AAD NOLA Author Spotlight: Jae Lynne Davies

The Challenges of Writing from the Antagonist’s POV
by Jae Lynne Davies


While I wrap up final edits on Blood Moon, the second installment in my Mythic series, I’ve been doing a bit of reflecting.

I’ll begin this post by stating a hard fact: Writing a story isn’t easy. Sure we can outline to our heart’s content, but once the process begins, the creative muse might just have a few tricks up her sleeve. The story often takes a few different paths on the way to completion and there are days where creativity doesn’t flow as well as others. But what I found most exciting during my process, were the challenges I faced while writing my villains.

I enjoy villains, maybe a smidge more than the hero or heroine because of the character complexities and the fact I can make him or her as diabolical as I’d like. The canvas for my villains is clear. There are little rules or boundaries, provided the character fits the storyline, and with no rules…Game on.

Throughout the process, I explored a wicked side of life where inhibitions aren’t a factor and a conscience is practically obsolete, but not without challenges. Once you cross a line with the villain, where is the point of no return? Did I make him evil enough? These are questions I asked myself constantly throughout the story. This is where I trust the reader.

The antagonists that really heat my blood are those redeemable bad boys or the anti-hero. There’s something irresistible and incredibly sexy about bad boys who are evil for a reason, a conflict of epic proportion that can be overcome in a subsequent story with a heroine that suits him and makes him want to be a better man. But the fact remains clear that he’ll always have an edge about him, regardless of the HEA. And I’m willing to bet I’m not alone in my attraction to villains.

In my own personal writing experience, the antagonist’s passion is conveyed through a massive display of power and undeniably hot love scenes. At every turn, I’ve experienced a good amount of difficulty creating a villain who couldn’t be redeemed. I feel they all deserve a chance to be heard, for the layers to be peeled away to unveil a glorious revelation with a ‘wow’ factor that’s out of this world.

For example, in my latest novel, Blood Moon, we see vampire Dante Diakos rise to power and claim his birthright by invoking the power of the Greek pantheon on the summit of Mount Olympus. Once the ritual is complete, Dante will be the most powerful being on earth. Tunnel vision drives him to the brink of madness and while his motivation seems irrational to others, he has his reasons that lead to some of the most passionate moments I’ve ever penned.

Dante has been an absolute pleasure to write as I explore the depths of what makes the villain tick and I certainly hope to explore the matter further as my craft continues to improve and I grow as an author.

My question to all of you, is how evil do you like your villains? Do you enjoy those irreprehensible characters who deserve to be blasted into the outer reaches of the universe, never to be heard from again? Or do you prefer the redeemable bad boy with a large heart and a huge…attitude?

I want to thank the lovely, Tori for inviting me to her blog today. I had a wonderful time being here and hope to see a few of you at AAD in August. Happy Reading!


Jae Lynne Davies is a wife, mother and author who wishes there were more hours in a day to balance all three and her full-time job, but whenever she finds a spare moment, you’ll find her sitting in front of her laptop typing the next chapter! Jae Lynne currently resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband and two children.

To learn more about Jae Lynne and her work, please visit her website: http://www.jaelynnedavies.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jae-Lynne-Davies/100001587731488

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JaeLynneDavies

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jaelynnedavies

Mythic is available online at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jae+lynne+davies&sprefix=jae+lynne%2Caps%2C181

Centuries after the death of her family, human/vampire hybrid, Gianna Marino is determined to shed the blood of the vampire responsible.

Disguising herself as a human wanting to be turned, she infiltrates the enemy’s coven with the hope of bending him to her will and destroying him from the inside.

But when a handsome stranger enters the scene and is lured into their seductive game that results in a heated love triangle, she discovers a secret that blurs the lines between good and evil, forever changing the course of her existence, and destiny will soon determine on which side she’ll stand.

Giveaway

Want to win an e-book copy of Mythic? All you have to do is leave a comment answering Jae's question at the end of her guest post!

• Open internationally.
• Leave an email address so we can contact you if you win.