Creating a Serial Killer

Creating a Serial Killer

Who is Stowy Jenkins?

If you didn't know his killing background, you'd meet a handsome, charismatic man. Born in West Virginia, he's a transplant to Alaska, but he hates cold weather. Stowy owns his own computer design company and is an avid hunter and taxidermist. He lives with his mother but has a private cabin in the woods. He loves his toys, vehicles, hunting paraphernalia, and, especially, his killing tools.

In The Snowman, Stowy is convinced his killing is art, but once caught, the world imprisons him instead of appreciating him or his art. In Murder, Just Because, it’s ten years later, and Stowy Jenkins has escaped prison. His resentment has built, and his brutality has escalated. Revenge is his goal.

But why does he kill? Where did this man and his motives come from?

Obviously, from my imagination, but he's not wholly unique. His body count may be astronomical, and it is, but here in America, we had Henry Lee Lucas, the most prolific serial killer of all time with at least 350 deaths attributed to him and the possibility that the number could be as high as 600.

Stowy's charismatic persona helped him lure most of his victims to their death. Just as the handsome killer Ted Bundy did before his death by electric chair. However, Stowy took after Gary Ridgway in that he preferred a willing sexual partner, the prostitute, a person ready to climb into his truck.

Stowy's admiration and desire for blood were influenced by The Vampire of Sacramento, Richard Trenton Chase. Richard used to drink the blood of his victims and blend their body parts with soft drinks to make his favorite “milkshake” and was a known necrophiliac.

However, I set Stowy's underlying motivation for his desire to kill, at the feet of his abusive mother. A lifetime of sexual abuse by his own loving mother warped his sense of self and love.

If you're looking to create a notorious serial killer, do your research and know your antagonist from birth. I've found that whatever you can imagine, someone else already has, and the worst part of that statement--they exist and are ten times worse than anything you envisioned.

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Photo by Reza Hasannia on Unsplash

Murder, Just Because - Tour Schedule

April 1            Denise Covey – Guest Post - Writing Your Real Life Experiences Into Your Novel
                        Mythical Books – Q & A with the Author & Excerpt

                              Rockin’ Book Reviews – Feature

April 2            Constantine – Feature

April 6            Mystery Writing is Murder – Guest Post How I Wrote My Mystery
                               Spunk on A Stick – Feature

April 7            Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews – Q & A
April 8            The Warrior Muse – Feature
                        Random Thoughts –  Feature

April 10          I Think Therefore I Yam - Susan Flett Swiderski - Interview With A Monster
                        Ellen Jacobson Author – Q & A 

April 13          Christine Rains – Writer – Review & Excerpt
                              Alex J. Cavanaugh – Guest Post -Top Ten Murder Movie List

April 15          Elizabeth Seckman, Author Guest Post - Heaven on Earth

April 17          Writer’s Gambit – Q & A & Excerpt

April 20          Tara Tyler Talks – Interview

                        H.R. Sinclair – Guest Post - How to Write a Thriller 

April 24          Write with Fey – Guest Post - Evil Exists

April 27          Just Jemi – Q & A 

April 29          Thoughts in Progress – Review

May 1             Celticlady’s Reviews – Feature

Amazon

Smashwords

Published

Excerpt 

Stowy’s new home, an A-frame chalet reminiscent of houses on an alpine slope, was replete with lovely exposed beams, a distinctive wiggle board treatment, and fanciful railings on the deck. Its expansive picture windows provided breathtaking panoramic views of the picturesque valley, and its open floor plan could’ve easily sprung from the glossy pages of a modern design magazine. But that was all for show. Nothing more than selling points to make any Realtor swoon. Stowy didn’t care about any of those things, because his real living area was underground. In the basement. Away from prying eyes.

And now that he was situated in his new base of operations, Stowy wasn’t going to wait any longer. He’d been fighting his natural urges ever since the escape, but no more. He had to do it. Had to. He needed it. Like a junkie without a fix, his skin was crawling with need.

He had to kill.

He felt safe. Cocky, even. Thanks to those Snowman-like murders Zeke committed, any blood Stowy shed now would just be chalked up to the copycat, that is, if he were sloppy enough. Who else would the idiots blame? After all, the whole world believed the real Snowman died in the explosion.

“Time to feed the beast,” he crowed as he loaded his kill bag.

*****

buy here!

The paperback out now!

IWSG - RESEARCH

THE

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

Today’s Question: 

What is the weirdest/coolest thing you ever had to research for your story?

Since I write murder mysteries – I've researched various serial killers their methods and their reasons – many never share the why? But as a person interested in motivations, I give my antagonists a background befitting their psychotic bent.

Be sure to visit and thank these amazing Co-Hosts:
Michelle Wallace
Nancy Gideon
Tamara Narayan
Liesbet @ Roaming About
Feather Stone

I hope you will follow my blog tour for the Snowman.

This week I'll be visiting:

THE SNOWMAN TOUR CALENDAR

May 1 – Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit – Author Guest Post

May 2 – Romance Under Fire – Review& Excerpt

May 3 – Denise Covey – Review & Author Guest Post              

                 Bish Denham - Random Thoughts – Excerpt

May 4 – The Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Excerpt & Author Guest Post

May 5 – Julie Flanders, Writer – Excerpt

Please stop by and say hello!

A to Z Reveal 2017

A to Z Challenge Reveal for 2017

It just so happens I have a new book coming out in April. So of course, my A to Z Challenge is all about Alaska and Stowy Jenkins, aka Stone, the Snowman!

I hope you’ll enjoy the little snippets of information and the book excerpts that I’ll share!

Happy Spring everyone!

Although I'm no longer at the beach, snow and ice was my greeting – but Spring is finally here!

Well, almost!

Happy A to Z ing!

Photo Copyright

In your comment, please leave a link to your reveal. I'd love to follow your posts for the Challenge!