Guest Post- A Villain With a Soft Spot? Is That Legal?

June 14, 2015June 11, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 6 Comments

I am so pleased to have Charles Yallowitz visit Fiction Favorites. I love his books and have a deep respect for his dedication to writing and to his characters. So, Charles, the post is yours.

Thank you to John for offering to host a promo/guest blog. Now to get the introduction and promo stuff out-of-the-way. My name is Charles E. Yallowitz and I’m the author behind the Legends of Windemere epic fantasy series where the latest one is Sleeper of the Wildwood Fugue. I also just released a 27-page short story for 99 cents called Ichabod Brooks & the City of Beasts, so you can get a quick, cheap taste of me . . . whatever. Let’s move on to the fun!

Harley Quinn is a favorite character of mine even though I’m not up on my comics, cartoons, and video games. I think one of the reasons I like her is that she started in the Batman Animated Series and ‘broke into’ the comics. Personally, I find it impressive when a character from one media type is added to a big franchise, especially one as big as the Batman Rogues Gallery.

Now one of the things about Harley that I’m going to touch on here is that she isn’t pure evil with no care for other living things. Yes, it says on Wikipedia that she doesn’t care about killing people with the exceptions of Joker and Poison Ivy. At least her villain side since she’s a hero now. Sadly, this part is missing someone from the list. Her ‘babies’! The hyenas who are probably no longer in the comics if they were ever there to begin with. I remember them fondly, so I will include them.

Villains don’t have to hate everyone, use everyone, and plot the demise of all living things. While a bad guy is typically defined as having little regard for the lives of others, I find you get a better connection when the villain has some favorites. Aliens from other planets can get away with despising all humans, but if your antagonist is from Earth then it is rather strange that there’s nobody they would wish to keep alive. Even Carnage, a superhuman serial killer from Spider-Man, had a ‘girlfriend’ named Shriek and they went on killing sprees together. Wouldn’t really call it empathy, but more of a bond over the fact that they love killing. My point here is that you bring some depth to a villain by giving them someone to care about. It doesn’t have to be their reason for living and they might not have pure intentions for that person (I’m looking at you, Dracula). Just the act and ability to show interest in another creature shows they’re not a one-dimensional being of evil incarnate.

There is a pitfall with this because not every reader goes along with the program. It’s strange how this works, but I’ve seen it in action. Many people want their villains to be pure evil and have no redeeming qualities. They take joy in the fall of such monsters and don’t want to feel sympathy for them. So you give them a pure monster with no care for any living thing. Your smile will be short-lived because people will call such a thing boring, lazy writing, etc.

I know, I’m pulling a ‘you just can’t win’ card here, but it’s something to be aware of. My suggestion is to do what’s right for the story and the character. If your main villain decides to adopt a slave girl and you’re not sure why then let it play out. Obviously, some part of your brain is up to something and did some subplot work while you were trying not to burn your morning toast. (FYI- You might want to check the toaster.) Let the readers fall where they may. After all, the more human villains seem to have the longer lifespan in terms of popularity.

Sunday – Fifty- Two Views of the Gulf

June 14, 2015June 13, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 18 Comments

Today’s view shows the effect of a high tide on the beach. The water came up to where it looks wet. You can see some residual water out where the kids are playing (don’t know whose kids). The sky is a little overcast and we are expecting more rain. You can see the yellow and purple morning glories to the right on the dune.

Last week’s photo shows where the tide normally stops.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Onomatopoeia – Crunch

June 13, 2015June 12, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 30 Comments

SOC Badge by: Doobster at Mindful Digressions

Stream of Consciousness Saturday and this week’s prompt is to use a word that can that qualifies as onomatopoeia. Here are the instructions from Linda Hill Onomatopoeia is “the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.” (Source: Google) Find an onomatopoeic word of your own to base your post on or, as a last resort, use the word “drip.” You don’t have to use the word “onomatopoeia” in your post. Have fun! If you would like to join here is the link to Linda’s post. http://lindaghill.com/2015/06/12/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-1315/ I have chosen the word crunch and here is my interpretation.

“So what you eatin’?”

“Captain Crunch cereal.”

“Oh, I like that one.”

“You want some?”

“No thanks, I’m full. I just ate a Crunch Bar.”

“Talk about good. I love those.”

“Doesn’t work too well on the diet though.”

“Ah come on a bar bell crunch or ten and you’ll be good.”

“I like the noise of that cereal.”

“Say it.”

Say what?”

“The noise.”

“It’s in the name. Crunch.”

“Onomatopoeia.”

“Huh?”

“The word Crunch is an onomatopoeia.”

“I’m real sorry I didn’t know. You would think they wouldn’t put it in the name?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I thought you said crunch was an onomatopoeia.”

“I did.”

“Doesn’t that mean ‘swear word’ in Greek?”

“No, it means─. Aw, forget it.”

“Oh. Well then, I’m not sorry.”

“You should be.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

June 12, 2015June 10, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

This week was excellent weather wise. I got a chance to do some more painting (no Virginia not on canvas) on the porch. Maybe next week I’ll take a shot of the final result. I’m a little reluctant since you won’t be able to see the difference as I did not do a before. Ah well, I’ll see how it works out. My publisher and I agreed to go our separate ways. I think this will be best for the two of us. I think they have some different priorities. I have completed the John Cannon trilogy and would like to see the two other parts published before I kick. I now have the opportunity to query other publishers or self-publish. I will need to look at all the alternatives and then make a decision.

This week’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) is about patience. I learned to be patient since it took over a year to work out a solution. I hope you like it.

Action is what counts,

Unless some time needs be spent. . .

Patience is virtue.

Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day

June 10, 2015June 7, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 20 Comments

Wednesday story day again. Last week we left Bob worried about someone stealing his work. Charlotte asked him to trust her, but it became plain that Bob did not believe her since she was working for his mother. Let’s go back to see what Charlotte has to say about this latest revelation (Should have called this series The Guiding Light of Writing)

“Bob. I am shocked you would think because your mother hired me I would not have your best interests at heart.”

“I’m sure you have a heart, but I always follow the money.”

“What do you mean?”

“Whoever is paying the tab can order the kind of pizza.”

“Huh?”

“Okay, lousy metaphor. I mean that when you are taking money from a person you owe that person a certain amount of loyalty.”

“Bob this is absurd. Your mother has paid me to see you get published. What the hell is wrong with that?”

“I don’t see how taking my mother’s money doesn’t make you beholden to her.”

“I am not beholden to anyone. She pays me to do what is best for you.”

“She doesn’t ask you for special favors?”

“Like what?”

“Like just getting me published no matter what.”

“She did say that and I told her I wouldn’t do it.”

“Wouldn’t get me published?”

“No, you idiot. I said I wouldn’t do anything that would make you a laughingstock of the writing world. I’m beginning to think I’m not the right person to continue this project.”

“Wait why do you say that kind of thing?”

“Oh, my gosh Bob. You are the most frustrating person. You have done nothing but bust my chops since we started and I’m tired.”

“Gee Charlotte. I didn’t realize I was such a pain.”

“Look at yourself Bob. You come in with some handwritten piece of crap. Then you say you have some writing in your head which you don’t want to be stolen. You accuse me of being on the take with your mother. Argggg, Why go on.”

“Charlotte?”

“What.”

“You okay?”

“Who cares?”

“I do. I didn’t mean to be such a shit.”

“Ah, good word Bob. Might even be your middle name.”

“Can we start over?”

“Over? What do you mean.”

“Hi I’m Bob and I want to be a writer.”

“You kill me, Bob. Yes, Bob, my name is Charlotte, and I can teach you to be a writer.”

“Hi, Charlotte.”

“Oh, my gosh.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Three Day Quote Challenge

June 9, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 12 Comments

I was Tagged by Charles Yallowitz to participate in the Three Day Quote Challenge. This one is real easy and fun. Here are the rules:

1 Thank the person who nominated you. (Thank you Charles)
2 Post your quote.
3 Pass it on to three others.

Here’s the quote:

Now for my nominations

Sue Vincent Frank Angle and Susan Nicholls

Ten Things Not to Do at Graduation Time

June 8, 2015June 7, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

The inspiration for this list is the fact that it is graduation season. When you think of all the graduations that are being held in the US alone, you realize the potential exists that these ten things occur with similar results. I hope you enjoy the list and can manage to avoid them.

Ten Things Not to Do at Graduation Time

10 If you are a graduate, do not put something dumb on your mortar. If you do, at best even if your family sees you they will not want to admit you belong to them. At worst the picture taken of your message will go viral and will show up every time someone searches your name on Google including prospective employers.

9 If you are a parent of a graduate, do not blow any type of horn when your child receives their diploma. If you do, at best you will cause your kid to want to find another home. At worst, that big over trained guy in front of you is fighting a hangover and will help you stow your horn where you will not want it stored.

8 If you are a speaker at a graduation, do not tell the graduates that the world is looking to them for salvation. If you do, at best your cliché will remind everyone just how out of it you are. At worst, your words will be quoted in some satirical publications who will point out just how many times graduating classes heard the same words throughout the millennium.

7 If your graduate has decided to skip the ceremony, do not fight the decision. If you do, at best your child will make attending the ceremony sound like parental abuse. At worst the child will attend with something dumb written on the mortar to the tune of “my parents made me do this,” and you can expect the message broadcasted worldwide.

6 If your family is experiencing a graduation, do not think this is indicates your job as a parent is complete. If you do, at best you will be surprised by requests for help as like commences. At worst, you will need counseling to overcome the feeling of failure as your child s to move into your spare room.

5 If you are the graduation ceremony organiser, do not think everything will run smoothly because of your careful planning. If you do at best, you will be unprepared when something goes wrong, and there is a long period where no one can hear the speaker. At worst, you will not know what to do with a thousand Champaign corks bouncing off the facility and school officials even though you banned the presence of alcohol at the ceremony.

4 If you are holding a graduation party, do not leave your house even though you trust your loving child to be trustworthy and in control. If you do, at best a few more guests who were not expected will attend with little consequence. At worst, the state police will looking for you to help fund the fire department, EMS and SWAT team expenses that were incurred to break up the party and put out the fire destroying yours and two neighbor houses

3 If you have a graduate, do not over do the gift. If you do, at best your child will expect a similar prize for other accomplishments. At worst, someday it will need to be replaced and the words about the child being on their own when you gave the gift are forgotten.

2 If you are attending a graduation ceremony, do not treat the event as if it is a football game. If you do, at best you will get strange looks when you enter the stand with the team colors and jersey. At worst, you will get a lot of people wanting to buy the bratwurst you are grilling at your tailgate gathering.

1 If you have a graduate, do not keep telling them how amazed you are that they made it through school. If you do, at best they will think you did not have faith in their abilities. At worst, you will give the child a complex that will be manifest in the longing for a career in fast food service as a grill person.

Sunday – Fifty-Two Views of the Gulf

June 7, 2015June 6, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 26 Comments

We had a glorious week. The sun was out every day, and the water was as clear as a swimming pool. The winds were relatively calm, and so the daytime temperature of 85 degrees seemed even hotter. The water temperature is also 85 degrees, so it is like taking a bath in the Gulf. If you look very carefully you can see purple morning glories to the near right. I tried to get a little closer so they would show up. That car came into view just as I took the picture. Yes, driving on the beach is allowed (darn it). Way off in the distance you can see a boat hauling a barge. The little dot is the boat and the dash behind it is the barge.

last week’s scene wasn’t too much different although the winds made the wave action a little stronger.

Steam of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Information”

June 6, 2015June 5, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

Stream of Consciousness Saturday brings another opportunity to go crazy be creative with a prompt from the High Priestess of Promptness Linda Hill. Today’s prompt is “Information.” If you would like to join in go to Linda’s site and learn more. http://lindaghill.com/2015/06/05/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-615/ Here is my interpretation.

“See that signpost up ahead?”

“Yeah what does it say?”

“I thought you said you could see it.”

“I can see it I just can’t read the words. They’re too small.”

“There is only one word.”

“Okay, what’s the word.”

“Really? You can’t see that one word. It’s huge.”

“No, I can’t see it. For the last time what does it say?”

“It starts with IN and ends in N.”

“Lots of help you are. How about injection?”

“Ha ha ha. No. I’ll give you another hint the third letter is an F The next to the last is an O.”

“This is ridiculous. We are getting closer, and I won’t have to play your stupid game in a few minutes.”

“So take a guess.”

“Okay INF and then ON. How about Infuriation?”

“Not even sure that’s a word but no. The next letter is an O and the third to last is an I.”

“Humm INFO and ION. Oh, I get it. Information.”

“Yay. You got it. Now let’s go in there and you can ask for directions since we have no idea where the hell we are and we have been wandering around for the last three hours.”

“Directions?”

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

June 5, 2015June 1, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 22 Comments

One more eight-hour day until the weekend. I think we can all do eight hours. I have been complaining about the weather for so long I do have to acknowledge when MN (Mother Nature) does a spectacular job. This week was glorious. Our temperature have been in the Highs in the upper eighties and plenty of sunshine. Made it very hard not to grab a chair and umbrella (and boat drink) and run out on responsibilities. I did stick to the right path and did not weaken. It was sure tempting though. This week JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) is about temptation. I hope you like it.

Keep production moving,

The correct path to success. . .

Till lured to more fun.