But I Don’t Want Him to Be a Bad Guy: The Trouble with Villains

GIVEAWAY: win SAVING MR. PERFECT

It’s time for me to make a confession: I hate writing villains. As an author who
delights in heists and capers and romantic suspense-y twists, you’d think
nothing would make me happier than to create a big, bad villain for the hero and
heroine to take down. Good triumphs over evil! Love rules the day! Happily ever
after for all!

While I do love a good HEA and the thought of a bad guy getting his due, this is a part of the storytelling process I struggle with quite a bit. Usually, it’s because I grow to love all my characters too much—even the dastardly ones. (Most of the time, I especially love the dastardly ones.)

I like to think this is a natural side effect of writing realistic, compelling
villains. Instead of just being an incarnation of evil, they have motives and
feelings and flaws, are three-dimensional characters in their own right. In
fact, every villain should be the hero of his own story…it’s just that this
particular book isn’t his story. Yet.

It’s not just my own books I feel this way about, either. Some of my favorite
book, movie, and TV characters of all time rest on the shady side of the heroic
spectrum. For example, I’ll take a Gaston or an Ursula over a Belle or Ariel any
day. Snape will forever have my Harry Potter heart. And I’m sorry to say it, but
Game of Thrones just wouldn’t be the same without Cersei to keep things going.

I think this is why romance novel villains—true villains, and not just
super-dark-and-compelling-sequel-bait villains—are such a struggle for me. I
want them to be redeemable. I want them to have a backstory that explains away
their deeds. I want them to be the heroes of their own books. I also want them
to do terrible things that drive one heck of a story.

I guess that’s why it’s important to create a villain who can do both. And why
authors should avoid falling in love with the dark side. It rarely ends well.

SAVING MR. PERFECT by Tamara Morgan

Penelope Blue

I'm a jewel thief.
He's FBI.
What's that saying? Keep your friends close...and your husband closer.

Being a retired jewel thief certainly has its perks.

1. Oh, wait.
2. No it doesn't.

Without the thrill of the chase, life's been pretty dull. I garden, I drive my gorgeous husband up the wall, and I watch as my old world slowly slips away. But what's that old saying? When one thief closes the door...a copycat jimmies open a window.

And now all fingers at the FBI are pointed at me.

Set up to take the fall for thefts worth millions, I have no choice but to strap on my heels and help my FBI agent husband track the thief. Grant might not think he needs a partner, but this is one case only a true professional can solve. Besides, I've got to know who's been taking my bad name in vain.

Let's just hope curiosity doesn't kill the cat burglar.

Romance Contemporary | Romance Suspense [Sourcebooks Casablanca, On Sale: August 1, 2017, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781492634690 / eISBN: 9781492634706]

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About Tamara Morgan

Tamara Morgan is a romance writer and unabashed lover of historical reenactments—the more elaborate and geeky the costume requirements, the better. In her quest for modern-day history and intrigue, she has taken fencing classes, forced her child into Highland dancing, and, of course, journeyed annually to the local Renaissance Fair. These feats are matched by a universal love of men in tights, of both the superhero and codpiece variety.

Her home is in the Inland Northwest, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and variety of household pets.

Penelope Blue

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Comments

18 comments posted.

Re: But I Don’t Want Him to Be a Bad Guy: The Trouble with Villains

Uriah Heep is the favorite villain for me.
(Sharon Berger 11:53am August 1, 2017)

No one specific... I just love a villain that keeps you guessing...
(Colleen Conklin 12:58pm August 1, 2017)

Hmmmmm. Perhaps Cruella DeVille. Or Sleeping Beauty' s
witch. Seem to be choosing villianess-oops! ;)
(Kathleen Bylsma 7:07pm August 1, 2017)

The Wicked Witch of the West
(Tanja Dancy 8:14pm August 1, 2017)

I love books like these! Thank you fresh fiction for
introducing me to another exciting author!
(Amber Niebaum 1:04am August 2, 2017)

Lex Luther or the Joker
(Kristy Imig 8:58am August 2, 2017)

My favorite "Villan" has got to be Loki, I think he's just
misunderstood...
(Dynal Roberson 5:29pm August 2, 2017)

I can't outright remember a specific villain that I can name, but I do love a villain that I feel deserves their fate.
(Ela Raymundo 5:38pm August 2, 2017)

Bernie Rhodenbarr by Lawrence Block.
(Jean Mitchell 5:41pm August 2, 2017)

Uriah Heep.
Marilyn
(Marilyn Collins 8:49pm August 2, 2017)

I can't think of a villain off hand, but I love it when a "bad" boy finds he's really a "good" man because of the love of a good ( maybe one that's just a little bad) woman.
(Annetta Sweetko 8:51pm August 2, 2017)

The Joker in Batman
(Joy Isley 4:42pm August 3, 2017)

Frankenstein is a favorite villian.
(Jackie Wisherd 5:03pm August 3, 2017)

I have to say my favorite villain is The Joker
(Kimberley Coover 11:52pm August 3, 2017)

The MASTER (Missy)
(Tm Occhip 11:58pm August 3, 2017)

Joker
(Mary Smith 8:53am August 4, 2017)

At this particular moment, I can't think of a favorite villain, but they do add something extra to a novel. I like the idea that the villain is more of a bad boy instead of pure evil, that there is more than one dimension to him.
(Anna Speed 11:10am August 5, 2017)

Choices choices...the nurse in one flew over the cuckoo's nest, Joker,
Moriarty
(Laura Gullickson 8:37pm August 5, 2017)

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