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)

Sunday Snippets By Connie Vines #Sunday Snipppets 06/27

Happy Sunday everyone!
This post is being sent via my iPad from the "Happiest Place on Earth"--Disneyland, Anaheim California.

Thank you for stopping by to this week's blog hop.

Today's snippets is taken from my Native American novel, "Whisper upon the Water".

Annual Report of the Department of Interior

Gathered from the cabin, wickiup and tipi, partly by threats, partly by bribery, partly by force, they are induced to leave their families, to enter these schools and take upon themselves the outward appearance of civilized life.

CLIMBING OUT of the wagon, I was herded, along with ten other girls, to stand in a line outside the White man's lodge. One of the first girls in the line was very young, and clutched the hand of her older sister. Judging from the long deerskin dresses with flared skirts and wide, long sleeves trimmed with fringe that they wore, I knew the two were Comanche. I eyed the bits of metal and beads sewn on the front of the older girl's dress and glanced down at her buckskin moccasins and wondered whose camp they had raided to gain these adornments.

Comanche. The hatred between our two tribes ran as deep as the gullies that cut through my people's lands.

Purchase via Amazon.

Purchase via Tower              Purchase via Powell's Books 

For my International Readers: 

India       AU       UK      NZ      CA       UN Murmullo Sobre el Aqua/ /Spanish Version

Thank you for stopping by for this week's blog hop.

FYI "Lynx" is on sale on Amazon beginning July 1st!  Check my website for additional info.

This week's participants, please stop by and see what is happening in their novels, too.

Connie

http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGil)

http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com/ (Vijaya Schartz)
(Ginger and Jamie will return next week)

Characters Take Over #Round Robin, August

T

This month's Round-Robin topic is about secondary characters taking over a story. I must admit that I have read stories where I found the secondary character more interesting than the main character or really wanted to read the story of the secondary character.  I believe that several of my secondary characters have tried to take over the story. However, to date, I have been successful in stalling the secondary character.  How? (More on this later).

My main characters aren't women who are easily elbowed from center stage.  Still, my secondary characters don't take kindly to keeping his/ her light beneath a basket, so to speak.  In Lynx, Rodeo Romance Book 1, Charlene Davis (Rachel's best friend) is a no-nonsense, extremely funny, redneck sorta woman.  Charlene is a loyal friend to Rachel.   In Brede, Rodeo Romance Book 2, Caldwell, the old cook, makes a valiant effort to take over story (Caldwell is mentioned on nearly every review), but my main characters do keep control of the story.

In my YA novel, Whisper upon the Water, the secondary take over was quite different.  When I plotted my novel I had planned on making Anna Thunder my main character.  However, as my plot line and characterization became more concrete, I discovered that Tayiana  was truly the heroine of the novel.  While Anna's story was also important-- Tay's story was more compelling, more haunting.

How have I stalled my secondary characters?  I bribed them, of course!  

Anna Thunder will appear in my Spirit in the Sky while Lynx"s sister was the heroine in Brede.  

As for Charlene and Caldwell, time will tell.

Sometimes a writer can introduce an unexpected characters whose personalities are stronger than those of the main characters. What matters is the story. Hopefully their presence will make the story more believable, add excitement and humor,  while  increasing the reader's enjoyment.

I hope you have enjoyed this month"s blog topic.  Please check in for updates on my releases:  Lymx, Rodeo Romance, book 1--in print!  And my sassy and fun novella, Here Today Zombie Tomorrow.  Followed by my anthology, Gumbo Ya Ya: for Woman who like Romance Cajun & Men HOT & Spicy

I thank you for stopping by.  Please follow the link to Geeta Kakade's blog.

Connie 

Geeta Kakade http://geetakakade.blogspot.com/

Those participating:
Marci Baun  http://www.marcibaun.com/
Anne Stenhousehttp://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/ 
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Margaret Fieland http://margaretfieland.com/my_blog

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.webs.com

Connie Vines http://connievines.blogspot.com/
Geeta Kakade http://geetakakade.blogspot.com/
Rhobin Courtright http://rhobinleecourtright.com

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

Enjoying Your Summer Staycation

 

Vacation dollars do not always extend to the costs of airline tickets, rental cars, or even daily refills for the gas tank-- especially if you have a large or blended family.  Don't despair!  Travel agencies, fugal friends gave me ideas, and I've included ventures of my own.

"it's all about attitude, says Teresa Mears editor-in-chief of LivingontheCheap.com.  "If you treat a Staycation as a true vacation, then it will feel like one."  No chores, no errands, no work.  Let the office know you are off.  Take photos and treasure the time you have together.  

Plan ahead.  Make a list of attractions, events and festivals.  I enjoy local and small theater.  Give every family member a chance to select something.  Living in SoCal, we can drive to San Diego in less than two hours.  The morning can be spent at Mission Bay where we enjoy a picnic lunch.  Sea World and the San Diego Zoo offer discount tickets online or via media promos.  A walk around Old Town is no/ low coat with numerous restaurants or street fare.  

A trek in to L.A. Is low cost via the Metrolink weekend pass.  Universal City Walk is free (the park charges admission.  If you pack a thermos of coffee, bottled water and snacks, the family can window shop, celebrity hunt, and experience L.A.

Orange County offers Dosneyland and Knotts Berry Farm-- both of which have areas to walk, eat, shop and just soak up the sunshine and atmosphere without entrance fees ( free!).

 

History buffs can always locate an adventure.  Locally, there is Route 66.  This a vertical treasure of ways to spend your vacation:  movie Stars of old stayed, traveled and ate at local establishments. (Sycamore Inn was mobster's fav place to dine when at his Etawanda hideout, the Black Dalia's last meal was consumed there).  While The Magic Lamp hosted The Rat Pack, Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe.

Local libraries have events: Coffee Tasting and paring ( like a wine tasting event), story time and movie night, craft classes and the summer reading program.  

Remember to snag local hotel deals.  Many hotels offer Staycation deals for locals. Call the hotel the day you want to go ans ask for the manager's dis punt or offers.  Don't forget to check AAA or AARP.