I was already excited about Memories of Murder by Yolanda Renee, and now that I've gotten a little more insight into the story in this post, I'm even more excited! Yolanda is writing about a topic that's very important to me...evil. (Bwah ha ha ha ha). Seriously though, I think evil characters are some of the easiest to get wrong, and it's great to hear about the care Yolanda put into creating the evil in her novels.
Murder, Madness & Love will be re-released on August 19, 2013
Memories of Murder will be released on October 4, 2013
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Isn't that the coolest cover? |
I researched evil
before developing the characters in my novels. One such resource was The Writer's Complete Crime Reference Book
by Martin Roth. According to Mr. Roth and recent studies regarding serial
killers, most cases involving a serial killer are the result of cultural or
sociological problems. Mr. Roth went on to describe three types of sociopaths:
The visionary type – hears voices that belong to either God or a demon ordering them
to kill. The second type finds his gratification over exercising power over his
victims, and the third type is pleasure seeker. Mr. Roth goes on to explain
that in the majority of cases the serial killer's primary mission is to act out a
secret fantasy and may involve: cannibalism, torture, mutilation, etc.
For Memories of Murder I
chose the visionary sociopath with a goal. He doesn't hear the voice of a
demon—he believes he is one. My antagonist Lucifer, believes he is evil
incarnate and all because of what his mother told him as a child, as well as
what he witnessed at a very early age.
Murder, Madness & Love
is a mystery until the unveiling of evil and I don't want to give anything
away, but in Memories of Murder the antagonist appears early as his evil
self and there is no need to guess the killer. The character of Lucifer
believes he is the son of Lucifer.
Below is a short story that I wrote to help create my character but is
not included in the book.
** ********** **
The Making of a Monster
“Congratulations,
it’s a boy!”
“I
know. I’ve always known I’d have a son.” Bell declared as she took him from the
nurse and let him rest against her bosom. “You are so beautiful my little one.”
“Do
you have a name picked out?”
“Lucifer
S. Reynard,” Bell said proudly. She pretended not to notice the surprised look
of the doctor and nurses.
“That’s
a…different name. Is it his father’s?” The doctor asked.
“Of
course. Who else would he be named after?”
“Then
that’s the name you want on the birth certificate? The S, what does it stand
for.” The nurse inquired.
“The
S is just an initial, you know like Harry S. Truman.” She leaned back against
the pillow and cuddled her tiny bundle. Bell was nineteen and a prostitute, had
been since the age of twelve after running away from her foster parents. This
was her first pregnancy. It was a planned pregnancy.
“Mommies little
monster,” she whispered. “We know your daddy don’t we. The S stands for Samael,
but they don’t need to know that. In time, though, they’ll know it. In time,
all in good time,” she smiled and relaxed in her happiness.
“Do
you want him circumcised?”
“No.
It’s not necessary.”
“Have
you considered the hygiene factor? We've done a number of circumcisions on
older children because of a lack of cleanliness.”
Bell
sneered. “My Lucii will not be cut for any reason!” The tone of her voice
shocked them all. “It’s barbarian and unnatural, and it’s my decision.”
Her
outburst stopped them in their tracks. Silence followed and a harsh tension
permeated the room. They observed her carefully, but relaxed when they noticed
that she was happily feeding her tiny son.
Do
you want me to have a member of the La Leche League drop by to see you?” the
nurse asked.
“Why,
doesn’t it look like I know what I’m doing? Just clean him up, and let me get a
shower. I plan to go home today. I can’t afford to lie around a hospital.”
Bell
had a Black Sabbath to attend. Tonight she would give her child to the cause.
She would present him to the priests and he would be marked as the one. The
celebration would go on for three days and adoration and respect would be hers.
** ********** **
Learn more about Renee and her books following these
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ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon, for hosting me today.
DeleteAppreciate the promotion!
Hello Sharon. Hello Yolanda. I loved the short story, love the cover. I can't wait for your first book to come out Yolanda. Not long to go now!
ReplyDeleteIt was scheduled for the 5th and just got changed to the 19th, but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
DeleteThanks for stopping by Denise!
Wow, that's a powerfully disturbing origin of a villain tale! Nicely done, Yolanda!
ReplyDeleteSome Dark Romantic
Thanks Mina, evil gets its beginnings somewhere, and I had a clear picture of this villain from birth.
Delete