Topic: "Violence In Literature; when is Enough, Enough?" My guest today; Author, Evangeline Jennings.

My guest today is author, Evangeline Jennings.

VIOLENCE IN LITERATURE – WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?

Evangeline Jennings

We live in violent times. We always have done. Violence is central and organic to the human story. Inhumanity is integral to our plot.

Twelve thousand years ago, our ancestors were painting battle scenes on the walls of caves in Spain. Today, we have a world wide web and twenty-four hour news. This week alone we’ve seen anarchy in the UK, massacres in Syria, Pashtun-Urdu violence in Karachi, and fresh revelations about torture camps in Zimbabwe’s diamond mines.

If you ask me – and somebody did, writing about violence is an entirely rational response to the world we live in.

Writing violence for its own sake? Not so much.

So when is enough, enough? And how much is too much? The only sensible answer is, Well, it depends.

Followed sharply by But I’ll know it when I see it.

“Was that as good for you as it was for me?”

- Mr Blonde, Reservoir Dogs

Like most adults I know, I’ve been a victim of minor violence. And like many women, I’ve also experienced sexual abuse and assault. The first time it happened I was thirteen-years old. On the unspoken sliding scale of such things, it was nothing to write home about. What’s being held down and felt up by three curious and frustrated boys compared to all the truly awful things that happen?

Lately, the awful things have inspired me to write a book called Puta, and I believe the level of violence in my work is entirely commensurate with the events I’m responding to.

In Texas, for example, in a small town only an hour’s drive from my family’s trailer park, an eleven-year old girl was gang raped on at least six different occasions at the end of last year. Up to twenty-eight men and boys may have been involved. Last time I looked, nineteen had been arrested. Mostly on the basis of souvenir cell phone movies.

Residents defending the accused have blamed the victim, suggesting she dressed inappropriately and enjoyed her starring role in all six entirely innocent gang bangs. Failing that, of course, they blame the little girl’s parents.

An hour to the east, a teenage cheerleader was kicked off her high school squad for refusing to cheer for her rapist. The highest courts in the land have supported that decision.

And this week in San Angelo, Texas, polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two underage followers he took as “brides”. He sexually assaulted one of them pregnant.

In Europe, Josef Fritzl, Detlef S, and the Kidwelly Cult cast long and obvious shadows.

And then there’s tip-of-the-iceberg headline grabbers like Operation Delego.

In other news, Afghan women continue to set themselves on fire in protest at life in the Middle Ages, and Saudi Arabia is still the biggest women’s prison on the planet. Apparently human rights are more of a guideline when that much oil is involved.

When they’re not jailing women who choose to drive their own cars, the Saudis have also been helping “keep the peace” in Bahrain where a twenty-year old woman was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured for reading a poem in public. After she was forced to apologize on TV, Ayat al-Gormezi was sentenced to another year in prison.

Meanwhile, India has again been shown to have criminally high levels of female infanticide and a culture of sex-selective abortion tantamount to gendercide. Indian girls lucky enough to survive their mothers will find domestic violence endemic, and police unwilling to intervene except in extreme cases.

Before you start feeling too good about life in your safe European home, consider what the UK charity Refuge has to say. Every week in England and Wales, two women are killed by a current or former partner and ten more women commit suicide as a direct consequence of domestic abuse. That’s more than six hundred dead women a year. And if there are children in those homes, half of them will be abused too.

So when is enough, enough? I’ll let you know when I see it.

Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON with LAVINIA, ravished; her hands cut off, and her tongue cut out

- Stage Direction, Act 2, Scene 4 of Titus Andronicus

I’m not going to argue that violence in literature is a feminist issue - although obviously it is. But my lifetime of reading has taught me a general literary truth. Straight men are killed for money - everyone else is killed for fun.

So here’s where I draw my line: Münchausen misery lit, serial killer shite, and any other bad and dishonest writing that tries to turn rape and torture into money.

Violence against women and children? That’ll do nicely. A fresh perversion or a novel brutality? Sign here. Who cares if we’re dehumanizing real victims and trivializing their suffering until it becomes another tired trope?

And you, Joe Formula, don’t tell me what you’re doing is different. Don’t tell me it’s art. It isn’t, and you’re not. You’re selling cheap holidays in other people’s misery and propagating the idea that women and children are born to be victims.

The books that defined the modern serial killer era - Red Dragon and Silence Of The Lambs - were written in the eighties. Jeffrey Deaver jumped on the bandwagon long ago. Writers as fine as Michael Connelly and John Sandford and prolific as James Patterson Inc have sprayed their various scents all over the genre. It’s time you rape-torture-porn idiots realized it’s over. Let go. No one listens to techno anymore either.

Michael C Hall’s Dexter – as opposed to Jeff Lindsay’s poorly written original - is giving you bums and losers the last rites, executing serial killer stereotypes season after season. Why not see if you have the talent and creativity to summon up something new?

Dennis Cooper did. Poppy Z Brite did. And so did Bret Easton Ellis.

“I'm into, oh murders and executions mostly. It depends."

- Patrick Bateman, American Psycho

When he wrote of rats and nail guns, Ellis was - he says - both building a performance art commentary on contemporary life and being entirely gratuitous. At one and the same time. The latter claim may have been an attempt to move his art off his publisher’s page and into the news media but, either way, Patrick Bateman’s matter-of-fact brutality is entirely in keeping with his obsessively detailed point of view. Actual or imagined, they’re rich with verve and humour.

In American Psycho, way too much is just about enough. It’s a splendid read - if you don’t throw up - but guess what? It’s been done. We’ve seen the movie, we’ve got the tee shirt. And we don’t need your witless variations on the theme.

Or to put it another way, Cliffs:

If you think Titus Andronicus, Patrick Bateman, and Mr Blonde give you permission to paint your pages red with gore porn and you’re not using your First Amendment freedom to say something important or new, then you’re a fiction-fan hack at best and your writing is probably worthless and masturbatory.

We’ll know it when we see it.

~~~~~

Evangeline Jennings is an opinionated bitch who tells lies for fun and profit.

She lives a glamorous transatlantic lifestyle jetting between a disused grow-house on the Welsh island of Anglesey and a trailer park on the fringes of Houston, TX.

The topic is open for discussion. Your opinions and observations are most welcome.

Topic: "Violence In Literature; When Is Enough, Enough?" my guest Author Greta van der Rol.

My guest today is Author Greta van der Rol;

Violence – when is enough, enough? Such a very good question. Personally, I avoid violence in film, TV and literature. You can keep your 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre', your zombie movies and even the more realistic blood fests. I'm not into gore. Buckets of blood don't interest me and pretty soon it becomes 'oh, lord, another grisly scene'. When I decided to try my hand at a novel about the wreck of the 'Batavia' and its murderous aftermath, that was an issue I had to confront.

A short narrator's note to explain the story. This isn't a spoiler – the events are recorded, historical fact. In 1629 the Dutch merchantship 'Batavia' on its way up the Australian coast to Java, struck an uncharted reef fringing a group of low islands known as the Houtman Abrolhos. The crew managed to ferry the majority of the people on the ship to one of the islands. Thereafter, the senior merchant (you could say he was kind of the admiral in charge), the captain and most of the senior members of the crew left in the ship's longboat to try to bring back first fresh water and if none was found, go for help from Java. This left about one hundred and eighty people stranded on a tiny, barren island. The only senior man left, Jeronimus Cornelisz, quickly realised there were insufficient provisions for so many to last until a rescue ship came. He set about separating the survivors, moving some to other islands with promises of food and water which he never intended to keep. Then, at first surreptitiously and later more openly, he and a band of willing set about killing people. It is estimated that Cornelisz's gang murdered around one hundred men, women and children over a period of about ten weeks.

I guess I could have written a series of murders. They weren't all the same, after all. Some people were drowned, some hacked to pieces, some strangled, stabbed, beheaded. I didn't for two reasons. One was that the manner of death – for me, anyway – wasn't so much the point as the psychology behind it. And the second was that it would simply have been dead (pardon the pun) boring. In that respect, it's a bit like sex in a book. The first scene might be engrossing as you get involved in the event. The second might still hold some interest but by the third, it's all a bit ho hum and can we get on with a story, if you don't mind, please, author?

Nevertheless, I couldn't avoid altogether describing any graphic scenes. They happened, they had a profound effect on people and it would have been... maybe even disrespectful NOT to include them. That said, I spent a lot of thought on deciding what I would show in all its gory detail and what I would not. In most cases where I give a graphic description I show the scene from the point of view of beautiful Lucretia van der Mijlen. She was one of the potential victims but she was lusted after by Cornelisz, so, unlike almost everybody else, she enjoyed a degree of safety – if she played her cards right. So I used her eyes to describe the first public killings, when a group of people were waylaid on a handcrafted raft. The men were dragged ashore and stabbed to death at Cornelisz's feet, the women were taken out to a deep channel and thrown overboard to drown. This scene was vital in showing the transition from surreptitious disappearances which may have been quite legitimate, such as people being moved to other islands, to open violence, when the survivors knew they were mice in a cage full of cats.

One graphic scene is written from Cornelisz's view point. He himself never killed anybody and this was no exception. He and his gang, having run out of legitimate targets, decided to decapitate a boy for sport. This was one of the last deaths and showed the depths to which the murderers had descended. It's one of the few where he was actually present, a witness to a murder he ordered.

I also described the scene where Cornelisz was executed. I felt I owed it to the characters – and my readers – to show that justice was served. I might add that in those few scenes where I describe the incident in detail I went to some lengths to ensure that my description was physically accurate.

In the scheme of things, though, that's about a dozen people out of around one hundred. For other deaths, I used dialogue to convey the impact of murderous raids on the survivors, who told what they had seen and escaped. Probably the hardest scene of all to write – and it had to be written – was the deaths of the predikant's family. The predikant (Dutch for parson) was relocating from Amsterdam to the city of Batavia (now Jakarta) with his wife and their seven children who ranged in age from about eight to mid-twenties. One of the senior gang leaders, a well born young fellow named van Huyssen, wanted the predikant's oldest daughter, Judyck, for himself. Eventually, while the predikant himself – and his daughter – offered some value to Cornelisz and his men, the rest of the family did not. On one night, while the predikant and Judyck dined with Cornelisz and van Huyssen, the rest of the family was attacked and murdered in their tent and the bodies buried in a shallow grave. Incidents like this are mind-bogglingly ghastly. But again, how to get across the horror? I did it by being inside Lucretia's head, attending a dinner party, listening to noises in the night while van Huyysen and Cornelisz discussed hunting expeditions. I'm told that worked rather well.

In summary, this book could so easily have been a never-ending litany of violence, assaulting the senses and dulling the brain. I never wanted it to be that way. I wanted to write a story about humans in all their naked glory. The story of the Batavia is so much more than a succession of murders. I was interested in many aspects of this amazing tale, such as the remarkable feat of seamanship displayed by the ship's captain. Under his leadership a longboat designed to carry about forty passengers carried forty-five men, two women and a babe in arms safely to the city of Batavia, a journey of some two thousand miles across uncharted ocean. Meanwhile, back at the Abrolhos, where atrocities were being committed, a group of soldiers ferried to another island and left to die found food and water and became the resistance, the obstacle to Cornelisz's plans. They were the other witnesses, who never saw the murders but who saw the horror reflected in the eyes of those who escaped.

Sure, violence has a place in fiction. It's an unfortunate part of the human condition but I, for one, would rather explore the mind set that starts down that dark road than study the bloodstains they leave behind them.

****

Greta van der Rol loves writing science fiction with a large dollop of good old, healthy romance. She lives not far from the coast in Queensland, Australia and enjoys photography and cooking when she isn’t bent over the computer. She has a degree in history and a background in building information systems, both of which go a long way toward helping her in her writing endeavours.

Supertech, Iron Admiral: Conspiracy and Morgan’s Choice are available now. Iron Admiral: Deception will be released late September. See more…

Her historical fiction novel Die a Dry Death was published by Diiarts in London in 2010. Since then, she's changed publishers. To Die a Dry Death is the same book, with added bonus material. See more…

Greta van der Rol Action-packed SF with a dollop of romance - http://gretavanderrol.com/ - http://twitter.com/GretavdR - http://www.facebook.com/Author.Greta.vanderRol?ref=ts

Interview with Katie Salidas Author of "Vampire Bites" now on tour

Please Join me today as I interview Katie Salidas author of "Vampire Bites"

Welcome Katie.

Let’s find out a little about Katie the person…

Are you married, and do you have children?

I’m married to a wonderful man. Though if you ask him, he might say I’m married to my laptop, but that’s an argument for another day.

My hubby is great. Not only is he supportive of my writing, but he is also my idea man and sounding board. Whenever I get stuck, I bounce around ideas with him. Eventually, something sticks and that’s when I leave him for my other love, lol, my computer.

As for kids, yep, I have them too. It’s actually odd for me to say “them” because until just recently, I only had one. Now, however, we are expecting #2!! And, of course, we are all excited. My daughter is already talking about how great a big sister she will be. She’s 7. She’s got a ton of things she wants to teach baby to do. So cute!!

Are the family supportive of the hours you need to spend online?

For the most part, yes. They do threaten to mutiny though if I try to work weekends. I try to find the balance though between writing and family. It’s hard some days, but even when I’m knee-deep in a story, I still make time for things like: Family game night or Movie night. Dinner time is always a “family time” thing too. You don’t mess with dinner time. LoL.

Social marketing is a must do for an Indie author, tell my readers how much time you dedicate to it on a daily basis?

I don’t think I can sum it up into any particular number as in: I spend x amount of time on each task. Social marketing is all about being social and having an online presence, not really selling your book as you might think. Sure, I post links to my books and links to reviews every now and again, but really, most of my activity online is just being social. Basically, I try to hit each social networking stop every day. The more visible you are, the more people can get to know you. That goes a lot farther to help sell books than just posting random “Hey, buy my book,” links.

For example, first thing in the morning, while I’m getting munchkin ready for school, I might log on to Facebook, check some status updates and make a few comments. Then, while eating breakfast, I might pop into Twitter. After that, I might swing by Goodreads and Kindleboards. I try to get a new blog post in every day but some days I just don’t have time. Then, after all of that, I have emails to respond too and critiques to return. Once that is all done, I make sure there is time for writing. I don’t set daily word count goals, but if I can get a chapter completed in one session (3-5k words) I feel pretty accomplished. Please note, I rarely get a full chapter done in one session, more like two or three. After writing is done, I make the social networking rounds again. If I have time, I add in another writing session.

How do you manage to create new work with the demands made on your time with marketing?

I do try to make time for writing each day. Some day’s its hard and some days it’s easier. If you write every day you’ll find the story is finished in no time!

Are you a plotter or a panster?

Oh, I’m a total pantser! My muse demands it. Whenever I have tried to plot out a story, my muse stomps her foot and refuses to let me write. Talk about writer’s block!! But, when I just free-write, I can get a lot more work done. That’s not to say I don’t have to re-write a lot when I write myself into a corner, but it’s what works for me.

You are an avid supporter of Indie writers and often post marketing tips on your blog, is this reciprocated by other Indie Authors?

The Indie community as a whole is a wonderful social network filled with authors sharing information and helping one another. Let me put it to you this way. Self-Publishing used to be a dirty word. It was the mark of poorly-edited work and rushed stories. It is because the community is so helpful and forthcoming with knowledge that our work collectively has improved. We all share knowledge about editors, cover artist, writing and marketing tips, etc… The more easily accessible the knowledge, the easier it is to make our work better and keep cost down. That improves our standing as a group overall and, I feel, is what is making the indie movement a force to contend with in the publishing world.

Which characters in the Anthology are your favorites and why?

Kendra and Marcus are my current favorites, but that’s just because they were the last ones I wrote about. It’s hard to pick one kid over another, and that is exactly what our characters are. They are like our children. I really had fun with Kendra & Marcus’s story because it was a flip on what you normally get with a paranormal romance. Instead of the Alpha male and the simpering female, you get an Alpha female (who just doesn’t know it yet) and a strong but sensitive male.

Did you draw inspiration from anyone in particular when shaping your characters?

Some characters are based off of people I know, more of that in the Immortalis series; however in this anthology, I took inspiration from types of people rather than actual people.

Your work is sensual, and provocative. Do you find the sexual content comfortable to write?

Oh I love writing about sex, when it fits the story. Some stories are perfect for sex, and then there are others where the focus needs to be elsewhere. Gratuitous sex, while fun, sometimes takes away from the story instead of adding to it. As I write, I try to feel out what works and what doesn’t. You’ll notice each story in this anthology has a different heat level. It’s kind of a “what’s your mood right now” thing.

Share with my readers a brief insight into each of the Three books in the anthology.

A lot of times ideas for stories come from asking questions.

In House of Immortal Pleasures, I ask: Can a night of good sex really heal a broken heart?

In Halloween Fantasies, I ask: Knowing it might very well be deadly, would you pursue your ultimate fantasy?

In Karma & Melodies, I ask: What would you go through for a second chance at love?

Each story answers its specific question.

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always loved to write. It’s in my blood. As a kid, I used to like to make up stories and have my friends act them out with me. When I got a little older, I used to journal. When I was a teen, I wrote my first full-length story, and promptly lost all the files on our move from Texas to Nevada. Even though that set me back a little, I still wanted to write. I love it! I feel like I was always meant to do this.

Where would you like to see yourself 12 months from today, in terms of your writing?

My ultimate goal is to be able to stay at home with my kids and have writing supporting or supplementing our household income enough to do that. It’s a very realistic goal and I think I can do it!

Please share with my readers the links to where they can purchase your work.

Please stop by www.katiesalidas.com and read a sample or two (You can sample all of my work there). If you like what you see, all of my novels and novellas are available in every ebook format!

Search for me on any of your favorite ebook retailer’s website.

Amazon.com

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

About the Author

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…

Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

http://www.katiesalidas.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=58814031&trk=tab_pro

Twitter http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie

Thank you so much for joining me here today. Congratulations on some very fine writing.

Thank you so much for having me here today!

Join Katie on her next blog stop at...July 10 – Susan K Mann – Book Excerpt.

The tour is presented by The Bookish Snob Promotions.