Greetings.
Rogues. Scoundrels. Scalawags. Hustlers. Rascals. Thieves. Bandits. Pirates. Pickpockets. These are the kinds of characters I love reading about the most or seeing up on the big or little screens.
These men and women are occasionally the hero of the tale but more often reside in a grey area between the two sides. Three qualities I have noticed in these characters include:
- Don’t live by the rules. These folks make up their own rules. Sometimes they pretend to the follow along for their own ends but if a rule gets in their way they are very quick and willing to ignore it to get their desired results.
- Always have a snarky comeback. These are the one liners that everyone remembers and more often than not cause their audience to laugh out loud. Or have a milk out the nose moment.
- Fun. These folks are fun. They may be in the deepest of dangers with no hope of rescue, death riding on their shoulders, but they remain fun. They laugh in the face of danger. They crack jokes as they skewer their enemies with a dagger. They are always fun.
I will be writing about these guys when I am not writing about my own writing. Yes, I am a writer. Or rather a wannabe writer. I write primarily sword and sorcery fantasy though I have recently delved into the urban fantasy genre. The short story is not your typical urban fantasy. It involves a semi-retired dragon-slayer called into action once again in the Pacific Northwest. John St. George is a rogue at heart. Not many take up the call to slay dragons but he does it anyway, despite the dangers, despite his bad knees.
