V is for VILLAIN!
Apr 29th 2008
Karen RoseOn Writing!
I love villains. I love them mean and smart and sometimes just plain crazy. They scare you and make you wonder if they will indeed win. A good villain makes you look over your shoulder, makes you wonder about the Ned-Flanders-esque guy that lives next door. Could he really be that nice? What about all that banging you hear from his basement? He says he’s hanging shelves - but is he really?
Memorable villains - Jack the Ripper, Mr. Hyde, Dracula … Bad, bad, bad! Most of these guys work alone - but what about the villains who partner up? Bonnie and Clyde, the James gang, Leopold and Loeb. I always wondered if they really thought this through before deciding to take a partner - what if one folded, told the story, turned them in?
Ben Franklin said, “Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” In my upcoming release, SCREAM FOR ME, I played with that very premise. 
What would happen if a group committed a crime together and devised some way of keeping everyone quiet? If one told, they all went down. And what if those people were forced to live amongst each other, in a very small town? They’d watch one another as the years passed, and wonder, and seethe and mistrust.
Add to that a very hunky hero, Daniel, and a strong, capable, smart, feisty heroine, Alex, (I liked her!) and the noose tightens until the nightmare makers are forced to do something to make it all stop. SCREAM FOR ME is released on May 13 - that’s just 2 weeks! And it will be excerpted in Cosmo as July’s RED HOT READ! And check out the BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2I3CJ8rvq8 - but be sure you’re in a place where the screams won’t bother anyone!
So who is your favorite villain - and why? Did they work alone? Did they have a partner? Are you planning to SCREAM FOR ME?
40 Comments »
Ellen on 30 Apr 2008 at 7:08 am #
Great trailer
Ellen on 30 Apr 2008 at 7:11 am #
I was terrified with the two characters from “In Cold Blood.” You never knew which one actually shot that poor family to death and Capote portrayed them in such a way as to actually show the tender side of them. It was emotionally terrifying to view such horrific murderers as human beings.
Ellen on 30 Apr 2008 at 7:16 am #
OMG. I just remembered. Your villian in “Nothing to Fear” scared me to death.
elsiehogarth on 30 Apr 2008 at 7:50 am #
I just love Dracula. He may work alone but he has “minions” that really don’t last very long. I also love Professor Moriarity, from Sherlock Holmes, because he was Sherlock’s equal only in an evil way kind of way.
Karen Rose on 30 Apr 2008 at 7:55 am #
Thanks Ellen! I love the trailer - it’s so scary. And the live part was specially filmed for the trailer. Just a few seconds, but I think it’s very well done! (I’m not patting myself on the back here = the producer and my publicist did it all.)
Elsie - I recently saw a modern version of Sherlock Holmes that had a very interesting take on the detective and Moriarty. I won’t give it away because it’s REALLY good. Did you see that? Give your sister and niece huge hugs from me!
KariE on 30 Apr 2008 at 8:05 am #
The Wicked Witch from the West from The Wizard of Oz always got to me when I was younger. That laugh. Creeeeppppyyyyy. Who laughs like that?
And the monkey men. *shudder*
Since I don’t watch a lot of scary/suspensful movies no big bad villian has left it’s mark on my like the Wicked Witch.
As far as villians in books, oh there are so many. There is nothing better than the author creating a character so bad and menacing that you just can’t forget them. (That is why I love reading so much, you get so much more insight into the persons thoughts and feelings vs. just seeing them acting on a screen. Know what I mean?)
Oh you can bet that I will be SREAMing FOR YOU!! I can’t wait.
doglady on 30 Apr 2008 at 8:29 am #
I scream for you every time I read one of your books. I am so dumb I read them at night and I live in the middle of nowhere. Alone! I have read almost everything there is on Jack the Ripper and Dracula. Gotta say Hannibal Lechter still gives me the willies. I have to agree with Ellen that the guys in In Cold Blood scare me to death because he shows them as so human. That is the scariest. We expect villains to be ugly or inhuman and when they end up being just like us, at least on the surface, that is the most frightening thing of all. My dh was a prison psychiatrist and I typed most of his notes. There are some truly evil people on the planet masquerading as human beings.
elsiehogarth on 30 Apr 2008 at 8:54 am #
Karen, I did see the Sherlock Holmes you mentioned and I liked it. Jeremy Brett is my favorite BBC Sherlock. I have all those DVD box sets. But I have to say that Basil Rathbone will always be my all time favorite Sherlock.
Laurie and Julianna say hello and send their love.
Sabrina Jeffries on 30 Apr 2008 at 9:04 am #
Great trailer, Karen!! Can’t wait for the book.
I’d never heard of Leopold and Loeb until your post, so I went and looked them up on Wikipedia. Holy *&^%! What a strange story.
My favorite villain bar none is Hannibal Lecter, because he’s so deliciously complicated. I also love Sir Guy of Gisborne, but not so much for his villainy as his hotness, so I guess that doesn’t count. And the other hot villain I love, also the best villain on Charmed ever, was Zankou. Oded Fehr–yum!!!
RachelG on 30 Apr 2008 at 9:20 am #
I love a good villain. I think Thomas Harris creates the best baddies. I think they’re so scary because they each have at least one redeeming quality that makes them feel real. Even Buffalo Bill loves his dog Precious.
rachelg
Freshechelle on 30 Apr 2008 at 9:48 am #
Yes, Karen, am I planning on buying your book on May 13. Rachel’s too on May 27(?). Trying to decide if they’re vacation books. Maybe not because they’re sure to be keepers and vacation books must to be left behind. That’s the rule of the weary traveler.
Villians? I love the subtle villians like Charles Boyer in Gaslight and Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca. Of course, as you mentioned, Ned “hidillyho neighborino” Flanders who is so good he surely has heretics hidden in the crawl space.
Your villians, KR, are fiercely sick. The horror of their acts distorts my face while reading your books. Entertaining for the other bus riders I’m sure.
I agree with Sabrina on the Guy thing for the same reason (thanks for getting me hooked on the RH series) but he can be more a minion at time than the puppet master. Doesn’t make him any less pretty.
SuzyQ on 30 Apr 2008 at 9:49 am #
doglady - I’m with ya on Hannibal Lecter. He was very intelligent and you could have interacted with him without even knowing the evil that lurked beneath. Very scary!
And I am going to take some pointers from Kim and brag a little. I already have Scream for Me!!!! Whoo Hoo!!!
Claudia Dain on 30 Apr 2008 at 9:50 am #
What a great post! In trying to answer this, I realized that I don’t remember villains. I only remember if they don’t work or failed to scare me or give the hero something worthy to fight against. I never knew that about myself! I wonder why “great” villains don’t make a lasting impression on me?
I love the video! I can’t wait to read Scream For Me!
Tracy Wolff on 30 Apr 2008 at 10:21 am #
I love villains! They’re often my favorite part of a book– the only thing I like more are anti-heroes– I had a crush on Holden Caulfield all through high school. Something about those oh so very bad boys . . .
Paula on 30 Apr 2008 at 10:35 am #
I also think Hannibal Lecter was a ‘brillant’ villian.
Karen I love your books and when I finally get Scream For Me I probably will Scream for You!!
Kay on 30 Apr 2008 at 11:06 am #
Villains — love to hate them! I have to say, the villain in SCREAM FOR ME is fantastic!
Yes, ladies, I have had the pleasure of reading this wonderful, scary, exciting, sexy, fabulous book!
You are all going to love it, too. Daniel and Alex have amazing chemistry. I won’t say any more, because I don’t want to ruin it for you.
Great video, KarenR. I love the live action part. I’m thrilled that a goddess’s book will be featured in COSMO. Scary and sexy–what a great combination.
kendra on 30 Apr 2008 at 11:15 am #
I love villains. Karen, you do a lovely job with them. Is lovely the right word? Great internal GMCs. I think that’s crucial for creating a villain that strikes a chord with readers. I just finished your previous book (saved it for Maui beach reading) and the villainess was truly “fiercely sick” as freshechelle so perfectly phrased it.
My worst villain would be Ted Bundy in Ann Rule’s book. I read it before bed and terrified my husband out by lunging out of bed while screaming in my sleep. I have no memory of doing this. I woke up across the room, on the floor, and could hear the echoes of my screams reverberating off the walls.
Very strange. I read tons of suspense and thrillers. I donated that book to the used book library.
Margaret Garland on 30 Apr 2008 at 11:43 am #
I think the guys from “In Cold Blood”, Ted Bundy and their il are so scary because they were real people. Truman Capote was a brilliant author who was clever in showing the human side of the ICB killers.
In fiction, I used to love any of the James Bond villains. They were so deliciously evil and had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I’m thinking Goldfinger and his minion, Oddjob, here. What fun they were.
The older I get, the harder it is for me to read scary books. I’ve had Beverly Barton’s “The Murder Game” in my TBR pile for 2 months and still haven’t read it! It’s prequel “The Dying Game” scared the behoosis out of me! I may have to read “Scream for Me” in the midst of my large family while on family vacation this summer, Karen.
I can’t think of a villain I would call a favorite. The Wicked Witch?
Suzanne Enoch on 30 Apr 2008 at 12:42 pm #
I’d have to say my favorite villain is…Darth Vader. (Big surprise, right?)
Oh, and Khan from Star Trek. I like villains who have a reason for being bad, and who can quote from classic literature. *g*
Karen Rose on 30 Apr 2008 at 12:44 pm #
Oooh, good villains everyone!
I loved the villain in Primal Fear. So very evil and so very smug. And the best liar. Terrifying.
The best villains do have a weakness or vulnerabilty. Too evil can result in a cartoony character.
Fresh, I loved Boyer in Gaslight! Very subtle, very evil.
Elsie - Jeremy Brett will always be Sherlock for me. I miss him.
Tracy, who is Holden Caulfield?
Kendra, I think I would have donated teh book as well! Your husband must have been scared by your screams, chuckle…
Karen Rose on 30 Apr 2008 at 12:45 pm #
Susie, I love Khan! KIRRRRK!!! KHAaAAAN!!! That’s my favorite ST movie.
Karen Rose on 30 Apr 2008 at 12:46 pm #
Thanks, Kay! So now you can taunt everyone with the ARC like the evil Handmaiden Kim did on Monday with Brenda’s ARC.
Karen Hawkins on 30 Apr 2008 at 12:50 pm #
AHHHHHH, Karen, what a GREAT trailer! Made me shiver!
I love the villains Alan Rickman plays — in the first Die Hard and as the deliciously evil Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood. He is just YUMMY!
Kay on 30 Apr 2008 at 1:07 pm #
Taunt, taunt.
Honestly, this is a great book. Just remember to pick it up when you don’t plan on getting any sleep. It sucks you in and you forget about everything around you.–Except for the strange sound from the basement/garage/attic at 3 am. LOL Those sound LOUDER when your reading this book.
Leave plenty of lights on!
Ellen on 30 Apr 2008 at 1:41 pm #
Prison Wardens can be very scary for me. The ones in “Cool Hand Luke” and “Shawshank Redemption” really creeped me out. I think the scariest human beings are the one’s who spew bible passages while performing evil acts.
Ellen on 30 Apr 2008 at 1:46 pm #
Karen…remember that scene in one of your books where the sweet girl had just slept with the villian and was feeling so happy to be in love. Then she found the picture of her abused friend’s son in his pocket.
That messed me up, girl! I watched that whole scene in my mind and felt like screaming out a warning to that girl. It broke my heart knowing she had no idea the danger she was in. And then when she figured it out…too late…
SHUUUUH DERRRRR
Kim on 30 Apr 2008 at 2:15 pm #
Awesome trailer, Karen!
Okay, Simon from Die For Me TOTALLY freaked me out. He was a sicko and I didn’t think anyone could freak me out more. Until I read Scream For Me. The twists and turns. OMG! And poor Alex. She’s an awesome heroine. I loved her, Karen, and was totally rooting for her.
Yes, I’m taunting. Again. *g*
K-Rock–totally agree with you on Edward Norton in Primal Fear. That’s one of my favorite movies and the end still gets me everytime.
Anyone watch Boondock Saints? Now there are some villians you can root for. LOL
Karen Rose on 30 Apr 2008 at 3:29 pm #
Ellen, the girl was Evie Wilson and the villain was Rob Winters. Evie got the business in that book, then again in NOTHING TO FEAR. Don’t be surprised if Evie comes back again … soon.
Karen Rose on 30 Apr 2008 at 3:35 pm #
Thanks Kim! Now you can taunt for me LOL.Yeah, I think Alex doesn’t need to worry anymore about not being dynamic and interesting.
Judy F on 30 Apr 2008 at 4:03 pm #
I have been waiting for this book forever. LOL
Your villians give me chills. I hope to catch the trailer over my sisters sometime. Dial up bites.
Yasmin on 30 Apr 2008 at 5:51 pm #
The monster from Jeepers Creepers gets me everytime and the psycho old man from Saw.
Yasmin on 30 Apr 2008 at 6:05 pm #
Have you guys ever had someone you just did feel right about? I have this man come to check in every couple weeks and he just creeps me out everytime. There is just something. He is absolutely polite. He is all please and thank you about it. He has this intense look about him. I am very friendly with regulars as you get to know them. I dont anything about him except that he is a doctor and only that because on his cc it saids it.
PJane1031 on 30 Apr 2008 at 6:28 pm #
Hmmm, I’m not really sure. . . . .some of the ones others folks have mentioned are pretty good. . . . the only one I can think of right now is Simon Tremaine, Duke of Foxmoor from Sabrina. When I first encountered him in the Royal Brotherhood series, I would say that he qualified as a ‘villain’ (or at least a very flawed character), but it was so nice to see the turn around with Louisa’s story with him. . . .so maybe a redeemable villain is my favorite. . . . otherwise I LOVE the villains in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series (and of course our own K-Rose is a no-brainer there!!)
I’m excited to get SCREAM FOR ME. With the exception of the anthology, I’ll then have all of K-Rose books–and most of them are signed copies–I think I must have been at the bookstore after a signing, so I really lucked out there!!
And if it wasn’t for TGB, I would have never discovered all of my new favorite authors!!!
Kay on 30 Apr 2008 at 6:35 pm #
Ooooohh, Yasmin, there are a couple of people who make my skin crawl, too. I can’t explain it, either. Trust your instincts and stay safe. NO PERSONAL INFORMATION, not even something that seems harmless. You can be polite and safe at the same time.
There was one guy in a writing class that I recently took who set off the alarms. He collected everyone’s email during the last class. I gave him a yahoo account I don’t use anymore. I couldn’t bring myself to even give him my email address. I was vague about which suburb I live in (south of the city) you get the idea.
I prefer my villains safely contained between two book covers, thank you.
BTW, he will someday show up in a book, the guy is just too strange not to mine for material.
Lorena on 30 Apr 2008 at 6:38 pm #
I can’t WAIT for SCREAM FOR ME to be out! I’d say I’m counting down the days, except I’m also moving that week and will have to buy it AFTER the move or I won’t get anything done.
KarenR, you have the best villains. Especially Sue. Especially Simon. Especially Rob. Especially Owen (talk about Ned Flanders next door!) …oh, dear. I seem to be on a first name basis with your bad guys. That’s probably something I should be seen for.
I liked the villain in the movie Copycat, just because he was soooooo twisted. I much prefer twisted villains to the ones authors try to make you feel sorry for. And I REALLY prefer them to be fictional!
Lorena
Freshechelle on 30 Apr 2008 at 6:39 pm #
KR, I just can’t leave a question unanswered so…. Holden Caulfield is the main character in Catcher in the Rye. I don’t remember anything from that book except someone had Mark Cross luggage.
Lorena on 30 Apr 2008 at 6:43 pm #
I met a con-man once–a really, truly, made a living at it con-man. And it was interesting to watch him work — long story, but there was a reason he was around for a few weeks — and just … watch him. He was fascinating, the things he’d do to try to get you to buddy up to him. I don’t know if he lied so much it was an instinct, or if he did it consciously, but if you were talking to him, anything personal you said, like an opinion you had, a few minutes later, he was saying it as though it was a factor in his life. I’m STILL trying to figure out how to get him into a book, though, because he was just too good to be true.
On the other hand I’ve also met people who give off those predator vibes, and I just get as far away from them as possible.
PJane1031 on 30 Apr 2008 at 7:56 pm #
Ooh! I just thought of another one I liked: Robin Williams character in One Hour Photo. . . . talk about creepy!!!!
TinaLouiseF on 30 Apr 2008 at 8:06 pm #
I agree that Alan Rickman does really well as a villian.
Nicole Jordan on 30 Apr 2008 at 10:43 pm #
Love the trailer, Karen! And love Moriarity and Alan Rickman as villains.
Can’t wait for the book!!