GUEST POST WITH AUTHOR OF "HOLIDAY AFFAIR," ANNIE SEATON!

 

Thank you for having me as a guest on your blog...it is a pleasure to talk to your readers. 

I have read a lot of romance over the past few years and it has been interesting to see the rise and fall and recent resurgence of the alpha male...

Do we need the alpha male?
It goes without saying that a romance novel must have a hero who is strong and believable, assertive and courageous. But what are the essential characteristics and how do writers go about getting the personality traits and physical appearance just right? Can we sometimes overdo it...or is that what the reader is looking for each time they pick up a new romance?


Let’s have a quick look at the characteristics of Nick in Holiday Affair
Alpha males are generally natural leaders. Smart, confident, single minded, physically imposing, strong and attractive...usually sexier than your run of the mill guy from down the street. He is more often than not a billionaire, or at the very least the CEO of a powerful corporation.

Nick, the alpha male in Holiday Affair is a university professor, with a touch of arrogance. He is smart and confident, tall, tanned and strong. He has a slight temper and can be a tad impatient.

Now is that what readers are looking for or has the alpha hero had his day? Do we want our romance novels to mirror real life?

No...of course we want our heroes to be alpha, but we must walk that fine line between confidence and arrogance. Okay, even a little bit of arrogance can be downright sexy. However there has to be a tiny bit of vulnerability—that single thing that opens them up to the love of the right woman—that one person who manages to find that chink in their armour and wind their way into his heart.

The best alpha males are the ones who have a soft side... it is satisfying for the reader to see them open up and to experience the caring underneath that hard exterior.

Of course on the way to those moments, he must demonstrate his amazing prowess and consideration in the bedroom. So back to Nick.

Strong and confident...tick.
A natural leader...tick
Sexy...tick
A sense of humour...tick
Bedroom skills...tick.
Vulnerability...tick.

Put the mix together and you have a wonderful alpha male who I fell in love with as I created him.

Now...a little bit about me.

Annie Seaton lives on the edge of the south Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Australia. Recently retired from the world of full time work, she is fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing, and had instant success! Her first two books were both published on the same day in March and Holiday Affair has been in the best seller lists since then.

She writes across genres: steampunk, (Winter of the Passion Flower) and paranormal romance, (Blind Lust ...just released), as well as romantic suspense but her favorite genre is contemporary romance. 
Italian Affair continues the story of the Richards brothers and Annie is currently enjoying creating the story of Tom and Brianna, the feisty sex therapist 
Annie’s working life was spent in education from early childhood through to teaching trainee teachers at university. She has worked as librarian, teacher, technology consultant and university tutor. She has now retired and spends her days writing down the many stories in her head. 

When she is not writing she can be found in her garden or walking on the beach... or most likely on her deck overlooking the ocean, a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc in hand as the sun sets.
Visit Annie Seaton at http://annieseatonromance.com
Check out her blog at http:annieseaton.blogspot.com
Twitter @annieseaton26
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/annieseaton26

Blurb and buy links
Staid professor Lissy McIntyre believes that choosing a mate should be based on common sense, not runaway passion. And she would certainly never pick a rolling stone like Nick Richards for long-term love. But a red-hot, tropical romance? Oh, yeah. He’s got a body just made for sinning and his sizzling kisses leave her senseless.

When Nick blows into town, he’s stunned to discover that his no-nonsense new neighbor and co-worker is the same sultry creature he seduced for one night of forbidden island pleasure. He’s unaccustomed to staying in one place for long, but he just can’t seem to keep his hands off the multi-faceted woman. Will Nick break loyal Lissy’s heart or will she be the one woman he simply can’t walk away from?

Buy links

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Affai.../dp/B007KTECCQ/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hol...aton/1109560002


Annie Seaton will be giving away a copy of “Holiday Affair” she would love to hear from the readers as well. Email her at: annie.seaton26@gmail.com and tell her about your favourite characteristics and what you think makes the perfect Alpha Male!