The villain of my new novel The Rogue And The Rival is named after a boy who broke my heart. (One of the perks of being an author—petty revenge in print). This villain broke my heroine’s heart, too (There the similarities to my own life end). And then, quite ungraciously he makes numerous attempts to prevent her from marrying the hero (but that’s part of the job description, isn’t it?).
I had already done the Villain Of Many Vices in The Heir And The Spare, and I wanted to try something new. With Lord Lucas Frost, I created a character who is crazy in love—emphasis on crazy. Though he truly loves Angela, the heroine, it becomes a dangerous obsession. Add to that a propensity for concocting and enacting outrageous schemes, and you have a man who is going to create some serious problems.
But before Lord Frost went bonkers, he was a charming and handsome young man. He and Angela fell in love quickly and easily. It wasn’t long before everyone was expecting a betrothal announcement. The one they received was not expected—he was already promised to another. Something Angela might have liked to know before she made love to him. But Lord Frost has a plan to ensure they can all live happily-ever-after. Alas! It’s a failure.
There is a duel, the outcome of which devastates the Sullivan family. Angela flees to the safety and security of Stanbrook Abbey (where she eventually meets the hero, Lord Phillip). Frost marries as intended, only to lose his wife in childbirth.
A few years later, Angela and Lord Frost meet again in London. He’s looking for a bride, but she only has eyes for Phillip. Lord Frost just needs a scheme! If he could only get rid of the rogue she’s fallen in love with, he can win Angela’s affections once again. But each of the attempts go awry.
As she and Phillip fall more in love, Lord Frost becomes more deranged and desperate. He has one last evil trap that Phillip and Angela unwittingly walk right into. Think desolate road, a rope, a gun…No, of course I’m not going to say more!
What kind of bad guys (or girls?) do you like to read about? Can you name any particularly memorable villains?
Find out more about Maya Rodale at her website.
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Marisa
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 6:40 am:
HI Maya – so glad you could join us today. Congratulations on THE ROGUE AND THE RIVAL.
Sometimes I wish I was an author so I could feature not only the man who broke my heart but some of the horrible bosses I’ve had over the years. I’d make sure they were incredibly evil and then they would die a painful death at my hands. But not before I wrote an amazing monolgue where I, of course, would have the last word. Did I just say that? Yes, I did. And I think it would be way to fun to write it. I would of course not change the names to protect the innocent.
The villains I like to read about are not the ones that ‘twirl their mustache’ as they foil the damsel in distress. No, the villains I like to read about are the ones that are intelligent, clever and the one I least suspect. The surprise element is always a big wow factor for me.
Gannon
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 7:42 am:
Hi, Maya! I can’t wait to read THE ROGUE AND THE RIVAL. It’s next up for me to read and review. Yay!
That’s a great perk that you can name your villains after guys that have wronged you in the past. I’d be like Marisa and have them die in a truly awful manner.
One villain that comes to mind for me is Captain Jack Randall in OUTLANDER. He was handsome and charming on the outside, but inside was a black heart and no soul. Ugh, I hated him. And for a villainess, one of the worst was Dolores Umbridge in HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted someone to die so much in a book. To me, she ranks right up there with Voldemort on the evil scale.
Stacy ~
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 7:54 am:
Hello Maya! It’s great to have you here. Your books sounds really good and I’m on a total historical kick right now.
Like Marisa, I would love the idea of exacting revenge on someone who did me wrong. I think it would be a fun, easy and safe way to get closure *g*
Gannon, oh yes, I loathed Jack Randall. Cheered when he died, and wanted him to come back to life and die again. Painfully, horribly, excruciatingly slowly.
Yet as much fun as it is to imagine, I guess my favorite kind of villains are the ones that have a bit of a soul. Maybe deep down I just want to reform them, turn them into heroes and heroines. These are the most complex, interesting kind. Of course the truly evil ones are great if you want someone to hate on, and it’s great to see them defeated in the end.
Maya R
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 8:15 am:
Hello Everyone!
Maria, Marisa thanks for having me visit today!
I am not familiar with this Jack Randall fellow, so I think I will have to pick up that book.
Gannon–Dolores Umbridge terrified me like no other villain. Much more scary than Voldemort, I think. Great call.
Hi Stacy! I also like the bad guys that might be reformable. ALERT! I’m about to shamelessly plug my books: Lord Phillip, the hero of Rogue/Rival was the villain of Heir/Spare. Lisa Kleypas’ villain turned hero, St. Vincent, inspired me to attempt the grand reformation of a very bad guy.
And Marisa, I would love to read some of those monologues.
LeAnne
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 8:43 am:
Hi Maya, I actually just picked up The Rogue and the Rival. And after reading The Heir and the Spare I’m very interested to see how Phillip will make this transformation, I can’t imagine how you’ll pull it off, but I’m sure you will. I agree, with you about Kleypas’ St.Vincent. I hated him until he finally fell in love with Evie. Now he’s one of my favorite heroes. So I guess you could say that I like villains with potential. Potential to be the hero.
Stacy ~
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 8:56 am:
Maya, then I just have to read “The Heir and the Spare”. Sounds like my kinda villain
Andrea
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 8:57 am:
Howdy, Maya, and welcome back to RNTV!!! Congratulations on the release of THE ROGUE AND THE RIVAL!! What a great first sentence. I need to pick this one up!
One of the most memorable villains I’ve read recently was in Anne Mallory’s THREE NIGHTS OF SIN, though I can’t write his name because it would be a big spoiler. It was a great twist!
PJ
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 9:06 am:
Hi Maya! The Rogue and the Rival is on my tbr and I’m looking forward to diving into it. It will be interesting to see how you redeem Phillip. He sure wasn’t very likable in The Heir and the Spare!
St. Vincent is also one of my favorite villains turned hero. Two other favorite villains turned hero that I honestly didn’t know how the authors were going to pull off are Christina Dodd’s Adrik from Into the Shadow and Loretta Chase’s Comte d’Esmond, the villain in The Lion’s Daughter and the hero of Captives of the Night.
I like the way LeAnne put it…villains with potential.
Maria Lokken
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 10:19 am:
Hi Maya! Welcome back to RNTV, and congratulations on your latest release.
You know – I wanted to mention that the woman on your new book cover looks a lot like you – was that an accident? Or is that you?
azteclady
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 10:34 am:
Welcome, Maya!
Memorable villains? Actually, very few–probably the one I remember best is from Linda Howard’s All the Queen’s Men (and his name is escaping me right now, rats!) because I kept thinking I would like to see a book about *him*.
Other memorable villain is the one from Nora Roberts’ Blue Smoke. Oh, and the one from Suzanne Brockmann’s Into the Storm Yikes! *shudder*
But generally speaking, I find that most villains tend to become blurry versions of the same old, same old…
Best of luck with the release!
Maya R
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 10:55 am:
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!
Leanne and PJ, I concur: “villains with potential” is a wonderful way to phrase it.
Andrea–I am so intrigued by your suggestion. You can’t type his name because it would be a spoiler?!?! I’m going to be bothered until I read it.
Maria–Thanks for thinking the pretty girl on the cover is me. Alas, it’s not. Though the art director at Berkley said I could be on the cover of one of my books, I never followed up on it. I got all shy and bashful at the thought.
I love hearing everyone’s favorite villains, and I am sooo taking notes and creating a reading list.
pambook
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 11:23 am:
Congrats on the latest release, Maya. I’m normally not a vengenful person but I do have one ex-boss I’d make the villian if I were an author.
Unless the villian is truly evil and/or does something really unforgiveable, I believe in second chances, so I do like seeing the villian of sorts find redemption and become a hero, but he should suffer a bit first, lol. Mary Jo Putney turned her selfish wastrel, alcoholic Reggie to the hero in The Rake (aka The Rake and the Reformer), one of my favorite books. Then there are the antiheros, or assassins like in Anne Stuart’s Black Ice.
Kati
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 11:28 am:
Hi Maya! Congrats on the new release and welcome to RNTV! PJ claimed my favorite villain, Sebastian St. Vincent from Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflower series. I just loved what a scoundrel he was and how hard he fell for his wife. Lovely!
I also *love* Rand Morgan from The Windflower. He’s not a villain per se, so much as a VERY. BAD. MAN. Love him!
It’s lovely to have you here with us today!
Maya R
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 12:09 pm:
Now that I’m thinking about it, one of the most surprising villains I’ve read was in Jacquie D’Allessandro’s book Confessions At Midnight…surprising in that I never suspected who the killer was. Of course, once the identity was revealed it made perfect sense. Love when that happens, because it happens rarely. Sorry I couldn’t say more, but I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who hasn’t read it!
Buffie
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 12:16 pm:
Hey Maya! It is so great to have you with us today. Congrats on the new release. I have heard some wonderful things about it and can’t wait to pick it up.
I have to agree with a few of ladies who have already posted. I love St. Vincent too! Lisa Klepas did a fabulous job with him. I love the fact that he is still a scoudrel while loving his wife. Puts a twinkle in my eye everytime I read that book.
And I have to agree with you too with JacquieD’s villian in CAM.
Did it make you feel good to use the name of an ex in this book? Did you laugh hysterically every time you typed his name? I think I probably woud have
Fedora
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 1:19 pm:
Hi, Maya, Like others have said, I enjoy villains who might be reformable (is that even a word?) but the scariest ones are the twisted ones who can function in the real world but who clearly have otherwise lost their grip on reality. Eeek!
And like Buffie said, I’d find it very amusing to turn an ex into a book villain
orannia
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 2:32 pm:
HI Maya,
I also have to admit to liking villains who are reformable
Sebastian St Vincent….*SIGH*
A friend of mine made a good point about villains – she said that the standard ‘I am evil, hear me roar’ villains weren’t so scary….they were evil and unredeamable. What was terrifying (for her) were those people who wasn’t so much evil as petty and vindictive. Dolores Umbridge was both of those things – very bully-like. Nasty rather than evil. What they could do to make life bad for the hero and heroine (and why) was, for her, scary….because you could follow their rather convoluted logic. They had a reason for it…not just ‘we are evil and therefore will kill you’. The example my friend used was in CL Wilson’s Fey series….the mages are evil but the two characters she most worried over were the Queen and Den Brodson. Jealousy is a very human emotion…
Good luck with the release of The Rogue and the Rival Maya!
Maria Lokken
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 2:40 pm:
Orianna – that’s a good point about evil. I agree with your friend on the CL Wilson books – both the Queen and Den were horrible. But she has written the High Mage as the most evil character I think I’ve ever read – and his evil is such that EVERYONE is afraid. When you know he’s about to come into a scene your skin crawls. I believe true evil is all about the destruction of others.
Karin
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 2:56 pm:
Hi Maya, your book sounds really interesting. Dolores Umbridge is definitely one of the most memorable and creepiest villains out there. She was definitely worse than Lord Voldemort. Other than her, I have a hard time coming up with a memorable villain. However, there is one villain I look forward to hearing more about, and that is Galen, the Keeper of Hope, from Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. The reason I’m looking forward to hearing more about him is that he used to be a friend of the other Lords, who are the heroes of the books. So, I guess that would be one type of villain that really intrigues me – the one you think is your friend but is working behind your back to bring you down.
Maya R
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 3:46 pm:
Just got back from class to find more great comments. Huzzah!
It’s pretty cool to see how much consensus there is on the kind of villains we like! Ones that aren’t pure evil. Ones that could go either way–greatly reform or go off the deep the deep end.
And I dunno about y’all, but I automatically assume villain=male. I then correct myself. After all, the qualities we’re listing aren’t really gender specific. And we seem to find Dolores Umbridge the worst of the worst.
Orannia and Karin, I thought you both had really interesting points.
Now onto the funny stuff…Buffie, Fedora: Yes I did find it amusing to use the ex’s name. I didn’t laugh hysterically every time I typed it, but my friends and I did laugh over it. It was also satisfying to make Lord Frost deranged with desire for the heroine (that part was purely fiction).
Marisa
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 6:39 pm:
You’re right Maya – I think villain and I automatically think male. And villain is not necessarily gender specific. I can’t think of a female villain off the top of my head. I’m going to have to investigate that.
When you create a villain do you have specific character traits in mind?
Buffie
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 6:57 pm:
Whenever I think of a female villian, I always think of Cruella D’Evil. I even tell my kids “don’t turn this into a Cruella moment”. LOL!
Marisa
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 7:07 pm:
LOL Buffie. – I have a women that I’ve been working for and I’ve said to Maria on occasion, “she’s such a Curella”.
Maya R
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 7:49 pm:
Cruella is a classic villain! Being mean to puppies is just WRONG. Buffie, I love that phrase!
Marisa, great question! The answer is yes, no, sort of, I dunno maybe.
Lord Frost became more evil than I had intended because I realized the story needed something a little more powerful. Originally, he starts off as a good guy with bad judgement. Guilt and regret do a number on his sanity. So it evolved.
When creating Lord Phillip, the bad twin in HEIR/SPARE, I definitely gave him every bad trait I could think of: total drunk, excessive gambler, bad kisser, and I claimed he had ruined not one, but four, women. Naturally, he sheds these terrible habits in The Rogue And The Rival.
Marisa
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 10:34 pm:
Maya – We want to thank you so much for spending the day with us! You’ve been terrific. Congratulations on the release of THE ROGUE AND THE RIVAL! We can’t wait to read all about Lord Phillip and how he redeems himself from the debauched bad boy he was in the HEIR AND THE SPARE.
Maya R
on Nov 14th, 2008
@ 5:09 am:
Thank YOU! It was absolutely lovely to chat with y’all!
Caffey
on Nov 15th, 2008
@ 11:04 am:
Hi Maya!! I remember when I had seen your first book on Amazon before it was out and the wait of agony until THE HEIR AND THE SPARE was out! LOL. I adored it and so excited about your new one! You get awesome covers too Maya. It all makes for a beautiful package and hope it brings you more readers when they read your heroes! Again congrats on the release for THE ROGUE AND THE RIVAL! I so can’t wait to get this one!
Often I read a villain but they become the hero in the next book! Some do take a few books to redeem themselves! Sometimes too they are from a dark past they had that made them as bitter as they were and there comes time to forgive/grow after time. I recall that in a Jennifer Ashley pirate historical romance, James Ardmore, that ended up with his own story in THE PIRATE HUNTER. I really think that there were pirates I read that no way I can see them becoming the hero, but with James, I could sense it because I starting feeling sorry for him. I didn’t always excuse how he behaved but I got soft on him!
You know, with contemps, I don’t see as much redeeming, I couldn’t think of one that did over time. Nora Roberts earlier books had a woman named Gloria DeLauter that was a villian over a number of books (Sea Swept, Rising Tides, etc) she was the estranged sister of all the books, and a secret throughout. I could be wrong on the details, its been so long since I read them (I can’t count the years, it was after HS around then, LOL.. … now I want to go back and read again! LOL.
I might not have answered this well but it was fun chatting about it!!
Maya Rodale Blog
on Dec 19th, 2008
@ 8:38 am:
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