The Villain

Glen Mayo, author of Circle of Dishonor and celebrated author in the murder mystery genre, posted a short discussion of the Villain in my story A Distant Call in the Victory Tales Mystery anthology. You can read it on her blog at http://gwenmayo.blogspot.com/

This made me think more deep thoughts about the Villain. To me, how a writer fleshes out the character of the Villain makes or breaks the story--in particular, when it comes to the Villain's motivations. The Hero is motivated by love, compassion, duty, justice, and perhaps revenge (if so, the Hero will learn that Revenge Is A Mistake, usually). The Villain is motivated by hate, greed, lust, or fear. "Hiss! Boo! Go getem Hero!" We hate the Villain, right? Well, sometimes.

Many very good stories have villains motivated by greed and hatred, because real life is full of such people. Heck, our prisons are full of people like that. But, sometimes your story needs something different. Sometimes life pits our Hero against someone who might also be motivated by their own version of love, duty, passion, or revenge. This Villain is a likable fellow, but fatally flawed. We can identify. If not identify, we can feel compassion for this one and understand why he or she is doing what they do. We might cry when this Villain gets it in the end.

In Gwen's novel, Circle of Dishonor, the Villain is as much the restrictive social rules of post civil war America as it is the killer motivated by greed and hatred. These attitudes about gender and race are directly responsible for deaths and suffering and an ever present threat that our Hero Detective, Nessa, must battle. Yet how do you punch an attitude? How do you defeat an assumption? Her world is full of Villains, but they are good people infected with bad beliefs. We can identify. We are all Villains at one time or another, basically good people capable of doing stupid things.

Mystery anthology kickoff!

Alright! On March 1st, the mystery anthology by Victory Tales Press will be hitting the markets. The authors of the novellas contained in the book are celebrating by throwing a blog party. So here's the deal. On Tuesday, March 1st, go to Miss Mae's Blog , sign in, read some excerpts from the stories, and leave a comment. At 8pm, Miss Mae will pick four lucky posters using some random method like names in a hat, to receive an absolutely FREE copy of the book.

So that's a good shot at an absolutely free book, for just stopping by and saying "Hi!"

Shadows and Light Vol 2 now out!

My story "Master Race" is in this one, and it's chock full of tales about the struggle between good and evil. Opening up one of Pill Hill's anthologies is like opening a box of assorted chocolates, except for the tummy ache from eating too much at one time. OK, metaphores are not my strong suit.

Anyway, available in electronic format thingies and hard copy. That's Shadows & Light Vol. II accept no substitutes! Available online book sellers, kindle, nook, and wander over to Pill Hill Press Store

A wonderful review of Mars Needs Men

Remember the story published by Victory Tales in their Christmas Anthology? I just received notice that the Coffee Time Romance blog has posted a review of the book. What did it say about my particular story? Here's the end of the review:

Gerald Costlow thoroughly entertains with this inventive short story. Any tale that can successfully use toilet humor while still weaving a believable love story is a winner. This one made me cry and giggle and I enjoyed every second of it.

Merry Christmas!

So here's a Halloween picture to celebrate. Nobody can accuse me of being out of touch!

A Christmas Collection now available!

The Christmas Romance anthology is now available on Smashworlds, and here's the link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/29148

Rebecca of Victory Tales Press http://www.romancewithatwist.com/ not only has some other great anthologies currently available , but is a wonderful writer and many romantic novels. Check her out.

And now for something a little different...

So I'm a big romantic softy at heart. My wife and I watch Ghost over and over and I still cry at the end. I think WALL-E is the best love story ever written. A trash compactor and a featureless egg fall in love and the viewer laughs and cries and celebrates along with them? If I could only write half as well.

Anyway, I did weave a love story into my novel The Weaving, and my online friend and fellow writer Rebecca of Victory Tales fame challenged me write something a little more focused on the eternal dance between man and woman for her series of romance anthologies. I did so, and she liked it enough to include it in her Christmas anthology.

Available November 15, a steamy, definitely for mature audiences collection of romantic stories, all with a Christmas setting.