Rosalie Skinner
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Female,
11
- from United States
- Profile views: back soon
- Last active: 23 weeks ago
- www.bebo.com/Dragonmuse
- Tagline
- Fantasy Author of The Series The Chronicles of Caleath
- Me, Myself, and I
- All about me?
I live on the East Coast of Australia and write Fantasy and Science Fiction.
It is wonderful to be part of the Museonline Writer's Online Conference. Presenting the 2008 Fantasy worskshop was a thrill. I think it was a success.
Two books in the Chronicles of Caleath are available on Amazon. At present I am looking for a publisher who can supply books in Australia where many of my readers live.
Please feel free to contact me here, or at my website www.rosalieskinner.com.
- Music
- Today my favourite music is Phill singing Storybook Story by Willy De Ville and Mark Knopfler.
- Films
- Princess Bride.
- Sports
- Horse riding.
- Scared Of
- things that go bump in the night.
- Happiest When
- Writing
- Author of Exiled: The Chronicles of Caleath
- http://bebo.com/Autumns-Peril
Caleath's journey begins.
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Creating Good Villains.. Three hints and tips. more to follow...
What it takes to create a Good Villain; Hints and tips on what it takes to write about a character readers will love to hate.
TIP ONE
The archetypical villain, dastardly and devious, comes from the pantomime stage. When writing Fantasy we need to look for an antagonist who will keep our readers hooked. The villain needs therefore, to have some redeeming aspects of their character.
Remember that average bad guys don’t see themselves as evil. They have purpose and although their means and actions might be malevolent, their intentions can be purely selfish. As long as your villain can justify their behaviour, seeing their actions as logical and working towards a certain goal, they can still be frightening and threatening but their character can also sustain some empathy and interest in the reader. A villain like Hannibal Lector can be more disturbing because he sees his behaviour as rational.
TIP TWO
To create a Lovable Villain you need to make them characters to whom readers can relate. There are ways of doing this that will help our readers empathise with the most miserable antagonist.
Villains can own their own set of injustices. If they feel they are ‘hard done by’, by society, life or circumstance, they not only have an understandable reason for maladjusted behaviour, but they will have enough logic for their actions to allow the reader to have some sympathy towards their plight. From a single human frailty, such as fear, jealousy, or loneliness your villain can still generate evil but they will also have at least one character trait for a reader to relate to.
TIP THREE
When creating a Good Villain, the author can give their character all the dreadful determination that in every day life we keep leashed. For example, when rage raises its ugly presence we can wish evil upon someone. What makes us reasonable people is that we do not carry out our wishes. We can though, have a villain take their worst intentions to heart and act on them. Where a reasonable soul would rage and then simmer, finally allowing logic to rule their lives, our antagonist can take their rage and act on it.
Even to over react and devise and enact those dastardly deeds that will keep the reader hoping justice is finally served. When the villain takes payback and revenge too far, when they fail to keep within limits of behaviour that are reasonable, that’s when their behaviour becomes villainous and dastardly.
An example of a villain whose actions are malicious and whose diabolical plan keeps the reader hoping for retribution is the arch villain in the Chronicles of Caleath. Throughout the series, readers keep asking if and when will the hero finally defeat/meet his nemesis. I take that as a sign of having created a great ‘bad guy’.
0 Comments 428 days
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Check out Muse Online Writer's Conference
Check out Muse Online Writer's Conference
It covers more than just the Fantasy genre, but I have been asked to present a Fantasy workshop. So if you are interested, register now and don't miss out.
I hope to cover Reality in Fantasy. Although that might sound like a paradox, anyone who has tried to write Fantasy will tell you that it is vital to know exactly what you are talking about. Even if it is only in your imagination. Creating characters, settings, creatures and plots that feel real is one way of keeping your readers hooked.
Check out the other amazing workshops on offer. I hope to have time to attend some myself. They look terrific and even the seasoned writer will find something useful among the topics there.
Other than that, it is exciting to hear that Exiled: Autumn's Peril now has a release date of September 2008.0 Comments 535 days
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G'day. It's a wonderful autumn day.
The sun is shining, blue sky stretches from horizon to horizon. The breeze lifts my hair, cooling warm skin while the scent of honeysuckle and frangipani waft past. The salt air of the ocean casts a mist across the beach and dolphins frolic in the surf.
We are moving closer to winter when the whales will come north. For now the weather is perfect and my muse is demanding attention.
Memories of perfect days spent in the saddle rise and the pen becomes fluent.
Being an author is just the best!!!
Hope you are having a good day too.
0 Comments 625 days
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49 weeks ago
Kim Smith
oh! you are just the dearest woman alive
i SO needed to hear that. Don't you know I am a bundle of nerves and stressing like crazy??? I hope to do a book blurbing tonight. i got choked on saliva last night (how can one choke on their own SPIT???)and coughed so much i got myself into a coughing jag. didnt sound very well, needless to say, i cancelled last nights show. anyway thank you so much for your kind words.
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Wendy L67 weeks agoHi Rosalie,
Everything with your book seems to be moving along so perfectly. Your cover pictures and your new video trailer - you are so clever.
Good luck with it all. -
75 weeks ago
Wendy L
Hi Rosalie,
I would like to spread the word that you have such a generous nature, to share your talent and your time with a new friend when really you did need the time for yourself.
The map you created for me is clever and just perfect for my needs.
It won't be long until September when your Exiled:Autumn's Peril wil be in the stores. I'm very excited for you. -
78 weeks ago
Wendy L
Hi Rosalie,
Thanks for your warm welcome home and for saying you loved my book. I look forward to your review. Thank you very much for that. -
82 weeks ago
Jennifer Pittam
Rosalie, Your hero Caleath is thrilling, and I am delighted to have you as a friend. Best wishes, Jennie
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89 weeks ago
Wendy L
Hi Rosalie,
I haven't been on line for a few days - concentrating on the edits which will likely take years.
So just now I saw the comment you posted re a blog of mine and I was thrilled to find it there. It was a real treat because I don't expect them to be read.
You made my day.
Wendy -
89 weeks ago
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90 weeks ago
Wendy L
Well they still look great and they are keeping up your public profile.
You know my book site, well I'll love you to be a fan - friend more like it.
I must ask Terry as well. How are you getting on with your promo. I've made a start but my synopsis needs freshening up.
I've decided to make a small video of the landscape and points of interest when I go to Switzerland in May but I'll have to find out how long it has to be and a few more details. I have a digital camera that takes short videos but I haven't tried it for more than a few seconds.
Oh the stress, the stress. I'm sure it's keeping me young.
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Rosalie Skinner90 weeks agoHi Wendy,
On Authors Connection I have posted the covers of Exiled:Winter's Plight and Exiled: Summer's Peril. They were self published a year or so ago and are available from Amazon.
Exiled: Autumn's Peril is actually a re-lease of Winter. The story is the same but I think the writing is tighter and better edited. Enspiren Press is going to publish it in two halves.
I am glad you liked the cover. The title and font were out of my control but I did submit the photographs for both covers. They seemed to create a mood that suited the story, rather than specific artwork. I was happy with them though they don't conform to Fantasy standards.
Hope your dial up returns!! Living without the internet is unthinkable!
Have a good day,
Thanks for looking out for the books! It's great to know they are being seen.
Rosalie
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90 weeks ago
Wendy L
Rosalie,
a quick message -my dial up is about to go - have you been to authorsconnection lately. I guess you know the cover of Exiled:Winters Peril is flashing there.
I loved the surprise on your behalf. Very nice cover -
Terry Spear90 weeks agoHey Rosalie
Thanks for commenting on Heart of the Wolf! I'm excited to see what happens on the cover for Don't Cry Wolf. But probably won't hear about it for a long time! :0 Love your bebo page. Looks so inviting!!!
Terry
www.terryspear.com -
Anna Dynowski91 weeks agoRosalie, thanks for friending me!
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Sharyn Tumanako91 weeks agoYeah i was exhausted on Sunday night after the big drive...All the way home teresa and i where kicking ourselves for not staying longer. I just loved being able to hold and play with Cailyn - she is so gorgeous!
Jake and I are both on bebo, yo will find all the kiwis are on bebo, because you can change skins and do more stuff.
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Sharyn Tumanako91 weeks ago
Hi Rosalie!!
Nice to see you on BEBO!! I must say i prefer bebo 100% more then facebook!
Has everyone recovered from the wedding!! We had a wonderful time.
Hope you are all well.
Sharyn -
91 weeks ago
Anne Whitfield
Hi, wonderful to see you on Bebo.
Love the waterfall!
Hope your day is brilliant.
Hugs, Anne.~ -
Rosalie Skinner91 weeks ago
Hi Wendy,
Lexi is a Cavalier. True blue blood princess, a Blenheim... slumming it with me.
She's my muse. Helps me write. Listens when I read. What would I do without her!!!
Hope you like Chapter one.
Catch you around.
Rosalie -
Wendy L91 weeks ago
I love this relaxing background. Very pretty.
So is Lexi. Is Lexi a Cavelier (?sp)
I'm off to read your chapter on Exile now
Wendy
Hi, thanks for dropping in, and showing your friendship. I wish you the best.
Kevin Brian Wright 0 ReplysWright.
Thanks for adding me. I deleted my original account, and grew sorry for it and added this one back. Good to see ya!
Kim Smith 0 ReplysRosalie,
Jennifer Pittam 0 ReplysThank you for adding me as a friend. I'm always interested in making new writer friends. Your book sounds fascinating and exciting.
Love Jennie