Fantasy Supervillain

As a speculative fiction writer, I'm always looking for new and interesting creatures. Often villains and magicians in fantasy have special abilities, things they do that are beyond normal,and might be terrifying.

Imagine, for instance, a creature with visual omnipresence. Omnipresence means that you can exist everywhere at once, able to see and witness everyone and everything. Unlike an omnipotent character, who knows everything, an omnipresent character would be able to see everything themselves. It'd be impossible to keep any secrets from this godlike ability, because everywhere you go, whether sleeping or awake, the character's there, watching. Imagine for example, Sauron with visual omnipresence- he takes one look at the Ring- book's over in chapter one. Same thing with Voldemort, President Snow, Darth Vader- you get the idea. Even in history this idea is terrifying. Want D-Day or the next drone strike to be a secret? What if the villain sees everything all the time? In nearly all fiction, the protagonists do things the villains aren't aware of. Crafting a story around this feat is daunting.

Let's make this supervillain more three-dimensional. As of now, he just has a superpower, albeit an impressive one. Imagine the villain also has a supernatural means of transportation. While he's still able to see everything anywhere, he can't actually get to places without traveling. We won't let him fly directly, that's too Marvel Universe for us, so instead we give him a flying car. Yes, he can hop on a flying car and travel rapidly to any location in the world. How fast? Let's assume he can get anywhere he wants within a single night, even making multiple stops. Scared yet? This character can see everything, and now get anywhere within one night. It's like having a TARDIS with the viewfinder always switched on.

The guy's still not interesting enough, though. Let's give him some minions. All villains have them. This character's got dozens of them- all enslaved to his will. They do whatever he says all year round, making anything he asks for. Yeah, now we're cooking, a character with visual omnipresence, able to travel anywhere within a night, who has a horde of servants.

Now we need to stop focusing on the evil/supernatural aspects and give our character some personality. President Snow and his blood breath and love of roses, Darth Vader's persistent asthma and respirator- that sort of thing. Hmmm... well, let's start by making the character fat. Too many villains are really thin and gaunt. It seems the skeletal look usually frightens people, so let's make our character as chubby as possible. In fact, give him nice red cheeks, almost comical looking. 

Let's also give him a backstory. Maybe he used to be a farmer. Yes, he was a farmer long ago, before things went terribly wrong. His mother used to say "Plant, plant, plant! Plough, plough plough!" He's never forgotten the last thing his mother demanded, asking him to hoe the fields, right before the accident. To this day, the guilt around her final words consumes him, and he can't stop repeating them. 

This character, by now, should be truly terrifying. Let's take a look at what he might look like, if an artist was to draw a rendition:

Click HERE to see an artist rendition.

And no, I won't even get into the obsession with little kids. That's too frightening, even for me. :-) 

  

Outlines

Most authors outline, whether they admit to it or not. Even the most ardent "pantser" (someone who writes by the seat of their pants, making it up as they go) has a general idea, even if subconscious, of where the story's going at certain points.

I have been asked many times how I write, but haven't yet taken the time to explore the issue in the blog. I begin any story with a situation, a scenario similar to the blurb you'd read on the back of a novel. I have a journal with about twenty future book ideas, scenarios I've thought about and would like to expand on. I add to the list frequently, adding two new scenarios just this past week.

Scenario: Kid trains to be a Grim Reaper at a school where students learn how to reap souls. Reaping is a job, just like any other. Tensions exist at the school between Dragons- the original Reapers- and the Deaths, who now Reap. At end, kid must pass a test to go home.

The scenario will look something like the above, with no details fleshed out, and not much more clear. I then daydream about what will happen, and in this period, the most abstract creation occurs. As part of this stage, I develop what I call an "image outline." I develop a set of specific pictures, frozen images that I know are somehow related to my story, but I don't yet know how or even what order they'll occur in. 

I'm currently reading Ransom Riggs' novel Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. The book combines authentic old photographs with an odd story about a boy traveling to a remote island off of Wales. I've read that Riggs collected tons of actual photographs and used them to inspire a storyline, which now spans multiple books as well as an upcoming film. 

I originally developed my inspiration for The Scythe Wielder's Secret (and School of Deaths in particular) from a trip I took to Tintagel. The original blog post from my trip can be found here. While I didn't have actual photographs to ply through or inspire me, I began to envision certain pictures in my head. Images I wanted to include in the novel.

Note: all prints below are by artist Jenn Eldreth and are available for purchase. Click on the pictures for more detail or to read a quote from the books about each.

One of the earliest images I envisioned, an enormous metal door in the center of an upward-flowing waterfall (or water-rise?) Didn't originally know what this would be, but it ended up playing a major role in the books. 

The Library I envisioned was partially inspired by the Duke Humfrey's Library Room in Oxford. This is the oldest reading room in the Bodelian and the college as a whole, and was a place I worked on the earliest drafts of School of Deaths. Admittedly, it's also where the library scenes in the Harry Potter films were filmed. I tried to differentiate from the Potter library by adding glowing flower lights and dozens of massive old stones.  

Before even starting book two- Sword of Deaths- I had a single strong image in my head.
A boat, the old fashioned schooner type, on an icy sea. The boat was burning and a Dragon circled overhead. Exploring this image internally helped me develop the plot line for Sword of Deaths. 

After I have an image outline, I start from the beginning and just keep writing, trying to connect images as I go. With my current work in process I'm in much the same situation. I have a clear number of images in my mind, but no idea yet exactly how all of them will connect, and what the final process will be.

   

Calvin and Hobbes

Thirty years ago today, Bill Watterson released his first Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.

For the first time, the world was introduced to a six-year-old-boy and his best friend. I was five and a half when this strip was released. I'm fairly certain I didn't notice it the first time it came out, or even when it first appeared in our local paper. Yet, within a year or so, Watterson and his creation had become a part of my daily routine, and they'd go on to have a profound impact on my life. The story lines are one of the reasons I became a professional storyteller (both as a novelist, and a theatre director).

For ten years, Calvin and Hobbes delighted readers, but it did far more to me, Calvin and Hobbes was an inspiration every day. I would rush downstairs and look for the paper, just so I could read the strip. Calvin and Hobbes was the first thing I read every day. I was roughly the age of Calvin, and of all the characters I've encountered I've never identified so completely with anyone as with him. I was a very lonely child, and spent hours meandering in circles, telling my parents I need time to "imagine." Daydreaming was a 24/7 occupation. Whether in school, at home, or just about any other time, I'd find myself lost in outer space, fighting dinosaurs, or building transmogrifiers. It was at this same time that I discovered books, and my world opened up. It's no wonder that Pratchett, Asimov, Tolkien, Lewis, and Clark became the worlds I devoured. Speculative fiction mirrored my love of imagination and creativity, my incessant and unending daydreams: the way I saw the world.

In many ways, I was Calvin. To be honest, perhaps I still am. The imaginary best friends running around in my head have found their way onto the page, as well as onto the stages I direct. A student today asked me to draw a groundplan for our upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It took me fifteen minutes to draw a complete groundplan. She stared- and said how'd you know what to do so fast? It's there in my head. Same with books- they just pop out.

On a deeper level, I think Watterson first taught me the craft of storytelling, albeit on a subconscious level. At first glance, the comic strips might seem silly or banal, but there are deeper, underlying story lines and themes. Calvin is both idiotic, small minded, and altogether brilliant. Hobbes can be a pacifist, and environmentalist, or a would-be romantic, depending on the arc.

Bill Watterson

In middle school, we were asked to write letters to one person we admired. A lot of people wrote to the President, or to movie stars. I sent a letter to Bill Watterson. His secretary wrote back, or sent a form letter, but to me, he was the hero I admired most.

To this date, I logged on the computer and noticed my avatar is Calvin. There's a Calvin and Hobbes poster, advertising one of the collections, that I swiped from my job at Borders, hanging on the wall beside me. When I'm feeling down, I still pull out a Calvin and Hobbes strip to cheer me up.

And of course, Watterson's also admired for never selling out. It wasn't about the money. He never let people make bad movies or tacky merchandise (merch you see is illegal). He was about the art, and the imagination. I'm not sure Bill Watterson knows I exist, or has any idea how much he impacted me, but someday I imagine him looking at one of my books, and saying- I helped inspire this.

Cauldron of Fate concludes

Cauldron of Fate has now completed, and all four chapters are available on my site. Discover Sindril's past, and learn how Susan was selected to become a Death.

http://www.christophermannino.com/free-reads.html

Cauldron of Fate

A new exciting FREE event begins TODAY.  Discover CAULDRON OF FATE, a free short story exploring how Mark became Sindril.  Men aren't born evil, but one teenager will rise to threaten the World of Deaths.  Chapters will be released weekly, and will be available only on my website.  Read Chapter one now.

http://www.christophermannino.com/free-reads.html

Gun Nation

I don't often post about political issues, but the USA is overwhelmingly plagued by an issue we cannot escape. There are more guns per person in the United States than any other nation, and guns here now outnumber humans. (Source, Washington Post)  270 million firearms are owned by civilians with only 897000 owned by police. (Source, DoSomething.org).

Every day I go to work in a danger zone, since I work in a public school.  Mass shootings are so commonplace most only last a day in the news cycle. I have had serious conversations with my wife, about whether we feel safe starting a family in a country overrun wth gun issues, and one in which no gun legislation seems possible. If the Founding Fathers saw the country today, I think they'd be sick.

A look at the future:

In the year 2075...

Imagine a nation where all children report to school with guns. The Gun Lobby successfully convinced the nation that the only way to protect schools was to arm every individual in the schools, including teachers, students, and administrators. Each class begins by making sure the safety's are all on. In elementary school, children are allowed to leave their handguns in cubbies during recess or lunch. The one kid who comes to school without a gun is bullied and harrassed, leaving in tears.

Imagine a world where no one leaves their houses unless necessary. Where someone's considered lucky to live past age 40. A world where whenever you don't like something, you pull out a gun and blow them away.

Imagine a USA so stagnant and full of strife, that we've become the laughingstock of every nation. Thousands flee the country, looking for peaceful paces to live.

Imagine every school day beginning with the words:

I pledge allegiance to the guns,
Of the United States of America,
And to the Republic they helped to forge,
One nation, with no God,
With weaponry and ammo for all. 

This may sound like an idle speculation, yet the statistics show we're moving in that direction already. We're a lot closer than you might realize.

This is Gun Nation.

Guest Post: Kay Lalone

The Poet's Fire welcomes back Kay LaLone (view her post from last year HERE) to discuss her newest exciting release: FAMILY SECRET

Sixteen­-year-­old Thomas Patrick Henry is thrown into a web of secrets and demons after his mother’s murder.

Back Cover

On the road to solving his mother’s murder, sixteen-­yea-r­old Thomas Patrick Henry discovers a secret his father has kept from him for years. Tom thought Dad’s secret put him in danger, Mom’s secret is far worse.

Magic. Witches. Ancient Book of Spells. Magical Amulet. Ghosts. Demons.

Tom never thought these things existed until he is face to face with them. There is nothing else to
do but destroy the demons before someone else Tom love dies. He already lost his mom and a close friend because this secret was kept from him. No one else will die. No one else will be possessed. Tom faces his demons. A mother’s love gives Tom the strength to slay his demons.

Excerpt

“Ow.” Tom yanked the chain and dragged the burning amulet from under his shirt. Even the chain was warm, but there was no way he was going to take the stupid thing off. He let it drop to his chest and rest warmly on the top of his shirt as he stared at the demon.

“It’s not your grandfather,” Tom whispered. Anger rolled around inside him because of what this
thing did to Sarah.

The dark figure stepped out of the shadows causing the boys to take two steps back. The demon looked like a man dressed in thunderous storm­like clouds from head to toe. Even his face was black and the eyes a dimly puke­yellow that churned Tom’s stomach. He felt Rob’s heavy breathing just inches behind him, but it didn’t stop a chill from shimmering up his spine like fingernails on a chalkboard.

“I know who you are.” Tom tried to sound confident even though his voice shook with fear. He swallowed hard. “What do you want?”

The demon raised a shadowy arm and then his stormy cloud­like body started to swirl like a mini tornado. In a gust of black smoke, the demon shot up into the air and zipped right over Tom and Rob’s heads. The boys ducked and laid flat on the wet grass, afraid the demon would consume them.

Tom turned his head to see the black smoke head toward Mr. Watson’s house. Tom got to his feet while Rob remained on the ground. The black smoke swarmed over the house and then drifted back down. It slithered around the house like a snake looking for a place to sneak in, circling several times before seeping through the crack in the window and disappearing inside.

Rob scrambled to his feet. “That thing is inside my grandfather’s house.” His voice was high-pitched in fear. “My...” He glanced toward the empty driveway. Then he sighed. “Mom must still be at the hospital.”

Tom touched Rob’s arm to prevent him from doing something crazy. He didn’t want another one of his friends to get hurt by this thing.

“We need to do something, but I don’t know what.” Tom glanced over to the tents in Granddad’s backyard, hoping Matt or Granddad would come running to save the day. But there was no movement over there.

Inside the house, Jake growled and then started to bark wildly. Before Tom could stop him, Rob dashed upon the back porch and flung the backdoor open. Jake continued his wild barking as if protecting Rob and the house. If only the dog could save the day, but Tom feared nothing would save them.

A cracking noise caught Tom’s attention, and he turned his head toward what he assumed was Mr. Watson’s bedroom window. The glass appeared pitch black at first, and then a face appeared.

The same puke­yellow eyes stared at Tom and gave him an evil grin.

ABOUT

I’m Kay LaLone author of Ghostly Clues, my first MG novel. Family Secret is my first YA novel. Both published by MuseItUp. I live in Michigan with my husband and teenage son (two older sons and a daughter­in­law and my first grandbaby live nearby) and two dogs. I love to get up every morning and write about ghosts, the paranormal, and things that go bump in the night. I write PB, MG and YA novels. No matter the books I write, I want my readers to feel like they have met a new friend. I’m an avid reader of just about any type of book (mystery, paranormal, and ghost stories are my favorites). I do reviews and post them on my website and blog. I love to collect old books, antiques, and collectibles. You can find many of my antiques and collectibles selling on ebay and at fleamarkets.


BUY THE BOOK OR LEARN MORE ABOUT KAY:

MuseItUp Publishing

Amazon Pre-Order   Kay's Amazon Author Page

Kay's Blog   Kay's Website 

Twitter      Goodreads     Facebook