Let's give a warm welcome to Author Selena Blake! She's here to talk about one of our favorite subjects "Alphas"!!
What Makes an Alpha an Alpha?
By Selena
Blake
Most of the men I write about are alpha
males. It's really no surprise to me that the alpha draws readers and authors
alike.
Up until recently, I've written mostly
paranormal romance and the occasional short contemporary. Some of my leading
men are more "alpha" than others, but they all share similar traits.
It's these qualities, among others, that I (and most of my readers) consider
attractive, even sexy.
Confidence. Charisma. Intelligence. Pride.
Protectiveness. And a certain amount of selflessness.
Alpha males aren't dominant just because
they're strong. They are dominant because they're worldly and wise, smart and
experienced, caring and thoughtful. They work harder, think harder than the
average man. They don't take advantage of women. They don't desire to dominate
them in bed. They aren't domineering just to be domineering.
They dominate our world because they're so
unusual. A perfect mix of take charge and soft heart.
And despite what you might think, they get
along with other alpha males. My first series (Stormy Weather) is chock full of
alpha males, but only one werewolf can be the pack's Alpha. So how on earth were
all those alphas living under the same roof? Simple. Once you realize
that they're all confident in their own skin, in their own ability, that they
respect each other, it all makes sense.
It seems to me that when you think of alpha
males, you automatically think of gritty, angsty, cocky men who are either
paranormal or human with a kick ass job. Men so filled with tough-guy-attitude
and testosterone that they can't help but be the leader.
Think Navy SEAL, high powered CEO, or pro
athlete. Jobs that require men to be confident, strong risk takers. Men who
will do whatever it takes to win.
Lately there's been a surge of heroes who
have all of the traits above but they're...well, they're a step past your
typical alpha male. They are battered, bruised men who aren't afraid to demand
what they want from the women in their life. The question is, does that make
them alpha? Or just mean?
It's a fine line, I think. I had one
reviewer call Sebastian Deveraux (the hero in my novella THE CAJUN'S CAPTIVE)
abusive. I didn't see that one coming. Sebastian waited a long (almost 200
years) time to find his mate. And he's tired of pussy-footing around his desire
for Amanda St. James. He'll do whatever it takes to get her to finally admit
her love for him. To me, that's hopelessly romantic.
Abusive is not a word I want associated
with my heroes because these men would truly lay down their life for their
woman. And no, I don't take issue when they call their lady love "their
woman." Because, again, these men see their wife/mate as their equal. They
fight for her, would do anything to make her dreams come true, will protect not
only her but their home, their friends, their family. They go the extra mile to
bring a smile to her face and will always be there to hold her hair back. When
they call her "their woman" they do so with the utmost respect and
realize that if she belongs to him, likewise, he belongs to her. And they'd
have it no other way.
Does an alpha have to be tough,
overbearing, and well… grunty? I wondered if it was possible that there
could be a softer, quieter but equally intense type of alpha male out there.
Does he have to be a super soldier or a CEO poised for a billion dollar
takeover?
My most recent release is about a former
NFL legend named Trevor Wyatt and he really got me thinking about what it is
that makes an alpha male, well...alpha.
I asked my readers this question because
they've read about lots of alpha males over the years. You're welcome to join
the discussion by the way (http://ow.ly/mg5HQ)
I really loved Caroline's take:
An alpha male has an internal confidence
and a drive to protect what's his; he is like a "jealous god",
generous with those he cares about, with a strong sense of personal ethics that
may or may not be traditional. Whether he's a defender of old ways or a
trailblazer, he walks his talk.
Most of my readers agreed that confidence
is a key trait among alphas and that's perhaps what attracts me to them as main
characters for my books. Trevor, my latest hero, has confidence in spades. I
think to be at the top of your chosen field, you have to have a strong backbone
and conviction. And as Caroline says "walk the talk."
I also like what she said about generous with
those he cares about because I find that especially true among my heroes. Even
before he realizes his love for the heroine, he'll realize she's special and
he'll go out of his way to take care of her. But never in a patronizing way. He
will genuinely want to help her.
Julie noted that alphas are "a
presence you know you can rely on."
So true! There's no other way to say it
other than they get shit done. They'll get to the heart of the problem and go
the extra mile.
Really, is it any wonder at all that alphas
are so popular? Yeah, I didn't think so. I'll rest my case.
Upcoming Release – Ask
For It - blurb:
Trevor Wyatt has lusted for journalist JJ Fairchild since
before he retired from the NFL. Now she’s back in his life and he’s not going
to miss the opportunity to show her just how good they could be together.
Words may be JJ’s tool of trade, but when it comes to the
bedroom, words escape her. Trevor’s an excellent teacher and before she knows
it, she’s asking for what she wants.
But when outside forces threaten to expose dark secrets from
Trevor’s past, can he overcome his suspicions and trust the woman in his bed?
Games
Demons Play blurb:
The emotional and sinfully sweet
third book in the Mystic Isle series.When Izzy Lukin wakes up in the arms of a
sinfully handsome stranger, she’s immediately sure of two things. She wrecked a
really expensive car and the man holding her is not human.Shade has won enough
card games in his life to know when to hold. The beautiful vamp hell bent on
paying for the damage she caused is definitely worth holding on to.But what
will happen when she finds out they’ll be going head-to-head in the poker
tournament…and he never loses?
Warning: contains an impulsive
heroine, one super sexy demon who never loses, steamy bathroom sex, a glitzy
casino and surprises no one saw coming
Buy Links:
About The Author
An action movie buff with a penchant for
all things supernatural and sexy, Selena Blake combines her love for adventure,
travel and romance into steamy paranormal romance. Selena’s books have been
called “a steamy escape” and have appeared on bestseller lists, been nominated
for awards, and won contests. When she’s not writing you can find her by
the pool soaking up some sun, day dreaming about new characters, and watching
the cabana boy (aka her muse), Derek. Fan mail keeps her going when the diet
soda wears off so write to her at Selena@selena-blake.com
Visit her online at http://www.selena-blake.com or if you’re on
Facebook, become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/authorSelenaBlake
Visit her online at http://www.selena-blake.com or if you’re on Facebook,
become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/authorSelenaBlake
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