My second book, Kindred Spirits is celebrating its first bookaversary! On Halloween help me celebrate by downloading it FREE! Just one day only!

Happy Endings

No, it's not what you think. I'm talking happy endings as in books, movies, TV shows etc. How important is it to you? Do you feel like every story should have a happy ending? I struggled with this very topic in my first book, Enchanted Island. I originally intended to have one of my characters die, and then had a change of heart. I thought it would have a negative impact on the younger readers. I consulted with my friend and fellow author on it, and then decided not to kill the character off. Now in hindsight I'm wondering if I could have stuck with my original plan. Either way, I'm proud of the story and the readers enjoy, as is.

This topic crossed my mind today because a few weeks ago I finally started watching the television series, Sons of Anarchy. My son had been on me to tune in but I was so many seasons behind, 5 1/2 to be exact. I didn't feel like I had time or the patience to catch up to the current season. But one day I gave it a shot and watched the first episode. (Thanks Netflix) I was hooked! Addicted was more like it. I ended up watching the entire 5 1/2 seasons in one week's time. I binge watched the hell out of the show! I even left my son in the dust, who had not yet watched the current season. So anyway, season 6 concluded last night. It did not have a happy ending. I was okay with it. I thought it was fantastic.

A number of viewers have expressed their deep hatred of the season finale and vowed never to tune in again. (lies!) A major character was killed off in a brutal manner; one I had no idea had this much of a following. I personally disliked this character which is why I'm unfazed by their departure. But even when one of my beloved characters was killed off in an earlier season, I didn't feel a need to stop watching the show. Every story can't have a happy ending, can it?

It made for a compelling story line. It was heartbreaking and exquisitely delivered by the actors involved. It made a serious impression on me. I was compelled to keep watching because this character's death catapulted the story ahead. I wanted to keep watching. No, I needed to keep watching. I needed to witness the vengeance that was sure to come. I got my satisfaction when my beloved character's death was avenged! I'm not sure why the viewers who vowed to stop watching don't see it this way.

You don't watch Sons of Anarchy for sunshine and rainbows. This is a show about outlaws. I'm not 100% certain, as I don't know any outlaws, but I'm pretty sure that their lives are not glamorous or has many happy endings. It seems like the way of this world for innocent people to get caught in the cross hairs. Would an unhappy ending ruin a book, movie or TV series for you?

Kindred Spirits - Extended Trailer

Here is the trailer for my upcoming release--Kindred Spirits!

Kindred Spirits Teaser

Here's a quick teaser for my upcoming short story collection, Kindred Spirits.

Coming Soon--Halloween 2013

Just a quick post about my upcoming release. It's a series of short stories woven into one complete story. I'm putting the finishing touches on it but thought I'd let you see what the front cover will look like. The cover was designed by Hi-Rise Visions. Check them out! And here it is, the cover for my next release:

Press Release

Enchanted Island: Uplifting Debut Novel by May Torres Set to Inspire America's Latino Youth (via SBWire)

Depicting an ‘average’ Puerto Rican girl from New York who finds she is anything but average, ‘Enchanted Island’ sends a strong and empowering message to young Latino girls everywhere. Driving them to read more, better themselves and realize…

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An Invitation To Fellow Writers

For the past four weeks I've been running my Enchanted Summer Games. There's a little over half a dozen players. Not quite as many as I would have liked but these players have come back every week to participate. I designed these games as a way for me too meet new people and for people to get to know me. It has been a great experience so far. I post daily activities which help you advance on your opponents in decathlon-style events. It's so much fun playing the actual online track and field games themselves. (Here's the current event, the High Jump) Then there's the daily activities you must complete to advance on fellow players.

For example, in yesterday's daily task list there was a Fact or Fiction exercise. What each player had to do was list three facts about them. One was to be false. Fellow players had to guess which one was false. I learned new things about people I'm actually quite familiar with already. And in turn they learned something new about me. These are how I set up the games. It's all about breaking the ice.

I encourage fellow writers to come and join in. As you compete for prizes, readers will get to know you and vice versa. When people get to know what you're about they're more inclined to invest in your dreams. And writers dream about getting read, no? At the least, you will have so much fun laughing at the friendly competition. You'll win fun prizes, not a million dollars, but still fun :).

You have nothing to lose and a few things to gain. What you gain may be worth more than you think. Take a chance.

Enchanted Summer Games