A little more of Orlando Santiago Jr w/Ramona Simmons

Orlando Santiago Jr

The MenzClub presents: 

A little more of Orlando Santiago Jr 

with Ramona Simmons

 

We just can't get enuff of Orlando here at the MenzClub, we are so proud of his accomplishments and new release so we decided to give U a little more....

This time, with Ramona Simmons.

As per Ramona:

In the year 2004 when self publishing sites were just starting to hit their stride, looking to pray on the pockets of innocent writers who had no idea how to get into the world of publication Orlando Santiago Jr. took a chance on a pop up ad that appeared one ordinary day. That site, then known as Booksurge, was bought out by Amazon a few years later and a star was born. Since then he has written plenty of novels with four being sold in India, Australia and Japan.

 

Ramona: First I have to tell you that I am a huge fan of the Rake and Swift Killas, especially the Rake. But before we get into your latest novel, Slick, I’d like to talk about Swift Killas. Swift was a deadly Latin assassin that was involved in a lover’s triangle that spanned four novels and came to an unbelievable conclusion. A lot of people have been hoping for a ‘son of Swift’ character as badly as women have been waiting for a Rake sequel. Is Slick that sequel?

 

Osj: [Laughs] In a way, yes. The protagonist in Slick is learning about Swift and what his life was about and feels a sort of kinship. I even have characters cross paths with one another, Valencia Phillips meets Maryam Sousan and the protagonist meets Celena Candelario from Rogue Accord.

 

Ramona: Yes, Valencia Phillips interests me greatly. You have a lot of strong female characters in this novel, all ambitious in their own way from Isabel to Catalina and the sexy yet mysterious Gail that just kind of appears out of nowhere. Are any of these women real?

 

Osj: [Shrugs shoulders and laughs]

 

Ramona: Slick is very much a cross between Swift Killas and the Rake. The chapter Chase had more excitement and flare than anything I’ve read in espionage or Fifty Shades of Grey, was that intentional?

 

Osj:  I enjoyed writing about Detective Phillips, she’s a very complex character but I didn’t get the chance to explore her as much as I would have liked but if the book does well I think she will be as compelling a character as Maryam and Celena were in the Swift Killas series.

 

Ramona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

 

Osj: The main character goes to prison and takes the absolute nastiest situation and turns it into the greatest opportunity ever. There’s always a silver lining and we should all strive to take the worst possible situation and make it into something positive. 

 

Ramona: Are the experiences in Slick based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

 

Osj: Pure fiction, although I do have an older brother who has done time but he’s no Bryan Devlin, though I have no doubt he’d like to be.

Ramona: Did you have someone helping you or consulting on the novel while you wrote it?

 

Osj: I had many meetings with a high school friend, Jose Capetillo and another high school friend whom will remain nameless.

 

Ramona: Is it Valencia?

 

Osj: To my knowledge I never went to high school with a Valencia.

 

Ramona: Isabel, Catalina, Maryam, Celena…Gail?

 

Osj: [Laughs & shrugs]

 

Ramona: Well Slick was an amazing read and I hope to see a series emerge. Valencia Phillips is my new girl crush and, like everyone else I know that’s read the book, I find the mysterious Gail character someone I desperately want to learn more about.

 

Osj: Thank you, I have more than a few ideas for a sequel and a few twits in mind for both Valencia and Gail.

 

Ramona: Who are your top three authors?

 

Osj: Maryam Sousan, author of the Last Five Minutes is my number one. A must read, I highly recommend her. Definitely Brett Battles, he has a few amazing series one of which is with a character named Jonathan Quinn. Brett Battles has created an amazing world with his books, why his writing haven’t become movies is beyond me. And…Raymond Benson who use to write the James Bond novels.

 

Ramona: Do you have any advice for future writers?

 

Osj: Always stay positive, I’ve been rejected by publishing agencies so many times. I have been told that I’d never be a real author, some of those things were told to me by teachers. So stay positive, never let anyone tell you that it can’t be done and when all else fails press on.

 

Ramona: Do you have anything specific that you want to tell your readers?

 

Osj: Yes, thank you for all your love and support. Please spread the word that Slick is out and rate it on Amazon.com.