Monday, April 1, 2013

A-Z Blog Challenge: A is for Alpha Males by Barbara Donlon Bradley

It's that time again!!!  Unwritten and some 1000 other blogs participated last year, and this year looks to be even bigger! Just like last year, I've opened up the blog to host 26 fabulous writers, with each day of the challenge representing the letters of the alphabet from A-Z. I've asked each writer to focus on something that is personal to them, so we can learn more about each other. 

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.

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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. 


11 comments:

  1. Cute hunk all but the snake (shivers). I'm a alpha female.

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  2. Great post - I'm with you. I like Betas with a bit of Alpha, or vice versa.

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  3. I love me some alpha male. :D

    Nice start with the A. Next should be B, for bad boy. ;)

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  4. 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.

    Mysti - thanks for showcasing authors during your A to Z Challenge.

    Barbara - A to Z first-timer

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  5. 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 ^_^

    ____

    Find me:
    Blog: http://allysonlindt.com
    email: Allyson.Lindt@gmail.com
    Twitter: @AllysonLindt

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  6. 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.

    You can't go wrong with humor in your writing.

    Great job with the letter A.


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  7. 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.

    Barb:)
    www.barbaradonlonbradley.blogspot.com

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  8. 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! :)

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  9. I 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.

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  10. Great 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.

    I could never get past the snake to get to know this Alpha male. LOL

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  11. LOL - no one likes the snake either huh? I thought he was cute and the snake can be put in a box ;-)

    Barb:)

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