We want to hear about the
bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even
if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "
bad guy" there should be some
negative force.
Who causes friction in the story?
There are multiple causes of friction in my epic fantasy, Green Stone of
Healing(R) series.
In the initial books, one source of discord between the heroine, Helen
Andros, and her newfound father is the distrust and hurt between the two.
They cannot tell each other that they love each other because both of them
have been so wounded by the seemingly inexplicable, secretive behavior of
Helen's mother.
A second source of conflict is various political factions vying for power in
the vacuum created by the monarch's incapacity. Helen's father is a leader
of one of these factions, and those who oppose him jump all over the
revelation that he has an illegitimate, half-breed daughter in the hope of
tearing him down.
Conflict that develops as the series progresses includes war between Azgard
and other nations, as well as civil war within Azgard between varying
political factions.
There is also a lot of personal conflict between wives and husbands, parents
and children, siblings and cousins, even lovers. Think of the characters as
members of one very large, extended dysfunctional family whose business
happens to be running the most powerful, wealthiest nation in their world.
Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?
I don't prefer either group. Each plays a role in the kind of
genre fictionI write.
How do you use your bad guys?
Without the villains, it's much tougher to perceive or appreciate the good.
I use the contrast in motives and actions to delineate the differences
between the characters' character, bad and good.
The bad guys/gals also make a storyline much more interesting. Multiple
villains throughout the series are convinced that they should rule the
island nation where the story is set, and some want to impose the law of
Azgard on the entire world. The villains are always plotting some way to
steal power/influence and/or money in my series. Never a dull moment.
Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?
It is not difficult at all to write about the bad guys/gals. Sometimes it
gets disgusting when they pull of their dastardly deeds or cause havoc and
pain in their attempts. But the bad guys and gals are an integral part of
the story and cannot be airbrushed out just because they are often
unpalatable.
Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why
you feel that way.
As I have noted, villains provide character contrast and propel the plot
with their antics. They also provide what I'll call depth and texture for
lack of a better descriptor. A story without a villain-or at least without a
good guy/gal who makes mistakes-is monotone at best.
Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which
book are they in?
There are so many bad guys in just the first three books of my epic fantasy
series that I hardly know where to begin. But two of the slimy devils come
to mind right away. The first is the heroine's second cousin on her father's
side of the family. His name is Griffin Mordecai. He would be far more
effectively evil if he had the brain power to realize his intellectual
limitations. Translation: Griffin is dumb as a stump but he has
friends in
high places who keep promoting him way beyond his capacity. The second
villain is a member of the Brotherhood of Kronos named Lucan Silenas. The
extent of this priest's evil will not become known until much later in the
series. For now he seems to have the goods on every one of his fellow
priests and is plotting to do away with his boss so he can become Supreme
Lord of the Temple of Kronos. From there, his ambition will know no bounds
or scruple. He is totally amoral in his quest for ultimate power.
Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in the Dune franchise. He's over the top as a
bad
guy and wonderfully fun to read about. I'm not quite sure whether
Frank
Herbert took him seriously or meant him as satire (maybe a bit of both), but
the baron is a most engaging villain who is unabashedly pleased with his
evil ways and means. It's always good to enjoy one's avocation, however
nasty it might be.
Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free
to share.
One of my bad guys is truly a vile piece of work. He becomes the
first-generation heroine's father-in-law and proves to be her
worst enemy.
He almost destroys her soul. Others are the way they are due to their own
emotional and spiritual wounds and limitations. I try to set their villainy
in context and provide some explanations, even if it takes a few books to do
so.
Please provide your website link.
http://www.greenstoneofhealing.comWhat are the links to buy your books?
eBooks:
http://www.healingstonebooks.comPaperbacks:
The Scorpions Strike-Green Stone of Healing(R) Series, Book Three
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053753Fallout-Green Stone of Healing(R) Series, Book Two
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053746The Vision-Green Stone of Healing(R) Series, Book One
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053739
