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. 

Why is my writing becoming more political? 😤 (Updated)

My first book Fire was about a rock band struggling with the pressures of sudden fame. Although I touched on a few dicey topics back then, it was nothing compared to subjects I've dealt with in my last few books. As time moves on, my subject matter tends to get more controversial. 

My motivation for becoming more political in my writing isn't because it is trendy or because I feel it might capture some attention. Like most topics brought into my books (which include racism, government corruption, Big Pharma, and more) I feel passionate about their impact on society. It's the subjects that I have strong views on that creep into my writing.

As a writer, I've always felt that what I do is observe the world and then express what I see. I think now, more than ever, it's important to create art that makes people think. It's not that I want to change anyone's opinions. I hope that through my writing, I can provoke new ideas, and perhaps some people will look at things from another perspective.

My latest few books have become political and the protagonist, Jorge Hernandez, has fascinating opinions on politics. The ironic thing is that he's a criminal, and therefore, his views are vastly different from the status quo. I have to admit that they certainly give you food for thought. And with everything going on in the world today, maybe that's not such a bad thing.

How to make your book stand out on social media 💻 (Updated)

Sometimes you have to be very creative when promoting your book. Depending on the subject matter, your resources, and the expected audience, you might want to consider various methods to capture some attention. Although the media is probably the best way to get noticed, it's sometimes easier said than done. Taking out ads, purchasing bookmarks (although I find this a great form of marketing), and giving away books in hopes of getting reviews can get very expensive.

The beauty of social media is that it's free. Sure, you can pay extra for ads, but that isn't necessary, and if you choose to do so, it's inexpensive. However, for today, let's focus on the free stuff, and I will throw a few ideas at you on ways to show off your book!

First of all, I'm not an expert. I'm just giving you advice from my own experience as an author. Most of what I do is just experiment and see what works. Here are a few things I do:

- Share images of the cover with quotes from the book. This quote could be a jarring comment by a character, a line that stands out, or even a portion of the synopsis. Essentially, you want to give the reader an idea of what they are in for if they get your book. 😉

- Share an image of a review. This shows potential readers what other people are saying about your book.

- Share a blog or YouTube video where you talk about your book. People want to learn why your book stands out.

- Share some images of your most recent newspaper articles (as well as the links) discussing the book.

- Take pictures of your books in various settings; someone reading it, you holding a copy, an animal staring at it with interest. Use your imagination. This is great for Instagram users.

- Answer people's questions. This could be inquiries about your book or a writing question. 

- Announce when your books are in local libraries, bookstores, etc. If you can, take a picture too.

- If you have an upcoming book signing, interview, etc, highlight this on your social media and build excitement about the event.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. Sometimes new authors may find themselves overwhelmed and unsure of what to do, so I hope this is helpful. 

Make sure to reply to people who take the time to comment on or share your posts. Last but not least, try to be consistent with social media. If you are too busy to post every day, you can usually find tools online to schedule ahead. 

Social media should be fun and interactive...so be cool! 😎

The Jorge Hernandez BLOG 🙀 (Updated)

Jorge Hernandez checked into my seventh book, Always be a Wolf, and essentially took over. There was no way he couldn't have become the protagonist because his presence was much too strong to be a secondary character. The Mexican-Canadian was charming, powerful, and dangerous. Unlike other antiheroes in books and television, we weren't just viewing his forceful side but getting a peek into his everyday life. As it turns out, even this was anything but boring.  

I decided to write a blog from this character's perspective because I wanted to introduce him to those who haven't read my Hernandez series yet. I've only written a few posts so far, but I plan to continue to add more in the future. I hope that it gives people an inside view of his life, and unlike my books, it's written in a first-person perspective, hopefully creating a more personal connection between the reader and the character. 

We follow Jorge's journey through the series. Learn more HERE. 

Why you should take criticism with a grain of salt 🙉 (Updated)

Criticism. We hate that word: especially when it's against us. It feels like an attack. It feels like a kick in the gut. It feels like a put-down. But is it?

To a degree, it is our egos that get involved. Is it any of your business what other people think of you? Why do their opinions matter in the first place? Why do you care?

For writers or any artists, criticism can feel very personal. I know because I've been one of those overly sensitive artists who has dealt with insults about my writing. The truth is that it gets easier as time goes on. It's just someone's opinion. Not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone will appreciate or understand the message you are attempting to send through your work. It doesn't matter who you are or what you do because criticism is a part of life.

I always feel bad when people tell me they want to start a book, but they seem apprehensive because they lack confidence in their abilities. Sometimes self-criticism can be even more dangerous than when other people are dishing out to us. After all, for their words to affect us, first, we must believe them. So wouldn't that mean that a part of us must carry some self-doubt?

Think about it.

Why Contradictions are Cool! 😎 (Updated)

Contradictions are fun! Something is fascinating about a character with vast contradictions in their personality because it's completely unexpected and catches the reader (or viewer, if it's something on television) off guard. And isn't that what we want? To be surprised?

I tend to use contradictions and quirks a lot in my writing because I feel it adds a little something extra to the characters. Although to tell you the truth, I don't overthink it either because it comes along naturally. Each character tends to have unique personalities that encompass fascinating contradictions.

As an example, my character Diego Silva is very dapper and sophisticated. So it's surprising that his weapon of choice is a baseball bat. If you read my Hernandez series, you will see Diego bring out the baseball bat on more than one occasion. 

Another example would be Paige Noël-Hernandez, who is considered one of the best assassins in the world...who meditates. She also used to have a self-help site online. Contradictions like this are neat. It shows contrast in the characters. 

Contradictions make characters seem more realistic, fun, and interesting. And let's face it, we all have the contradictions that make us unique. What are yours?