Written for Swift Killas:Vengeance
Chicago's Diverse Assassin
By Maryam Sousan
Beyond the Ford City Mall food court entrance, passed the crying babies in strollers, mall shoppers, window shopping teenage couples, and mall employees, Orlando Santiago Jr. sits at a cafeteria table noticeable from even 100 plus feet. Santiago’s striped Mecca sweater rests snug on his massive shoulders as a pair of shades sit firmly on his head resonating, what some would say, Santiago’s alter ego, Swift Shades.
The author of the Swift Killas series, Santiago’s appeal symbolizes a cool collective dedication to the art of scribbles turned masterpieces as evident by his abundance of falling apart notebooks and loose leaf papers. “I’m not good at writing but it’s my knack and I refined it. Hell, spell check is my best friend.”
However, modest, Santiago’s massively popular Swift Killas series did not originate as a dedication to Chicago’s diversity. “The original Swift Killas was a 400 page stone tablet,” Santiago said. A tablet that originated as a series of stories based on Santiago’s childhood character, Fast Freddy. “I chipped away at it and got a Michelangelo.”
Unlike Shades, Freddy represented a Caucasian character that had the ability to reason without the interruption of emotions. Santiago eventually tossed the 22 notebooks of Fast Freddy material in lue of an adult view of the character. “I disposed of Fast Freddy because as you get older, Fast Freddy sounds like a child molester than superhero,” Santiago said.
Santiago’s struggle with race and character allowed him to create a Hispanic figure that transgressed beyond the expected norm. “Why not have a Hispanic assassin looking diverse and professional?” Santiago said. Fans took an immediate liking to this larger than life character. “Superman wears Swift Killa pajamas,” one fan said.
Santiago’s Puerto Rican heritage and multiculturalism allows for a unique bridge between Hispanic and Middle Eastern relations by way of Swift’s counterpart, Maryam. During a time of social anarchy, Maryam’s character did little to soothe the Arab/American tension resulting from the 9/11 terrorist attacks as evident by the overload of hate mail Santiago received. “This [Swift Killas] came out after 9/11 and fans were not too happy because of her and the fact that she’s Arabic and a cop,” Santiago said.
That negative feedback, however, did not stop Santiago from churning out four books under the Swift Killas series: Swift Killas Origins, Swift Killas, Swift Killas Vengeance and Swift Killas Twilight. “This was supposed to be a one time deal. The fans wanted more but I didn’t want to write it,” Santiago said.
As the demand grew for a deeper understanding of Santiago’s complex characters, Santiago began exploring different venues of expression by introducing a younger more vulnerable Swift. “In Origins, we learn a lot about Swift and his early years in an elite government group called the OSS.” This information sets the tone for Santiago’s depiction of Swift as an intricate personality created by the United States government.
Although Santiago’s plot line may seem implausible, his characters, however, have very intricate and realistic backgrounds. Smooth, for example, is Santiago’s childhood friend Brandon McGruder. Maryam’s character is based on Santiago’s college friend during his years at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago. “I was very fond of Maryam. There was click on an artistic commodore level,” Santiago said.
These characters, however, took on a life of their own as Swift Killas hit Amazon.com bookstores. “After so long the characters are no longer mine, they’re yours,” Santiago said. Santiago’s ability to supply his fans with action packed plot line makes for an addicting concoction of realism and fantasy. “I manipulate things to intrigue the fans but it’s still within the realm of their expectations,” Santiago said.
For the man who visits Borders book store to dance with senior citizens, Santiago attributes his inspirations to a worldly and open personality. “I’ve been to 108 funerals and 2 weddings. One of which was my own,” Santiago said. Friends and family jumped at the opportunity to display positive words for Santiago’s promo of his up and coming book Unique Realities. “If you’ve never been seduced, talk to him in person just one,” fan Celli Burgos said.
Under his unique brand, Santiago has also published Petals of Rose which features a romantic plot line. He even extends well beyond the novella spectrum with his poetry book, Unchained, featuring Chicago authors with co-author Tiare Tuairau.
For the die hard Swift Killas fan, Santiago spins off with the illusive Rogue Accord featuring a collection of short stories about the infamous band of thieves of Swift Killas Vengeance. Santiago never ceases to amaze fans with his writing talent. “I’m blessed, Santiago said. A blessing that has fans praising his existence, “If he were not born, it would be necessary for the world to create him, fan David Oland said. - finite-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swift Killas: Will Swift be making his final assassination?
For those of you who don’t know about Swift Killas by Orlando Santiago Jr, it is one of the most gritty, bloody and strangest books to ever hit Amazon.com. The first novel, arrived through Book Surge back in 2004. (Which was bought by Amazon and later became Createspace) Based in ChicagoIllinois you follow the life of a hit man, code named Swift, working for the Latino mafia. Caught between a mafia war and a lover’s triangle more complex than Bermuda, Swift battles a sword wielding assassin of equal skill. This underground phenomenon, with its poor grammar and paragraph structure, thrived with a booming fan base. Santiago went on to do other projects but eventually gave the fans what they wanted, more Swift Killas in the second installment called Swift Killas: Vengeance.
In Vengeance we see our favorite anti-hero in a Mexican prison, where he breaks free to exact his vengeance on the people who put him there. This time there is a secret agent looking for Swift and spares no expense in tracking him down but the story then comes full circle back in Chicago for a grand finale and a beautiful twist with Swift’s female counterpart. This book, which was well written and wonderfully structured, includes an interview with Santiago, conducted by Maryam Sousan. (Swift’s real life counter part in the book)
Because of its strange ending fans originally thought that was the end of the story but Santiago had already began brain storming on another Swift Killas novel. This time fans will be taken “back to the origins of it all” when Swift was nothing more than a teenager named Armand or Armando. (Can’t remember which) Readers will learn the steps that made the Swift Killer (Killa) and the friendships that were forged early on but what really peaks the interest of all the readers, and myself, is the amazing lover’s triangle between Maryam, Armando and George which in my opinion is the momentum of the first two books. “Origins will end where Swift Killas begins.” says Santiago in an internet chat room when asked about the third installment. “…but it doesn’t end there.”
After the events in Origins, due to be released sometime late this year, Santiago plans on one more novel to the underground hit series. “I understand that people want Swift to return on a consistent basis but I plan on only one more after Origins and it will be the last.” Says Santiago. The news that Santiago’s series will likely end comes as no shock to those close to him. Any series with a large following lasts only a short while before the characters and plot become mundane and repetitive. As to whether or not our Swift Killa will survive his final moments in the last installment is a mystery one thing is certain, fans will rush to see if their favorite characters will return and if Maryam survived the massive explosion at the end of Swift Killas: Vengeance.
As for myself, I look forward to seeing what Santiago’s next big venture will be. With great selling titles like Rogue Accord and The Rake I’m sure we will be blessed with many more wonderful and colorful characters in the aftermath of the Swift Killas series.
~William Keck
Chicago's Diverse Assassin
By Maryam Sousan
Beyond the Ford City Mall food court entrance, passed the crying babies in strollers, mall shoppers, window shopping teenage couples, and mall employees, Orlando Santiago Jr. sits at a cafeteria table noticeable from even 100 plus feet. Santiago’s striped Mecca sweater rests snug on his massive shoulders as a pair of shades sit firmly on his head resonating, what some would say, Santiago’s alter ego, Swift Shades.
The author of the Swift Killas series, Santiago’s appeal symbolizes a cool collective dedication to the art of scribbles turned masterpieces as evident by his abundance of falling apart notebooks and loose leaf papers. “I’m not good at writing but it’s my knack and I refined it. Hell, spell check is my best friend.”
However, modest, Santiago’s massively popular Swift Killas series did not originate as a dedication to Chicago’s diversity. “The original Swift Killas was a 400 page stone tablet,” Santiago said. A tablet that originated as a series of stories based on Santiago’s childhood character, Fast Freddy. “I chipped away at it and got a Michelangelo.”
Unlike Shades, Freddy represented a Caucasian character that had the ability to reason without the interruption of emotions. Santiago eventually tossed the 22 notebooks of Fast Freddy material in lue of an adult view of the character. “I disposed of Fast Freddy because as you get older, Fast Freddy sounds like a child molester than superhero,” Santiago said.
Santiago’s struggle with race and character allowed him to create a Hispanic figure that transgressed beyond the expected norm. “Why not have a Hispanic assassin looking diverse and professional?” Santiago said. Fans took an immediate liking to this larger than life character. “Superman wears Swift Killa pajamas,” one fan said.
Santiago’s Puerto Rican heritage and multiculturalism allows for a unique bridge between Hispanic and Middle Eastern relations by way of Swift’s counterpart, Maryam. During a time of social anarchy, Maryam’s character did little to soothe the Arab/American tension resulting from the 9/11 terrorist attacks as evident by the overload of hate mail Santiago received. “This [Swift Killas] came out after 9/11 and fans were not too happy because of her and the fact that she’s Arabic and a cop,” Santiago said.
That negative feedback, however, did not stop Santiago from churning out four books under the Swift Killas series: Swift Killas Origins, Swift Killas, Swift Killas Vengeance and Swift Killas Twilight. “This was supposed to be a one time deal. The fans wanted more but I didn’t want to write it,” Santiago said.
As the demand grew for a deeper understanding of Santiago’s complex characters, Santiago began exploring different venues of expression by introducing a younger more vulnerable Swift. “In Origins, we learn a lot about Swift and his early years in an elite government group called the OSS.” This information sets the tone for Santiago’s depiction of Swift as an intricate personality created by the United States government.
Although Santiago’s plot line may seem implausible, his characters, however, have very intricate and realistic backgrounds. Smooth, for example, is Santiago’s childhood friend Brandon McGruder. Maryam’s character is based on Santiago’s college friend during his years at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago. “I was very fond of Maryam. There was click on an artistic commodore level,” Santiago said.
These characters, however, took on a life of their own as Swift Killas hit Amazon.com bookstores. “After so long the characters are no longer mine, they’re yours,” Santiago said. Santiago’s ability to supply his fans with action packed plot line makes for an addicting concoction of realism and fantasy. “I manipulate things to intrigue the fans but it’s still within the realm of their expectations,” Santiago said.
For the man who visits Borders book store to dance with senior citizens, Santiago attributes his inspirations to a worldly and open personality. “I’ve been to 108 funerals and 2 weddings. One of which was my own,” Santiago said. Friends and family jumped at the opportunity to display positive words for Santiago’s promo of his up and coming book Unique Realities. “If you’ve never been seduced, talk to him in person just one,” fan Celli Burgos said.
Under his unique brand, Santiago has also published Petals of Rose which features a romantic plot line. He even extends well beyond the novella spectrum with his poetry book, Unchained, featuring Chicago authors with co-author Tiare Tuairau.
For the die hard Swift Killas fan, Santiago spins off with the illusive Rogue Accord featuring a collection of short stories about the infamous band of thieves of Swift Killas Vengeance. Santiago never ceases to amaze fans with his writing talent. “I’m blessed, Santiago said. A blessing that has fans praising his existence, “If he were not born, it would be necessary for the world to create him, fan David Oland said. - finite-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swift Killas: Will Swift be making his final assassination?
For those of you who don’t know about Swift Killas by Orlando Santiago Jr, it is one of the most gritty, bloody and strangest books to ever hit Amazon.com. The first novel, arrived through Book Surge back in 2004. (Which was bought by Amazon and later became Createspace) Based in ChicagoIllinois you follow the life of a hit man, code named Swift, working for the Latino mafia. Caught between a mafia war and a lover’s triangle more complex than Bermuda, Swift battles a sword wielding assassin of equal skill. This underground phenomenon, with its poor grammar and paragraph structure, thrived with a booming fan base. Santiago went on to do other projects but eventually gave the fans what they wanted, more Swift Killas in the second installment called Swift Killas: Vengeance.
In Vengeance we see our favorite anti-hero in a Mexican prison, where he breaks free to exact his vengeance on the people who put him there. This time there is a secret agent looking for Swift and spares no expense in tracking him down but the story then comes full circle back in Chicago for a grand finale and a beautiful twist with Swift’s female counterpart. This book, which was well written and wonderfully structured, includes an interview with Santiago, conducted by Maryam Sousan. (Swift’s real life counter part in the book)
Because of its strange ending fans originally thought that was the end of the story but Santiago had already began brain storming on another Swift Killas novel. This time fans will be taken “back to the origins of it all” when Swift was nothing more than a teenager named Armand or Armando. (Can’t remember which) Readers will learn the steps that made the Swift Killer (Killa) and the friendships that were forged early on but what really peaks the interest of all the readers, and myself, is the amazing lover’s triangle between Maryam, Armando and George which in my opinion is the momentum of the first two books. “Origins will end where Swift Killas begins.” says Santiago in an internet chat room when asked about the third installment. “…but it doesn’t end there.”
After the events in Origins, due to be released sometime late this year, Santiago plans on one more novel to the underground hit series. “I understand that people want Swift to return on a consistent basis but I plan on only one more after Origins and it will be the last.” Says Santiago. The news that Santiago’s series will likely end comes as no shock to those close to him. Any series with a large following lasts only a short while before the characters and plot become mundane and repetitive. As to whether or not our Swift Killa will survive his final moments in the last installment is a mystery one thing is certain, fans will rush to see if their favorite characters will return and if Maryam survived the massive explosion at the end of Swift Killas: Vengeance.
As for myself, I look forward to seeing what Santiago’s next big venture will be. With great selling titles like Rogue Accord and The Rake I’m sure we will be blessed with many more wonderful and colorful characters in the aftermath of the Swift Killas series.
~William Keck