Today we’d like to introduce you to Hector Miray.
Hi Hector , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In the broadest of strokes, I think my life has boiled down to me being a storyteller. That’s taken lots of forms. Whether it be from a stage, over a microphone, in the pages of a book, or in an endless array of memes. Telling stories and helping people feel seen, encouraged, and connected I think universally translates to everything I do. The different paths I take do evolve and shift, but those things stay true.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t know that the road has been smooth. Most of the struggles and obstacles are internal or within myself. Sure there have been outward issues and circumstances beyond my control, but the real things that make the road rocky are my own focus, attitude, and efforts being out of alignment. When I’m out of whack, even the best circumstances can’t make things move smoothly.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For the last 13 years i’ve been a writer. I’ve written for myself. I’ve written for newspapers. I’ve written for the screen. I’ve written for comic books. I’ve written for encouragement. I’ve written for inspiration. I’ve written for God, and i’ve written for fun.
My primary work has been a book series called “Faith & Fandom.” It’s a book series of essays on finding spiritual content and encouragement in video games, comic books, anime, sci-fi, and pop culture at large. One friend described them as “Chicken soup for the nerdy soul.” I started writing these books in 2013 and as it stands there are 12 books in the main series plus a couple children’s books, a comic book, and collected volume. Other inspirational books have followed as well.
My first book landed me a job as a geeky screenwriter for “Clevver Media” which would eventually roll into “Fandom Entertainment.” But I wrote 130 episodes of content for them, primarily debates over which superheroes would win in battles.
I’m often most proud of whatever is most recent because i’ve just poured my heart into it. My most recent is also my first full fiction novel. It’s called “The Otornië – Book 1: Chaos & Community.” It’s a fantasy adventure novel chock full of pop culture references and heart. It’s definitely the most fun I’ve had creating and i’m loving getting to see people’s responses.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think risk taking is essential if you are going to be genuine. You have to be willing to create what is on your heart or in your mind that you feel passionate about. Often times this means making something that may not exist, and because it doesn’t already exist it feel risky to create. With my main book series I spent 3 years exploring comic cons, essentially looking for something like what was in my heart to create. I couldn’t find it. Since I couldn’t find it, I created it. That alone is risky. It’s like looking at a space or culture and saying I have something you don’t, and what I have will improve the collective as a whole. Just having your art as an option makes the whole space better. But because that space has existed so long without you, it can make you feel frightened to try and find your place in it. Imposter syndrome kicks in HARD. But what i’ve found is there is always an audience for everything. Sometimes you just have to find them. You won’t find your audience if you don’t take the risk to put yourself out there. Every event I set up, and every piece of art I create is a risk, but there’s someone out there looking for exactly what i’ve made.
Pricing:
- Paperback Books – $20
- Hardback Books -$30
- Stickers – $3
Contact Info:
- Website: https://faithandfandom.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithandfandom
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithandfandom
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/faithandfandom
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@faithandfandom
- Other: www.faithandfandom.podbean.com
