Today, we’re talking with Mike Torres about his book, Kevin Martinez and the Crimson Knights
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
My playlist consists of some non-manly music, *cough, Taylor Swift, *cough.
Why do you write?
I write to create—to craft stories that will be enjoyed long after I’m gone, to transform the fruits of my daydreams into something tangible on the page.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
The inspiration to write “Kevin Martinez and the Crimson Knights” struck in the summer of 2018. The catalyst was witnessing my sons’ newfound love for reading. I aimed to create a story that blended various genres they enjoyed, hoping to captivate their imaginations and touch their hearts.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
What I love about the Middle Grade genre is how it captures kids on the brink of discovery—standing at the threshold of finding themselves, exploring their strengths and confronting their weaknesses as they take their first steps along life’s path, encountering both its wonders and challenges. I cherish the innocence of youthful love and infatuation, and the thrilling excitement these feelings evoke.
How would you describe your writing process?
I would describe my writing process as a sputtering Ferrari. I don’t put pen to paper until I’ve gathered enough ideas, and those ideas emerge only after prolonged periods of brainstorming. Sometimes these periods stretch into months, other times just days—but once I find the next story arc that truly excites me, my fingers fly across the keyboard at a furious pace. Eventually, I hit another uncertain section, and the cycle of begins anew.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
I believe authors greatly benefit from social media because it allows them to form personal connections with their readers. They can engage directly with their audience, share behind-the-scenes insights into their writing processes, and gain personalized feedback about their work. This fosters a deeper relationship between authors and their readers and can transform casual readers into lifelong fans, which is every writer’s goal.
What advice would you have for other writers?
My best and only advice for writers is this: Write your story. Write even if you think your words aren’t good enough. Keep writing, and don’t stop until you’ve reached the end. You’ll find that as you push forward, new ideas will bloom, and soon you’ll have created a complete story—something uniquely yours, which no one can ever take away. You can always revisit your work to polish and perfect it later, but by writing it down, you’ve given your ideas life in the world.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I try to pinpoint the central arc of the book and highlight it clearly in the title. Similarly, I identify the key event or defining moment of the story and strive to capture its essence through the cover design, which has been executed flawlessly by the talented Swedish artist Isabel Westling.
What’s your next step?
I plan to complete the Kevin Martinez story within the next two novels, hopefully over the next three to five years. After that, I intend to return to working on Cravenlore, my vampire graphic novel.
What book do you wish you’d written?
A Game of Thrones; the detail, the mystery, the foreshadowing and subversion of expectations! I’m still yearning for The Winds of Winter. Hopefully sometime this century…
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
At the sight of a new review, my heart leaps, and adrenaline courses through my veins as I eagerly begin to read. Positive comments bring a smile, while negative ones chip a piece off my heart—but I’ve accepted that this simply comes with the territory. Luckily, negative feedback has been minimal so far, and I’ll use it as constructive criticism.
