By Michael Coghlan from Adelaide, Australia – Prison Bars, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46995830
You haven’t heard from me in a while. But, no, I’m not in jail!
However, I’m on lockdown finishing my new book, The Villain’s Journey-How to Create Villains Readers Love to Hate, to be published July 13, 2025.
I’ve been hanging out with criminals—femme fatales, charming con artists, serial killers, narcissists, vigilantes, and more.
We’re fascinated by villains like Hannibal Lecter, the Joker, and Lady Macbeth.
Why do they do what they do?
What drives them?
How can they justify the harm they cause to others?
Villains come in as many flavors as Baskin-Robbins has ice cream. Some are delicious, others are detestable.
In this book, I dig deep into characters from fiction, films, and real life to learn about their backstories, motivations, and psychology. Sometimes their intentions are evil, Other times they’re ordinary people who took that dangerous first step on a slippery slope and slid into the valley of darkness.
Build-a-Villain worksheets in the book offer tips and prompts for writers to create memorable villains for your own stories.
The Villain’s Journey is not just for writers. Readers also get to peek behind the curtain to learn about the mysterious creative process that goes into books you enjoy.
Together, let’s get acquainted with bad guys and gals!
Preorder the ebook of The Villain’s Journey at this link and it will be delivered to your device on July 13, 2025. 
October 3, 2025, I’m teaching a day-long workshop based on The Villain’s Journey at the Flathead River Writers Conference. Attendees will receive a signed paperback included in the workshop fee. Learn more at this link.
Kay, thanks for your interest! Looking forward to visiting your blog and yakking with your readers soon.
Can’t wait to read about all the villains! And see you in a couple of weeks on my blog to discuss your book!