Crafting a Villain
by Anne Mallory

"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb." Dark Helmet from SPACEBALLS

I love a to-die-for hero and a smart heroine. But sometimes you just have to love the villain, too. Not necessarily a love as in you want to meet the villain for tea or in a dark alley, but the kind of love spawned while dipping your hand in the popcorn and watching the delicious craziness, the twisted motivation, the way the character has lost his or her way in the world.

There are great villains that are just plain bad, but some of the best villains have simply taken a wrong turn somewhere. They have been forced from the "good" path. Those are the ones to me that are truly heartbreaking.

In my latest release, THREE NIGHTS OF SIN, a serial killer is on the loose--and the killer may not be the only one dealing in shades of gray and black. I tried out many different types of villains while writing; those that are evil incarnate and those that simply chose poorly, those forever on the dark path and those that can be redeemed.

There are a number of journal entries in THREE NIGHTS OF SIN. The format gave me an opportunity to delve into the minds of some very villainous characters. I must say that just like sticking my hand in that popcorn bucket and watching with fascination as my favorite movie villains do their thing, crafting a villain you love to hate, hate to love, or wish to save is pure, diabolical fun.

Who are some of your favorite villains in books, tv shows or movies? Do you find yourself captivated by the diabolical masterminds? Or do you fall for the wounded and damaged bad guy or gal?