 | 13 Nov 08 |
I like smart men. Intelligence is sexy. Looks may go, but wit and intelligence stay for the duration. So it’s no surprise that most of my heroes use brains over brawn–though they could certainly hold their own if called to.
SUDDEN DEATH is in production and I wrote my first real alpha hero. John Flynn (THE PREY), Zack Travis (THE KILL), and Connor Kincaid (SEE NO EVIL) were all alpha heroes, but with the exception of maybe John, no one comes close to mercenary Jack Kincaid.
Jack came on scene in FEAR NO EVIL where he was called to help his twin brother, Dillon, rescue their younger sister who’d been kidnapped by a psychopath. I didn’t know a lot about Jack when he came on scene, and in my first draft I had several scenes in his point of view–scenes that my editor told me had to go. “He’s overshadowing your hero.” Why? Because he’s extremely alpha. Former Special Forces, he gathers intelligence, plans his attack, and acts. This is what he does best.
I didn’t know why Jack was estranged from his family, or why he left the military to become a soldier-for-hire, or why he’d never married. All this came out as I got into his head and wrote his story.
But in writing his story, I realized why I don’t love alpha heroes–at least some that I’ve encountered. (Certainly not Jack! He’s become one of my favorite characters, right up there with Dillon who had been my favorite hero.) They can be brutes. They border on chauvinism. And it’s very hard for me to like a book where the heroine justifies the way the hero treats her because he has some scars or baggage or needs the love of a good woman to heal his wounds.
Please.
The love of a good woman may be necessary for the hero to go from tortured to at peace, but that doesn’t justify him being an asshole.
This was one reason I was nervous about starting Jack’s book. He’s extremely alpha, and I didn’t know how he would treat the heroine. Would he want a damsel in distress to save? A tough kick-ass chick like Dillon’s girlfriend, Kate Donovan? Hmm, a bit.
But I decided to dig down and see what makes a man alpha. At least, my version of the alpha male who has to not only accept but love a smart woman.
Loyalty. Alpha heroes are loyal to an extreme, and sometimes to a fault. Be it country, friends, or the woman they love, they are steadfast. When their loyalty is betrayed, it’s a bleeding wound.
Honor. Alpha heroes stand for something, usually universal and often for the underdog. They have a code of honor that, if they are forced to break it, is another wound to their soul.
Protective. Alpha heroes will protect their country, their family, their friends, their lover to the death. This doesn’t mean they hover or restrict or tell their wife to take off her shoes and cook dinner, but they are watchful and will do what it takes to ensure the health and safety of those entrusted to them, be it a poor Central American village they’re protecting or the woman they love.
Reasoned. The best of the alpha heroes don’t act first. Like the elite military teams, they gather intelligence, they strategize and create a plan of action, and then they act. This may happen in seconds, or days, or months. But alpha heroes have a plan or ten. They are quick on their feet and adapt to changing circumstances. They think.
In terms of flaws, alpha heroes tend to be stubborn and when they believe they are right, they can be rigid and forceful. But WHY (motivation) is what’s important here. If they’re jerks, they’ll insist that they’re right all the time and you can just live with it. If they’re heroes, they’ll have a reason for their actions, and they don’t mind telling you why.
Jack came clearly in focus mid-way through the book when Megan (the heroine), Hans Vigo, and Jack’s closest friend, Father Francis Cardenas, a Catholic priest, were at Jack’s place after a drug dealer sent three thugs to kill Jack. Jack feels safe (protective) at his house: he can watch the people he cares for and those sent to help him find his friend’s killer. Here, he has control. He doesn’t exert the control, but it’s evident. When the three others decide they should leave after a heated conversation regarding the case, this is when Jack cracks a bit. It’s not safe to go back to town, and he can’t fathom why anyone would want to leave when that’s an action and they’re still in the gathering intelligence phase of the investigation. It’s begging for trouble.
When Jack cracked–a fraction, and no one see it except the reader–I fell in love. It was a turning point for me, because up to this point, Jack was being, well, a bit of a brute in some respects (not to the heroine!) Each time was justified, and I hope the reader agrees.
But even more important is how the alpha hero treats the heroine. This is what makes or breaks the hero for me. I write strong female characters; they’re not going to apologize for the brutish acts of an alpha hero. When the alpha gets too forceful, they stand up for themselves. And a real alpha hero loves it. If the heroine is in law enforcement or the military or another male dominated profession, a real alpha hero finds her sexy. They unite because of their common values–duty, honor, protect and serve–and that makes them a great team.
Roarke of the IN DEATH series by JD Robb is the perfect alpha hero. He lets Eve be the tough cop she is, watching in a protective mode without putting Eve in a bubble. He loves her more because she is strong amidst her inner vulnerability. He does what needs to be done to protect those he cares for, above all his wife. But he never tells Eve she should be anything other than who she is. I love that.
Who is your favorite alpha hero and why?
New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award winning author Allison Brennan has published fourteen romantic thrillers with Ballantine, plus a novella and four short stories. She lives near Sacramento, California with her husband and five children. Recently, RT Book Reviews said, “A master of suspense, Brennan does another outstanding job uniting horrifying action, procedural drama and the birth of a romance — a prime example of why she’s tops in the genre.” For fun Allison enjoys wine tasting, swimming, playing video games, and—of course–reading. Her most recent release is CARNAL SIN, the second book in the Seven Deadly Sins supernatural romantic suspense series. Her Lucy Kincaid series will launch in January, 2011 with LOVE ME TO DEATH.
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Sorry this is late, folks! I had it scheduled to post at 4 am and I thought that was 4 am east coast time . . . .
by Allison Brennan November 13th, 2008 at 6:27 amAllison,
I love getting this extra glimpse of Jack – thanks. I’ve been intrigued by him since Dillon’s book. Can’t wait for Sudden Death!
Steff
by Steff November 13th, 2008 at 7:33 amGreat referendum on the Alpha hero! I completely agree with your take on it. I believe my favorite Alpha hero is Sam Starret, from Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter series. He’s head over heels for Alyssa, an FBI sharpshooter–loves everything that makes her so strong and sarcastic and prickly. But he’s no pushover, either, he’s a warrior through and through. He fights harder than anyone, but when the violence is done and the people he loves are safe, he throws up. That was the detail that made me fall for him.
by Louisa Edwards November 13th, 2008 at 7:40 amGreat post, Allison! Ditto to all. Alpha does not equal asshat, ever. I don’t know any other kind of hero to write, but mine always have a gooey center. I think of them as human lollipops. Go where ever you want with that analogy!
by Roxanne St. Claire November 13th, 2008 at 7:56 amThanks Steff! I can talk about Jack for hours. I swear, he and Dillon really appeal to me. Dillon is everything I love in a hero. (I originally had a comparison of Jack and Dillon in this post, but it was getting waaaaaayyyy too long, LOL, so I cut that part.) I love smart heroes. Dillon is handsome, smart, educated, and reasoned. But he’s not “alpha” in the traditional sense. He’s not a warrior like Jack. But he has the same qualities that makes Jack an alpha hero I love: honor, loyalty, reason.
Louisa!!! Sam is my favorite Brockman hero, too
LOL Rocki. Now YOU know alpha heroes, and you write the kind I like.
by Allison Brennan November 13th, 2008 at 9:15 amHey! What’s that supposed to mean?
by Dan Brennan November 13th, 2008 at 9:19 amHey Allison,
by Mary-Frances Makichen November 13th, 2008 at 9:21 amGreat post. I like Roarke too. Recently I’ve been reading Catherine Coulter and I have to say I love her Dillon Savich character. One of the things I like in that series is that she’s been able to progress that character from meeting his heroine to marrying her and to now having a son with her. He ‘s married and has a child but is still an alpha male. I really like that.
I love alpha heroes. They are all I know how to write! Which is probably good since I’m writing for Harlequin Presents. Yes, I know those arrogant billionaires can be a bit hard to stomach, but I love that inner vulnerability they have. It’s not much different, for me, from the military alphas I write. I say it again and again, but a warrior is a warrior whether he wears BDUs or Armani.
Jack sounds yummy, Allison!
An alpha I loved, who probably doesn’t seem very alpha at first glance but who definitely is: Bobby Tom Denton; Heaven, Texas by SEP.
by Lynn Raye Harris November 13th, 2008 at 9:24 amYay! Jack’s book! I’ve been waiting for this ever since I met him.
Okay, gushing over. I can’t think of any written alpha heroes off the top of my head, so I’ll have to go with the first guy who popped in – Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon) from NCIS. He’s tough as nails, but every once in a while, he does something touching that makes him so… I don’t know… perfect. You can tell he cares, but he’s got too many bad guys to catch to let it show – except when there are kids around. He’s a sucker for kids. *sigh* What a man.
by B.E. Sanderson November 13th, 2008 at 9:34 amI was interested in Jack the first time he appeared on the page. I’m glad he’s getting his own book.
Another big Suzanne Brockman fan here. I don’t know if I could pick my favorite alpha hero of hers. I like Max a lot, and I like Stan and Sam. I’m probably most amazed by Jules. It takes incredible talent to write an alpha like that.
by Kendra November 13th, 2008 at 10:03 amI love alpha heroes!!!!! The sexier and more rugged the better!
by Debra Webb November 13th, 2008 at 11:54 amSign me up as another one who can’t wait for Jack’s story–especially with the glimpses you’ve given here.
I agree with Rocki–Alpha doesn’t mean asshat (and mostly because a true asshat can’t lead a group of people–they might bully a group, but they aren’t leaders, and true alpha males are capable of true leadership).
[I think this is why I like writing Trevor so much. Though I purposefully didn't give him an Alpha name.
]
Cindy Gerard also writes great alpha males–her new Black Ops Inc series is terrific. And Rocki’s rocked the alpha male, as well as Debra — Ryan McBride in Nameless is stellar as an alpha male–given what he’s coming out of, event-wise and what it’s done to him.
by toni mcgee causey November 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pmSign me up as an Alpha Girl! But I don’t like jerks. This is a great topic. There is a difference between tortured into being a jerk, and Alpha. Alpha is leader of the pack. They are confident and self assured, which means they don’t need to berate or humilate a woman to feel stronger.
Also, Alpha men are smart, they know a smart worthy woman will make them pay for poor treatment.
However, they can be BOSSY. And taming them can be fun
by Jennifer Lyon November 13th, 2008 at 1:17 pmyou had to ask who my fave alpha hero was??? Why the hubster of course, and for all of the reasons listed above!
by Karin Tabke November 13th, 2008 at 2:07 pmI love Cindy Gerard, too. My favorite alpha hero is Gabe Jones from “Show No Mercy.”
by Jane November 13th, 2008 at 2:37 pmI almost picked Jules Cassidy as my favorite Brockmann hero, but he’s like a part-time Alpha. When he’s on the job, heck yeah, no one can beat him. But he’s such a sweetheart with the personal stuff, it’s hard to know how to classify him. Actually, I have to say, THAT’S my favorite kind of hero. A mix of the best characteristics of Alpha and Beta.
by Louisa Edwards November 13th, 2008 at 2:51 pmI love the Kincaid family and can’t wait to see them again!
I’m currently loving the character of Michael Weston on the tv show Burn Notice. He’s very alpha, demonstrating the qualities you listed, but what I love most about him is the fact that he still needs to please his mommy.
by Jen November 13th, 2008 at 6:34 pmWait, my husband is reading my blogs? Shoot, I’m going to have to be more careful . . .
Hi Mary-Frances! I love Dillon Savich. THE MAZE is one of my all-time favorite romantic suspense novels.
Well, Lynn, keep it up! Presents is probably the top selling line at HQ so obviously alpha males are craved by female readers.
B.E., you and me both. I was scared when I started this book–but by the time I was finished, Jack no longer terrified me. I wanted to do him justice. I hope I did. Now, I’m writing a strong, smart FBI agent . . . alpha in some ways, but more like Quinn Peterson from THE HUNT. Very reasoned and extremely smart. Though FBI, he’s more like Eliot Ness. He’s just as comfortable pouring over financial statements as he is confronting the bad guys.
Kendra, Suzanne Brockmann is the “mistress” of strong male characters. She’s brilliant.
No surprise there, Deb, LOL!
Hey Toni, ditto on Cindy! She knows alphas. I adore Trevor. It’s not an alpha name? Really? I mean, I suppose that Sheldon and Archibald aren’t alpha names, but Trevor seems strong enough to me . . . though my true alphas are John, Zack, and Jack. Hmm, seems to be a pattern there . . .
Hi Jennifer! I wholeheartedly agree! Any man who is confident enough in his manhood doesn’t need to belittle women. A leader and a hero in every sense of the word.
Well, kiss up now why don’t you Karin? Is your birthday coming up or something
Another Cindy Gerard fan! I agree about Gabe. He’s a fantastic hero.
Louisa, I’m with you 100%. A mix is really the ideal male. This is why I love Dillon Kincaid and Quinn Peterson so much. They have strength, but they are also thinkers–smart guys. And they are hugely sensitive to the needs and emotions of the heroine. Quinn was a little slow on the uptake, but Dillon had Kate pegged from the beginning, before he even met her.
Thanks Jen! I haven’t heard of Burn Notice. I have so many shows saved on my satellite box or my iPod, I don’t know when I’ll catch up!
by Allison Brennan November 14th, 2008 at 12:36 amAlpha heroes….I think everyone has a different idea of what is Alpha. For example, I had a friend who wrote erotica (or romantica) and to me, her alpha heroes were OVER the top. I just didn’t love how they ordered the women around. I like strong, but I like my heroine to give strong back.
So, I guess my point is I’m wondering what really defines alpha. Is it different for everyone?
by Natalie November 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pmI think my favorite alpha male hero has to be Andrew Vachss’s Burke. What intrigues me about him is that he’s a stone cold killer when he’s dealing with vengeance against “them”, but he can be almost tender with his “family”, those that are close to him, and he’s fiercely protective of those people he considers part of “us” rather than “them”.
by Tammy Cravit November 17th, 2008 at 9:52 am