March 27, 2012

Even Villains Fall in Love - Guest post by Liana Brooks

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am excited. Liana Brooks has written a book called: Even Villains Fall in Love. Who wouldn't want to read this?
Seriously.
Let me tell you the story of a little boy whose parents loved him very much. He grew up, went to school, graduated, had a job, and died. The end!

Not exciting enough? Let me try again.

Once there was a little boy whose parents loved him very much, but then they were attacked by a wicked villain bent on on world domination and the loving parents died defending their only son. The boy lived. As he grew up the same wicked man tried to destroy him, but the boy survived, went to school, made friends, and eventually saved the world before settling down to raise a family.

It's amazing what a difference a villain makes!

Every book you've ever loved would be nothing without the villain. Harry Potter would be just another boy at school. Lord Of The Rings would have been about some Hobbits in a village talking for three books. Hunger Games wouldn't exist at all.

A hero can't exist in vacuum. Without a villain a hero can't exist at all. A hero is someone who distinguishes themself from everyone else by doing what no one else is willing (or capable) or doing.

A reader needs a villain too. Many books have multiple protagonists (consider the split narrative of Lord Of The Rings), but the Big Bad Villain unites readers against a common foe. You might be torn over whether you like Legolas or Aragorn better, but you can be united in your hatred of Sauron.

And I think it's time to show the villains a little love.

The best antagonists are well-rounded characters with motives, feelings, desires, and fears. A well written villain is an individual that could almost be a hero, but at some point in life they decided to go the other way. A well written villain is someone we can almost sympathize with.

As the Harry Potter story unfolds the reader learns the back story of Snape, an on-again-off-again antagonist in the series (although not the Big Bad Himself), and who doesn't feel a little bit of sympathy for Snape? He was bullied, he was abused, he was rejected by the woman he loved, is it any wonder that he's now a grumpy middle aged man?

In the end, Snape becomes a hero. He makes the one choice that tips him from the side of evil to the side of good. Some days, the only difference between a hero and a villain is that one choice made at a crucial moment.

In EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE super villain Doctor Charm is just that kind of villain, one with a choice. He can pursue his plans for world domination, or save the woman he loves who just happens to be a a superhero.

Every story needs a villain, and even villains fall in love, so whose side are you on? Are you a villain or a hero?
I met Liana on Twitter and her tweets never disappoint. She was born in San Diego, California. Years later she was disappointed to learn that The Shire was not some place she could move to, nor was Rider of Rohan an acceptable career choice. Studying marine biology so she could play with sharks seemed to be the only alternative. After college Liana settled down to work as a full-time author and mother because logical career progression is something that happens to other people. When she grows up, Liana wants to be an Evil Overlord and take over the world.

In the meantime, she writes sci-fi and SFR in between trips to the beach. She can be found wearing colorful socks on the Emerald Coast, or online at www.lianabrooks.com.

March 13, 2012

In Case You Didn't Know...

I'm pregnant. Baby Casey #3 is due September 21 and we're SO excited.

Unfortunately, the hormones turn my brain to mush and writing is a lot slower. I'm still making progress on The Fairy Tale Twist, though. It should still come out late this summer. (It'd better. I'm taking a break when baby gets here. A month, maybe two.)

So to everyone who has asked me, "How do you do it?" The answer is: "Very slowly, but I move forward."

I figure as long as I'm moving (and not moving backward), I'm still a writer, right?
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