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1. Who are you (i.e. brief bio)?
Thank you Lee, for this incredible opportunity! It is both an honor and a pleasure.
To answer your question--who am I? Hmm, I am a woman, born in and raised on the gritty streets of NYC, East Harlem to be exact, a proud descendant of Puerto Rican immigrants. I have a grown daughter and a 9-year-old grandson who are my reason for being. I currently live in the Bronx.
During the day, I work as a legal secretary at an international law firm for a well-known former Assistant Attorney General who is extremely supportive of my writing. Although I love what I do and am comfortable in my day job, I have come to the realization and have accepted the fact that I am also a writer with a very vivid imagination. Writing and/or researching my works are how I spend most evenings and weekends unless I have some other obligation.
I am an avid reader and have been considered to be somewhat of a dichotomy. I can be extremely sensitive, and at other times brutally honest. I have a fascination for people and am often annoyed by how oblivious people can be. However, I do enjoy people watching and figuring out what makes them tick. I can sometimes be afflicted by severe ADD wherein I drift into my own world enabling me to notice things that most people miss. It is during moments like those that I find my inspiration.
2. What are some of your publications or works in progress?
I released my debut novel, “Sinner’s Ride” in April 2011. It is the story of a young girl, about to turn 18, who is sexually assaulted by her father and how that event changes her. It is a gritty, graphic, twisty/turny story, ending with an unexpected twist. It takes place mostly in a section of the Bronx called “Little Italy”. This story is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for anyone under the age of 18. Many, who have read it, women in particular, loved it. Men often tell me that it was hard to get past the first couple of chapters because the assault is described so graphically. Overall, what I keep hearing is that it is “un-put-down-able”. I’ll let you be the judge.
“Sinner’s Ride” was written organically, without any real formal plotting. I just let it flow as it was written for NaNoWriMo last year, and I felt a little bit of pressure. It was my first attempt at anything like this and it was blissful ignorance. I got the idea after treating my daughter to a live Mary J. Blige concert on her birthday. We had a wonderful time, admittedly imbibing quite a bit. A few days after the concert while considering what story I was going to write, I tried to remember whether Mary had sung one of my favorite songs - “I’m Going Down”. Needless to say, when I asked my daughter about it, she teased me saying I was getting old and my memory was fading. We continued chatting about what we could do if it were up to us to film a video for that song and it was with that conversation in mind, that my prologue for “Sinner’s Ride” was written. Though I’m not sure how I came up with the assault, I’m glad I did because it grabs the reader immediately, maintaining a hold on him/her. It was originally supposed to be a story about a diamond heist. Go figure! However, it just flowed from there and I became obsessed with the story, finishing a version I was satisfied with in February.
Currently, I have two works in progress. My first priority is a story called “Standing on the Precipice”. This one, I’m writing a little bit differently. I am formally plotting this one out very carefully creating psychological profiles for each of the four main characters and doing lots of research. This story is continually evolving as the characters are developed and they begin to interact. Generally, it is a story about a middle-aged woman who is at odds with what direction she wants her life to go. She has a loving, supporting partner, but more importantly, she is experiencing an internal struggle relating to old world values and ideals she was raised with vs. her desire to satisfy her curiosities outside of those values/ideals. She pays for that curiosity with her life with the story continuing with a search for her killer.
There is a shocking, unexpected twist to this story as well.
Other works include an urban fantasy trilogy called “The Radocians” with the first book entitled “Resurrection of Dead Dreams”. The basis for this story is my ongoing struggle with my father’s death almost six years ago. It stems from my desire to have just one more conversation with him, to hear his voice once more, maybe give him just one more hug, a kiss – anything that will bring him back to me. Then reality set in and I knew that “just once more” would not be enough for me. I know I’ll want more. There are shocking events throughout this story and as with “Standing on the Precipice”, this story is constantly evolving.
Originally, it was going to be just one book, but as I delve into the different characters and their struggles, it becomes more and more complex and so I decided there had to be a beginning, middle, and an end to this tale, with each one of those components being told in their own book. I have a draft of the first book containing about 18 chapters. This too, is being written organically as I am happiest and most satisfied with the work that I create in this manner. That’s not to say that “Standing on the Precipice” won’t be satisfying to me, but it certainly is a challenge for me to work with a formally written plot.
In addition, I am working on an expanded version of “Sinner’s Ride” to be released in the UK and this will include some extras. I have also begun thinking about taking that story a little further with additional installments.
Yes, it’s a lot of work, and I often wonder where I will find the time, but I am enjoying myself immensely! The way I handle multiple projects, is to just let them tell me what demands attention. Sometimes I’m feeling a little evil so I will work on “Standing on the Precipice”. Sometimes I feel melancholy, so I’ll work on “Resurrection of Dead Dreams”. And sometimes events in my past flash before me and I jot down ideas for potential future projects and now this new release of “Sinner’s Ride”.
I am a tortured soul!
3. Is there one of which you are most proud? Why?
Lee! That’s like asking me which one of my children is my favorite! LOL! I am proud of “Sinner’s Ride” because it was my first published work and your first is special the rest of your life. With that one, I met a challenge I set for myself head on and succeeded. Success being measured not by sales, but by the mere fact that I, this child of the ghetto of East Harlem, raised in government run apartment housing, by parents who didn’t speak the language for many years, educated in the public school system of NYC, has been able to accomplish something I never, ever dreamed could be possible. Doubt is a bitch. It’s debilitating, it can be paralyzing -- but I am proud of that piece of work because it has enabled me to open my mind and be comfortable in the fact that I can actually do this type of work, notwithstanding that intermittent moment of self-doubt.
I am proud of “Standing on the Precipice”, though it is not complete, because it is allowing me to not only stretch my imagination, but to challenge myself even more to grow and write a more complex story that will appeal to people who may be going through some of the same issues.
But I am most proud of “The Radocians” and “Resurrection of Dead Dreams” in particular because in it I pay homage to my father, the man who taught me just about everything I know about being true to myself, to take chances, to follow your dream. There were two things he constantly said to me. One of them was: “Find something you have a passion for then figure out how to get paid doing it!” Writing this story has been invaluable to me; what with all the crying, it’s been cathartic. And, it’s cheaper than therapy!
4. Which genre/style do you prefer and what attracted you to it?
When it comes to reading, though I enjoy non-fiction and biographies, right now, I prefer fiction and, lately, paranormal romances and urban fantasy in particular. Real life is hard. I’ve had some experiences that would knock you off your feet. There has to be a reason why I am still here. Reading books in these genres, is a way for me to escape the realities of some of the events in my life. I turn on the news in the morning while I prepare for work, and it is ugly! Maybe what we need is a demon, a vampire, or werewolf to set the world straight? Who knows?
With regard to writing, because I’m a newbie, I want to experiment with genres and see where my strengths lie. The thing is that I don’t like being pigeon holed and I do want to stretch my abilities. Therefore, “Sinner’s Ride” is a straight up thriller/mystery. I would consider “Standing on the Precipice” the same and “Resurrection of Dead Dreams” urban fantasy. At some point, I would like to try my hand at erotica as well. Ooh! That doesn’t read too cool! Let me re-phrase: I would like to try writing tasteful erotica. ☺. Ugh! Double-entrendres!
5. If we were to observe you in the act of writing, what would we see?
This question made me laugh out loud. I can be very much a loner particularly when I have a mindset to write. I mean, I know how to be around people and conduct myself in a manner that is enjoyable, but when I’m home with a desire to write, I need total and utter silence. I don’t drink and I don’t take calls when I’m writing because I can’t risk messing up my flow.
If after a day at the office, I have something I need to get down, you will find me in my daughter’s old bedroom, sitting at my desk by the window typing away stopping every once in a while to pet my cat, Bosco who is always at my feet. Petting him helps me think.
On the other hand, if when I get in on a Friday night I don’t set about writing, I will bring my laptop into my bedroom so that I have easy access to it upon awakening and I can write if something comes to me in a dream or even if I just wake up inspired. When that happens, I usually work until I have to get out of bed then move to my desk in the other room after breakfast and my morning routine to spend the day writing.
My energy is very intense when I am wrapped up in my writing. I don’t hear anything, and I don’t feel or see anything but what is on the screen. I get lost in my stories. If you were watching me while I was writing, you might see me physically react to what I’m writing. I might laugh, sneer, I suck my teeth a lot, and I’ve cried. I’ve even jumped up out of my chair and said to myself “Damn girl! Really?” LOL!! I forget to eat. I’ve been startled by my daughter who has come to check in on me because she hasn’t heard from me or to feed my sorry butt.
6. When you get writer’s block, how do you respond?
Often, I step away and go for a walk or the gym to air out the cobwebs. If that doesn’t work, I call someone who also writes. That person now is usually Jorge Salgado-Reyes, my new publisher over at Indie Authors Press. He’s really good at helping me sort things out. Sometimes he’s so damned logical I wanna give him a friendly smack on the arm! LOL!
7. From the inception of writing to publishable work, typically how long do you spend?
The process for “Sinner’s Ride”, from start to finish was very short–4 months. I started “Resurrection of Dead Dreams” in May 2010 and I’ve been creating “Standing on the Precipice” for about six months now. Obviously, those and any future projects will go through a much longer process because my expectations for myself have been heightened. I’ve been told writers spend a year or more on this process.
8. Is there any advice you would like to share with other authors?
I’ve said what I’m about to say in other blogs because I believe it is essential: Never stop looking at the world around you. There are stories there. Never give up. Write every day, even if it’s just one line. Start a blog. Join Twitter/Facebook. Engage your followers. Be friendly. It doesn’t cost anything to be nice. Talk with other authors and it will help foster your imagination. Your desire to keep going will grow.
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blog at Indie Author's Press
And my Twitter address is @lahongrais
Synopsis for Sinner’s Ride
What happens when your whole world is turned upside down? What do you do when the people around you aren’t who they seem to be?
This is Sinner’s story. Sinner is a teenager living in the Bronx in New York City. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday she is sexually assaulted by her father. Following the attack, she undergoes a dramatic change and makes a life changing decision for which she pays a heavy price. Or does she?
Take a ride with Sinner and hold on tight because the twists and turns of this story will take your breath away!
3 comments:
Thank you Lee! Your support is so appreciated! {HUGS}
You're welcome
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