Of all the characters in my books, I’ve had the most fun with the villains. Some were evil, others just manipulative and conniving. Some have even been invisible—in the form of inner demons that haunt the hero or heroine.

I’ve read books where the villain was so appealing that he or she became the hero of a later story. It’s a tactic I admire, but it never works for me. My villains are just that—villains. Lately I’ve been thinking about what goes into creating them. Here are some insights for you.

As a person, I’m the soul of gentleness–non-confrontational and forgiving to a fault. If someone crosses me I rarely complain. But sometimes I get revenge in a more subtle way—in my books. The unfair teacher, the overbearing boss, the snooty girl who made me feel like a nobody, the rude clerk , the controlling ex-whatever. I put them in costume, set them in the story, and have my way with them. It’s so satisfying…

But not all my villains are taken from life. Zeke and Noah, the hero’s half-brothers in THE STRANGER are plain evil. Zeke is a psychopath who delights in causing pain. Noah is a cold, practical and efficient killer. Caleb, my hero, tries to deny what they are, telling himself that family loyalty matters. But when they threaten the woman he loves, he is forced to face the truth.

My villains have one thing in common. Whether they’re evil or just mean-spirited, they all get their just deserts at the end of the story. One gets pounded to a pulp by the hero. One gets left at the altar after forcing the heroine to marry him. A number of them get arrested or killed. One gets chewed up by a bear. One dies in a fire. The very complex villain of an upcoming book gets shot by his former lover. As for Zeke and Noah, they get what’s coming to them—but in a surprising way.

My favorite comeuppance for a villain, however, is the one in my first Harlequin Historical, WIND RIVER. He’s a cavalry officer, not really evil, just a pompous jerk who treats the heroine badly. Near the end of the story he tells her, “You’ll be happy to know I’m leaving. I’ve put in for a transfer to the Seventh Cavalry. I’ve always wanted to serve under General Custer.”