Jerrie Alexander: How To Create A Great Villain

Posted by Ruby Johnson

It’s my pleasure to welcome Jerrie Alexander to my blog. The first time I met Jerrie was at a North Texas Romance Writers  monthly meeting. When I asked what she wrote, she  immediately said  romantic suspense. She published her first romantic suspense shortly after that. Since then, she has published four more, her latest Cold Day In Hell is presented here. We would love your comments, so don’t forget to leave one at the end of the post.

Ruby, thank you for having me as your guest today!

A book reviewer (Ms Romantic Reads) said, “You always manage to creep me out with your villains, especially when we get their POV in your stories. Where do you get your inspiration for such vileness?”

I thought it was a great question. In romantic suspense, it’s all about the jeopardy, and believable characters make or break a story. I love the research involved in accurately developing a villain. Before I put words on a page, I have to get to know the killer. Why does he target my hero or heroine? I relish digging into the psychology of a killer’s mind, trying to balance his evil with the romantic side of the story.

Because of today’s technology, information and insight into the killer’s mind is there for the taking. I read files from FBI profilers, medical reports, bought books from Amazon and studied the different patterns of these troubled minds.

I’ve been told I’m at my best when I’m in the killer’s point of view. If that’s true, I believe it’s because I’ve researched properly. Freaks me out sometimes and has given me a nightmare or two, but realism and motivation are important to the story…to the reader…to me.

Ultimately, the reader will make the final analysis. Did I bring my killer to life? Was he sinister and believable? If so, my research paid off.

 BACK COVER BLURB:

Ex-Army Ranger Tyrell Castillo’s first mission for Lost and Found, Inc. goes awry when his contact is kidnapped, and he’s left scrambling for weapons and explosives. He’ll have to blow up a drug cartel’s compound, rescue the woman, and keep her safe while they cross the sweltering hot Colombian jungle.

Driven by the need for revenge, Ana Maria Vega Cisneros doesn’t want to be rescued. She wants revenge. She’ll risk her life to ensure the drug lord who killed her family suffers the same fate.

The cartel leaves a trail of blood on their hunt for Ty and Ana. When Ty receives the order to kill the drug lord with extreme prejudice, he and Ana will face the enemy head on. Can Ty protect the woman who’s hell bent on vengeance? The woman he’s grown to love?

 EXCERPT

Ana Cisneros stood close to the window. Craning her neck to see outside, she was unaware he’d entered the room. With no time for introduction, he reached around and clamped his hand over her mouth.

As expected, he’d startled her. She fought, slinging her body back and forth like a wet dog. She kicked at him, so he whirled her around and jerked her body snug against his.

“Quit struggling. I’m here to help you,” he whispered, trying to sound reassuring. No doubt, with the flames outside casting an eerie glow, he looked like an alien. A man wearing night-vision goggles, geared up with a pistol on his hip and another in a holster strapped to his thigh, and a rifle over his shoulder would scare most anybody. Not to mention the machete sheathed on his back and the SOG knife in his hand. “Do you understand?”

He took the slight movement of her head as a yes and relaxed the pressure off her lips. His reward? She bit his finger and pummeled his ribs with her free fist.

What the hell? The lamb had attacked the lion.

ABOUT JERRIE ALEXANDER:

A student of creative writing in her youth, Jerrie set aside her passion when life presented her with a John Wayne husband, and two wonderful children.  A career in logistics offered her the opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and she revisits them in her romantic suspense novels.

The author of THE GREEN-EYED DOLL, THE LAST EXECUTION, SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, HELL OR HIGH WATER, book 1 in the Lost and Found, Inc. and COLD DAY IN HELL, book two, Jerrie lives in Texas, loves sunshine, children’s laughter, sugar (human and granulated), and researching for her heroes and heroines.

PURCHASE COLD DAY IN HELL

For your Kindle: Amazon.com

Print version: Amazon.com

Social media links:

 Website:http://www.jerriealexander.com 

Blog: http://www.jerriealexander.com/category/blog/

http://www.twitter.com/jerriealexander

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jerrie-Alexander /121521571355959?ref=hl

http://www.goodreads.com/jerriealexander

http://pinterest.com/jerriealexander/