Creating a hero—alpha, beta, or gamma? #amwriting #authortips #Marketing

#amwriting #Tirgearr romance author #authortips Creating a hero—alpha, beta, or gamma?

Writers of any genre of romance need readers (who are mostly women) to fall in love with the hero. The hero we choose depends upon the needs of the heroine. Let’s delve into the types.

What is it about the alpha hero women find attractive? The alpha is brooding, domineering, and possessive. In a romantic suspense novel, he is also protective. He goes way overboard when he cares to the point of physical pain. Should he see a psychiatrist or medical doctor? A werewolf is alpha. Most romance heroes are alpha because he’s the guy who will come out fighting. An alpha comes on strong with his arrogant persona.

What is the appeal of the beta hero? He’s mind-mannered, confident, comfortable in his own skin, and controls jealousy (unlike the alpha). His relationship with the heroine is more complementary instead of built on constant conflict. A heroine who wants a considerate guy will go for him, but maybe she doesn’t think she’s good enough. He respects her can isn’t the kind of guy who pushes himself on a woman. An alpha comes on strong with his arrogant persona.

The gamma hero is a combination of alpha and beta. An alpha can evolve into a more sensitive beta and become a gamma. A beta can be tough if the situation calls for it. In other words the gamma is a combo of both the alpha and beta. He’s got all the mad, bad alpha characteristics like being super strong and aggressive and being the guy you turn to if hell is at your door, but he’s not super arrogant. His sensitivity allows him to care about others. Besides the heroine, he has strong friend and family ties.

What heroes do you prefer writing—alpha, beta, or gamma?

Examples of my choices:

In Deadly Alliance the hero is ex-military and is a CEO of his company when terrorists invade their town. He’s an emotionally damaged alpha when the heroine meets him and needs his protection.

In Unholy Alliance my lawyer hero is a single dad. His career and son are foremost in his life, and he struggles with visitation constrictions. He doesn’t have crippling emotional baggage. The heroine is a mobster’s daughter who is done with bad boys wants a good stable man.

Find both book descriptions here: www.tirpub.com/krowland

Award-winning author Kathleen Rowland is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes suspense with a sizzling love story sure to melt their hearts. Writing a romantic suspense series for Tirgearr Publishing, Deadly Alliance is followed by Unholy Alliance. Bittersweet Alliance in the works. Keep an icy drink handy while reading these sizzling romantic thrillers.

Kathleen used to write computer programs but now writes novels. She grew up in Iowa where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and raced her sailboat on Lake Okoboji. Now she wears flip-flops and sails with her husband, Gerry, on Newport Harbor but wishes there were lightning bugs in California.

Kathleen exists happily with her witty CPA husband, Gerry, in their 70’s poolside retreat in Southern California where she adores time spent with visiting grandchildren, dogs, one bunny, and noisy neighbors. While proud of their five children who’ve flown the coop, she appreciates the luxury of time to write. If you’d enjoy secrets behind books, signup for Kathleen’s newsletter on her website:

http://www.kathleenrowland.com/

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What a wonderful article!

Thanks for sharing,

Tina

#AuthorTips - Taming the Time Eating Monster

Make Quick Decisions
This may sound elementary but a quick decision can save time and money.

For example that stack of mail that you just brought in. What is the best way to handle it?



Let’s look at some options:

• My option, which I must admit is the wrong one, is to lay it on the table and deal with it later.
• Get rid of the Garage - throwing away the ads* and junk mail, set the letters aside to open later. (This may sound simple but if you can make a quick decision on the things you don’t need that less you’ll have to deal with later.)




* Point here is if you do look through ads, only pick the ones where you will shop, or only keep the ones that you will have time to visit this week.



• Open everything and sort by need – bills, things to be shredded, letter that need action.



The bills get sorted by their due date and put in a place where I can write out the checks and send in. (A quick five-minute task)




A box next to the shredder will get the shredding stuff to let the kids do or if (I have a few minutes)




Letters that need attention, will be set up in another area for when, you got it (I have five-minutes)




• Do everything at once.

As you can see there are many ways to break a task down into small bites. The main point is to make a quick decision on what you need and what you don’t. If the out come is not important – a quick decision can save time and teach you how to make a decision without regrets.
Don’t get drug down by the undercurrents of life’s tides.
Ride the waves and enjoy life.

Tina