Alpha Males - The Debate Escalates

In my previous post, I asked if women really wanted alpha males. The subject brought on some interesting discussion on both this blog and on my MySpace blog at www.myspace.com/suspensebytina One male writer, Pandem, brought up an interesting question. He agreed to let me quote him.

“Beautiful post! I want to see more discussion on this topic! Alpha males are great for fantasy, but in reality, they don't always work out so well, as I gather you, Tina, can attest. I've also been told that women tend to go for the "bad boys" in the hopes that they will be the "special one" that changes him or that they can make him into something different, and more often than not, it's just the women that get hurt. Are romance novelists helping women have false expectations about alpha males? It's something to think about. . .

Personally, I have no idea whether I am an alpha male or a beta male; that's something I leave up to other people to worry about. One story I'm working on now is about a woman having to choose between a tough-guy alpha male and the sweet, sensitive beta male. . .with an interesting twist. . .I'll let you know how it comes out Thanks for the thought-provoking write, Tina!”

Pandem

The Wild Rose Press

Pandem can’t be the only person to ponder this question, and I know when I should get more info before making a decision, so I consulted writers from the AZ chapters of RWA. They fell on both sides of the fence.


“I think your male writer is absolutely right. In my personal experience with bad boys, they can’t be tamed and don’t want to be tamed. They enjoy who they are because it’s fun. Mind you, my point of reference is young bad boys because I learned early to give them up. They’re usually Mr. Right Now, not Mr. Right. That being said, I think you can still write a strong hero and just cut out some of the testosterone, i.e. the Alpha Beta male. Or make the negative issues part of the plot. Have something happen that makes them rethink their whole view of life, maybe a ‘this isn’t working for me anymore’ moment. Just some thoughts…”

Julie Ellis

“Bad boys are NOT alpha males! They are the bottom rung, not the top. They are bad because they have self-esteem issues and are searching for power in inappropriate ways.

Alpha males are confident, self-sufficient, capable. Their self-esteem is so good, it's over the top. They don't "need" anyone. Richard Gere in "Pretty Woman" is the quintessential example. Or Tom Cruise in "Jerry Maguire."

The reason those movies were so popular is, again, because there was a "chink" that let the women in. Do real-life alpha males have "chinks"? Some do; some deny it.

Are romance writers doing women a disservice by presenting a false hope? No. It's fiction; escapism; it's not real, and women know it.

The counter-question is: does Playboy do men a disservice by presenting unnatural images? No. It's fiction; escapism; it's not real, and men know it.
But we all like to escape now and again! “

Kris :)

"Norway is the new Scotland"

http://www.kristualla.com

http://www.myspace.com/kristualla

A WOMAN OF CHOICE

Missouri Territory 1819 -

A betraying husband,the father of her child, a convenient fiancé.

One woman, three very different men.

Life is about choices.





I sincerely hope our readers know our novels are fantasies. My favorite movie right now is Mama Mia and I didn’t leave the theater thinking a man from my past would ever walk in the door and marry me without even a long discussion first. LOL

Whether or not bad boys are alpha is a matter of opinion. I think they can be. At this point we may be debating semantics. In any case, the bottom line, in my opinion, is women want a good man and men want a good woman, whether it is in a book, a movie, or real life.

Next week’s question will be, “Should Men Read Romance Novels to Learn More About Women?” Email me your opinion at suspensebytina @ aol.com (no spaces) and you may be quoted on next week’s blog post.

Happy reading,
Tina
.

Interview with Brenda Joyce

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Brenda Joyce . It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called DARK EMBRACE. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Everyone fears the shadows of the night. No one likes walking down a deserted street after the sun goes down, not in 2008—and not in 1508. Of course, we think we’re being silly to start at every little sound we hear—when we know nothing is lying in wait for us out there in the dark. And violence and crime is on the upswing because our society has broken down—and not for any other reason….right?

Welcome to the world of the Masters of Time.

The Masters of Time are Highland warriors sworn to protect Innocence through the ages. They do not choose their destiny—it is chosen for them. The Masters are medieval men to the core—savage in war, ruthless in outlook, totally sexist in nature, and impossibly powerful—after all, they are descended from the old Celtic gods. And one of their greatest powers is the power to leap through time…

And then along comes a very modern and independent woman…

Dark Embrace is the third book in this series. Aidan of Awe has fallen. He is furious with the gods, has forsaken his vows, and now, he walks alone and wars alone, lusting for power and revenge. He is a Highlander without a clan, but the evil that destroyed his son is now trying to destroy him…

Brianna Rose fights evil from the safety of her laptop on the basement of CDA, a government agency. She met Aidan once briefly, when he was a Master, and has had a mad crush on him ever since. Which is fine with her—a crush is really safe. Because Brie is a computer geek with no interest in a real relationship. But, she is a Rose, and the Rose women have been fighting evil with their gifts for generations. And then once night she wakes up consumed with Aidan’s pain—in spite of the gulf of centuries which separate them. And she knows he is in danger. Now, she will do anything to find him—and redeem him.

Dark Embrace is a story of fury, desperation, love and revenge—and redemption. It is also Book One of the Rose Trilogy.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I have been published for 20 years, and I switch genres periodically to stay fresh and creative. But medieval men are my favorite heroes—the more alpha, the better, as far as I am concerned. Now, I get to write the most powerful heroes I have ever done—medieval Highlanders with god given powers and a mandate to save the world! To make matters even better, the romantic conflict when the hero meets his soul mate is amazing—medieval macho man meets strong modern women—and do the sparks fly. The collision of expectations, values and cultures is off the charts. I am having a blast writing about the Masters of Time.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

We meet Aidan in Dark Seduction and again in Dark Rival. He is Malcolm of Dunroch’s half-brother. It was a no-brainer to know that eventually I’d do his story. And his father is a demon who raped his mother—obviously this would torture him and be a fundamental aspect of his character’s journey. In Dark Embrace, he believes he is meant to be evil—neither man nor deamhan, just some evil being in between—a half-deamhan.

What are your favorite historical research books and why?

It depends on the current work. I love Highlanders, A History of the Scottish Clans, by Fitzroy Maclean, because it is short and concise and colorful, but for detail, Scotland, The Story of a nation, by Magnus Magnusson, is unrivaled.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

Aidan was hard to do. He is my first anti-hero, and when I was done, I said, never again. But I will absolutely do more heroes as dark! And Brie is a departure for me. She is a shy computer geek. But she rises to the occasion and really grows into a strong, tough woman in Dark Embrace. I do not have any single favorite hero—but to name a few, Rolfe in The Conqueror, Liam in The Game, and Royce in Dark Rival. My favorite heroines are Katherine (The Game) and Allie (Dark Rival.)

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research affect your character development?

My characters come to me several years before I write their stories, unfocused, unformed, an image in my head, letting me know that they are in the wings demanding a story, sooner or later. Then they start to shape up. I will envision a dark, tortured hero who has fallen, like Aidan. And once I have the major theme that will propel character, (the cross he bears) I sit down and think it out while I am in the proposal stage of my plot outline. Character development and plot development go hand in hand.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

The first two romance authors I ever read were Rosemary Rogers and Johanna Lindsey. The greatest novels I’ve ever read were Tai-Pan by James Clavell and Gone with the Wind. I think I’d add Skye O’Malley by Beatrice Small. So my inspiration was a hodge-podge.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

My websites: mastersoftimebooks.com, thedewarennedynasty.com and brendajoyce.com, in that order. And the book trailers for the Masters of Time, which can be seen at mastersoftimebooks.com.

What do we have to look forward next?

January 2009 -- The Prize reissue.

March 2009 -- Dark Victory, The Rose Trilogy continues

Thanks, Brenda!

To celebrate her book release, Brenda is offering a wonderful Masters Of Time Starter Pak which includes: Signed copy of Dark Seduction, Signed copy of Dark Rival, MOT Mousepad, Dark Embrace Computer Cloth, Dark Rival Flashlight, Bookmarks and postcards to one lucky commenter on today's blog. She will be checking in today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio: Brenda Joyce is the bestselling author of fourty-one novels and five novellas. She has won many awards, and her debut novel, Innocent Fire, won a Best Western Romance award. She has also won the highly coveted Best Historical Romance award for Splendor and Two Lifetime Achievement Awards from Romantic Times BOOKreviews. There are over 14 million copies of her novels in print and she is published in over a dozen foreign countries.

A native New Yorker, she now lives in southern Arizona with her son, dogs, and her Arabian and half-Arabian reining horses. Brenda divides her time between her twin passions—writing powerful love stories and competing with her horses at regional and national levels. For more information about Brenda and her upcoming novels, please visit her Web sites: www.brendajoyce.com, www.thedewarennedynasty.com and http://mastersoftimebooks.com/.

Buy at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-1361823-3840838?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Dark+Embrace&x=18&y=21

"Sex Between The Pages: Understanding & Writing Sexual Tension"

September 2-29, 2008
"Sex Between The Pages: Understanding & Writing Sexual Tension"
by Mary Buckham
Registration $30 at www.WriterUniv.com/

How do you write great sexual tension? That’s the question Mary Buckham posed to Linda Howard, Stella Cameron, Susan Andersen, Nancy Warren and more romance writers who write great sexual tension from sweet to spicy hot. In her workshop, Mary combines these lessons from real-writers with practical understanding of the 12 Stages of Intimacy (based on Desmond Morris' works) and more recent findings by scientists on the amazing role biology plays in mate attraction and selection -- findings that can be directly incorporated in our creation of powerful sexual tension.

So if you want to learn how to increase the sexual tension in your work, don’t miss this opportunity.

Topics include:
* Sex versus Intimacy
* Using conflict to increase sexual tension
* The importance of details
* How to portray body language
* Maximizing biological differences between the sexes
* Analyzing those who write sexual tension well
* Exercises for your work in progress

Mary Buckham’s debut Romantic Suspense novel, THE MAKEOVER MISSION, was a Silhouette Intimate Moments release. Her second novel, INVISIBLE RECRUIT, was a May 2006 Silhouette Bombshell. A former magazine editor, she has written hundreds of free-lance articles and a non-fiction book. Currently she is a national writing-workshop presenter, both online and at conferences. Visit www.MaryBuckham.com or www.BreakIntoFiction.com for more information about the release of her Break Into Fiction™ book coming June 2009.

Make It Happen: Harnessing Your Inner Power to Break In (or Back In) the World of Publishing

Make It Happen: Harnessing Your Inner Power to Break In (or Back In) the World of Publishing
A Four-Week Online Workshop
Dates: September 1-30, 2008
Fee: $30
Deadline for payment: August 28, 2008
Go to http://www.pasic.net/workshops.html for more information

By Christie Craig and Faye Hughes

Do you ever think it will never happen—that you’ll never reach your dream of getting “the call”, of really seeing your book on the bookshelves? Perhaps, you’ve made it in, but it’s been years since you’ve seen a new contract. If so, you’re not alone. Career slumps are a part of the business. But if you think there’s nothing you can do to make it happen, you’re wrong! Christie Craig and Faye Hughes, co-authors of the upcoming The Everything Guide to Writing Romance Novels and firm believers in the power to “Make It Happen” in their lives and careers, have developed a system that writers can use to reclaim their inner power, maximize their creative potential and turn those rejections into offers. In their four-week online workshop, they combine solid career advice and easy-to-duplicate techniques with humor, motivation and hope for authors who are beginning to wonder if giving up isn’t the best option for them.

With Craig’s twelve-year dry spell between her first romance novel and the sale of four books in one day, and Hughes’ nine-year period between her seven award-winning romance novels (two of which were optioned for TV movies) to the launching of her viable non-fiction career, these two ladies own the market in perseverance. In fact, senior romance buyer Sue Grimshaw of Borders Group, credits Craig’s perseverance with Borders’ decision to increase their initial order and placement of her December, 2007 Dorchester title. (It paid off, too! After landing on Bookscan’s Top Romance Buys list for its first two weeks of release, Christie’s book went out of stock, prompting Dorchester to order an immediate second printing.)

So, can their philosophy of Make It Happen really work for you? Absolutely! All it takes is a belief in yourself and a willingness to go for your dream. After all, both Craig and Hughes have had their share of “No’s”, from editors, agents and critique partners, but still soldiered on . . . and proved their critics wrong every time. Now it’s your turn.
Lecture Topics for Make It Happen
1. Self-Evaluation and following your own path.
2. Thinking outside the box.
3. Retaking Control. (Stop trying to control the things you can’t, and focus on the things you can do. )
4. Set the stage for success. (Because, ultimately, the only thing you can control is your response to adversity.)
5. Take Baby Steps. (Do one little thing every day to make it happen.)
6. ind a team partner.
7. Ignore the Fear
8. Know the difference between being driven and being obsessed. (Knowing when you’re running on empty and when it’s time to refill your soul with some TLC.)

PRESENTERS:Christie Craig, an Alabama native, is an award-winning, multi-published writer, multi-published photo journalist, motivational speaker, and writing teacher who is happily married to her prince charming. Her short non-fiction has appeared in several of the CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL series, as well as in many national magazines. She recently achieved one of her dreams when she broke back into the fiction market after a long hiatus by selling four romance novels in one day. Her latest novel is DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DELICIOUS from Dorchester LoveSpell.

Faye Hughes is the award-winning author of seven highly-acclaimed novels of romantic fiction published by Bantam, Zebra and Meteor. Single, she is still searching for her own prince after having kissed enough frogs to populate every pond in her home state of Mississippi. Two of her romance novels have been optioned for television movies, and she is crossing her fingers that a new sale is imminent.

Together, they are the co-authors of The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel (Adams Media, September, 2008) and are popular presenters of humor-filled workshops about writing, romance and life in the south. Their joint website, www.WritewithUs.net, will be launching in early 2008.

Fee: $30Deadline for payment: August 28, 2008
For more information go to:

http://www.pasic.net/workshops.html

We have a winner!

Congratulations to DAUN ANN, the winner of an autographed copy of Kathryne Kennedy's DOUBLE ENCHANTMENT!

Please send an email to: kathryne_kennedy@yahoo.com with Winner in the subject line, and your mailing address in the body (your info will be kept confidential).

Thank you to all those that stopped by and commented on my interview. It was lots of fun!

Do Women Really Want Alpha Males?

Do Women Really Want Alpha Males?

When I think of strong alphas, I picture Conan the Barbarian. Been there, done that, have the T-shirt to prove I survived it. As I grow older and wiser (I hope), I picture the perfect hero as a nice, intelligent man, who is respected by others. He isn’t afraid to love the heroine and actually communicates his feelings. I also don’t care if he’s ever seen the inside of a gym. If a Navy Seal was flexing his muscles in one corner and a cute computer geek was smiling at me from another corner, I would choose the man paying attention to ME. LOL

This changing viewpoint has created a problem in my writing. In the first drafts of Liquid Hypnosis, the hero was more beta than alpha. I received some negative feedback. I keep hearing women want to read about alpha males. Luckily, I fixed my hero with minor changes, but I’m struggling with this next one. I have to fall in love with him if I’m going to write the romantic subplot convincingly.

Once again, I turned to romance readers and writers to find out how alpha he really needs to be. I also began to wonder if the romance novel alpha male was just a fantasy?

I love Kris’s answer.



“In real life, it seems that alpha males are so focused on their own agendas that they struggle with relationships. Obviously, they marry. Multiple times. Think Donald Trump!The beauty of our alpha heroes is that they are vulnerable somehow. And that lets us "in" and we are able to complete them. THAT is the best fantasy of all: the big strong warrior who cannot win all without me by his side.”

Kris Tualla
Desert Rose Chapter of

Romance Writers of America




“I personally love Roarke. In fact, he is the reason I read the JD Robb books. I tend to think of him as all Alpha. He'll do anything for Eve, even kill. And has. To me, that screams Alpha. He's very attentive of her, very sweet to her, and very in tune to her feelings. I believe that's a strong Alpha - one who can kick ass, take names, and still know how to love his heroine. In regard to Suz's Seals. Sam Starrett is as Alpha as you can get, but he falls to pieces when it comes to Alyssa. Same as with all the other ones. They are hard-asses, until they meet the woman of their dreams.

In case you haven't figured it out - I LOVE Alpha males. I come from a line of law enforcement, so the men in my family were Alphas.”

June

http://www.junelove.com/



“Alpha males with big guns make my day.

--Don't know if you can use this, Tina, but it's true. Lol”

Melanie Atkins
Chilling Suspense…Steamy Romance
http://www.melanieatkins.com/



“I actually don't care for males who are too alpha. I like enlightened alphas or alphas with heart, but I think I like to have betas too. It's good to have a man in a romance that

can be counted on in standing up against a villain or bad circumstances, but it's also nice to think of them being able to relax together, after the end of the story, with the heroine not having to worry about repeatedly bumping heads with him over some issues. So both alphas and betas can be successful or annoying, depending on how you write them.”

Varina
Desert Rose Chapter of RWA




Thanks, ladies.
After reading the posts here and on my writing loops, I realized I like an Alpha/Beta mix. I want a man who will stand up for himself, especially with me, but not a guy who acts like Conan. Now I have direction for my poor hero who is only a shell of a man right now. I guess I better get back to the keyboard and bring him to life.

Tina

Interview with Kathryne Kennedy

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Kathryne Kennedy. It’s a pleasure having an interview with one of our own members here at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called DOUBLE ENCHANTMENT. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

DOUBLE ENCHANTMENT is the second book in the RELICS OF MERLIN series (although since the relics connect them it easily stands alone). Jasmina is an earl’s daughter who cast a simple illusion of herself, unaware that the jewel in her possession was one of Merlin’s relics…and the spell took on a life of its own. Sterling is a were-stallion who meets Jasmina’s illusion and marries her. When he finds out the truth and meets the real Lady Jasmina life starts to get very complicated for both of them.

DOUBLE ENCHANTMENT is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

All the books in the RELICS OF MERLIN series have some form of ‘enchant’ in the title, and since Jasmina made a twin of herself….

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I have always loved fantasy and romance, and anything Victorian. I just combined all of my favorite things.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

I tried my hand at writing a Victorian historical romance, and the entire time I was writing it I kept saying “What if?” (I just couldn’t turn off the fantasy lover in me). It always seemed unfair that males inherited the titles and land, so wouldn’t it be wonderful if women had power? Not in strength of arms, but with magic. So, regardless of sex, the child who had inherited the magical power would be heir. And of course, those with more magical abilities would hold the highest title…so the world of Merlin’s Relics was born.

What are your favorite historical research books and why?

The book that I turn to the most whenever I have a question is WHAT JANE AUSTEN ATE AND CHARLES DICKENS KNEW by Daniel Pool. For DOUBLE ENCHANTMENT, I used INSIDE THE VICTORIAN HOME by Judith Flanders to develop the mind-set of not only Jasmina, but also her father and mother as well.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

Since my favorite characters are always in the book I’m currently writing, I would have to say Sir Nicodemus Wulfson and Lady Philomena Radcliff, my hero and heroine in ENCHANTING THE BEAST. I love Nico’s wolfish nature and Phil’s practicality. And since Phil is an older woman, I think I can identify with her very well.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research affect your character development?

Yes, I create character sheets, with inner and outer motivation, their goals and inner secrets, childhood experiences and how it may affect their personality, and of course, their physical descriptions. I haven’t done an interview yet, although I think it would be lots of fun. I do try to model my character’s opinions and views from the research I do in the time period. My shape-shifters are always influenced by their were-natures.

How do you go about building your world? Do you use maps, charts or drawings?

All of the above (although I’m a terrible artist). I created maps of my alternate Victorian London to keep track of changes to name places (Pall Mall became Pall Mage, Belgrave Square became Gargoyle Square, and I added the Hall of Mages next to Buckingham Palace, for example) because with the influence of magic, the city would develop differently. I also have a ‘map’ of a Victorian mansion, with the type of furniture for each room listed (In England, the first floor of a home is the ground floor, and the first floor is called the second, which is often confusing to my American mind :}). I also have a chart with hereditary titles, how each peer is addressed, and their level of magic. I keep a dictionary of my own words, because I often make them up; and a chart of the relics, when they were discovered, what type of jewel and spell (if known).

What are some common speech terms, dress modes, transportation or housing facts that you found interesting for your time period?

I already mentioned the difference in housing above. I was surprised to discover such early use of water closets, especially one that used dirt to absorb the refuse (called an earth closet). Since neither of them was widely used until later in the century, I usually refrain from mentioning them.

I’m currently compiling a list of Victorian slang that I hope to post here at Much Cheaper Than Therapy soon. I think the most surprising thing I discovered with that (although maybe I shouldn’t have been) was the sheer volume of slang that referred to a woman’s private parts. I should also mention that ‘bloody’ was really considered a very vulgar word in Victorian times, but it’s used so widely today as mild British slang that I use it in my books to capture the flavor of the country. Some of the slang terms I’ve discovered would just be too bizarre for today’s reader, and would just be confusing.

As far as dress modes go, in the time period for ENCHANTING THE BEAST, I discovered an alternate fashion from the corsets and enormous hoops popular in the time period. Since my heroine was a bit of a rebel, she adopted this ‘artistic’ style of dress.

Victorians were known for their prudery. And yet the bustle developed because men admired the sway of a woman’s backside. And isn’t it interesting that although women were clothed head to toe, their bosoms were usually on display, and they had slits in their drawers?

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

I would have to say that my biggest inspiration is my mom, who is a published romance novelist. She taught me that it was not an impossible dream; I just had to work hard.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

I have many, but one that I don’t see utilized enough is Gather.com, a social networking site. You can learn more from my own profile: http://kathrynekennedy.gather.com/
But I tell you what, I’ll write a more in-depth article about what it is and how to use it for my next blog entry here at Much Cheaper Than Therapy.:}

What do we have to look forward to next?

I’m currently writing ENCHANTING THE BEAST, about a Victorian ghost-hunter who’s hired to solve the mystery of a were-wolf’s haunted castle. It’s scheduled for release in 2009.

Thanks, Kathryne!

To celebrate her book release, Kathryne is offering a free autographed copy of DOUBLE ENCHANTMENT to one lucky commenter on today's blog. Please make sure we have an e-mail address to contact you if you win. She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio. Kathryne Kennedy is a multi-published author of magical romances. She currently has a new series with Dorchester Publishing called the RELICS OF MERLIN. The first book, ENCHANTING THE LADY, was released January 2008 to wonderful reviews. Subsequent books are DOUBLE ENCHANTMENT and ENCHANTING THE BEAST. She lives in Arizona with her husband, son, and two very tiny Chihuahuas.

Check out author’s website at http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/

Buy http://www.amazon.com/Double-Enchantment-Kathryne-Kennedy/dp/0505527634/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205445420&sr=1-1