You were born in Puerto Rico. Have you ever been there after you moved to New Jersey?
Yes, many times. I moved to New Jersey with my immediate family when I was ten. On occasion, I go to Puerto Rico to visit other family members.
What do you love the most about living in Florida?
I love the year-round warm weather, especially in central Florida, where I reside, which is subtropical, meaning that the temperature is not as hot and humid during the winter months.
How was your passion for writing started back in high school?
My passion started when one of the English class assignments was to write a short horror story. The teacher enjoyed it and requested that I read it in front of the class. As a result, my classmates loved the story. From that day on, I knew I wanted to continue writing horror and dreamed about publishing books in the future. Thus, my dream has come true.
Who was the first person to read your first short horror story, The House of Death?
My English teacher in high school many moons ago on Oct 27, 1977. I still have the original handwritten copy.
When did you become a member of the Horror Writers Association? How has it helped you in making your writing better?
I became a member of the Horror Writers Association in June 2022. It has helped me meet other horror writers and read their work, exposing me to different writing styles.
How has an English Creative Writing degree has helped you in your writing career?
My degree has helped me with plot and character development in my stories. It has also taught me how to grab the reader’s attention within the first couple of paragraphs.
Who inspired the character of a teenage boy named Javier?
The teenage boy Javier in Haunted by Life was inspired by me. Many of the scenes are real-life situations, which I embellished to create an eerie ghost story.
Which story took the longest time to write in the collection, Dreaded Tales?
Virus of the Hunched Monkey took the longest to write because I wanted to write interesting characters who will continue in future tales. Consequently, both Dreaded Tales and Dreaded Tales 2 have recurring characters in various stories.
What inspired the plot of your novel, Haunted by Life: A Paranormal Coming of Age Story?
As a kid, I experienced various life circumstances living in Puerto Rico, which inspired the novel. My writing creativity moved me to add a ghost to the mix and develop an excellent mystery plot with suspense.
Are haunted houses real or are they a figment of the imagination?
It all depends on who you talk to. Some people say they are real, and others say no. In my opinion, haunted houses exist. I have experienced it myself. The story entitled A Ghost in the House in the book Dreaded Tales is based on a true story featuring my mom and me. It is a hair-raising fact-based story.
What are some tips on writing a good short horror story?
Tips include keeping the characters to a minimum, grabbing the reader’s attention with an exciting plot, and taking them on a journey that includes a start, middle, and end.
What made you decide to get a Master of Health Administration?
At the time, I worked in the healthcare business, and the degree opened up many doors within the organization.
In what ways have you, being a member of the Horror Writers Association, helped the new Horror writers?
I have helped new horror writers by answering their questions about social media marketing, and advising on self-publishing, etc.
Which is the next book you are writing? When do you plan to publish it?
The next book I’m writing is about a thought-provoking exorcism of a woman in upstate New York. I plan to publish it next year during the early summer months.
When did you first come across the AllAuthor website, and what were your expectations? What are your thoughts now?
I first came across AllAuthor in early June 2022. My expectations coming in was to meet other authors and check out the available tools for marketing my books. My thoughts so far are that the site is excellent! I have connected with other authors, especially the horror ones. Also, the many tools are superb, mainly the magic tool, the weekly book mockup banners, and many others.
