Why I Love "The Voice"

Who?
The Voice! You wouldn’t know this yet, but he’s one of the heroes (or would it be anti-heroes?) of my new fantasy-mystery-noir series, Vampire Babylon. (NIGHT RISING was released on February, 6. And, yes, that was a plug. ) The Voice is what I refer to as a Dark Man, and like many readers and lovers of pop culture, I love my Dark Men.

Just a hint of background: The Voice is literally that in NIGHT RISING—a voice that gives instructions to his P.I. team via a high-tech speaker system. The audience doesn’t see him (At least, not yet….), but we know by his dangerous tone that you should be wary.

How did I come to write such a character? It all boils down to a piece of advice I received in a workshop. “Make your hero suffer.”
These are the immortal words of Suzanne Brockmann, hero-maker extraordinaire. Also, I guess you could say I’m predisposed to write about mysterious, dark men since I penned many a horror story throughout my angst-filled teen years. My critique partners, Judy Duarte and Sheree WhiteFeather, have confirmed that I have a dark side. I readily admit to a fascination with creatures of the night, beings who balance on the edge of danger and outright antisocial behavior. I like my heroes as dark as the stillness of a midnight-black hole.
So how does an author create a character who is cryptic enough to keep you wondering about his murky past? One who is so tormented that any woman with a decent amount of estrogen will yearn to soothe his pain? Maybe we can shed some brightness on the subject by analyzing a few examples.

He’s the ultimate scarred lost soul, a mask-shrouded Broadway star. Michael Crawford actually became sexy when he donned the tortured façade of the Phantom of the Opera. Half psychopath (He killed people, mind you.), half poet, the Phantom cast his spell over more than the musical’s heroine. In my opinion, the man was definitely Beta, a songwriter who adored fine silks and opulently gilded mirrors. (Finally, a hero you can shop at the Bombay Company with.) Why was this character a hit? I might be wrong, but I was really hooked by the Phantom’s vulnerability. He might seem Beta on the surface, but his violent solutions to his pain certainly shot him to the Alpha category. He’s a protector, willing to do anything for the love of his life. That’s kinda hot, although so very wrong.

Next example. You know him because of his pasta-paunch belly, his receding hairline, his rather large gun. Yes, it’s Tony Soprano, the human rendition of a monster with a soul. Once, while I was dining with a well-known author, she said Tony was sexy because he likes to touch people. He has the same sensitive side that the Phantom hides in his own cave—a heart-on-his-sleeve toughness blocked by a scary demeanor. Admit it, when Dr. Melfi was brutally raped, you wanted Tony to find out. Because when he did…oh, boy. The other guy would be smashed to a pulp by Tony’s considerable temper.

And, deep inside, most of us want a protector, one we can tame and redeem.

So if a mafia killer can be a hero, then how about a crazed cannibal? I know women who think Hannibal Lecter is sexy. I’m not joking. I’ve talked to females who rave about the intense eyes, the cultured taste in music (Phantom of the Opera, anyone?), the way you can tell that “he really loves Clarice.” Once again, he’s the monster with a soul. He’s a very likable character, believe it or not, and I think I might know why.

Hannibal kills rude people. He’s the part of our psyches we try to ignore. And he cooks a mean brain, too. But, in all seriousness, Hannibal is capable of that same protective love we saw in the other examples.

What do all these characters have in common? They’ve been fiercely wounded or wronged, thus creating an agonizing vulnerability. They’re soldiers for that one lucky(?) female who steals their hearts. They’re forced to confront their own demons, creating a soul-wrenching black moment for the audience to identify with.

You’re going to find that, like these other Dark Men, The Voice does indeed suffer, just as Ms. Brockmann instructed him to. And, hopefully, he’s all the more interesting for it. Here's a taste of his world. . . .

BTW, if you like vampire books, I’ll be giving away a copy of my first paranormal novel, THE HUNTRESS (written as Crystal Green). I’ll be choosing from any registered user who leaves a comment for this blog at midnight (Eastern Time). However, I am giving away a big old Vampire Hunting Kit on my original site, so go for it!

Chris Marie Green (AKA Crystal Green) writes full time across the genres. Besides her upcoming NIGHT RISING vampire mystery in February 6, 2007., she writes for Harlequin Blaze and Silhouette Special Edition.