Meet another winner of the
IWSG Anthology
Parallels: Felix Was Here
Crystal Collier
***
5 Reasons NOT to Be a Psychopath
IWSG Anthology
Parallels: Felix Was Here
Crystal Collier
***
5 Reasons NOT to Be a Psychopath
I don't normally write about psychopaths. (And why not?--you might ask. They're so fun!) Quite frankly, it's because I don't want to be mistaken as one, but sometimes they write themselves like in THE MIRROR PEOPLE. My research for this story led me to believe:
5. Psychopaths suck. Let's face it. Turns out the business world is full of them--cut-throats who think there's nothing wrong with breaking a man's spine to climb the company ladder. (Proverbially or literally.) It's been tested and proven that they are cut out for managerial work.
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3. Empathy--what's that? Not only can't they experience/understand fear, they also find it easy to flip that inner switch and cut off all emotion. You know, everything that makes you human? (I suppose that's why they make such great antagonists.)
2. They populate prisons in abundance. You read that right. I have no desire to be in prison. Do you?
1. The FBI will find you. I admit, if the FBI came looking at my browsing history, I might be in a tight spot. But like Jak in THE MIRROR PEOPLE, once they find you, they won't bury you. No sir. They'll offer you a fat paycheck, stick a gun in your hands, and send you to work. Let's face it, who wants to rely on government benefits? No thank you.
Despite all that, psychopaths are a blast to write, even if you don't want to be one--just like it's fun to read about prehistoric times but living with Dinosaurs would be downright awful. (That's a discussion for another day.)
Coming May 3, 2016
Preorder HERE
PARALLELS: FELIX WAS HERE!
The Mirror People
The point is, it’s my job to look into his eyes, day after day, unable to raise the alarm or warn his victims—like the middle aged woman he’s just finished off—because I inhabit the world on the other side of the mirror.
I’m Jak Ralston’s reverse identity, also known as Jak Ralston. His prisoner.
He wipes his blade clean having already sheared off his trophy, a finger, and turns away from the mirror to the mess of a hotel room. I relax. My shoulders ache from the tension. He is always intense. Always serious. Always angry. But not the explosive kind of angry, the cool, I’m-going-to-rip-your-eyeballs-out-in-your-sleep kind of angry (while he tells you how lovely you look in gray). He’s calculating. Terrifying.
I stand on the other side of the mirror, mimicking his movements like my life depends on it, because it does. Mr. Murder is my twid (twin identity), me in another realm, and if I break from being his reflection while anyone is watching (including him), we’ll both keel over and die. No matter how much I despise him, I’m not ready to die—like Susan, the mirror woman he’s just murdered in my realm. Facing her now, it’s all I can do not to slam my fists into the mirror and scream, but destroying myself won’t bring her back...
Coming May 3, 2016
Preorder HERE
Thanks, Crystal!
Congratulations!
Who is your favorite psychopath in literature or TV?
16 comments:
The Sociopath Next Door is a good read when it comes to study sociopathy. And I've never been so happy to have an insane sense of smell. Sometimes it's the bane of my existence, but at least I'm not a psychopath!
Poor sense of smell? Crap, that's me. Promise I'm not a psychopath...
The Mirror People was a great story.
I enjoyed The Mirror People very much! The horror of having to see everything horrific a psychopath does would be torture. My search history probably makes me look like a psycho too, but I think that's common for writers. You're not alone there.
Right? Something to be grateful for. That sounds like a fascinating read.
But Alex, they seem just like everyone else. ;) (Thanks!)
Thanks! So basically, when the FBI drags me in I'll see at least one familiar face, eh? ;)
I can't wait to read The Mirror People. I've been chomping at the bit since first reading about it on your blog. Interesting about the sense of smell and psychopaths!
Psychopaths can be fun to write, but I agree, I'd never want to be one either. Prison just wouldn't suit me, lol. Can't believe a person's sense of smell is controlled in the brain by the same impulse control thingy. Weird.
Congrats on getting chosen for the anthology Crystal.
I swear. You guys are making me spend entirely too much money. My hubby gave me a big fat Amazon gift card for Christmas, and I've already blown through most of it. Oh well. (sigh) I just pre-ordered the book. Might as well, right? How ELSE will I find out how that story of mirror people plays out...?
Anything involving neuropsychology is particularly fascinating to me, so your research tidbits are great. (Good to know my over-developed sense of smell might keep me from turning into one of the bad guys.)
My favorite psycho? Gotta be Hannibal Lector, hands down. (Although I HATED that Clarissa ended up being with him in the last book. She would NOT have done that, unless she was a psycho herself.)
Damn, my smell sucks. I better get a secret bunker to hide from the FBI lol
I have a very sensitive nose. Now I can consider that a good thing!
My work here is done. ;)
I found that tidbit completely completely fascinating as well, and somewhat scary.
Thanks so much! I'm right there with you on the prison thing. Definitely not for me.
Now there's a gift card well spent. :) My husband has a great nose too, but my sense of smell is pretty weak, unless I'm pregnant. They say that women are more prone to insanity rather than psychopathy.
I'll be hiding in my secret basement when they come, and with any luck, that darn teleportation device will be working.
I have an audio hypersensitivity, so I get what having an overactive sense is like.
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