Please check out some of the other blogs in the challenge here:
A-Z BLOG CHALLENGE 2013
***Since A is also the first letter of the A-Z Challenge founder's name, Arlee Bird, Unwritten would like to send out a special THANK YOU for starting this challenge and all the work he's put into it!!! If you can, please add a thank you to Arlee in the comments below. ***
A is for...Alpha Males by Barbara Donlon Bradley
We love the Alpha Male. He commands attention when he enters
a room. People gravitate toward him. In fiction the Alpha male is often the
dark hero. The stranger who is new in town. Or the man who has been burned. The
man has luggage, some deep dark secret that the heroine must get to the bottom
of before he can love.
He’s normally the bad boy. A rebel in some aspect. Women
want him even though they know he’s trouble. The Vampire hero is a perfect
example, a predator, a killer. They make excellent bad guys, but when they
become the hero women love them.
Me? I like my hero with a little bit of Beta in him. A hero who
can laugh at himself. Life isn’t always perfect and crazy things happen. I
don’t like men who handle things with anger or shut down when things go wrong
so I don’t want to read about them in a romance book. We all have two choices
in life. We can either laugh or cry when something goes wrong. I’d rather
laugh. Maybe it’s because I always have a bit of humor in my life and in my books,
or maybe it’s because my husband is goofy. He’s my hero and always makes me
laugh.
It doesn’t mean I don’t like Alpha males. I love them as
much as you do. I like a hero who knows what he wants in life and in love. Who
isn’t afraid to help someone in need. Who stands up for what is right. That is
alpha male to me.
The best part is we all see him a little differently. What I
might think qualifies as an alpha male might not be what you think. Over all we
want a strong hero. One who will sweep us off our feet and save the day.
****
Humor is also very strong in Barbara Donlon Bradley’s life.
No matter how hard she tries to write something deep and dark, it will never
happen. That humor bleeds into her writing. Since she can’t beat it she has
learned to use it to her advantage.
Follow Barbara at:
www.barbaradonlonbradley.blogspot.com and www.barbaradonlonbradley.com
Cute hunk all but the snake (shivers). I'm a alpha female.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - I'm with you. I like Betas with a bit of Alpha, or vice versa.
ReplyDeleteI love me some alpha male. :D
ReplyDeleteNice start with the A. Next should be B, for bad boy. ;)
Barbara - I've always been on the fence between alpha and beta but like your idea that alpha can mean different things to different people.
ReplyDeleteMysti - thanks for showcasing authors during your A to Z Challenge.
Barbara - A to Z first-timer
I love a good, well-written alpha (male or female, especially when they clash and sparks fly ;-), but like you I prefer my men with at least a hint of beta. Someone who doesn't hesitate to take control when it's appropriate, but has just the right touch of humility and self-awareness. Looking forward to more of these ^_^
ReplyDelete____
Find me:
Blog: http://allysonlindt.com
email: Allyson.Lindt@gmail.com
Twitter: @AllysonLindt
Hi Barbara, an interesting article. The alpha male in romance books always seem a bit larger than life to me. He's the guy we like to daydream about but not necessarily want him in our everyday life. Of course, he's such a great guy, he'd never think we were too shy or beneath his class.
ReplyDeleteYou can't go wrong with humor in your writing.
Great job with the letter A.
Thanks so much guys! When Misty posted this I knew I wanted to participate. It was fun coming up with the subject then trying to explain my view. Like you guys I love to read about them, but not sure if I'd want one in my life. Having a man who makes me laugh everyday is great medicine. My husband might not be the perfect alpha male but he is perfect for me and helps me pick the right characters for my books. Strong men who can laugh at themselves.
ReplyDeleteBarb:)
www.barbaradonlonbradley.blogspot.com
I've fallen for my fair share of alpha males. There is something intriguing about the bad boy. But, when is all and said and done, they're not all that they're cracked up to be. I didn't marry a bad boy and I couldn't be happier! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photograph immensely although he is more than welcome to keep the snake on the other side of the screen. No matter what genre I'm reading, I love a well written character - Alpha or Beta - because it's all about the journey they make during the novel.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Barbara. I agree the Alpha male may attract our bad girl side in dreams and fiction, but when it comes down to a life mate I think most women want a combination of alpha and beta in their man.
ReplyDeleteI could never get past the snake to get to know this Alpha male. LOL
LOL - no one likes the snake either huh? I thought he was cute and the snake can be put in a box ;-)
ReplyDeleteBarb:)