The Artistic Equation
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Many years ago, a character in one of my novels posed a particular challenge.
Putting the complexities of who he was on the page was not easy.
He was a leader whose privilege and accomplishments garnered respect within his community.
He was also fueled by rage and self-loathing, a racist who manipulated others and used power to control.
He remained gentle when it suited him, tending to his garden and pets with attentive care.
His family meant everything to him and he protected them with a fierceness only matched by the fiery hate burning in his stomach.
His love was both thorny and unforgiving, a concept rooted in possession. His family belonged to him.
This character was not the villain of the story.
He was the victim’s father. His child is taken by the killer (this was a psychological suspense novel) and his voice and narrative is a critical part of how the story unfolds.
Writing this character was an excruciating process. It demanded I unflinchingly venture into terrifying places, into parts of human nature that are not only deeply uncomfortable and repugnant, but also shrouded in the darkness we avoid.
