THE
ISLAND by Clarissa Johal
Falling for the Antagonist
by Clarissa Johal
I fall in love with my
antagonists. There, I said it. I have the worst time sending them on their way;
whether it’s back to the Otherworld, or wherever they need to go. From a
creative point of view, the complexities that make up an antagonist are the
most fun to write. I want readers to understand them and why they do what they
do. There’s even small part of me that hopes readers cheer them on.
But therein lies the
challenge.
Many years ago, I
attended a school of performing arts. I studied acting and dance, and always
chose to audition for the role of antagonist. The director of the school tried
to get me to audition for roles of the ingénue, but I wasn’t interested in
those parts. It’s not that I liked being
mean to my fellow actors and dancers, because I didn’t. What I enjoyed, was the
challenge of getting the audience to side with the flawed and/or evil character.
And, so it goes with
writing antagonists. I take great joy in making them as complex as they come. I
fall in love with them. I cross my fingers my readers will love them as much as
I do. Without them, there would be no conflict, no story. And when it comes to
the point where they must be overcome by my protagonists, it takes me weeks to
write that final scene and say good-bye, and I’ll be depressed for just as
long. One of these days, my antagonist will win. I’m not sure how readers
will feel about that, but we’ll see how it goes.
In THE ISLAND, there are
not one, but two antagonists. And they may have met their match in Emma Keller.
THE
ISLAND
by Clarissa Johal
Exploring
a remote island can sometimes get you into trouble.
Especially
when you stumble upon a cave and awaken two demons.
Emma Keller’s estranged grandmother has been missing
for seven years. Emma journeys to her grandmother’s private island with the
task of readying it for sale. Local rumors say it’s cursed, but she dismisses
them as superstition. While there, she unearths a hidden cave, and is visited
by two men soon after. Itu is well-spoken, though he hides his face in shadow.
The other is more of a worry; with skin of alabaster, Thim’s feral presence
sets her on edge. Emma discovers the island has a dark past. The two men aren’t
human, but awakened demons…and they have their sights set on her.
Buy
Links:
Author
Bio:
Clarissa Johal is the author of paranormal novels,
THE ISLAND, VOICES, STRUCK, and BETWEEN. When she’s not listening to the ghosts
in her head, she’s swinging from a trapeze or taking pictures of gargoyles. She
shares her life with her husband, two daughters, and every stray animal that
darkens their doorstep.
*Member of the Horror Writers Association
*Member of the Authors Guild
Find Clarissa Online:
Enter the Rafflecopter to WIN a free ebook of
THE ISLAND (PDF, mobi or ePub) and this bell necklace--similar to the one worn
by the character of Nathanial Dumont.
Contest ends on August 21st. There will be two
winners.
Thank you for hosting me in your blog!
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