Alpha or Beta?

Alpha or Beta? That is the question – for writers and readers of romance novels, that is. While alphas and betas can appear any work of fiction, be it action, spy thriller, or sci-fi, they are the bread and butter of romantic fiction.

The Alpha Hero

Who is the alpha hero? James Bond is probably the most recognizable alpha hero. He’s the prototypical male sex symbol. The guy we think of as a hunk, a hottie, a walking wet dream. He’s strong, confident, smart, and often charming. He may be a little dangerous, with a barely-contained dark side. He might even carry hidden emotional wounds. He’s the powerful business man, the heroic warrior, or the daredevil. He’s sexually adventurous, with no (or at least an unrecognized) desire to settle down. But when he does find his lady love, woe be unto the person who tries to harm her or come between them.

In popular fiction, think Jacob in Twilight or Gale in The Hunger Games.

Jacob and Gale

In classic literature think the Byronic Rochester in Jane Eyre or the aloof Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. And of course, one can’t forget the debonair Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind.

Rochester, Darcy, and Rhett

The Beta Hero

Where the Alpha Hero is the sex symbol, the Beta Hero is the boy next door. The one you’d bring home to mother. He’s cute, smart, affable, and charming as well, only in a quieter, sometimes more sincere way. He’s trustworthy, dedicated, and an all-around nice guy. He might have had his heart broken, and be less willing to take the risk again, until he meets the heroine. He’s perceptive, a good listener, and a genuine friend. And while he may be quiet, even laid back, he’s fierce when faced with an injustice, especially if that injustice has been meted out against a loved one.

Some may argue otherwise, but I’d place Edward Cullen in this category. He’s not brash and cocky like Jacob. And while he has a dark, powerful side, for me, it’s his overwhelming desire to be good that tips him into the beta camp. Peeta from The Hunger Games also fits this archetype.

Edward and Peeta

From classic literature I’d place Jude Fawley, from Jude the Obscure, and aside from Fitzwilliam Darcy, all of Austen’s heroes in this category, especially Knightley from Emma and Edmund Bertram from Mansfield Park. 

Jude, Mr. Knightley, and Edmund Bertram

Personally, I tend to lean toward the beta types (Yes, I’m Team Edward). While physically I may be drawn to the sexy, charismatic male, my heart and soul are drawn to those men who have a quiet resolve; the ones with old souls and great depth of character. You know what they say – still waters run deep. Even so, my first to heroes fit in the alpha category.

   

Take Alex Fraser, my hero in The Promise of Change. Alex, a.k.a. the Earl of Rutherford, is one of England’s most eligible bachelors. He has all the boyish charm of Hugh Grant, carries the polish of generations of earls, has the work ethic of his commoner grandfathers and mother, and playboy lifestyle notwithstanding, he has a deep respect for women that prevents him from falling into the unforgiving category of womanizer. Alex is alpha with an air of sophistication. He’s never married, preferring casual flings with beautiful women who have no illusions of marriage. That is, of course, until he meets my heroine, Sarah.

In Rescuing Lacey, Luke Hancock is the polar opposite of Alex, but an alpha
male nonetheless. Where Alex is polished, Luke is rugged. Where Alex is wealthy, Luke lives modestly. But Luke’s sex appeal is undeniable, as my heroine Lacey can attest to. Beach-bum-gorgeous, Luke is a man’s man. A pilot, outdoor guide and environmentalist, with a painful past, Luke is alpha with a few rough edges.

Now enter Josh Ryan. My hero in Dreams of Perfection, Book #1 in the Dreams Come True series, is beta all the way. Josh is the best-friend, the one who’s always there. His frank opinions often guide my heroine, Darcy, through the pitfalls of her romantic fairytale notions. He’s her Mr. Knightley. He knows Darcy inside and out, and loves her despite her foibles. As the story unfolds, Josh is pitted against Blake Garrett, a true alpha, for Darcy’s affections. Will his steadfastness pay off? Or will the charming Blake make Darcy’s dreams of perfection come true?

I must admit, it’s fun writing a beta for a change. I think they are more complex in many ways than alphas, and thus a little more challenging to write.

Finally, there's Nathan Maxwell, my sexy southern gentleman in Ship of Dreams, Book #2 in the Dreams Come True series. He's alpha with charm. Rhett Butler but without the jaded reputation. Nathan gives my heroine, Laura, a run for her money, who falls for his charm when she should be focusing on her professional goals. But who can resist a hot guy with a southern accent, who's a gentleman to boot? Not me, that's for sure.

Who’s your favorite? Are you Team Jacob and Gale, or Team Edward and Peeta? I’d love to hear which archetype stirs your blood. Or your heart.

A Story is Born

I am often asked where my stories come from. My response: everywhere.

The Promise of Change is the result of a trip to Christ Church College, Oxford University in Oxford, England. I spent three summers taking a course as part of Oxford University’s Adult Education Program. A way cool experience! You can read more about my experiences here.

A trip I took to Costa Rica with my husband inspired Rescuing Lacey. An actual experience on a small plane while in that country appears in the book and was the first chapter I wrote. The story grew in both directions from there, but first I had to ask why was my heroine there? What was at stake? And what role did the hero have in her journey?

Now, I have no idea what inspired my latest book, Dreams of Perfection, which is the first in a three-book series. Also, when I began writing Dreams of Perfection, I had no plans to write a series. For Dreams, I started thinking about what would happen if a romance writer’s hero actually came to life, a la Pygmalion, and the story took off from there. About a third of the way into the book, I realized two secondary characters, Laura and Millie, each deserved their own stories, and the Dreams Come True series was born. Laura’s story, Ship of Dreams, is available on Amazon. The "first meet" scene from Ship of Dreams actually happened to me. When the inspiring incident occurred, I hadn’t yet started Ship of Dreams. I had the characters, and I had the premise, but I didn’t know how the story would start or how my characters would meet. Then, voila, an incident with my shoe. Perfect.

Dreams of Her Own, Book #3 in the Dreams Come True Series, features Millie's journey, and will be out Fall 2015.

Beyond the series, I have lots of ideas percolating in my brain – so many that I’m having a hard time deciding which one to write next. One in particular that I’m leaning toward was inspired by one of Sting’s old songs that I’ve always loved. Another sprang from an RWA workshop I attended way back in 2012, and yet another grew out of my, ahem, thirty-year class reunion in 2011. Then there’s the idea that came to me while riding down a two-lane road through Sonoma County, California, where my husband and I were vacationing, when I saw a dilapidated Victorian house sitting on the corner of a forgotten vineyard.

So many stories, so little time. Sigh.

In sum, my story ideas come from travel, songs, experiences, and the firmament (as in Dreams of Perfection). I can see a person standing on the corner and wonder what her story is. And since I can’t know, I invent. And another story is born!

Set Sail on the Ship of Dreams

While researching and designing my character’s ten-day Mediterranean cruise in my latest book, 

Ship of Dreams, I discovered cities I now long to visit. Although I have visited Florence (and other Italian cities not on the book’s itinerary), I have not been to the remainder.  But with Google earth, Wikipedia, and travel books, I was able to see and learn enough about these European cities to now feel like a tour guide. Here’s my brief guided tour of the Mediterranean ports of call.

France

First stop on the Ship of Dreams cruise is Marseille, gateway to Provence. Most tourists bypass the port city of Marseille in favor of the rolling vineyards and lavender fields in the region, but the city has a great deal to offer, including the Norte Dame de la Garde, a Catholic basilica. The basilica features stunning mosaics throughout, and a breathtaking view of the city.

Vallon des Auffes

No trip to Marseille is complete without dining on bouillabaisse, a traditional fish stew. Visit Vallon des Auffes, a small fishing village for picturesque fishing boats and renowned restaurants.

St. Tropez, the gem of the French Riviera, is the next port of call. It caters to the wealthy and fashionable with stunning boutiques, charming villas, and of course its beaches, many of which are topless or clothing optional. Visit the Quartier de la Ponche for pétanque, a game of boules, and pastis, an anise-flavored liqueur.  If you’re a fan of licorice (I shudder), you’ll like pastis.

Monaco

Monaco is a small principality ruled by the Grimaldi family and made famous by actress Grace Kelly’s marriage to Prince Rainier in 1956.  But it’s also well-known for Monte Carlo, prominently

Casino de Monte Carloe

featured in many a James Bond film.  No visit to Monte Carlo would be complete without a night of roulette or black jack in the Casino de Monte Carlo.

Italy

Italy’s first port of call is Portofino, on the Italian Riviera, with its picturesque harbor.  

Santa Margherita Ligure

Portofino offers tourists tours of the Abbazia di San Fruttuoso and Castello Brown, interesting
medieval structures.

The small resort town of Santa Margherita Ligure, about three miles from Portofino, boasts cafés, yacht-filled marinas, and fashionable hotels. The town’s older buildings still feature trompe-l’oeil frescoes typical of the Riviera. Laid back and understated, it’s a perfect escape from the glitzier areas of Portofino.

Next up in Italy, Livorno. The port of Livrono itself doesn’t offer much for tourists, but as the gateway to Pisa and Florence, it’s a popular port of call. Tourists can take a ninety-minute train trip to Florence, my favorite Italian city or a fifteen-minute train trip to Pisa. Florence is a city that deserves extra time. With so much to see, a week may not even be enough. There’s the Duomo, the 15^th century architectural wonder. Those adventurous

Duomo in Florence

enough to climb the four-hundred-plus steps to the top are rewarded with splendid views of the city and the Tuscan hills beyond.

Visit the Galleria dell’ Accademia and gawk in awe at Michelangelo’s David, or tour the Uffizi Gallery and view some of the world’s greatest Renaissance paintings. Shop on the Ponte Vecchio, the only remaining bridge with shops. Tuscany also offers gastronomic delights like panzanella (bread salad), pappa al pomodoro (soup), cacciucco (fish stew), and when truffles are in season, try them in pasta, salads, or just about anything.

Of course Pisa is famous for its leaning tower, but it also boasts it’s own duomo, both of which can be found in the Piazza dei Maricoli.

Citavecchia is next. The large port city’s better known destination is Rome. Like Florence, Rome requires more then a day to see even its most popular sites. The must-sees are endless: the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica, Trevi, Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and of course the Colosseum. If you're a fan of the movie, Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, stop by the Bocca del Veritá (Mouth of Truth) and test your courage.

Mouth of Truth

The final stop on the Ship of Dreams cruise takes you to Naples in the Campania region of Italy. Although there’s lots to see and do in the sprawling city, it does have a reputation for pick-pocketing and bag snatching.  While in Naples, visitors can take a seventy-five minute boat ride to the island of Capri, where Capri Town perches 450 feet above the harbor. 

Capri

Archeologists, both amateur and professional will relish tours of the ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii, both destroyed by the massive explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Beware, Pompeii and Herculaneum cultures were quite liberal when it came to sexuality. The museums are full of erotic art uncovered during excavations of the cities.

Designing the itinerary for Ship of Dreams was a little like being my very own travel agent creating a dream vacation. Now, I just need to talk hubby into that Mediterranean cruise.

How To Speak Southern

Nathan Maxwell, my dreamy hero from Ship of Dreams, is from the South — North Georgia to be specific. I was born in Florida, but I come from a Southern family, and growing up, I spent my summers with my grandparents in Georgia. When I was writing Ship of Dreams, I did some research to refresh my childhood memories. 

Of course, we all know the ever popular “y’all” which never refers to the singular. It always refers to the plural.

My grandmother guarded her pocketbook as she pushed her buggy down the aisles of the Piggly Wiggly.

My grandfather was fixin’ to cut the grass.

Bless your heart was never intended to be literal — or kind. It’s a bitchy way of saying, “Are you that stupid?” As in, “She’s wearing white after Labor Day. Well, bless her heart.”

When company was coming over, my grandmother would give the house a lick and a promise, as in a quick once over with a broom and dust cloth. 

I would get a spanking if I sassed my grandparents or pitched a hissy fit. 

Hissy fit and conniption fit are not to be used interchangeably. A hissy fit is a childish display of temper, like a tantrum, only worse. A conniption fit is a sudden, violent emotional outburst generally triggered by shocking news or an unexpected turn of events.  

Even so, I found myself doing research on Southern phrases. Some I remember from my grandparents, but some I’d never heard before. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Too big for your britches
• Won't hit a lick at a snake
• She was madder than a wet hen
• You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear
• Knee-high to a grasshopper
• Haven't seen him in a coon's age
• Comin' up a cloud
• Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free

How about you? Do you know any funny Southern phrases?