Revisit: What Do You Look For in a Villain?

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Joker from DC and Loki from Marvel (Yahoo Image Search)

(Originally posted on July 29, 2013.  I still stand by this, but I definitely wrote the post before I every put Stephen Kernaghan on paper.  He kind of stands out as the true monster of my villain gallery.  Pretty sure I revisit this from time to time with most people saying they want ‘misunderstood’ villains or those with some humanity.)

Say what you want about Disney, but they always have great villains.  Scar, Jafar, Hades, and Maleficent are only a few and most people can quickly rattle off most of them.  The heroes are remembered easily because their names are in the title.  The villains have to be memorable for being evil and that’s always a challenge.

As a writer, I try to put a bit of humanity into my villains.  That spark that shows they aren’t 100% evil and monstrous.  Even my demons and vampires have some type of human flaw.  This isn’t to say the full monster villain is worthless because it depends on the story.  If you need a rampaging destroyer then giving him a sense of doubt might not be a good idea.  A love of kittens would make him seem like a joke.  Still, your main villains typically require intelligence and cruelty with something that can hook the reader into their story.

A way that I once looked at it is that the hero and the villain are competing for my attention when reading.  Am I more interested in the hero’s tale or the villain’s tale?  I always want to have moments where I’m fascinated by the villain and part of me believes he or she will succeed.  This is why I think it’s more of a challenge to write a villain, but it’s a lot more fun because they can do whatever they want at times.  Burn that village to the ground?  No problem.  Punt baby elves into a dragon’s mouth?  You got it.  Cheat on the final test?  Sure if that’s the story you’re going for.

I can’t actually pinpoint a specific villain type that I like, but I know my one requirement.  I need my villains to be entertaining.  I don’t even need depth because the rampager can be entertaining if done correctly. Definitely all in the writing and it’s more important for villains than heroes because villains are the reason the story is happening.  Without them, the hero has nothing to go up against.

So, what do you look for in your villains?

 

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Poetry Day: Slamming Doors

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Anger from Inside Out

(I was iffy on posting this considering it’s 9/11, but maybe this can have some connection.  To be fair, this day doesn’t get as much special attention as it once did.  I guess it’s fallen into history like Pearl Harbor.  People know about it, but 9/11 feels like a distant memory.  Think it’s rough out there then imagine what it’s like to be in a school where none of the students were alive during the event, so they only know it from history classes.  Anyway, the poem.  I also went out of alphabetical order because there were 3 poems in a row that fit October much better.)

Why do they slam the door
When rage is not at hand
A boom that shakes the house
And reveals where they have gone

 

I have examined these doors
They work with ease and grace
No fight to keep them closed
Or a failure of the latch

 

I see dents from their abuse
On door’s edge and on the frame
These portals take a beating
With no reason for the pain

 

I ask why they slam the doors
Which they deny they ever do
Maybe it is the only way they know
A gentle closing beyond their grasp

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Revisit: What Do You Look For in Magic?

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Vivi from FF9

(Originally posted on July 24, 2013.  My thoughts did change a bit on this one.  Mostly, I’m better about spells being broken or misfired by a sneeze or distraction.  Still not a fan of it happening a lot.  It really needs a good plot reason or at least a major consequence.  Otherwise, it’s just silly.)

Magic is a big a part of many fantasy books.  From Gandalf the Grey of Tolkien to Spellfire of Forgotten Realms, magic is a staple.  Sometimes the magic is nothing more than a few mystical creatures and other times it comes in the form of mental manipulation.  For example, there is no magic in the Ranger’s Apprentice series.  There is mention of mind manipulation, which is the closest they come to it.  So it is entirely possible to have a very low magic world to the point where the reader doesn’t even realize magic is there.

Personally, I like reading about magic with wizard duels and combat spells.  So much can  be done with magic as long as you stick to the rules that you make.  That’s one of my pet peeves when it comes to magic.  You have to stay within your own rules or given an explanation of why a rule is being broken.  For example, I have it that magic in Windemere is the manipulation of auras.  To do so, you use gestures, words, and/or ingredients for your spells. Nyx and Trinity don’t need any of that, so a reason is going to be needed.  I can’t say that here because it’s a spoiler.

That’s another thing that I look for in a magic system.  Details are fine, but I prefer when a magic system isn’t one where a spell can get broken by a sneeze.  I’ve read books where a spell is undone because somebody yelled at the wizard.  I wonder why anybody would want to learn magic if their concentration is so terrible.  Even the big, powerful wizards were undone by a stumble of words.  If magic is so dangerous then the people using it really need to have incredible focus and care.  The ‘spell went wrong’ isn’t a terrible idea, but seeing it more than once in the same book is ugh worthy.

So, what do people look for in fantasy book magic?

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Teaser Tuesday: Fury

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

(Here we have an excerpt from Tribe of the Snow Tiger.  Enjoy and pass the word that all single eBooks are 99 cents.)

“We don’t have time for this,” Nyx growls as she kicks her chair away. The channeler coats her fist in condensed wind while approaching the bars, the glowing Compass Key tattoo burning a hole in her shirt and cloak. “The temple is waiting and our friends are on the other side of the continent. This mess shouldn’t get in our way. I’m breaking Timoran out of here and we’re leaving for Aintaranurh. Even if I have to raze Stonehelm to the ground and blast this tribe out of my way, I’m getting us out of here.”

“What is wrong with you, fire sprite?” Timoran asks as he gets closer to the bars. Moving directly in front of the channeler, he hopes that his friend will stop with him so close to her target. “You are talking about attacking my homeland and tribe. Exile though I may be, I am still loyal to these people and do not wish for harm to come to them.”

“Then hate me for what I’m about to do, but I’m not in the mood for dealing with your past.”

Nyx rears back to shatter the bars, which causes Cyrus to rush from his post and Luke to dive for her arm. A powerful gale knocks both warriors down the hallway, the barbarian crashing through the locked door. With a look of madness in her eyes, the channeler screams and throws her devastating punch. The spell abruptly flickers out of existence as her mind is engulfed in a distracting shriek and a knee hits her in the stomach. Faking a savage punch to Nyx’s head, Dariana pushes the half-elf to the floor and coaxes her into a restless slumber. Bursts of magic continue to erupt from the shuddering channeler as Udelia storms down the hallway.

“What is going on here?” asks the sheriff, her massive sword aimed at the foreigners. She lets the tip fall and stop an inch from Nyx’s face, the unconscious champion unaware of the danger. “Did she attempt a jail break?”

“Yes, but there is something wrong with her,” Dariana answers, pointing at where Luke is groaning in the corner. Her fingers run along the fragile edges of the hole in Nyx’s shirt, the fabric crinkling beneath her touch. “Timoran was trying to talk her out of doing anything foolish before she attacked all of us. This is odd. She has rashes all over her body. Is there a healer with knowledge of magic that I can take her too? I think my friend is sick and she isn’t a person that you want to leave unchecked.”

“I should arrest you.”

Timoran clears his throat and bows his head to the blonde barbarian. “Please let her see one of the shamans. Nyx and I are like siblings. I know you owe me nothing, Sheriff Kalten, but all I am asking is that you let my friend get help. Besides, you know we lack a prison that can contain a Near God. If you do not do this for me then do it for . . . her.”

“Take your friend to the shaman who lives in a hut by the eastern border,” Udelia says without a second of hesitation. She walks to the bars and opens one in order to grab Timoran by his hair. “I don’t want you to pull that trick on me ever again. Leave her out of this or I will kill you before the trial.”

The sheriff turns on her heels and marches toward the doorway, pausing briefly to hoist Luke to his feet by palming his head. Dariana cradles Nyx as she stands, the sensation of lightning running through her body making it difficult to walk. She is thankful when Luke takes the unconscious woman, his body absorbing the mild electricity thanks to the griffin spirit. With a chorus of good-byes, they leave Timoran to sit in his cell and stare at the empty wall. As night falls, the solitary section of the jail becomes a silent tomb that freezes time and makes the lone prisoner unsure if he is awake or dreaming.

Posted in Legends of Windemere, Teaser Tuesday, Tribe of the Snow Tiger | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Revisit: What Do You Look For In Character Evolution?

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Evolution of Godzilla

(Originally posted on July 25, 2013.  Not exactly the evolution about since we’re talking more mental and emotional than physical.  Realizing that many of these are kind of short too.  Guess it’s from a time when I had more activity in the comments.  Still, it’s nice to see where people stand on the big author topics.)

One of the benefits to writing a series is that you get to extend your character’s evolution. They don’t have to fully mature by the end of the first book. This is something for readers to remember too. Once a character hits his or her final form, the adventure has to eventually come to a close or you devolve them. Look at comic book characters and the sudden rise of reboots because they’ve done everything for decades. With novels, you don’t really have this luxury. You need to raise your character at a proper, steady rate to an endgame. Going further can weaken your character and series.

I like a slow growth with ups and downs. A character that wins and loses is believable because you can’t always win or lose. Even if you win, there can be a twist or a sacrifice to it. Save the damsel, but lose your hand type of thing. For me the character must be evolved by their decisions and situations. You can’t step into a war or decide to let someone die to save someone else without changing. That isn’t human and reeks of lazy story writing. Doubt, grief, anger, fear, happiness, sadness, numbness, determination, and all the other emotions are needed for this evolution.

So, what do you look for in character evolution?

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Buy a Book Day

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Happy Buy a Book Day!

Celebrate by buying a fantasy adventure for 99 cents!  Maybe two?

Posted in Legends of Windemere | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Goal Post: The School Year Has Begun!

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

After a weekend of relaxing and Pokemon with my son, I went back to a school full of students on Tuesday.  He returned on Wednesday.  The week has been crazy with so many incidents and events to juggle.  In other words, I wasn’t able to even glance at Darwin & the Joy Path until today.  Tried desperately to write even a paragraph last night to set the stage for chapter 2, but I couldn’t muster the energy.

The first challenge of the week was getting to work and helping our students settle into a full year.  I hit the ground running with my break during second period (around 9 am) and my lunch during eighth (around 1:30 pm).  That’s a lot of time without food, so I’m trying to carry a granola bar.  I’m also on my feet for a lot of it and our students are always on the move even in the room.  Things might get easier in a few weeks when work sites start, but that could also be more draining.  A lot of changes for our students is causing tension as well, which I seem to be absorbing.  No chance to release it, which has led to me not sleeping well.

On top of this, my son entering 11th grade didn’t go smoothly.  The day before, we realized his school lock was still with his mother.  It took some doing to get it back and I’ll leave it at that.  THEN, we got a letter that they were going to repave our street on Wednesday morning, so we had to get out before 6:30 am.  My son is always anxious on the first day, so it was hectic.  I promised Dunkin Donuts for breakfast to make sure we got out, but then I heard him wondering where his school ID was while I ordered.  It appears his mom had that as well and forgot to bring it over, so morning negotiations were required.  This resulted in me forgetting to confirm the order, so we showed up and waited for 10 minutes before I realized what happened.  Managed to get his ID at the last minute, get him to school on time, and get myself to work with some semblance of sanity.  That was only Wednesday.

The stress definitely built up a lot too.  My stomach went into full IBS spasms and squirming last night.  That was another reason I didn’t get any writing done.  I went to bed early though.  Figure I can wake up, eat if I feel like it, write a bit, and then hurry to do Pokemon and shopping before the storm hits.  Definitely going to take advantage of the bad weather running from this afternoon until late tomorrow morning.  Means I might be able to get all of chapter 2 of Darwin & the Joy Path done.  It’s 4 sections that shouldn’t be more than 3-4 pages each.  Spent last night staring at the ceiling thinking about how to run it, so I should be good.

This coming week is going to be equally crazy.  I’m not holding out for any writing time after work.  Wednesday evening might be it if I’m lucky.  Every other day has my son here or an evening meeting.  I’m responsible for all the cooking for the next two weeks as well and I don’t want to bring in much.  My plan to reduce the stress is to cook big meals when my son is here and the leftovers will be my dinners when I’m alone.  Should help to save money after an expensive month too.  Maybe I’ll get lucky and catch something that requires a sick day.  It won’t help me write, but I might be able to get a good night’s sleep for once.

I’m trying to find a good anime to watch too.  Finished ‘The Residence’ on Netflix and felt like I wanted some 30 minute animation to enjoy.  I’m sure I’ll find something that keeps my interest.  As for ‘The Residence’, I really liked it.  Shame it won’t get a second season, which was apparently due to costs.  Hard for me to find live-action shows that I really get into.  Those I do find tend to disappear after a season or two.  Guess this is why I stick to anime these days.

So, what are the goals for next week?

  1. Finish chapter 2 of Darwin & the Joy Path this weekend.
  2. Food shopping today.
  3. Sleep better.
  4. School meetings for son.
  5. Lego time to relax.
  6. Get fresh air when possible.
  7. Work on November and December blog posts if time allows.
  8. Pick a new anime to watch.
  9. Maybe change the CDs in my car if I feel like it.
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Revisit: What Do You Look For In a Hero?

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Saitama

(Originally posted on July 22, 2013.  Pretty simple and to the point.  Realizing these posts are mostly for interactions though.  What do you think?)

One of the more interesting things about Beginning of a Hero reviews was that a few of them mentioned how Luke Callindor wasn’t heroic.  He was immature, unpolished, reckless, and selfish.  First, this is the beginning of a series, so starting him out as the perfect hero is ridiculous.  I have 15 books to grow him into that role and even at the end he’s going to have moments.  All of that is for another topic.  Today, I’m curious what people want in their fictional heroes.

I’ve heard everything on this topic.  Many times I’ve heard people voice what they want and then deny a character to epitomizes it.  For example, I spoke with a person who wanted a powerful, unstoppable, beacon of justice hero.  When I mentioned Superman, this person scoffed at the idea because he was ‘lame’.  So, I guess there was something else in their personal hero equation that Superman didn’t meet.  They claimed Batman as perfect, so I’m guessing smart and tortured soul were secretly on the list.  It’s funny how many people go on about the noble, shiny hero and then gush about an anti-hero that’s about as shiny as a broken lightbulb.  So, there is an element of a person not accepting what they really want in their heroes.  I’ve yet to figure out this mentality.

Personally, I want my heroes to have a weakness.  I’m not talking about kryptonite or the color yellow (Green Lantern at one point).  I meant, I like my heroes to have aspects of humanity in them.  They can get mad, get sad, be happy, and have a range of emotions.  I think this is why I have trouble getting behind Batman because I always see him as tortured, which gets old.  To counter this vulnerability, I like my heroes to have a lot of courage and the drive to help others.  Even if they are tossed into an event that they don’t understand, I like it when a hero decides to be the good guy.  It doesn’t have to be at the beginning, but at some point the hero has to acknowledge being a hero.  To go through an entire adventure and continually deny you’re a hero against all evidence rubs me the wrong way.  Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland comes to mind.  By the middle of the film, I was ready to slap Alice because all she did was deny she was ‘The Alice’ in the face of constant evidence.

Power-wise I’m torn.  I enjoy Superman even though I don’t like heroes to be utterly unstoppable.  He might be the exception to my rule because he’s been around so long and he is what he is.  More current heroes that have multiple powers, no weaknesses, and are perfect make me mad.  Eragon came off like this to me.  I believe in fantasy, a character needs some training or a history.  If they don’t have it then they need to make mistakes as they go on their adventure.  For example, Luke Callindor starts his adventure after a lifetime of training.  That’s why he can do what he does.  Darwin Slepsnor gains his sleep magic at the beginning of his story, which is why he works of instinct and causes a heap of trouble.  I need that explanation of why a hero is the best in the room or proof that he or she is not the best in the room.

There are other little facets of heroism that I look for, but they tend to come to mind only when I’m reading.  So, what do other people look for in their heroes?

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Poetry Day: Seven Tastes of Sin Rondelet

Posted on September 4, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Yahoo Image Search

(Yup, I made an 8th one for those special people.  A rondelet is a 7-line poem where the first line is repeated on line 3 and 7.  The refrain lines are usually 4 syllables and the other 4 lines are 8.  These were tough, so I hope I got them right.)

Are you all sins?

Do you have evil in your veins?

Are you all sins?

You live for every dark act.

Never caring what others think.

You only wish to feel a rush.

Are you all sins?

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Revisit: What Do You Want in Female Characters?

Posted on September 3, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

(Originally posted on July 18, 2013.  Don’t think my mindset has changed much.  Though, the one comment about my female villains not being whores kind of changes thanks to Desirae Duvall in War of Nytefall. I do think there has been a shift in regards to female heroes since I made this post.  I’ve been seeing more female heroes who are designed to be perfect or simply . . . men without the naughty bits.  It’s like the uniqueness of writing an evil woman has been replaced by boring, standard ‘evil person’ tendencies.)

One of the big things about Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is the introduction of Nyx and Trinity.  They are the female spellcasters for both sides of the conflict and I think they’re badasses.  Very powerful and very tough while still retaining their femininity.  I’m proud of how they turned out because they are the types of female characters that I love to read.  I will mention that I read mostly fantasy and action, so this is going to be a light combat-skewed.

I think of the Mr. & Mrs. Smith fight scenes when I consider this topic.  Not because of the banter and the flow of it.  Those are good, but I love how there is not a single point where Angelina Jolie’s character felt weak or overpowered.  This was done without making Brad Pitt’s character come off as weak.  They are even in terms of skill, physicality, and determination.  She gives as good as she gets and the movie wasn’t afraid to she her taking a shot.  I think female heroes shouldn’t be treated with kid gloves and should be shown taking a hit.  More importantly, taking a hit and fighting back.  I’m not talking about taking a hit, crying, and then doing a cheap shot.  That makes a female character cunning, but rather weak.

Focusing on the giving part of the equation, I love it when a female character can take out a male character without converting to a masculine version of herself.  Speed, agility, skill, and grace over power and brawn.  Even better if both characters are cunning because that makes either of their victory a lot sweeter.  It’s strange how people still do the weak female character or turn them into a tough, heartless bitch that will inevitably be thawed by the male lead.  I think I threw up a bit on that one.  Give me my Xena’s, Fiona from Burn Notice, and Buffy.  Still moments of sensitivity, but they will happily beat the crap out of someone that crosses them.

The third factor of a female character that makes me enjoy her is the retention of her female mentality while still being a badass.  I’m not talking beating people up while breast-feeding, which is a scene written by someone in college that I shall never cleanse from my mind.  I mean the character can be emotional in a tender, gentle way when the situation calls for it.  She doesn’t get confused when a guy hugs her after she’s killed a band of orcs.  She hugs him back and makes a joke about getting blood on him.  I say this should go for male characters too if you’re aiming for the sensitive hero.  Sensitivity does not equal weak, which is an assumption that has to stop.

Finally, I love my female villains to be smart, but still able to fail and not be whores.  I’ve noticed a trend with many female villains that they are one of two types.  They are either the seductive ho villain or they are so smart and perfect that you can’t believe they’re going to be defeated.  It’s like the writers are either misogynistic (that right?) or are terrified to make a female villain that is as bungling as some of the male villains.  I’m looking at you Gargamel and Skeletor.  I want my female villains to be as realistic as my male villains with the same amount of smarts, evil, confidence, and touch of ineptitude.  That might sound strange, but it makes me enjoy the character even more.

Heck, I like it when my female heroes have the same level of ineptitude of a male hero.

That’s why Nyx is about as flawed as Luke Callindor in terms of personality.  She might not have his ego and recklessness, but she has that nasty temper.

So, I like my female characters to be smart, flawed, able to take a hit, and able to go toe-to-toe with the male characters.  What do you look for in female characters?

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