March 2022 newsletter ☔️

There's light at the end of the tunnel! For more reasons than one, but weather-wise, we're getting closer to spring! What else is new? Check this out 👇🏼

In February my new book listed in the latest issue of Buzz PEI 

What else?

I posted a couple more videos and corresponding blogs. Check this out 👇🏼

Why Loyalty Above All isn't just a title 🐺

Blog

Video

A quick read from Loyalty Above All (there are no exceptions) 📖

Blog

Video 

And of course, let's check out the book birthdays 🎂

The Devil May Lie was released on March 28, 2019

Her Name is Mariah was released on March 27, 2015

Why Loyalty Above All isn't just a title 🐺

Throughout most of the Hernandez series, I've had the tagline Loyalty Above All (there are no exceptions) to symbolize that loyalty is essential to these characters. It's the backbone of the entire series, the structure that holds Jorge Hernandez's organization together. 

Of course, this is an appealing concept for most people. We want to believe that others are loyal to us. We want to believe that when pushed, most people in our inner circle will be in our corner, defend us, and help with whatever we need. In reality, this isn't always the case. It's usually during the worst periods of our lives that we see the true colors of those around us. And let's face it, they don't always shimmer.

For this reason, I sense that my readers appreciate the fact that Jorge Hernandez is not only loyal and dedicated to the people in his life but that he also demands the same of them. This, along with his power and confidence, are also central in the series. No one will run over this character, and no one dares to try. But is that really because he is any less vulnerable than the rest of us, or is it because he believes that he is so powerful that makes him so?

Either way, again and again, my readers assure me that this is why they love the series. I do have a lot of stuff going on that makes it a fun read, but it's the protagonist that draws them in the most. 

Quick read from Loyalty Above All (there are no exceptions) 📖

In my new book Loyalty Above All (there are no exceptions), I further explore the wild, criminal world that is Jorge Hernandez. If you don't know who that is, this sums him up 👇🏼

A former Mexican narco transitions into Canadian life with family, politics, and business while holding tight to his ruthless, criminal ways. Meet Jorge Hernandez.

The fact that Jorge Hernandez is contemplating ‘doing good’ in the world should be enough to send a shiver down anyone’s spine. He may be living a seemingly legit lifestyle with his family in Canada, but don’t be fooled; this former Mexican cartel boss holds a powerful grip on everything from politics to media, and he’s never beyond getting a little blood on his hands.

When his daughter Maria steps up to someday head the familia, it is with great pride that Jorge breaks down the lessons that will secure her position in life. Giving her a glimpse into his daily activities, she quickly witnesses the stark view of the criminal mastermind at work. It doesn’t matter if he’s yelling at the prime minister or making plans to take someone down; Jorge does so with a powerful and unapologetic swoop. But how much is he willing to reveal? Is he ready for his daughter to learn about his brutal, murderous side? 

In a world where trust is essential, Jorge teaches her the powerful lesson; Loyalty above all. There are no exceptions. 

Check out the first paragraph (and me bumbling through it) 👇🏼

February 2022 Newsletter

Thank you for checking out my February newsletter! What did you miss in January? Here are a few quick highlights!

Videos and blogs:

Why my books are so political 🤥

     Blog 

     Video 

Why my readers love Jorge Hernandez ♥️

       Blog 

          Video 

My two main objectives as a writer 🧐

       Blog

          Video 

And of course, don't forget to check out my year-end review for 2021!! 

BOOK BIRTHDAY!!!

A Devil Named Hernandez was published February 21, 2018 🎉 

And the big news is I STARTED BOOK 17 THIS WEEKEND!! That will be the 12th book in the Hernandez series. Remember, you can read any of these books standalone without getting lost. I will share more information as I have it. 

Thanks for reading! 

Why my books are so political 🤥

Love it or hate it, politics affect many aspects of your life. Unfortunately, people often don't pay attention until they are personally affected by a law or mandate. If you are Jorge from my Hernandez series, you make sure things never get to that point because you go right to the top and take control.  

Jorge had barely arrived in the series when it became clear that he would be very involved in politics. Early on, he talked about how the only difference between the corruption in Mexican politics (his home country) and Canada is that Canadians hid it better. Jorge ripped the blinders off and revealed a much darker side of politics, never hiding the fact that he planned to control politicians to benefit his priorities.   

When Alec Athas entered the series, talking about potentially entering politics to make positive changes from the inside, Jorge knew he had found the perfect person to control. With Jorge's manipulation, Athas was successful on a local level. When an opportunity to fill the elite position of prime minister came up, Jorge continued to push Athas forward, with the not-so-subtle warning that he owned him. As he so bluntly put it in one book, 'You gotta dance with the one who brought you'. The two men have been dancing ever since, and there's no question which one of them is leading. 

Why my readers love Jorge Hernandez ♥️

You might be wondering why people are drawn to the protagonist of the Hernandez series. After all, I've described him as a brutal criminal, so what's the appeal? 

This isn't all that surprising. Even when you watch some of your favorite television shows and movies, you'll notice that the characters that have the sharpest tongues, violent tendencies, and dark sides are sometimes the most fascinating to watch. There's an appeal, and it's because they have the traits that are considered antisocial and go against the grain, sometimes displaying actions and saying words that we may fantasize about but know we can't carry through on them. If we did, we might destroy many relationships, get fired, and maybe end up in prison! 

When I think of Jorge Hernandez, the first word that comes to mind is powerful. The second word is confident. These two traits rarely wane while writing about him. This is what draws other characters to him in the series. This is also what draws readers to this series. In a world where we increasingly feel like it's hard to find our footing on the ground, there's something incredible about reading about or watching a character who is scared of nothing. 

Jorge Hernandez is also solid and loyal, often to the degree where he becomes barbaric to protect his family. As much as people may be disturbed by violence, I think most of us appreciate the undying loyalty this character displays this trait, especially in a world where it has become increasingly rare. 

My two main objectives as a writer 🧐

When I started writing years ago, my main objective was to create compassion and understanding. I wanted people to understand other people's perspectives and situations with less judgment. I felt like people were cold and cruel as a teenager, so my writing allowed me an avenue to potentially make the world a little kinder.

Of course, that was my objective as a teenager when I still was idealistic about the world and thought it could be a little kinder and more compassionate. These days I'm a little less optimistic and focus more on my second objective as a writer, to make people think.

In my books, I bring up various topics and issues in hopes that people consider the opinions of my characters or the general situations they're to see other points of view. I write about criminals, so my characters have a unique perspective on everything. Some of the topics I bring up are indigenous issues, government, Big Pharma, family issues, and many other things throughout my series to encourage different ideas or thoughts. Of course, there are minor topics that deal more with everyday life too.

Since Jorge Hernandez is the protagonist in my books, the views are through his lens and often are blunt, direct, and harsh. He's not one to pussyfoot around, which may feel like a brick on the side of the head, but that's who he is and how he expresses himself.

I'm sure most writers have more simple objectives, such as to entertain people, and I probably should too. Don't get me wrong, that is in there, but as a writer, I've always had to have something more to keep me motivated, and this is it.