Fresh Fiction Blog | Misa Ramirez | HOW I LEARNED ABOUT MY CHARACTER

I’m so glad to be here at Fresh Fiction, and I’m geared up to celebrate the release of Hasta la Vista, Lola, the second book in my Lola Cruz Mystery Series. The release date is February 2nd, and the book is getting tons of buzz!

I thought I’d share a story today about one of the questions I get asked most (and sometimes not asked verbally, but with raised eyebrows) as a writer of a Latina mystery series. Bet you can’t guess what the question is. I’ll give you a hint. I’m not Latina. In fact, I say in my bio that I’m proud to be Latina-by-marriage.

So, the question is... drum roll...

"Why do you write a Latina character, and how did you manage to make her so authentic?"

The short answer is: "I’m a writer, of course, so it all comes so easily! Why not a Latina?"

That’s a complete lie (the part about it coming easy, not the part about me being a writer). Writing is hard work, and it’s true that you have to write about what you know. But, as I’ve already stated, I’m not Latina. I’m a white girl from California now living in Texas. But I married a smokin’ Latino man (almost 20 years married now) and I’ve learned so much about his culture through the years of our relationship so I do know Lola. I know her from the outside looking in. I know her though my children’s eyes. I know her through my husband and his family. His parents lived with us for several years, his sister is one of my best friends and is the sister I never had, and so many elements of the Mexican culture speak to me. So I write this series and write Lola because there is so much beauty in the Mexican culture and it truly speaks to me.

When we had children, it became even more important that we find ways to bring that culture into our American lives, to show the kids the culture that is part of their history, and for them to embrace that part of them. When the character of Lola Cruz (given name Dolores) came to me, it felt right because in so many ways I felt that this family that I’d created in my mind represented so many things I wanted to emphasize about the Mexican culture for my kids. The family, the faith, the language, the food... But I also wanted to show how these elements can be balanced within an American life.

Lola balances (or struggles to balance) life with the cultural and familial expectations placed on her with the her own passions and desires which stem from living as an American. I was particularly careful and conscious not to slip into stereotypes, and when people comment that my characters are so authentic and non-stereotypical, I take great pride in that!

So, who is Lola Cruz? Here she is in a nutshell:

Dolores "Lola" Cruz: Part Crusader, Part Swashbuckler, Part Sage

Stats:

Lola’s single, a good Catholic girl (usually), but willing to do a lot to live her dream of being a detective. She works for muy misterioso Manny Camacho, has always loved old high school crush Jack Callaghan, and has a modern day rogue for a brother. The long and the short of it is that Lola can definitely hold her own in any situation, even when her mother’s berating her for having a career instead of marriage and children, when her mafioso grandfather has her doing ‘family’ work, and when her grandmother thinks she’s a ghost.

The Look:

Long auburn hair with copper highlights, hips and boobs and curves to spare, stripper shoes (to go with her strip list), and a wardrobe full of clothes that Jack Callaghan can’t resist her in. A belly button ring...maybe. A black belt in kung fu and a love of yoga make her fit and strong.

Leading Man:

Jack Callaghan, newspaper columnist with a past and some baggage that prevents him and Lola from moving forward. Who is Sarah, anyway?

The Bottom Line:

Lola Cruz is a feisty heroine. She’s smart, sexy, and sassy. She’s a great friend, loyal, and kick ass. I like to say she’s my alter ego (if I were a super hot, sexy, Latina detective).

Lola’s next adventure has her investigating her own death-and Jack’s mysterious ex-girlfriend. There’s never a dull moment in her life!

I have a copy of Hasta la Vista, Lola! to give away to a commenter! To help you along, let me ask you this: What’s your favorite mystery/romance series?

Hasta la Vista, Lola! comes out February 2, 2010. Here’s the teaser:

What’s a girl to do when she finds out she’s been killed? Pinch herself to make sure she’s not a ghost, for starters. When Dolores Cruz comes home to her parents’ house to find every relative she has mourning her death, all hell breaks loose. With the help of on-again/off-again love Jack Callaghan, and juggling a new case thrown at her by muy misterioso boss Manny Camacho, it’s up to fledgling detective Lola to find out who’s behind the identity theft and suddenly wants her dead.

Click here to read an excerpt from the second installment in the Lola Cruz Mystery Series.

Living the Vida Lola, book one in the Lola Cruz Mystery Series

Dolores Cruz (Lola for short) loves shoes, chicken mole, kung fu (she’s a black belt) and her close-knit family. When her brother’s hunky old high school friend Jack Callaghan moves back to town, Lola falls hard. Now, after a year and a half as an underling at Camacho and Associates, a local private investigation firm, her oh-so-sexy and mysterious boss, Manny Camacho, assigns Lola her first big case: solving the mysterious disappearance of Emily Diggs. Can Lola juggle two men, her loving but demanding family, her PI exams, solve her all-important first case, and shop for fabulous shoes?

Read Excerpt

Meet the characters! Read Lola and her crew’s On-Line Dating profiles.

Comments

looks like a great read :)
thanks for the chance to win!

tina
(Tina Werner 2:08pm January 28, 2010)

This sounds like a fun premise. Original
and intriguing!
(Sue Ahn 3:51am January 29, 2010)

Haven't read many mystery/romance series novels, but did read the first couple of Sue Grafton's alphabet books and thought they were good. Would love to read yours. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of your book.
(Joanne Reynolds 6:22am January 29, 2010)

Sounds like a wonderful book and love mystery/romance books
(Shirley Kulesza 11:00am January 29, 2010)

Thank you all for stopping by and
reading about Lola! It is a great read, if I
do say so myself, Tina! Fun, sassy, sexy,
and intriguing all in one nice little
package. =)
(Misa Ramirez 11:22am January 29, 2010)

Joanne, maybe Lola Cruz Mysteries will
bring your back to mysteries. There's
plenty of spicy romance in them to keep
you hooked!
(Misa Ramirez 11:22am January 29, 2010)

One of my favorite series is Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.
(Darcy Odden 12:27pm January 29, 2010)

This looks really fun. Can't wait to read it.
(Linda Kish 12:37pm January 29, 2010)

Ahhh my new to me author... nice to read more about your series! :)
(Colleen Conklin 12:40pm January 29, 2010)

This is a book I would be interested in buying, though I would love to win one
(Vikki Parman 12:48pm January 29, 2010)

Love the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Not just romance & mystery but funny as well. Hasta la Vista Lola sounds like a fun enjoyable read too.
(Donna Petrilla 12:52pm January 29, 2010)

Lola is such a cool character. The first
book was great, the second even better (I
got a sneak peak!!) Can't wait to read it
again!
(Virna De Paul 1:49pm January 29, 2010)

Hey! I see familiar names here. So fun
to see people along the way while on
this blog tour. :)

If you like Stephanie Plum, you'll like
Lola Cruz! Hope you give it a whirl!
(Misa Ramirez 2:22pm January 29, 2010)

Thanks for visiting--I enjoyed your column. As to your question. Toady I would say my favorite mystery series is Lee Child's Reacher series. My favorite romance series is Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series. But, like I said, that's today's answer!
(G S Moch 2:22pm January 29, 2010)

I love books with smart talking female investigators. Keep the books coming!
(MaryEllen Hanneman 2:33pm January 29, 2010)

I really like Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy Schulz series and Janet Evanovich's Plum series along with her Alex Barnaby series.
(Leni Kaye 2:56pm January 29, 2010)

You had me stressed about the dying part - I'm glad it's only ID theft!
I read many romance/mystery series. It is a little off the strict romance/mystery path, but I really like Elizabeth Peter's Vicki Bliss series. Actually I like all of her work, but this is the one that fits most closely into the genre'
(Anne Jones 3:11pm January 29, 2010)

I like your comments about how you 'found' Lola. I have been doing the family tree of the various branches of our family and many times I notice characteristics similar to some of my current 'cousins'. That research is my favorite mystery series :>) I also like the ones listed above and J A Konrath's Jack Daniels series.
(Karin Tillotson 3:23pm January 29, 2010)

This sounds like a great book. I like Shirley Damsgaard's Abby and Ophelia mysteries.
(Sandy Giden 4:33pm January 29, 2010)

I love mysteries, especially those with a strong female protagonist.

Thanks for sharing how your "found" Lola!
(Cheryl Bradley 5:35pm January 29, 2010)

Thanks for taking the time to read,
everyone!!!
(Misa Ramirez 5:39pm January 29, 2010)

There are a few mystery series I enjoy but the one I love most is JD Robb's In death series. I have all of them including anthologies written with other authors; I also have most of them in audio format that I listen to when traveling to and from work. I have probably 2/3's of them in hard cover since when she began the series they came out only in pocket format. I keep them all and re read twice a year when a new one is due out. In fact I'm working on re reading them now since she has a new one scheduled for the ed of february.
(Diane Sadler 6:05pm January 29, 2010)

I can only imagine how hard it is to research & write. Thank you for the insight.
(Mary Preston 6:33pm January 29, 2010)

I need to read more in this genre, but my current favorite is Stephanie Plum series. I have also read and liked the Pauline Sokol series by Lori Avocato. Lola sounds like a fun character.
(Michelle K 6:56pm January 29, 2010)

I could relate to the book. I have to balance my family culture as a Chinese and be a Westerner at the same time. It's not easy. When East meets West, I have to choose what is important.
(Kai Wong 7:15pm January 29, 2010)

One of my favorite mystery series is the Patricia Cornwell series.
(Cheryl Snyder 11:24pm January 29, 2010)

Patricia Cornwell and Karen Reichs are my favorite mystery writers. I have got to get this new book of yours!
(Lisa Glidewell 11:40pm January 29, 2010)

You seem to have embraced the Latino life well. Do you speak the language fluently? Does hubby proofread your writing?
(Gladys Paradowski 1:26am January 30, 2010)

Dang.....I hate that I missed the opportunity to enter the sweepstakes. We had snow here in North Carolina yesterday and working at an elementary school was just....one of those days.
(Danelle Drake 10:11am January 30, 2010)

Good questions, Gladys. I don't speak
Spanish fluently, but I can get by.
Less so now that we are living farther
away from my husband's family where
Spanish is spoken by his parents. I
have several friends who proof read
my Spanish and help, and my husband
gives his input, too.
(Misa Ramirez 10:42am January 30, 2010)

Hi,

I really enjoy a good mystery romance. I can't get any names out of my head right now, but I do read and enjoy historical mystery romance and contemporaries too. I have read the Stephanie Plum series and Sue Grafton's too. Your book looks really good and I just put it on my amazon wishlist. Ooooooh, it's my birthday really soon....ha!!!

Valerie
in Germany
(Valerie Bongards 12:32pm January 30, 2010)

I like Dean Koontz, which really isn't a traditional mystery writer. Your book sounds great!
(Brenda Rupp 9:58pm January 30, 2010)

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