Okay, lol…we didn’t have a guest blogger for today, so we invited Leslie’s alter ego, Leslie Parrish to visit. Same writer, but she’s not here to talk about frogs, or annoying people on airplanes or anything light and funny. Because darker books can sometimes equal a darker way of writing…and even a different press picture. 
Hearing Voices
I’ve been a writer for a number of years, and I’ve often (laughingly) joked about always hearing voices in my head. As, I think, do most writers.
For instance–I’ll be driving down the highway, paying attention, being careful, when a conversation starts between two people I’ve never met. And suddenly, 10 miles have gone by, I’ve missed my exit, and I’m wondering how on earth I got from point A to point B. Obviously, it’s because I was distracted by those crazy people playing out a scene in my mind.
But I never minded, not really. Because the voices belonged to people I loved—sexy, flirtatious guys, brazen women. They were having fun conversations, verbal seductions, using snippets of sparkling dialogue that I could hardly wait to plug into my work in progress. This is actually tres cool, when I’m on a deadline and just can’t force the words to come, I become not as much a writer as a stenographer, just taking down things as they happen. Those are the best writing days, when I don’t have to analyze it too much.
Even when writing bigger single title contemporary novels, the characters who “spoke” to me were still the hero & heroine. Nobody else.
But ever since I made a big career switch a year and a half ago, and started writing dark romantic thrillers, I’ve been hearing other voices in my head…voices that aren’t very nice. As I’ve delved deeper into this dark and dangerous world of FBI agents and ruthless killers, I’m hearing the voices and thoughts of dark and dangerous characters.
The villains.
I read a lot of thrillers, horror and suspense, and I’m always fascinated by the villain’s POV, so there was no doubt that I would write my books that way. And frankly, without bragging, I’ve discovered I’m pretty good at it. (Maybe a little too good—I’m sure Bruce preferred coming home to the woman listening to a cute waitress/bartender with a hunky writer rather than the one who has spent the day in the head of a psychotic serial killer.) I think that layer of darkness has enriched my books, given them a level of depth I couldn’t possibly have achieved without presenting the bad guy’s view of the world.
You might have heard the saying—every villain is the hero of his own story. I believe it. Which means, as a writer, I have to totally understand where this person is coming from, why they do what they do, otherwise I’ll end up with someone cardboard and unrealistic, or some unrealized devil character who is composed of nothing but evil without any recognizable human substance or motivation.
For instance, I could not possibly have shown the truly twisted drives and motivations of a monster called the Reaper, in my July book FADE TO BLACK, without showing the world (a cyber playground for deviants) totally through his perspective. Showing what it means to him, how he feels about it, and why the pleasure it gives him is enough to drive him to do the things he does:
He enters the playground through the south gate.
The unnatural colors are familiar, welcoming. The eerie, gray-streaked blue sky casts a perennial storm cloud over the preternaturally cheerful spot. The grass is too green. The sun too yellow. The images too surreal, at odd angles, with abnormal curves and sharp edges.
It’s Dali’s version of Sesame Street.
Only if you look closely can you see the writhing forms of anguished souls carved into the base of the tree holding the tire swing. At first glance, the yawning opening at the bottom of the sliding board, which falls away into a pit of flame and torture, appears to be only a shadow. The metal rings hanging from a jungle gym seem simple gymnastic playthings–until you notice the screaming man hanging from them, begging for mercy as a fire is lit beneath his feet.
Peace washes over him. Happiness fills him from his core to the tips of his fingers and the very ends of each strand of hair on his body.
Ahead of him, the morning crowd is thick and buoyant as the weekend begins and earthly work-week identities fall away. Possibilities abound, excitement ignites the air. Convention and morality and mundane laws simply do not exist in this world. Nothing is taboo, nothing sacred.
No one ever says no. No desire is too dark to fulfill.
Here is a woman being beaten by a long, spiked whip. There a man is led around on a leash like a dog. A crowd encircles a duo taking turns raping the brunette they have pinned to the ground.
And a tall, skeletally thin man draped in expensive clothes takes yet another child by the hand and leads him through an elaborate gate marked Private.
Then, at last, they notice his arrival. All fall silent. Watching him. Waiting for him. They part like the sea spreading for some biblical being.
As they should. This is his kingdom and he stalks it like an all-powerful, all-seeing deity. Death ravaging the earth with every step he takes.
His black cape ruffles in the breeze, casting a long shadow of dread across the landscape. His scythe, sharp and vicious, swings side to side as he cuts a path toward his destination, everyone backing out of his way, bowing to him, whispering words of love and praise and adoration.
He doesn’t love back. In this world. In any world.
But he is fond of them, as a God is fond of his worshippers. He bestows benevolence upon them, emerging from his dark fortress every so often so they may bow at his feet. He occasionally allows them the privilege of touching his robe, of getting close enough to death that they will experience endless nightmares.
The power invigorates him. He needs no sleep. No sustenance. Just this.
He reaches the marquee for the theater. Swiping his gloved hand across it, he erases the mundane titles promising sexual delights for those who enter.
He replaces it with words of his own:
Coming Soon…
Beheaded.
And the crowd erupts.
How could I ever have related that—the twisted view of the world as seen through this person’s eyes—without actually letting the reader see it for herself? No matter how much my hero & heroine talk about the case, they can’t possibly convey anything resembling the above because the normal mind just doesn’t work that way, isn’t wired to see beauty in such dark and ugly things. But this guy is. Seeing the way he thinks is key to understanding the things he does.
It’s not an easy part of the job, and it’s not at all a pretty one. And sometimes, it just doesn’t work. For instance, in the third book, BLACK AT HEART, I wrote a long scene from the point of view of a murder victim. It was brutal and frightening and effective. In just about any other case, it would have been a good kick-off for the book. The only problem is, the victim, himself, was not in any way, shape or form a nice guy. In fact, he was a pedophile showing up for what he thought was a night of anonymous child swapping.
Getting into his head so I could show the terror of the crime being committed against him meant I had to get into his head for all the rest. What drove him there, his excitement, his nervousness, his self-justifications. I was able to write all that (though it took a while and was very difficult) because, in the end, what this guy had coming to him was brutal enough to make me okay with it.
But it wasn’t okay with my editor. She read the scene and asked me to cut it. Because getting into the head of a pedophile was one place she never—ever—wanted to go as a reader. She didn’t think other romantic-suspense readers would, either. I understood, because getting into his head was something I never imagined myself doing as a writer and while effective, it was definitely not nice. So I did as she asked.
That doesn’t mean I think the scene is worthless or that it wouldn’t lend something to the story. In fact, I’ve saved it and intend to post it on my Leslie Parrish blog once I get it up and running. I also intend to do blog entries from the points of view of other dark characters in the books–specifically as a writing exercise. Because even if the scenes are too much to include in the books, writing them has probably been the best character research I could do. Getting into these deviant minds makes the villains come alive for me, and, hopefully, will bring them to life on the page. And a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional villain is one of the very best parts of any good suspense novel.
But I must say, going there is hard and draining, and it makes those light, flirty, sexy conversations between a long-lost princess and a half-werewolf ever so much more fun to write in between. 
If you’d like to learn more about my upcoming Leslie Parrish books, please visit my website: www.authorleslieparrish.com
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
3 Seductions and a Wedding
COLD SIGHT
Kiss Me If You Can
Wild For Him
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Julie – this book series sounds so exciting, can’t wait to read them starting in July! Thanks for sharing about getting into the mind of your characters and I laughed thinking about your husband preferring the cute waitress bartender and hunky writer to the serial killer
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Whoa! That excerpt is positively chilling to say the least. Yikes! Can’t wait to discover the “why” behind this villain.
Have a great Saturday all,
Cher
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Definately looking forward to this new series. I always wonder what makes people tick, especially those who are not walking the same path as most of society. Like the guy in Binghamton yesterday. I have spent a lot of time there over the years and it’s not that far away now. I never expected something like that to happen there of all place (here, it wouldn’t surprise me) and wonder what drove him to it. I am always interested in finding out the why’s and what’s of something like this.
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I know what you mean about those dark places, Leslie! I have one of those books hanging out there (for over ten years now). Every time I get into the mind of the villain, I want to scrub with bleach and a wire brush. If I ever finish the dang thing, I’m not sure there’s a market for it — a horror-paranormal with romantic elements.
That said, I CAN’T WAIT to read these books! And I definitely want to read that cut scene. While the minds of villains can be dark and chilling, poking around in the shadows is infinitely interesting.
It seems like just yesterday you were announcing “Leslie Parrish” and I joined MySpace to friend you.
And here it is almost time for the release of the first book! I can’t wait! I intend to plow through the bulk of my TBR pile so I can put FADE TO BLACK right there at the top of the pile! 
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Hello Leslie,
I like the idea of authors writing from the POV of the murderer, rapist, child molester, etc. It can be creepy but yet in a way informative. Do we really know what is going on inside their heads? We can assume what they tell us is true. But, is it?
Can’t wait til these books come out. Have a great day.
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Hi Leslie
I love the concept of writing from the villains pov…it just adds so much depth to the story that you otherwise wouldn’t get. I haven’t ventured too much into the suspense/thriller genre, but I’m thinking I’m going to enjoy this darker side. I’m used to fun and flirty romances, but I’m also interested in discovering the passion evoked from a more dangerous setting. I can’t wait!
Happy Sunday!
<3 J
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Welcome Leslie Parrish!!
This is somewhat timely for me because I’ve been kicking around an idea for a mystery for a while now. I’ve been doing a ton of research for it lately and am actually trying to put together an outline.
One of the things I’ve really considered was if I needed to include the villain’s POV.
I agree it makes the story stronger and that character more real – and terrifying. But I’m really holding myself back from “going there.” I know, if I want to create a believable character with depth, I’m going to have to get into their mind. But like Ev said, I just don’t think that way – Thank God!! And it’s terrifying in itself to step into that characters shoes to see what motivates them.
You did a great job with that scene above, btw. And I’m still trying to strap on enough courage to read these books!! Maybe by the time they’re released, I’ll have a thick enough coating.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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Thanks all! I know this isn’t what you usually expect to read from me…lol…but thought it was an interesting part of the writing process to discuss. Actually, writing scenes from different points of view is a really good writing exercise no matter what you’re writing. Even if it doesn’t end up in a book, seeing the same situation through the eyes of another person can really deepen your perspective, as an author. I highly recommend it!
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Actually, I had never heard that “every villain is the hero of his own story” but what an important concept for every writer to remember — particularly right now, when a “protagonist friend of mine” is unexpectedly revealing herself to be quite the wench.
And what a setting: A cyber playground for deviants, where “No one ever says no. No desire is too dark to fulfill.” This sounds a bit like Vegas, although the imagery you drew with words was much more chilling.
I’m looking forward to reading more plotmonkeys and my first Leslie Parrish book!
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This series sounds so good! Can’t wait til July.
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I personally dream about scenes yet to be written. I will wait to write them down because I will dream the same scene for days with more defined detail each time. Then when I can’t stand not to write it down I put it to paper. Sometimes I will think of these scenes as I drift off and come up with dialoge. I keep a notebook around and find myself jotting things down to use later as I write. What can I say it works for me!
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Leslie, I’m so excited about your new books! Can’t wait to read Fade to Black when it comes out in July.
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That is quite a scene to digest! I am looking forward to these books but I have to say I can’t handle to much “dark”. While I think you are probably doing a great job with these books I do hope you are not giving up your lighter Leslie Kelly side, I love your humor.
After reading the excerpt of your book!!
Hope you have had a good day.
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Hey Les, you already know how I feel about your work….I already have these on order and I can’t wait until it finally comes in the mail…the content is definitely a scary thing, but I am interested in seeing this side of your work…the excerpts that I read on your alter ego’s site were awesome…they definitely sucked me in…I couldn’t stop reading and wanted more when I couldn’t read anymore…wonderful choices for excerpts by the way…I wish you luck with this series as well…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Cheri Renee–thanks so much for visiting! I guess you saw my “Tweet”? lol! (Be sure to go back a few days in the archive here and you’ll see how horrible our trip back from Vegas was!)
And for those of you who are wondering, no, these books don’t mean an end to my lighter Leslie Kelly stuff. I’m still happily writing novellas and Blazes for Harlequin.
And, actually, believe it or not–despite a few scenes like the above one in the new books, they are really very romantic, very strong relationship books. Dark, but definitely not unrelentingly so, by any means, and not as dark as some other very popular romantic thrillers out there. I don’t think it would be possible for me to write a book without any lightness/flirtation/humor at all. Probably Black At Heart (the 3rd book in the series) comes the closest. The other two definitely have moments when you read it and you think “Oh, Leslie KELLY wrote this!”
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this book sounds soooo good I can hardly wait to get it
Donna :eastereggs:
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sounds so good congrats
:eastereggs:
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Your Black series were wonderful. I’ve read all of them. Didn’t your mother warn you about hearing voices? Are you planing on writing anymore of the thrillers, I hope? It was quite a change from the usual Romance you write.
:bigxmas: