do a YouTube video? What if you are a more seasoned author; should you dip your toes into the world of YouTube or run the other way?

Many people choose to run the other way because it is scary. Recording a video (and worse still, playing it back to watch yourself) isn't always an experience that people look forward to trying. I promise you that it's usually not that bad, and sometimes it can be a huge confidence booster.

I started to do YouTube videos a couple of years ago with much reluctance. To be honest, I was terrified. I wasn't exactly excited about watching myself talking on video. It reminded me of those days of public speaking in high school that made me want to hide under my desk. I did recognize that it was important to my overall goal. I gave it a shot. I now have over 200 videos on my channel.

The beauty of recording a video is that you don't have to post it. You can take the time to get comfortable with speaking to a camera. You must adequately explain your topic (notes help), and of course, you have to stop finding fault with your appearance. These are probably the three things that make most people hesitant. We live in such an overproduced world when it comes to 'reality' television and even YouTube videos that we often forget that we don't have to look, sound, or be perfect to record a video. If you sound, look and seem too perfect, it might make you slightly less relatable to your audience.

Of course, you should make some effort. Don't roll out of bed, not comb your hair, and ramble on for 20 minutes without making a point either. Show your best side. Fix your hair. Throw on some makeup if you're into it. Tidy up the space you'll be recording your video. Find some decent lighting (I don't always do this). Tell everyone in the house to not make any noise because the camera catches everything. 

So why did I start doing YouTube videos? I wanted my audience and potential audience to learn about me. I didn't want to be the anonymous face behind the books or the mysterious author that no one knows. I wanted people to learn about me, why I was writing about the topics I chose, explain my books to people who wanted to get more of a sense of what they were about, and answer some of my most asked questions from new authors or people interested in my writing.

Most important of all, I believe that YouTube videos are about connection. It was important for me to connect with people, especially those interested in my writing. I don't do videos because I want to be an internet star or gain followers. I have them available as another option for readers to learn about me, my books, and my thoughts as a writer. The beauty of YouTube is that you never know who is watching.