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

The Tour Starts Today!

Murder, Just Because

Tour Schedule

April 1            Denise Covey – Guest Post - Writing Your Real-Life Experience 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

AND

There's a new challenge!

WEP - April Challenge

Antique Vase!

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/

Please stop by and say hello!

Jemi Fraser - Dancing with Demtia

It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Jemi Fraser’s DANCING WITH DEMENTIA, Recognizing and Coping with the Early Stages of Dementia Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today.

The author is offering a tour-wide international giveaway of an Amazon Gift Card. More information on the giveaway is listed below.

But first Jemi took part in my little interview

Welcome, Jemi...

What was your hardest scene to write?

Because Dancing With Dementia is such a personal book, many of the scenes were difficult to write. Describing how this disease affected our Mom meant reliving so many sad and challenging incidents. The most difficult was probably reliving the moments we had to decide to accept a placement in a nursing home for her. And then having to tell her. So hard! Thankfully, many of the scenes were lighter and happier, so it was possible to balance the writing time.

What makes you run screaming?

So many things!! I’m more Hufflepuff than Gryffindor. As a Canadian, bears and moose in the forest might not send me running, but encountering a rattler while hiking would probably be the end of me as my screaming would scare the poor thing into biting me.

You’re about to be dropped in a remote spot for a three-week survival test. Where would you go? What three tools would you take?

My Northern Ontario woods are the best place to be in that kind of situation! I’d need a hatchet, a box of waterproof matches, and a pot. Although, if I got a bonus, I’d really like to bring my copy of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet to help me out!

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I am a total SF/fantasy geek. From LotR to HP to Fringe to Firefly to Star Trek to Star Wars to BSG to… A framed middle earth map decorates my den while BB8 & R2D2 keep watch on the adjacent shelf.

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

I’d love to visit Scotland for a year. My parents emigrated from there to Canada before I was born. I’ve visited a couple of times, but I’d love to spend more time there and visit some of their favourite haunts with my extended family. I would have a blast placing my characters in the pubs and castles for some adventures. Nessie might even make an appearance.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Believe. Don’t let your fears limit you. Take those risks!

What does literary success look like to you?

For Dancing With Dementia, success to me would be knowing the book helped some families facing the first steps in the dance of dementia.
For my other writing, knowing my stories have entertained people and made their days a bit brighter would be awesome.

Tell us about the book you’re working on now.

My focus has switched from nonfiction to fiction (although there’s that public speaking project as well…). I’ve got a romantic suspense series coming up set in the fictional town of Bloo Moose, Vermont. The first book, Reaching For Normal, features a reluctant partnership of a former SEAL and an adventure writer trying to solve the mystery of a bizarre killing of a wolf. 

*****

Dementia and Alzheimer’s touch the lives of millions around the world, but so much is still unknown.
As first-generation Canadians, we didn’t recognize the early warning signs. We didn’t know the differences between regular aging and the early stages of dementia. We’ve made mistakes but we’ve learned a lot.

DANCING WITH DEMENTIA will help you:
•Identify those early warning signs
•Use visuals to improve communication
•Choose your words wisely
•Redirect and reassure
•Stay calm and cope with your own emotions
•Consider nursing home options
•Improve caregiver self-care

We’ve learned to dance the early steps of this disease with our love and laughter intact. If you are looking for help recognizing early signposts along with practical ways to cope with early Dementia and Alzheimer’s, this book is for you.

Read My Review HERE!

Jemi Fraser writes both fiction and nonfiction. Her nonfiction work focuses on the ways that dementia has impacted her family. Her fiction work varies from contemporary romance to suspense and flash fiction. Years as a teacher have taught Jemi that life is short and that happy endings are a must.

Jemi lives in Northern Ontario, Canada where snow is always a topic of conversation and the autumn leaves make everything better.

DANCING WITH DEMENTIA buy links:
Amazon.com              Amazon.ca          Apple Books       Barnes & Noble          Kobo

Add DANCING WITH DEMENTIA to your Goodreads shelf

For all things, Jemi, check out her website: https://jemifraser.com 

Website          Just Jemi Blog       Dancing With Dementia blog 

Amazon Page        BookBub      Goodreads       Facebook       Twitter       Quick Tips Videos

***

Thank you, Jemi!

Readers, do you have a question for our guest?

*****
Giveaway!

This tour-wide giveaway is for a $20 Amazon Gift Card. The giveaway is open internationally.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed to the widget.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow Jemi on her week-long tour HERE. You never know what you might find out. I hope dementia hasn’t touched your family or friends, but in case it has do you have any tips to share on dealing with this terrible disease?

***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disaster Author Chrys Fey

Chrys Fey is here today to discuss her writing 

and her latest projects via this little interview.
Welcome, Chrys...

         1.   What was your hardest scene to write?

The hardest scene I’ve had to write is in a book that’s unpublished. It’s a battle. A very long battle, so technically it’s several scenes in one, but it was physically and mentally grueling to write.

In the Disaster Crimes series, though, the hardest scene was the tsunami scene (Tsunami Crimes) in Beth’s perspective. Not because it was difficult per se. I actually wrote it quickly. Rather that it was tough to put myself into that as the writer. I’ve had many tsunami dreams (nightmares), and I can’t swim, so my fear came out in that scene.

        2.   What makes you run screaming?

Lizards. Especially if one jumps out at me or, God forbid, on me.

         3.   You’re about to be dropped in a remote spot for a three-week survival test. Where would you go? What three tools would you take?

Hmm…the remote spot I’d chose would be one in the woods by a freshwater lake or river. I would have a tent, a fully-stocked fishing kit, and a two-burner camping stove because let’s face it, I wouldn’t be able to start a fire with sticks. Now ask me if I’d survive. Haha. Probably not. I may write about my characters surviving extraordinary things, but I’d probably cry the first night and want to go back home by dinner the next day.

    4.   What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

There are a few things that would probably surprise my readers that I’ll likely never share. However, I’ve shared quite a few secrets to my newsletter subscribers as well as in YouTube videos on my channel.

One behind-the-scenes tidbit I will share is that no one read Flaming Crimes (Book 4) other than my editor before it was published. I didn’t use any beta readers or critique partners, which goes against what I usually tell other writers to do (have at least 2-3 beta readers before an editor). I felt that it wasn’t necessary, that the story was right the way it was, that it was ready. (Side Note: I’m also an editor and had confidence in myself and my editor.) And that book has received the best responses from my readers, many saying it’s their favorite so far. When I submitted Frozen Crimes (Book 5), I did the same thing. No beta readers. Just my editor.

                

                  5. If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

Ireland. (I didn’t even have to think about it.)

       6.   If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Oh boy. Probably to hang in there, that things will get better, and I’ll come out stronger for it. You see, I went through a lot of hardships and pain. I suffered from depression, poverty, and disability. Many times, I felt as though I was failing miserably at everything and would never achieve my dreams. 

7.        What does literary success look like to you?

Well, it’s definitely not how it’ll look to other writers, which is the point, right? We all have our own ideas of success. My idea of success would be having a literary agent, a book or series that is doing well, and a steady income from publishing that I can count on.

8. Tell us about the book you’re working on now.

Currently, I am editing Frozen Crimes with my editor. After that, I will be publishing a novella for Thorn, a beloved character from the series. I also have a couple of short stories I’ll be providing for free to bring the series to a close. As for what I’m writing…well, I’m not sure I can tell you that. 😉

*****

My latest read of Chry's was
FLAMING CRIMES!

Flaming Crimes

Beth and Donovan are now happily married, and what Beth wants more than anything is a baby. Her dream of starting a family is put on hold as fires burn dangerously close and Donovan becomes a victim of sabotage.

Donovan escapes what could have been a deadly wreck. Their past enemies have been eliminated, so who is cutting brake lines and leaving bloody messages? He vows to find out, for the sake of the woman he loves and the life they're trying to build.

Amidst a criminal mind game, a fire ignites next to their home. They battle the flames and fight to keep their house safe from the blaze pressing in on all sides, but neither of them expects to confront a psychotic adversary in the middle of the inferno.

Their lives may just go up in flames...

Read My Review HERE! 

Chrys Fey is the award-winning author of Hurricane Crimes from the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. Fey also authored Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication. Catch the sparks you need to write, edit, publish, and market your book! She runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and is also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press.

Website / Blog / Newsletter / Goodreads

Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter

Thank you Chrys!

We're all looking forward to reading

Frozen Crimes!

Readers where do you think this one will take place?

Chrys, any hints?