
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Forever Tonight by Tarra Newlands

Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Villain from Hunting the Egret

Who causes friction in the story? Without wanting to give away too much of the plot, there’s a very sadistic and controlling former lover on the loose.
Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? I’ve said in previous contributions to this blog that gender matters less to me than convincing motivation. I try to give my villains a bit of depth, but this one is, admittedly, just a bit of a psycho.
How do you use your bad guys? In this tale, one of the characters has a history of being abused, and of willingly submitting to it. It’s by confronting the violent former lover that they are able to move away from that very damaging past.
Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? I enjoy it – if I didn’t enjoy it I wouldn’t be doing it. The trouble is, I’m far too good at it. The villain in ‘Hunting the egret’ is a truly horrible piece of work.
Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? Probably says far too much about me – but I figure it’s better to write it than do it. I’m probably safer to be around for getting to turn my demons into stories. I have a very dark imagination, I’m capable of a lot of rage and righteous indignation, and worse. This way I get to vent it all and no one gets hurt.
Who is your favourite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in? Gardar in ‘On Borrowed Wings’ remains my favourite. He’s a singularly selfish and egotistical person, capable of making people fall in love with him even while he’s doing dreadful things to them. That said – this new villain has a certain something – the amorality, and again the selfishness and the unshakeable self confidence. One of the features of my bad guys is that they do tend to think they’re wonderful people and they don’t doubt themselves.
Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? I remain very fond of Severus Snape from the Harry Potter books (although his status as a bad guy is complicated.) ‘Rebecca’ from Du Maurier’s book is an awesome villainess.
Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.
When I was working on ‘Hunting the Egret’ I consulted with BDSM author JJ Giles as to what kinds of things would be considered unacceptable behaviour by people in that community. She told me. What I’ve written in this book is very much not what most Doms would consider doing. This villain is a sadist and an abuser and not a representation of BDSM lifestyle.
Please provide your website link. http://www.brynneth.org.uk
What is the link to buy your book? http://www.loveyoudivine.com/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&cPath=28&products_id=337&zenid=e8fb5f33a911b999e381b72512589bd7
Monday, June 23, 2008
Meet Duke Ernesto of Savona -- Bloodstone Castle by Mirella Patzer
Who causes friction is the story?I have two antagonists in my novel, Bloodstone Castle. The main villain is Duke Ernesto of Savona. He is a gambler who has lost his family’s wealth and becomes desperate to replenish his diminished coffers. He sets his hopes on the Contessa Morena of Portovenere to get his hands on the ancient buried treasure beneath her castle.
Laria Malacresta is also an antagonist. She is in love with Duke Amoro of Genoa, but the Duke is bound by an oath to marry Contessa Morena.
Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?
I have no real preference regarding the sex of the antagonist. I just want them to be three dimensional and to shock me somehow.
How do you use your bad guys?
I use my antagonists to add tension to the plot and to really make the black moment as dark and hopeless as it can be.
Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?
I find writing the bad guys rather easy because I can really push things to the limit. For some reason, I fell less restricted – I can make them really hateful because readers want them to be bad. Whereas writing the hero or heroine, you have to tread carefully to ensure they remain likeable or they don’t offend in any way.
Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?
I love writing bad guys. I hate to admit it, but sometimes in our lives, we’ve all met someone who has wronged us or someone we love. Often, my villains end up looking exactly like them or taking on their characteristics. It seems to take away some of my frustration.
Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?
I love Duke Ernesto of Savona in Bloodstone Castle because he is so very evil that he was pure fun to write about.
But the most interesting villain I am writing about is a real historical figure in my new novel A Crimson Mantle and in its sequel Lance of Destiny. His name is Thankmar and he is very three dimensional – part victim of circumstance, part thwarted son, part evil schemer. My critiquers sympathize with his plight and have grown very fond of him. My concern is that they seem to like him more than my hero, so I have more work ahead of me to rectify this.
Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?
My favourite bad guy is Vito Corleone in the Godfather series. One just loves to hate him – when he is good he is very good but when he is bad, well he is pure hatefulness.
Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.
Laria Malacresta also in Bloodstone Castle is a favourite villainess of mine. She pulls some really despicable stunts, but readers can also sympathize with her because she is a victim of her circumstances.
Visit http://bloodstonecastle.blogspot.com
Please provide your website link.
http://www.mirellapatzer.com
What is the link to buy your book?
http://mirellapatzer.blogspot.com
http://bloodstonecastle.blogspot.com
http://bestofitaly.blogspot.com
Or on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/Bloodstone-Castle-Mirella-Patzer/dp/0978486528/
We encourage you to post a comment on each tour stop for Mirella's tour. At the end of the tour, she will be giving away an autographed copy to one person who posts a comment during the tour. Will you be the one who wins?
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Jim Musgrave Talks About His Bad Guys
How do you use your bad guys?
Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?
Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?
Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?
Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?
Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.
Please provide your website link.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Western Romance by Paty Jager
Who causes friction is the story? The friction in my story is several factors. One is a father who left behind an adoring daughter who grew up believing no matter how much you love someone they leave. So she plans to keep never give her heart again. This is the friction between the hero who has set his heart on this woman and the woman fighting her attraction to him. There are also a band of outlaws. Some just followers and others deranged.
Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? I prefer any element that can make the reader wonder how will these people ever get together with all that is happening.
How do you use your bad guys? I use my bad guys to help the lead roles discover who they really are. And it adds action to the books not mention a little bit of humor now and then when you add bumbling bad guys.
Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? The bad guys are actually fun to write. I always give one of them a trait that is a little endearing, yet make one be so loathsome or disgusting the reader can't help but boo or curl their lip when the character comes on the scene.
Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? The world is full of bad people or bad things that happen to people. You can't write a book without adding that bit of the real world into the equation. If you don't have bad people or an unsettling event in a book it is too Pollyanna and the reader isn't going to believe the other characters of the story you are telling.
Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in? I'd have to say my favorite bad buy is Ezra Cutter in "Outlaw in Petticoats". He is slick and tries to be charismatic while holding the heroine hostage.
Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? That's a tough one. I don't think I've read a book where the bad guy was so memorable that I could name him or the book. But then I tend to read contemporary single title and historical westerns. I rarely read a suspense. I get scared too easily! LOL
Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share. As in the real world most bad guys aren't too smart. And since I've so far not got into the head to a really deranged bad guy, I've made them all just a little bit bumbling, letting the reader know they will be caught because they aren't quite smart enough to get away with everything they plot.
Please provide your website link. http://www.patyjager.com
What is the link to buy your book? http://www.thewildrosepress.com
Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Sinbad's Last Voyage
Tell us about the villains in your book. 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 is the story?
There are three negative forces in the book: The first are the Albegensians who attack a deep-space freighter and destroy it, starting a war with Terra, thus setting the backdrop for the story. The second is the Federation itself, which has a habit of incarcerating anyone with an opinion contrary to theirs. The third is Andrea's husband Tran, the reason she meets Sinbad. Tran is an Albegensi and has been arrested simply because he's a member of the planet which attacked the Terran vessel, arbitrarily accused of being a spy.
Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?
I've written about both and I've made them as mean and evil as I can! It's fun to have someone who can say and do the things one might have always wanted to but society says one can't because of retribution.
How do you use your bad guys?
In this case, Tran doesn't appear to be a "bad guy" at first. He's simply an innocent victim who was from the wrong place at the wrong time. It's only when he escapes from Detention and leaves the planet and ignores Sinbad's messages to wait so he can bring Andi to him that things become suspicious. The fact that he's heading toward a planet known to be a hereditary enemy of his own people is strange, also. He brings about Andi's meeting with the man who'll change her life forever, as well as Sin's meeting with the woman who'll make him see that all Terrans aren't to be hated.
Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?
It was fun!
Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?
My villains can say and do what they want, to whoever they want, whenever they want. I'd never do anything like that, but it's fun to pretend for a little while that I'm someone who can. Of course, they always get their "come-uppance" in the end, but it's a great ride while it lasts!
Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?
I guess I'd have to say Mircea Ravagui in my unpublished novel Shadow Lord. Not only does Mircea get away with murdering Marek Strigoi's father, stepmother, little brother and sister, but he manages to get the hero sent to Hell for a hundred and twenty-five years!
Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?
I'd have to say Blackie Duquesne from the Skylark of Space by "Doc" Smith.
Please provide your website link.
What is the link to buy your book?
www.lulu.com; www.doubledradonbooks.com
Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Under Lock and Key by Rebecca Benston

Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? I don't know why, but my villains tend to run in pairs. Usually, a man and a woman are the perpetrators of evil.
How do you use your bad guys? My bad guys are usually causing trouble for some poor, unsuspecting soul. Rona Shively is that equalizing force brought in to help the underdog out of some terrible circumstance.
Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? I like writing them, but I really like writing their demise. It makes me happy to see the bad guy get punched in the nose or something equally painful.
Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? I don't know, maybe it's because my bad guys tend to have some of the qualities that really cause me stress. Some are a composite of the people in my life who have caused me a significant level of grief. So, I guess it's my way of inflicting a harmless dose of revenge.
Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in? I enjoy my first villain the most because he was such a jerk. You really never saw it coming because you already hate him when you figure it out. He starts out as a creep, almost becomes likable and then you realize that your first instinct was the one you should have trusted.
Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? One of my favorites has been Kyle Craig in the James Patterson's Cross series. He just doesn't care who he kills. He's so sinister.
Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Sometimes, people are just bad. It's not likely that any of my bad guys are just having a bad day, they're usually significantly flawed and will deserve whatever Rona might do to them to bring them down. I hope you enjoy watching things unfold.
Please provide your website link. http://www.theronashivelystories.com
What is the link to buy your book? http://www.theronashivelystories.com