Sunday Snippets: Topic: Villain(s) 9/18/2016

A change of pace this Sunday this Sunday.  Instead of a snippets from my featured novel, "Brede".
I thought I post a writing topic.

One of the most important characters in a story, the person we love to hate.  The 'villain'.

Villian

noun

1.

a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted towickedness or crime; 

scoundrel.

2.

a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency 

in the plot.

My personal faves (if you can label a villain as such): 

White Witch from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C. S. Lewis

The White Witch is a beautiful, proud, and cruel villain who has made herself Queen of Narnia against the wishes of all who live there. It is because of her that it has been always winter and never Christmas for the last 100 years. If anyone tries to rebel against her, they are sure to be found and captured by her spies, at which point the rebel will be imprisoned or turned to stone. She is also the witch who wages war against Peter, Lucy, and their Narnian army.  (She still frightens me).

Jane Eyre was really is like a Cinderella story in some ways, with plenty of villainy for our heroine to cope with as she proves herself a princess.  (Skillfully written, this novel is a favorite of mine).

Darth Vader, Star Wars. The Wicked Witch of the West. The Wizard of Oz.

Do I write these type of villains?  

No. ( I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.). Usually, villains in my novels are people who did not start out as evil; if the villain is evil, she/ he is mostly off stage (remember Meerkat Manor gives me nightmares).

In my YA novel, Whisper upon the Water, Sister Enid, did a great deal of good before her focus changed.  Since this was a YA novel (Dream Real Award Winner, National Book Award Nominee, and Frankfurt eBook Finalist), which deals with Native American issues, I was careful not to make the evil a racial focus.  Instead, Sister Enid and the circumstances where a product of the times: ignorance and fear, which became hatred.

The Purpose of Villains.

In my opinion,the villain can be worth more than the hero. I say this because the villain, or antagonist, serves many purposes. In his or her simplest form, the villain is a foil to the protagonist. The values and goals of the hero are contrasted and challenged by the villain. 

The villain and the hero both play different roles in the plot. While the villain initiates and develops the conflict, the hero finds the solution.  In many novels and stories, the villain is far more complex than the hero. What led them to choose his or her path?  A hero may have "greatness thrust upon him," but a villain leads a life of isolation. What I mean to say is that no matter how difficult it gets for the hero on his or her journey, Good will always be there for support. In contrast, the villain chooses Evil —a path he or she will walk alone. 

The antagonist and villain figures of fiction and real life teach us more about ourselves than the hero. In the villain we identify our best and worst qualities by either disagreeing with the villain's actions or attempting to comprehend the vile deeds he or she commits. 

It must be emphasized that heroes and villains are interchangeable and far from black and white, but in their most stereotyped forms, they contrast. A hero may struggle, but his or her values are strong and unwavering. A villain, like Darth Vader, may switch to the Good side. 

Villains provide fiction with entertainment, plot and philosophical depth. In many ways, it is the villain that defines the hero - chooses him. 

Happy Reading,

Connie 

Please visit the other wonderful writers who participate in our weekly blog hop:

http://mizging.blogspot.com/ Ginger Simpson

 http://triciamg.blogspot.com/Tricia McGill

/http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Juliet Waldron)

September Round Robin Topic: Abandoned Buildings

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Ah, the perfect soon-to-be Halloween topic: abandoned buildings.

www.novelsbyconnievines.com 

Since I reside in SoCal, Hollywood--past and present, provide ample inspiration for the creative mind (my mind, anyway).

Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood, Blvd., 

Legend has it that the ghost of Marilyn Monroe still haunts the hotel. “There was a famous mirror in the lobby where people would take pictures and claim they could see Marilyn’s reflection above them." This full-length mirror once hung in Monroe’s poolside suite, and then in the lobby where it has since been removed. On the 9th floor, you can hear the late actor Montgomery Clift—who lived in suite 928 for three months while filming From Here to Eternity—practicing on his trumpet. “Guests have asked the hotel staff to tell the person in the next room to stop playing in the middle of the night. But the room was actually vacant.” 

 Lights and faucets are known to turn on and off on their own and the switchboard gets calls from vacant rooms.

Culver Studio, 9336 West Washington Blvd., Culver City, Los Angeles.

The studio complex where such legendary Tinseltown films as Gone with the Wind and Raging Bull were filmed was built in 1918 by silent movie pioneer Thomas Ince. Ince died in 1924, after falling ill on newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst’s yacht during a star-studded cruise and dinner, celebrating Ince’s 42nd birthday. While the official cause of death was listed as heart failure, legend has it that Ince was actually shot and killed by a jealous Hearst, who was supposedly aiming at (and missed) Charlie Chaplin, who had eyes for Hearst’s mistress Marion Davies. Some say Ince’s ghost still shows up for work at his beloved former studio, and can be seen and heard walking through walls and criticizing management.

And, my personal favorite, The Comedy Club.

Before this popular Sunset Strip comedy club appeared on the scene in 1972, it was Ciro's restaurant, one of Hollywood's hippest clubs during the 1940s and 1950s. Its owners had a close affiliation with the mob and the building still has peepholes in the upper walls of the main room that once allowed mobsters to see who was coming and going. Mickey “The King of the Sunset Strip” Cohen used the club as his base of operations. “West Hollywood was a gangster-run place with gun fights in the streets. The basement of the club was where they would take care of problem people. There is still a hole in the stairway that fits a gun, to shoot anyone going up or downstairs.” 

employees have claimed to hear voices, cries and even snarls coming from the basement. “After years of denying the ghost stories, the Comedy Store is now embracing its past and even started tours of the haunted basement."

How about you?  Do have an abandoned building story of your own to tell?

Watch for my Sassy and Fun Fantasy series.  "Here Today, Zombie Tomorrow" will be available on October 1st!  My book trailer will be on my web site, YouTube and Vimeo next week!

Visit Rachael Kosnski  to read her Round Robin blog. http://the-doodling-booktease.tumblr.com/

Lynx, Rodeo Romance Book 1 is available in paperback!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lynx-connie-vines/1114972573?ean=9781771452861

This is a great SALE at Barnes and Noble.  FREE shipping with a $25.00 order!

Looking for a sexy cowboy and a sassy heroine?  Then "Lynx" is the book you've been craving.

HOLT Medallion and Orange Rose Finalist and Award os Excellence Winner.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lynx-connie-vines/1114972573?ean=9781771452861

Very Exciting News from Books We Love, Ltd.

Loving this update from my publisher!

http://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/2014/07/books-we-love-canadian-publisher-on.html?m=1

Connie Vines Was Just Wondering, "Do Fictional Characters Pick-up the Habits of the Writer?"

From Inside Books We Love Blog, posted Saturday,  June 28, 2014

Years ago I located an article about Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone with the Wind.  Apparently, there was a great deal of press about how she hid sections of her novel beneath couch cushions, this was her very first novel etc. All of these statements may have a ring of truth but Margaret Mitchell was a journalist. 

Whether you agree or disagree with the premise of the Pulitzer Prize winning book or the screenplay or the resulting Academy Award Winning Picture, you cannot argue the fact she created exceptionally real characters.   It has been nearly 80 years since the book was published and nearly everyone in the U.S. (and who knows how many other countries) recall ‘something’ about Scarlett and Rhett.

Interviews tell us that MM would sit in front of a mirror and watch how her earrings (earbobs) moved to help in her descriptions.  She said she had every detail in her mind before she sat down at the typewriter. She also had relatives who lived during the era of the Civil War.

In MM’s case this may have been true. Her character may have been pieces of herself and her life.

However, in my case, I’m not so sure this is the case. 

Yes, my heroines and I may have many of the same interests.  Rachel Scott, my heroine in Lynx, Rodeo Romance Book 1, has many of my physical attributes at her age.   Amberlynn Maddox, my heroine in Brede, Rodeo Romance Book 2,is knowledgeable about Native American works of art. 

(These are WIP that I plan to pitch to my wonderful publisher: Books We Love.  Surprise!)

However, in one of my current WIP, Here Today, Zombie Tomorrow, I seem to be picking up Meredith, my heroine’s habits.  I am beginning to wear disposable latex gloves when I wash my hair (why, I don’t know).  I keep a food diary online and I carry on conversations with Siri (which is very difficult to do).  And, lastly (I hope), I keep purchasing hand lotion.  Do I need all this hand lotion?  No I have a place to store extra hand lotion (besides my desk at my day gig)? No.  Will I keep purchasing hand lotion?  I hope not.

Now on to my anthology, Gumbo Ya Ya—for women who like romance Cajun & Men HOT & SPICY.  Five stores in one book.  Doesn’t this mean 5 times the crazy habits for me?  It would seem so.  Beignets and café au lait, should I be having these type of dreams?  Perfume, I’m obsessed with perfume and I’m worried about gators.  Seriously?  I live in SoCal.  I really don’t think the L.A. river is going to become infested with gators in the next, say . . .million years or so. Then there’s the heroine who works in day time TV.  Well, I do have the beginnings of a three-act play on my hard drive.

Anything else?  Time Travel to the 16^th century and werewolves (contemporary)--so far, nothing to report on those two topics. Which is good news to me.

Now, Rand Rodeo Romance Book 3, oh, boy—do I have stories to tell!

Thank you for stopping by to read my guest post to the Books We Love Blog.

Happy Reading,

Connie Vines

(Go to: About.me/ConnieVines ornovelsbyconnievines.com for more info)

Sunday Snippets #sunday snippets~ Connie Vines

Welcome to Sunday Snippets!  I would like to thank author Ginger Simpson for including me this week.

The rules are simple--six paragraphs no more, no less.  

This snippet is from my published novel (Book 1 of my Native American Series).  Available as e-book or paper back. 

http://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Upon-Water-Connie-Vines/dp/0759901848   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whisper-upon-the-water-connie-vines/1100069455?ean=9780759901841

My snippet is from my historical sweet romance.  This is my favorite (though all of my novels are dear to me).  I believe every writer has a story which comes from the soul--this is mine.  Whisper upon the Water, awarded the Dream Realm Award, Independent e-book Award; Frankfurt e-book Finalist, E-Book YA Historical Bestseller, and was a National Book Award Nominee.

Please enjoy your visit visit to Tanayia and Anna Thunder's world.

"Anna thunder, you will pay dearly for you disobedience!" Sister Enid slapped the flat of her palm against the desk top. "When I tell a student to recited, everyone is to participate."

I stiffened against the wooden back of my chair and held my breath.  Sullen silence from the Comanche girl was a daily ritual. Never before had she challenged the teacher in front of so many students.  Hatred twisted Sister Enid's prune face in fury. "I demand an apology."

Anna Thunder remained silent.

With her back arched and her scrawny neck stretched its full length, Sister Enid marched to the back of the room.  Her heavy shoes sounding like horse's hooves on the brightly polished wooden floor. Grabbing Anna Thunder by the arm, the teacher yanked the girl from the chair. Dragging her toward the hallway, she said, "Two days in the attic for you. No food. Only water. Afterwards, I'll wager, you'll remember you manners."

During the days which followed, all students spoke in whispers about Anna Thunder. All wondered what had happened to her. None dared ask Sister Enid. Some said she was being starved and 

beaten.Others said Anna Thunder had died and was buried beneath the church floor.

On the morning of the third day, while the other girls were marching in the exercise yard, Sister Enid ordered me to remain inside. 

You can visit the next snippet: http://jamieb-baker.blogspot.com/2014/03/sunday-snippets-on-friday.html

Or find more snippets here: http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Happy Reading,

Connie Vines

www.novelsbyconnievines.com

follow me on Twitter, Pinterest,

http://vimeo.com/72567100  (Whisper upon the Water book trailer)

 http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uGTgCGQz_nI

Round Robin Blog for December 2013. Topic: What Have I Learned From Writing?

This month’s topic: What have I learned from writing?  And what are my goals for 2014 and further into the future?

I believe by writing I have learned more about myself.  This is especially true when I write fiction.  Just as I learn much of the inner workings of the authors I read, people will be learning about me (which is rather an uncomfortable feeling) when my thoughts are put onto paper or screen.  Of course, this is not one hundred percent the case all of the time.  However, just like an actor, my writings are filtered though my points of reference and life experiences, and this is what, I believe, makes up a writers’ ‘voice’.  Therefore, morals, ethics, and thoughts are exposed for all to see.  This gives me a unique way to focus in and draw upon my emotions/experiences, which helps me intensify an emotional scene.  Yet it also gives me an opportunity to go to the opposite end of the spectrum and develop a character with an entirely different point of reference and, therefore, a very different motivational focus. 

I have, or I should say: I am still learning to budget my time.  Not only do I have a full time job but also like everyone else, I have family obligations and commitments.  Once you are a writer, you are always exceptionally busy.  I actively serve as a board member for a writer’s group; I judge writing contests at local, national, and international levels.  I meeting monthly with another writer to brainstorm, I guest blog, well you get the picture. . .and I write. Constantly. I have a Sony recorder, a voice app on my iPad and iPhone—which I seldom employ.  Why?  Because the act of putting pen to paper activates the brain into a free-flow mode.  I scribble in notebooks, scraps of paper, index cards that I toss in a basket on my desk.  Then when I’m ready to plot my novel, I sort, paper clip into some semblance of order, and get down to the business of writing.

What are my goals for 2014 and beyond?

My Zombie novella is almost complete.  My Zombie stories are minus blood and gore (think: “Warm Bodies” with a focus on ‘warm and fuzzy’).

I currently have an anthology in the works.  One of the stories has a television production focus.  I had a wonderful time conducting fieldwork.  Living in southern California, Hollywood, Disneyland, Universal Studios and Sea World are within easy driving distance.  I am also blessed with friends in the industry,  who were kind enough to answers my questions.

I have a YA/Tween series and an audio novel in the works for this upcoming year.  I plan to enjoy life  and continue to develop my craft as a writer.  Why do I write--because it is so much fun.  When I am not writing, as my family knows, I am miserable (or at the very least, cranky).

Connie Vines

A big “thank you” goes out to Robin for including me in this month’s blog.

http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/

Who Thought Disney Could Predict the Future

I saw this photo and knew this was a must share!

Act as if what you do makes a difference

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.  -- William James

I would like to thank Rhobin Lee Courtright for including me in this month's Rhobin's Rambles Blog-Round.

This month's topic: Beginnings

An interesting topic, beginnings.  As writer I tend to think in scenes and storylines.  I know that every story makes two promises to the reader: an emotional one, and an intellectual one, since the function of a story is to make you feel and think.  However, there is also a beginning to each day, where I, as a human being, must function in the act of day-to-day living.

As part of this day-to-day living, I am very much aware of how actions, words, and attitude have either a negative or positive effect on others.

Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does. 

And if you are aware of Native American Culture, the Lakota know that what you choose to do at any given time, be it a good deed or an evil one, the consequences of that deed impacts seven generations.  Seven generations!

This is why in both my writing and my living, I try to take the high road.  I am not saying I always succeed, but I at least aim for the target.

 I also strive to keep my characters in check.  Even when my villians do truly terrible things (Sister Enid to Tay in Whisper upon the Water), I show motivation and life events so that the reader understands why this event took place; but I never paint the behavior as acceptable.

Beginnings to a story should give the reader a person to focus on, yet in your life's story: you are the main character.

Look at some of the beginnings in your own life.  What have you learned, what stories do you have to share?

Ummm. . .what have I learned?  I've learned that gators can run. . .very fast.  I learned that on a family vacation to a south Georgia swamp.  While that did not make a particularly wonderful life event (especailly at the beginning of the day), but it will make a great scene in a novel or short story.

I also strove to set an example.
1.  I did not scream as I ran. I prayed that my sons would not witness their mother being chomped on by a bellowing alligator. 
2. I explained that my actions (going down to the water's edge) weren't very wise.
3. We discussed what we might watch for so the event was not repeated.
4. After we left the swamp we stopped at a local eattery for fried gator tail. Yes, not taking the high road here.  We called it 'regional food' and left it at that!

If you have a moment or two, please download my Rodeo Romance Series:
Lynx (contemporary romance), Brede (romantic suspense), or my YA novel, Whisper upon the Water.  All are available on Amazon,com

Now let me introduce you to Rhobin Lee Courtright. 
I hope you are enjoying this month's Blog-Round Event.

Connie Vines

 

Fall Contest!

http://bwlpp.blogspot.com/2013/09/win-amazon-gift-card-from-books-we-love.html

This contest will run November and December-- just sign up for a chance to win!