Author Interview – Darío Aguilar Peregrina – The Hurricanes Saga

On The Table Read, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Darío Aguilar Peregrina talks about his writing career and the inspiration behind his book series, The Hurricanes Saga.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Darío Aguilar Peregrina about his life and career, what inspired him to start writing, and the inspiration behind The Hurricanes Saga.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

Darío Aguilar Peregrina is a Mexican author born in Mexico City, Mexico and grew up in Apatlaco, Iztapalapa but now he resides on La Colonia del Valle, Benito Juárez. He is the creator of the Hurricanes 2007, Brigade DXT, Latin Dancin and The Three Wise Young Men Sagas.

He was born on June 12^th, 1997.

All his works talk about his Mexican-Latino roots while mixing them with many genres such as Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Comedy, Sports, Music and Darkness.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

I started writing when I was 6 years old, since my Grandpa, Manuel Aguilar Andrade, who was from Tamazola, Oaxaca was a poet, so I tried to emulate him but at the end, we both agreed that I was better writing stories due to my love of movies such as Spider-Man, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, The Dark Knight, many movies from a famous Latin comedian named Cantinflas and the Max Steel movie series from Mattel.

When did you take a step to start writing?

Again, it was my Grandpa but also my mom, Elisa Aguilar Peregrina and my aunt, Dulce María Aguilar Peregrina who had the nickname as “Tía Anne”, that encouraged me to write more since they saw I enjoyed telling stories to my family and classmates in elementary and middle school.

For the next years, I wrote several short stories in an anthology I made myself called “Mexico”, where I had adventures with my toys and the scenarios I imagined.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

The first Hurricanes 2007 book took me 12 years to publish it. I got the idea when I was 9 years old and then the story evolved in the next years adding a Mexican-Lesbian protagonist, the antagonists and the supporting characters that come from England, United States, Brazil, Peru and Japan.

How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?

The last book in 2021, was the the third part of The Hurricanes 2007 Saga, called The Virus of The Extermination, it took me a year to write it but the idea was since I was 11 years old back in early 2009.

The first book of this year was The Three Wise Young Men (Los Jóvenes Reyes Magos in Spanish), that took me 9 years to publish it, since I had the idea when I was 12-15 years old in early 2010-early 2013.

Another book was Brigade DXT (Brigada DXT in Spanish). The idea came, when I was 13-16 years old, back in late 2010-2013 and took me 9 years to publish it.

The latest book I recently wrote, called Latin Dancin (The name is also for the Spanish version), took me 9 years to publish it, since I had the idea when I was 14-16 years old, back in early 2012- late 2013.

Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write The Hurricanes Saga?

For Hurricanes 2007 Saga in general, the idea came due to my love of cyclones since I thought they were powerful as a 9-year-old and also due to the movies such as The Day After Tomorrow, 28 Days Later, Logan and the anime Blue Drop.

For The Three Wise Young Men. The idea came, due to many childhood memories waiting for the Three Wise Men (Los Reyes Magos) to bring me presents. They bring presents to Latino and Hispanic children every night of January 5^th. They are similar to Santa Claus.

The book was inspired by my childhood memories the Latin American, European, Arabic and African cultures, since the Wise Men came from the last three places and were a heritage of the Spaniards who came to Mexico in the XV-XVI centuries. Also movies like The Three Wise Men, a 2003 Spanish animated movie, The Santa Clause Trilogy by Tim Allen, Doctor Strange and Harry Potter movies inspired it.

For Brigade DXT. The book was inspired by the Goal Trilogy, FIFA Games, Coach Carter and many sports movies. 

For Latin Dancin. The idea came to me in the years between 2010-2015, due to my love for the Guitar Hero, Dance Central, Just Dance videogames and the anime Sword Art Online, while mixing this with a tribute to the Latin Music and all the different cultures from Latin America I grew up with. 

What were your biggest challenges with writing The Hurricanes Saga?

For all six books, the challenge was to improve my writing and live up to idea I had imagined for them.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?

In Hurricanes 2007, it was a female version of myself combined by the characters Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. 

In Brigade DXT, It was a part of my life mixed with characters like Santiago Muñez from Goal and Ken Carter played by Samuel L. Jackson.

In The Three Wise Young Men, It was again another part of my life and mixed by  The Wise Men of the animated movie I mentioned and teen characters from Zoey 101 and Harry Potter.

In Latin Dancin, another part of my life and my latino roots while mixing this with characters like Tori Vega from Victorious, a Chilean program called 31 minutes (31 minutos in Spanish), Kirito and latino singers like Camila Cabello, Luis Miguel, Selena Quintanilla and Belanova.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?

In Hurricanes 2007, a dark version of me I imagined and characters like Magneto from X-Men, Private Henry West from 28 Days Later and many other Marvel/DC Villains.

In Brigade DXT, it was inspired by many bad coaches I had in my life as an athlete and the lack of opportunities to be one in Mexico.

In The Three Wise Young Men, it was inspired by Voldemort of Harry Potter and Belial, the antagonist of the Wise Men in the animated Spanish movie.

In Latin Dancin, it was inspired by the people who bullied me and made me hate for a time, the Latino music and dances.

What is the inciting incident of The Hurricanes Saga?

In Hurricanes 2007, It’s the last sample of the “Hurricanes 2007” project that is inside Darcy Ember Phoenix, a British American girl, that gives superpowers to her.

Katrina Fernandez, also has this substance inside her body and wants to kill Darcy to get her powers and conquer the world with the help of the “Hurricanes”, who are women made of cyclone like powers.

In search to stop her, Río Pedroza, a Mexican navy cadet will try to stop her and save Darcy, her friends and the world.

In Three Wise Young Men, it’s the disappearance of the original Wise Men and the task of their descendants named Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar to find them.

In Brigade DXT, it’s the dream of Manuel Peregrina and his friends to get into the Olympic Games.

In Latin Dancin, it’s the competition inside the videogame of the same game to find the next Latino Artist and win the contract with Noa Río Records to create a Music Album. Marisol Quintanilla is the MC of the story.

What is the main conflict of The Hurricanes Saga?

In Hurricanes 2007, is the conflict between Río Pedroza, Darcy Ember Phoenix and her friends against Katrina Fernandez with her army and other antagonists such as Dean Benbow Rogers and his Infectihurricanes group.

In Three Wise Young Men, is about the quest of Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar to find the original Wise Men.

In Brigade DXT, is about Manuel Peregrina and his friends in winning the Cup of The Universities and qualify to their national teams for the World Cups of the sports they practice.

In Latin Dancin, is about Marisol Quintanilla, Xabiani Ariztábal and Graciela Magdalena journey in the “Festival Top Latino” and win the contest inside the videogame.

Did you plot The Hurricanes Saga in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?

I plot the main details of the book in advance and write freely the dialogues or some scenarios for the characters.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Hurricanes Saga need?

No, I do all by myself. As I have 90% of the book plotted with every detail, I don’t need much editing.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?

I would suggest to them to write what they are most passionate about and don’t listen the people who say it’s a bad idea.

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

Of course!  I plan to write and translate all these books into English:

In 2023, I will have the 4^th part of the “Hurricanes 2007” Saga, titled Shadows of The Darkness, that continues the story of Río Pedroza and her friends trying to win the war against Katrina’s and Benbow’s Army.

Also, the 2^nd part of the Three Wise Young Men, where they will meet other characters that bring presents to children around the world, being one of them, the famous Santa Claus.

In third place, is also the 2^nd part of Brigade DXT, titled Worldwide, where Manuel and his friends will get into their national teams to represent them at many events in all the Planet.

And finally, Latin Dancin will have a sequel, titled FT. Hispanoamérica, where Marisol and her friends will get again in the videogame but this time against past winners of the Festival Top Latino and win the prize to make a Musical World Tour.

And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

Absolutely, since many people from many parts of the world already know my work and I have won many awards in Mexico, one in the USA, one in Canada and diplomas from different countries.

Also I promote new talents in the artistic world in a Latin Canadian TV/Radio Program called Hello Arte.

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

For all the books I mentioned, here is the link.  I don’t have a website, but you can google all my work by writing in the search button, Darío Aguilar Peregrina.

You can find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheHurricane97/ Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/hurricanedario  and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hurricanedario/

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