Welcome Guest Blogger Jamie Leigh Hansen!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 00:33.

The Boy Next-Door Hero

When I first started writing, alpha heroes were the way to go. Alpha and Bad Boy. He had to be the king, the best warrior, the leader of the pack, even if that pack consisted of only one loner. He thought, saw and lived differently than everyone around him and he would never conform. He was in control of all around him, even, to a point, the heroine. Possessive, jealous, sometimes on the verge of abusive, he was the guy we liked to read about. So, that’s the hero I tried to write.

My heroine wanted to kick his butt, and she had the history and skill to do it. I’m not a radical feminist, I don’t Girl-Power my way through life. Actually, with my disability, I’m easy-going and usually more dependent than I want to be, but when you live a certain way, you just learn to really appreciate nice, helpful people. Not that characters can be too nice or the story suffers, but it was difficult for me to write that knee-jerk, red hot button pusher.

Enter the nice guys. The heroes of Betrayed and Cursed . The strong, silent warrior, Dreux and the best friend, kick-butt MMA expert, Alex. Tough men who know how to lead and to follow. Men who can respect a woman’s opinions and support her decisions without pulling a caveman attitude.

A handyman. A father figure. A supporter. A lover. A protector who fights not just enemies and “evil” guys, but life itself. The leaky roof. The disintegrating family. The one who believes in faith and love and commitment, instead of running from it. He’s the guy I love to write about. He’s the guy I married.

Is that too good to be true? Or is it realistic? A decent expectation of manhood or is it setting the bar to high? And, how far can you lower that bar without it being pathetic?

Now, would you believe, I write paranormal romance, on the verge of urban fantasy? The best friend hero is not the typical offering in this sub-genre. Is it a mismatch?

If you are a writer, which do you find to be your natural hero type? Is it different when you are reading?

I know the bad boys, kings and warriors are sexy and thrilling. I read them every chance I get. Currently, I’m in love with all of JR Ward’s Brothers. My boy-next-door dh bought me the series for my birthday and gave me one romance novel a day for the week leading up to my b-day with four books on the day of. Hehe I feel totally loved.

I’d love to share the wealth, so I’ll be giving away a copy of my debut, Betrayed . Don’t forget, you must be registered at Cigars to be eligible to win.

Welcome Jamie!

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Thu, 2009-01-22 01:06.

So great to have you here!

I never get tired of thinking about characters, especially heroes. :)

I have to admit, like you, the super-alphas are not my type. I am one of the few people in the world who doesn't think JD Robb's Roarke is to die for, LOL -- I'd take him as an older brother, a best friend? But no way would I want to be married to the guy, LOL.

I am more of a Mike from Desperate Housewives kind of gal, or the Jim on The Ghost Whisperer (before they killed him, the idiots...). The father/detective on Veronica Mars (Enrico Calantoni -- now on Flashpoint, yum).

Good, solid men who are masculine -- no doubt about that -- but not overbearing. As you say, real guys. Guys who can talk to you, and laugh, and relate -- mostly (at the same time, they have their moments when you talk to them, they nod, even agree, and then three hours say "what? You were talking to me?" LOL).

Sexy, fun, and real. That's my kind of guy. I do like protector heroes best, though -- I just got finished editing my Texas Ranger Blaze out this summer, and I have to admit, I fell for him again, he may be my favorite hero (I know, I always say that), but he's tough and alpha, but in a very real way, I think... I also tend to write professionals, mostly, but in a wide range of careers... but I like men who are smart and accomplished, not necessarily wealthy, but good at what they do (and I mean that on several levels, LOL).

I love the sound of your heroes, because there is very little that's more sexy than seeing the alpha nature (in the good way) come out in a guy whose normally just easygoing. I don't think it's a mismatch at all.

Love love love this topic. Hope we have a lot of discussion on this one, because it's too much fun...

Sam

Heroes...

Submitted by SilverNightMoon on Thu, 2009-01-22 02:38.

Before I comment on your post, Jamie, I have to say to Sam regarding Roarke: you are a stronger woman than I am, my friend. ;) As much of a feminist as I am, and as often as I prefer a more supposedly "beta" hero, Roarke just unravels me. Though I can see how he might be a trial to live with, I'd be willing to give it a go. LOL

That said, I do appreciate a real guy, on the page and in life. Sometimes I get tired of reading stories with heroes who simply couldn't exist - no one is that perfect! And am I the only one who finds flaws - some flaws, anyway - sexy?

As a writer, I lean toward men who are far from perfect. They have issues just like the rest of us. More than that, they don't stay static. Their moods change. They occasionally might go over the top, but it's for a brief period rather than the duration of the book.

As a reader, I tend to like Alphas that still respect their women. Since two of my favorite heroes are Roarke from the ID series and Bones from Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series, my appreciation for dominant males is clear. LOL

Great topic! Congratulations on your debut, Jamie! :)

Cari
http://cariquinn.blogspot.com/

Nice to meet you!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 04:27.

Hi Cari! Thank you. 2008 was a great year with both books out. :)

Ow, wow, I am with you on Bones. Love him. :) Very Spike-like. I didn't stick with the JD Robb series since I started it late and figured I'd never be able to keep them in order and keep up, but from what I read in the first couple of books, he was yummy. Very fun to read about, but like Sam said, I don't know about being married to a guy like that. I'd probably bore him to death with all my sitting in a recliner with the laptop open. lol

What types of things make a guy too perfect for you? What types of things, besides mood changes :) make a guy real to you?

I love flaws, but I think I tend to pile them on my heroines. lol

LOL Cari

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Thu, 2009-01-22 14:22.

I don't know if flaws are sexy -- but vulnerabilities, maybe? Flaws are the things we love someone in spite of, but vulnerabilities might be the things, when someone let's us see them (which is the sexy part), that we fall in love with as well as the strengths? Maybe because we can see the strengths in many ways come from the vulnerabilities...if that makes any sense.

In that vein, I may be the only one as well who sees Eve/Roarke as together because they are the only two people dysfunctional enough to stand each other..I know, I am digging myself deeper here. LOL (disclaimer: I love and respect Nora, but you know, we all have our opinions, LOL).

Believe me, go through one bad marriage and you develop an appreciation for healthy guys, even in fiction. *G*

When you mentioned Bones, I was thinking about Booth on the TV Show Bones -- he would be another good example of a good guy hero. A good father, a good friend, sense of humor, sexy, powerful but not overbearing...

Sam

Bones

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 17:49.

Oh, I so love that Bones, too! But then, David Boreanaz. Angel. (Hear the three witches,Aaaannnggeelll, ummm. LOL) There's an example of a mix between alpha and beta, protector, hero, bad-ass and a vampire who can step back and enjoy the beauty of a kick-ass heroine. A partner and a vampire who respects girl-power. Booth is a good follow-up character for him.

Thank you, Sam!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 03:42.

I think we have a lot in common here. :) I loved Jim on Ghost Whisperer. He and Melinda were the only functional marriage I saw outside of Nathan and Haley on One Tree Hill. I can't believe they killed him. I lost interest in the show there, and not just because he's a hottie. And I loved the Dad on Veronica Mars!

I will definitely be looking for your Blaze. Your hero there sounds very cool. You describe a pretty great guy. And you're right, wealth doesn't really matter if they are hard-working and have goals and interests and take pride in a job well done. :)

Thank you for the warm welcome, Sam. :)

Yes!

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Thu, 2009-01-22 14:26.

I agree that the decision to kill Jim was a stupid one, even if they have done a few decent plot twists with it -- but they also had to ditch an entire storyline to do it -- they had what, 4 seasons of story built up with the souls underneath the town, all this stuff, and then bam, it's all over. Uh....huh?

And then Jim dies, and he doesn't even pick a guy hotter than he is (maybe impossible?) to reincarnate. That's what kills me, every time they show the "real" Sam, it's like, Noooooo! LOL I thought, honestly, that they might have gotten her together with Rick Payne, that he would have come back when Jim died (weird that he didn't even do a guest spot at the funeral), and even that would have been better...

But they had such a wonderful marriage, yes, and it would have been good to see it taken forward into parenthood... the writers must have had a some kind of seizure the day they came up with the idea of Jim dying...

Sam

Oh, wow!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 17:55.

How sad. Thank you for filling me in on the parts I missed. I liked Prof. Payne. I figured that was why they killed Jim. I assumed they wanted to try and up the chemistry or something. But why would they dump the story line they'd been building? Weird.

I always wondered what more could be the reason behind her fear of having children. I would have loved watching her struggle with a daughter who also could see ghosts. That would have been new. Watching her explain how she doesn't pee her pants at times...lol

Give me a beta....

Submitted by Diana Holquist on Thu, 2009-01-22 03:43.

Great post, Jamie Leigh.

Me, I love the Beta Hero any day. Love to write them, love to read them. My heroes aren't weak, but they are funny and self-deprecating and kind, even if they're movie stars or 3-star chefs.

My next book, How to Tame a Modern Rogue, is all about this subject: can a truly modern woman love a true alpha man? We're not talking paranormal or urban fantasy--we're talking contemporary. NYC, 2009. It was a very, very hard book to write, as my editor kept wanting me to pull him back. She thought readers would hate him if he did the things those historical rogues did in modern times.

What's the answer? Can a modern woman love a true rogue? Can a modern reader accept one in a contemporary romance novel that isn't romantic suspense or Navy SEAL, but in ordinary life?

Dunno....guess we'll see...

Hi Diana!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 04:31.

Ooh, I love your next book! I can't wait to see how you pull it off.

You know, sometimes, I have to ask the same question. And I think no. (Then I see an excellent example for yes and have to take it back. lol) Heroines have a lot more spine anymore and can stand up for themselves, yes, but I've discovered why I have a hard time with complete alphas. (which are not every alpha hero) I think, depending on how it's done, by the end of the book, it's a win-lose situation for the heroine and I'm a bit let down.

I read a book recently, well written, good story, good characterization. She even explained the heroes motivations for why he did the things he did. But in the end it didn't work for me. I realized that the way the book set up, her wanting independence, him taking it away, it became a losing situation. Even her "realizing" he knew her better than she did and he'd given her all her dreams come true and she was totally in love, felt like she'd lost by the end of the book.

She'd lost herself. Was a totally different character by the end of the book without actual growth as a character. She was just a new person. She'd never stuck up for herself, going blank when he kissed her, keeping silent and explaining her internalizations through a monologue instead of point blank dialogue that would make the hero speak his motivations better so even if she didn't agree, she could understand him... No, this wasn't a 1980's book.

Sometimes I wonder if looking for an alpha in real life is what gets women stuck with overly possessive, domineering abusers.

It's such a fine line, isn't it? I love your book idea.

Jamie

Bad Boy Syndrome

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Thu, 2009-01-22 14:38.

Good point, Jamie -- I read a crit of Twilight at Skepchicks that brought up that very issue, of how it was made romantic for a young girl to basically be stalked and threatened by the guy who supposedly "loves" her. Hmmm. I didn't read the series, but that is troublesome as a fictional model.

Early romance, especially Presents, from what I read when I was a teen, had the same "rape as love" model for romance (remember Luke/Laura, anyone?) and the explanation for it back in the day was to take the decisions for having sex out of the woman's hands so that she wasn't viewed as slutty. Thank goodness we're past that!

One of the reasons I love Blaze is that women own their sexuality, and are equal partners in relationships and sex, which is, of course, a huge part of real romance. But I think we have lots of good role models in fiction now for men and women who are strong and sexy, while being smart and sensitive about it all as well.

My Ranger book also includes a heroine who is dealing with the aftermath of physical and mental abuse by her previous boyfriend. The sex in this book might be some of the most aggressive I've written, and people might find her somewhat surprising -- no shrinking wallflower, that's for sure -- but I think that's *because* she is in the process of reclaiming herself, and when you are with someone you trust, you can let go. And what I love about him is that while he protects her, and helps her, in the end, she has to save herself.

Sam

Oops, the Twilight thing. lol

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:05.

I devoured all four books in 5 days. I didn't find the hero stalkerish or abusive. I could totally see a teenage girl going weak-kneed over it. But, I tell you what, it was interesting to see all the ways Bella got around her dad so she and Edward could share a bed all night. (No sex at all.) It definitely made me even more hyper vigilant of my kids. I didn't like the way her dad was treated at all.

Your Ranger book keeps sounding better and better. :) I'm with you. I love heroines who save themselves at the end. It was great, in Betrayed, to take this victim who was scared and weak and killed 9 times, and turn her into a tough, independent, capable woman who saves everyone at the end. :)

Killed 9 times???

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:47.

Okay, THAT's intriguing!

Sam

Betrayed

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Fri, 2009-01-23 02:01.

I should explain that, huh? lol

In Betrayed, my heroine, Kalyss, is a kick-ass martial arts survivor. She's independent and tough and healing from an abusive marriage that nearly killed her. One night she is attacked and goes on a journey, learning through her gift of seeing the past when she touches some one or some thing, that she's lived before. From the night of her first death in 1075 AD England, she is reborn every 100 years with the goal of rescuing her husband, a Norman knight named Dreux, from his imprisonment as a statue. While on this final journey, she learns about the evil demoness who has plans for Dreux and her son, Kai. Plans where Dreux's death is crucial. But they have two allies in the nephilim world who try to aid them without breaking too many rules.

In Cursed, the demoness, Maeve, is awakened from a sleep caused when her first curse in Betrayed was altered. Now she wants three things: her son, her emerald and revenge. The nephilim, Silas and Draven try to expand the allies around Dreux and Kalyss, knowing their own death is emminent as soon as Maeve is strong enough to come for them. Alex, Kalyss' best friend and business partner, a man with the gift of healing himself and others, receives a vision of the future in which his high school crush, Elizabeth, and ten children are in mortal danger from Maeve. He sticks close, as much as Elizabeth allows, but she has ten abandoned nieces and nephews, three irresponsible siblings, a dying mother, a disintigrating family home, a terrifying gift with dreams and a her fallen angel father trapped in her mind. She has no time or patience or faith that love is the answer to all her problems.

Hi!

Submitted by fedora on Thu, 2009-01-22 06:49.

Hi, Jamie! I think I agree with you and Sam--while they tend to take my breath away in books, I don't know that I could actually live with a real alpha, and it's a fine line between protecting and controlling. And I also love the best-friend kind of hero (I'm a huge sucker for friends-to-lovers stories anyway)--that doesn't automatically mean that these guys are "girly men" ;)

Congrats again on your series, Jamie! Your heroes sound like a great bunch!

Hi Fedora!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 17:58.

Thank you. :) Good to see you here!

You know, I like the friends to lovers also. It's one of my faves.

Beta me, baby

Submitted by Ellen Hartman on Thu, 2009-01-22 13:25.

I'm all about the beta men. I read a few well-loved alpha man romances last year because of all the times I'd seen them recommended and I hated the men. The possessiveness is one thing that gets me. I feel like telling those men to back off and grow up and have some faith in their relationships. I think many alpha heroes act in ways I find childish and so that's a turn off for me.

Give me a guy who's normal and kind. One who sees the people around him and acknowledges their needs and strives to be a better lover, father, man, etc. I love those heroes, especially at the climax of the book, when they get pushed past their limits and they set their feet and say No or Yes or I Dare You or I Won't Let You Go or whatever ultimatum is appropriate for their situation.

As for Diana's Modern Rogue, I've read several drafts of the book and lost my heart to the guy every time. He's delightful. Funny and brave and confused about love in ways that I find charming. So I'm fully expecting women in 2009 to fall all over him. :-)

Ellen H.

P.S. Jaimie--every time I stop watching One Tree Hill, I end up getting sucked back in by Nathan and Haley. Thank goodness the episodes are on the CW website so my family doesn't know I'm still watching that show. :-)

Aw...ain't you sweet?

Submitted by Diana Holquist on Thu, 2009-01-22 17:27.

Poor Ellen has read that manuscript WAY too many times. Several drafts....ha!

And if you want a fantastic example of a guy who ought to be alpha (a rock star), but who is actually the perfect beta, you gotta read Ellen's His Secret Past.

Jamie--what is the paranormal element in your books? I see that he's "trapped in stone"--but what does that mean?

Paranormal elements

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:25.

Thank you for the recommendation! I'll be making a list. :)

The paranormal in my books involve angels, demons and nephilim and how they impact the human world. I could stay in just their world, but I like seeing how good and evil influence people's decisions even when they aren't controlled by them. Life choices and love struggles and such. :)

ROFLOL, secret OTH fan!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:11.

It's one of those shows I share with my youngest child. Supernatural was one I began with the oldest, though now the youngest is in on it. :)

I still like to read alphas and the action and danger, but there are times I roll my eyes. When the possessiveness steps over the line or the ultimatums irritated me to no end.

I envy you reading Diana's modern rogue! As my kid says, I am so jello! lol

From the Scott Brothers to the Winchester Brothers

Submitted by Ellen Hartman on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:31.

Last year on the Supers board I posted my manifesto about why Dean Winchester is not a bad boy. I think some of the regulars were ready to commit me. ;-)

I think you and I could have fun talking CW TV sometime. ;-)

Ellen H.

The Supers board?

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Fri, 2009-01-23 02:08.

I would LOVE talking CW TV with you. The biggest problem I have is when they get rid of shows I love watching. LOL

I know, as a writer, I am not supposed to have time for TV. I carefully make my list every fall and only watch those specific shows. By the end of the week, I have a good ten shows I watch with my kids and dh, but that's how they spend quality time with me.

My disability, Friedreich's Ataxia, has the main symptom of affecting my nerves and energy production. Camping is what they do with their dad. TV, books and games is what they do with me.

So we love to watch Seasons of shows on DVD and watching plot and character growth over the arc of a season. And tonight is Smallville and Supernatural! Can't wait. :)

Hi Jamie, I write heroes

Submitted by JeannieWatt on Thu, 2009-01-22 17:31.

Hi Jamie,

I write heroes that have been beat up by life and are fighting their way back to happiness. They are tough guys with soft hearts. I guess they’re somewhere between alpha and beta.

I worked in a field that was opening up to women in the 1970s (mining and geology) and encountered the occasional alpha who was not happy about having the Y chromosome domain invaded by the double X (although most of the guys I worked with were wonderful betaish guys.) From my experiences, I believe this variety of man is called an alpha because its politer than calling him an @sshole. (Pardon my French.) Alphas may be fun to read about, and it’s kind of fun to read about the girl (because they are not usually paired up with women) tame the beast. But I agree with the others—it’s a losing situation for the female in most of the books I’ve read. And can you imagine living with a real alpha? Oy.

Now, if what we have is an alpha who’s alpha because he doesn’t know any better, but has a better beta side hiding and waiting to be discovered…*sigh*…count me in.

Jeannie

True :)

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:14.

A tough guy with a soft heart sums it up pretty well. That kind of guy would not ignore a woman, dominate her past all sense and run rough-shod over her wants and needs. Nice to meet you, Jeannie. :)

Perfect summation, Jamie.

Submitted by JeannieWatt on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:16.

Perfect summation, Jamie. And it's nice to meet you, too!

This is why I love Jeannie...

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:18.

Lines like "I believe this variety of man is called an alpha because its politer than calling him an @sshole." are just too good...and we could even use the whole word here if we want. It's our blog, curse away... *G*

Sma

LOL

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Thu, 2009-01-22 18:22.

I didn't comment on that line, but I had to agree. LOL

Hi Jamie

Submitted by Jane on Thu, 2009-01-22 20:25.

Hi Jamie,
It's so nice to see you here. I'll admit that I'm a fan of alpha heroes, but I like nice guys, too. I especially like how you desribe Dreux as the strong and silent type. I like an agreeable hero rather than one who always has to have his way.

Hi Jane!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Fri, 2009-01-23 02:12.

Dreux is kind and patient, but he also has the added experience of spending nearly 1000 years frozen in place, watching his wife's first death in an endless loop. He had that time to think and consider all the things he wished he'd said, wished they could have done. So at times, he might be too good, but the man had a tough lesson to go through. :)

I love all heroes, Roarke in

Submitted by Estella on Thu, 2009-01-22 21:00.

I love all heroes, Roarke in particular.

Hi Estella!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Fri, 2009-01-23 02:16.

Heroes are good. :) Gotta have them for a good story. And for every bad example of one alpha, there are ten examples of great ones. Often, opinions can be so subjective and dependent on mood and how many of what type you've read lately.

Awe

Submitted by aliquis on Fri, 2009-01-23 00:00.

Thanks for visiting with us today, Jamie Leigh! Great post - and your husband sounds so sweet!
Congratulations on your upcoming books - they sound wonderful. I love a hero who is secure enough to accept a strong heroine. I've actually been looking for heroes that can "tone it down" a bit. I'm a equal opportunity lover of alphas and betas, I suppose ;)

Hi Aliquis!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Fri, 2009-01-23 02:20.

Is that your name? How pretty. :) Thank you for your warm welcome and well wishes. My dh is great, but then after 17 years together, we've worked out our system. lol And, you know? Equal opportunity lovers have more books to read! lol

Hmmmm

Submitted by ddurance on Fri, 2009-01-23 00:28.

I think it is somewhat unrealistic. I know it's what every woman wants, but so few of us actually get the whole shebang.
What a sweetie your man is to get you books. Mine is jealous of my time spent reading and hates my books because he's not a reader.
Forgive me for being blunt, but it must be my mood of late.

Deidre

Hi Diedre!

Submitted by Jamie Leigh Hansen on Fri, 2009-01-23 02:33.

True, no guy can possibly be the whole shebang. My dh, great as he is, would rather call in a pro than change his oil or fix the breaks. And hard as he tries, woodworking is not the great love of his life. And balancing the checkbook will never be one of his best skills. But he's good at home maintenance and quit his job to oversee our daughter's chemo, therapy and other appts. He'd sit in a hospital for hours, no matter how uncomfortable it got or how much he hated to be there. For our child, or the neighbor's nephew we barely knew when he nearly cut off the end of his finger. There's good and bad in every guy.

I'm sorry to hear about your reading. Mine used to never read and he had to adjust over the years (The good lord knew I wasn't giving up my books.). He decided while we were in college he wanted to read more, so he made himself read a few pages a night. It grew from there and he added a love of young adult novels. Now he's a bookseller at Borders. It's amazing how these things can grow.

I hope it works out in a positive, happy way for you. And that you have a chance to improve your mood. :)

Jamie

Hi Jamie, Your books look

Submitted by J.K. Coi on Fri, 2009-01-23 12:33.

Hi Jamie,
Your books look irresistable. Whether alpha or beta, bad boy or nice guy, I love a great story and any characters that spark with each other.

J.K. Coi
Immortals To Die For
www.jkcoi.com