I’m often questioned about the disparity in the type of books I write. I don’t see a disparity in the books at all. Magel’s Daughter and Magel’s Ghost address familial dysfunction that spins out of control into the realm of evil. While Island Adrift and Ithaka address dysfunction that spins toward healing, or the good. The two forces of good and evil equally fascinate me since human beings encounter these energies daily. And it is the choices we make that determine our destinies.
The common thread in all of the books is of course, flawed characters. Aren’t we all flawed? And don’t we all at one time or another spin toward either end of the spectrum of good and evil. It is the psyche of the character and the choices they make that determines the direction of the book. And always it is fascinating to see what unfolds.
Karin in Magel’s Daughter is really not that different from Christine in Island Adrift. Karin hallucinates and then listens to the counsel of said hallucinations while Christine seeks her personal security in men–its all insanity isn’t it!
So its up to you, dear reader, to choose what is most interesting to read. Do you enjoy a book about redemption or a book about destruction? Or are you like me and flip back and forth?
kookspin 
I very much agree with this nicely cogent piece. I’m interested in the good / evil tussle too – it is the root of my own books. Nice to see a clear well argued opinion expressed in so few words.
Agree, Nancy. The struggles between good and bad are evident in everyone’s life. They must also be a part of every story. Often times, the good in the protagonist is buried or the badness of the antagonist is well hidden until the perfect moment for its blossoming arrives. My current trilogy is a spiritual battle between the good and bad of religion and its archaic dogma versus the advancements (good and bad) of science, evolution and quantum physics potentialities.
I love working with damaged characters. I find them more interesting. That arc of change from damaged to healed or avoiding hurt to facing it etc. Definitely my choice. That flaw might be obvious or not but it will drives their choices.
Excellent post and so true. The books are two sides of the same page. Like the Cherokee parable (did I really just say that?) of the Two Wolves. Your books are the Two Wolves!
I flip between the two depending on what I’ve had for breakfast. Coffee = Good. No coffee = Rolf.
Flawed characters are very important. It is nice twist when a good character becomes the villian. I don’t know why I like the betrayal but it makes me want to figure if there were signs of this character’s motives ahead of time. I have written one of my main characters to lose his ways and he ended up dying. Some of my short stories have character who would seemed to be good on the outside but they end up doing things wrong because they are not strong enough to make the right choices. I think these stories speak to the human nature.