Have you ever liked a villain more than the hero? Who and why?
As a new author of ‘The Corleone Christ’, published by Troubador Publishing U.K., Frank Denman is the first villain I have been involved in creating.
When I read and researched how to create Frank, I discovered a strand of thinking which taught me to have empathy for a villains character and motivations; an important approach in making the character live.
Because I’m writing this piece I’ve searched a photo library, in the public domain, to find an image of an older man in reflection. Frank Denman, who he is and behaves, is a creation from my own thoughts and feelings. This man, obviously is not Frank and, not a villain!
I actually want you to get to know Frank, so best not to say too much. He will probably appear and develop throughout ‘The Corleone Christ’ trilogy. Some of his journey is not born yet, but I have strong feelings in my bones. As his author I can recommend you invest in his story and his significant journey. I do have a whole caste of characters, but the story would be nothing without, Frank.
So, what can I tell you. He lives in a Coal Ghost town, (a real place) called Thurmond, West Virginia. Worth a visit online. When I was writing only three people were left, living there. To my mind, Frank, who’d spent a lifetime in the coal industry, was one of them. When we meet him he lives alone, his wife has died and his daughters live a long way away. Could be any of us ; and we can begin to feel him now through the twilight. So, that’s enough, to find out more, find the book on my website: gjmann.org
Oh, alright, a bit more. As an older man at his time in history, like so many of us, he is compromised by the changing times. Should he rest back and find a way to influence the change he sees happening or should just relax, let it go, go to a bar with his older friends and watch the world go by; chew the cud.
I really do understand and feel this man deep down, I feel that he is cut adrift from influence and the living torrent in the river of life; he can hear the current but he can’t ride the rapids. I still have to write him, understand him and find empathy for him to keep his story alive and believable throughout all he decides to do.
I think he and a significant caste of other characters, make an interesting and challenging read.
GJ Mann
Website: gjmann.org
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