Humor in writing 🤣(Updated)

Comedy may not be your genre, but it's still important to add a little humor to your writing. It gives characters dimension, it breaks up tension (especially in dramas), but most of all, it gives your readers an extra layer of entertainment.

Just like real people, characters have many sides to their personalities. Even the most complex personalities still have a funny side, even if it's not as prevalent. For example, in my Hernandez series, my protagonist Jorge can be described as intimidating, powerful, intense, and dangerous.  Then out of nowhere, he'll make a sarcastic remark or comment that will make readers laugh. It may not be the top quality he's known for, but it's still thrown in from time to time to add a little extra flavor. 

In general, humor is needed from time to time, especially if the particular story is very emotional or heavy. I know it may seem inappropriate in those situations, but again, just like in real life, we sometimes need a break when wading through difficult emotions. For example, if you're watching a movie where a character is dying, it can become very intense for the viewer to watch for a long time. However, if a child were to make an innocent (yet funny) remark or observation, it might break things up a bit for the viewer.

Comedy in writing shouldn't feel forced or overthought. Often if you follow the character's natural inclinations and personality, the humor comes out naturally and shows us their lighter side.

Why I love writing about villains ❤️ (Updated)

Often referred to as the 'bad guys' on television, movies, and books, but the truth is that something is appealing about villains that intrigues both viewers and readers. As a writer, I have a few ideas on why this might be. 

1. There are no limits. Villains don't color inside the lines. They don't care about anyone's feelings and often have no conscience at all. They're impulsive, limitless and, free. They have no fear of going anywhere or doing anything. They don't play by anyone else's rules. And really, isn't that why we like them?

2. They show us the dark side of humanity. We like to think that there are good guys and bad guys in life and television, but the truth is that anyone is capable of traveling to the dark side. Think about the last time you watched the news after someone committed a violent crime. When a reporter approaches their friends, family, or coworkers, what do they usually say? "He was such a nice guy. I can't believe he would do something like this." 

Exactly. We all have a dark side lurking in a dark corner. Only we can decide if it will come out.

3. They are powerful. Sinister characters are often powerful too. This power is the result of their natural, aggressive nature and, sometimes, cut-throat ways. Think of the head of a crime family or a politician with no scruples. Even if it's a small-time criminal, chances are that person has power over someone or something, and in fact, that's how we first discover that they're a villain in the first place.

Some people might like to believe that the good guy always wins, but in today's world, that's often more of a fairy tale than a reality. 

Secondary characters and how they support the protagonist 😲(Updated)

Secondary or supporting characters should never be taken for granted. Without this intriguing group of friends, enemies, and acquaintances, we certainly wouldn't have as much fun with our protagonist. 

One of the most obvious reasons why we need secondary characters is to make the storyline more interesting. Can you imagine your favorite book or movie with ONLY the protagonist throughout the entire story? It would have to be one hell of a character, and all the weight would fall on their shoulders to keep things interesting. Supporting characters also add some extra dimension and overall flavor to the story with their own unique stories and problems. The protagonists often get caught up in the middle of their dramas. In my Hernandez series, Jorge often finds himself trying to help his friends and family through their dilemmas. Of course, these characters also work with and against the main character to contribute to his story.

Not to mention that secondary characters have a way of showing you who our protagonist really is; the good and the bad. In fact, it's usually other characters that best bring out everything from rage to love in our main character, and it's always interesting to see how the protagonist reacts to these emotions. Of course, some characters contain themselves much better than others but aren't the erratic, crazy people more likely to capture our attention? 

Sometimes we find ourselves falling for the secondary characters as much or more than our protagonist. That's fine too. Just because someone is the main character doesn't mean they also have to be our favorite. 

Will the Hernandez children be the future of the crime family? ☠️(Updated)

If you follow the Hernandez series, you already know that Jorge does everything he can to protect his children from his dangerous lifestyle. The last thing he wants is for Miguel and Maria to follow along in his footsteps, but is it inevitable? 

When Maria Hernandez made an appearance in the series, we immediately realized that she was very observant. Despite Jorge's efforts to hide the truth from her, she noticed things from a very early age, and much to his heartbreak learns about her crime boss father. Even then, Jorge continues to hide as much as possible from his daughter. It's when she gets caught up in a dangerous situation Maria quickly is brought up to speed. 

As for Miguel, he's still a baby. I'm currently working on a book where he's approaching his 3rd birthday, but like his sister, he's observing everything going on around him. Jorge often says and does things in front of the child, assuming the baby is too young to understand. However, readers will begin to see the Hernandez coming out in him in my next book. And yes, he's just a baby but don't we always exhibit clues to our future while still children? For example, as a child, I wrote stories and acted out dramatic events with my Barbie dolls. and well, here I am.

Of course, the Hernandez children could go either way. They could become completely legit and 'normal' in comparison to their parents, but there's also a strong possibility that they could go the dark side too. They could become the most dangerous members of the crime family. We have to wait and see. 

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. 

How did Jorge Hernandez join this series? ☠️ (Updated)

It might surprise people to learn that Jorge Hernandez wasn't always part of the Hernandez series. When I wrote the book We're All Animals (book 1), I hadn't planned a series, but merely a second book to finish the story of Chase Jacobs. However, when Jorge came along in Always be a Wolf (book 2), it was clear that I was only starting to tell his story. 

Before Chase met Jorge, Diego told him that the Mexican was a 'silent investor' in their company. Up until this point, Chase had some suspicions that something sinister was taking place behind the scenes. However, being so young and inexperienced, he hadn't pinpointed the clues that he was working for criminals. 

I introduced Jorge to my readers as charming, handsome (with 'movie star looks'), and very charismatic. The first impression was that he was likable, not the intimidating mob boss that we're used to seeing on television, in movies, and in books. I purposely demonstrated that he was very friendly to lure Chase in and make him feel comfortable. If this were in a fairy tale, Jorge would've been the big, bad wolf dressed up like grandma because this was how he played the game. He was a sophisticated businessman dressed in expensive suits and spoke in a polite, dignified manner. Therefore, few would think he was a bloodthirsty criminal.

There was just something about Jorge Hernandez that compelled me to continue writing. Now, ten books into the series, I can't seem to stop. 

The first paragraph of We're All Criminals ☠️(Updated)

The first paragraph of a book should be inviting and yet give the reader a sense of the theme ahead. It should be catchy and provoke thought. Most of all, it should invite the reader to keep reading. 

If I pick up a book and find myself confused, bored, or talked down to in the first paragraph, it is unlikely I will continuing reading. I find it very annoying when authors demonstrate themselves as writing elitists in the first paragraph, forgetting that they are trying to impress the average reader, not their university professor. Does that mean that everyday readers want books dumbed down? Of course not. However, they also want a comfortable read that is smooth and welcoming. 

As an example, this is the first paragraph of my book, We're All Criminals. 

Freedom is the trademark of humanity. To those in a prison cell, confined to a hospital bed, or trapped in their figurative coffin, there is nothing more beautiful than freedom. We’re all animals, and as such, it’s in our nature to claw our way out of any trap we feel locked in because the light of freedom shines much brighter after it has been lost. We will fight for it. We will beg for it, and if we have to, we will kill for it.

No one appreciated freedom more than Jorge Hernandez. As a former Mexican cartel leader, he had managed to escape both death and prison, something he recognized as a rarity for his kind. Now in his 40s, he was blessed with a beautiful family and lived in Canada. As the CEO of Our House of Pot, Jorge had the monopoly in the legalized marijuana industry. To the outside world, he was a charismatic Mexican-Canadian businessman who is relatable and brought jobs to communities throughout the country. But to those who knew him, Jorge Hernandez was one of the most dangerous men in the world and did whatever he needed to get what he wanted.