Welcome readers to the first in the Character Dive series. I’ll be helping you get to know some of the characters from my novel The Mark of the Artist.

Quick note: I won’t be giving out any spoilers perse, but there will be talk about the plot, characters, and other things from the story. So, if you haven’t read the book don’t worry, but you can go ahead and get your copy (I’ll wait 😉).

Onward!

I thought it might be fun to start with the main villain in the book.

Writing a Villain is my challenge. I chalk it up to being (mostly) a hopeful person. Writing the growth of a hero, the dialogue of a smart assed side character, or dropping headfirst into the description of a place are my strongest skills as a writer. So, to say I had to stretch myself to write this bad dude is an understatement. But…he is quite the evil SOB, if I do say so myself. 🤌🏼

A Painted Villain

In the book he is known as the Harlequin Man. I’m talking about the mysterious and downright icky Victor Knell. A tattooed mad man, power hungry, and well, twisted. Let’s meet him:

On cue, the man swept back the hood revealing a clean-shaven head. Across his face like a mask designed for a Carnevale Ball were a multitude of diamond tattoos. Red, black, and white, the harlequin pattern stood in stark contrast to the bleached sand of the Flat. For a brief moment Duke Weldon believed that the man was sitting shirtless with his harlequin tattoo extended down from his face across his left shoulder, until the wind swept through and he realized it was but the underside of the man’s cloak flung over to expose the signature pattern.

Why a tattooed face, you ask? Let’s just say Knell has a reason for each diamond tattoo. Each has a particular meaning. A memory. ♦️

I got the inspiration for his harlequin pattern from the Commedia dell’arte character of the Harlequin (English major/drama nerd). Though in that case the harlequin is a light-hearted comedic character and Victor Knell is NOT, he does share the characteristic “nimbleness” of the stock character.

It was so fun to create a dark character that was full of odd movements. Like an acrobat or a tumbler, The Harlequin Man is quick and sits at odd angles:

Victor Knell sat posed on the chair with one leg flung over the arm. In the low light, the black and red tattoos on Knell’s face took on a brown color, the white ones glowed bright, making the harlequin pattern seem wrong in some way, as if done incorrectly.

Villainous Intent

Every hero or heroine is up against a challenge. In the case of Anna and Sebastian it’s a ruthless usurper.  Did you know he is holding Anna prisoner in her own castle? And not just once, twice!

“Knell was staring at her, posed with an expression Anna could not exactly figure out. Was that confusion, or…”

Like I said—icky! 👀

Writing a Bad Guy

Though it was scary, I found myself enjoying writing his lines, his backstory. And as much as I love my heroes, there wouldn’t have been much of a story if Knell hadn’t made things bad for them through his wicked actions. Perhaps that’s just one of those weird things about writers, we are grown-ups talking to imaginary friends. Ok, wait, Knell’s like the imaginary bully of my imaginary friends. (Paging Dr. Freud.) 😄

There are several other “bad guys” that wander in and out of The Mark of the Artist and even show up in Maisie’s Escape, but Knell’s the big guy, the one main bad dude.

How do Anna and Sebastian fight someone so twisted and evil? You’ll have to read the book to find out! 📖

And keep an eye out for the next Character Dive in January about Sebastian’s best friend James. He’s more than just a valet and has a fun, yet hidden side. 💰