Did you know Amazon is now censoring the use of the word "alphahole" in book reviews submitted? I know this because they rejected a review I submitted where I used the word and had to change it to "alpha-a***" before they would accept the review. I didn't think alphahole was a swear word, so I am not sure why they are censoring it. Maybe they object to the type of men they are?
Today, we feature author Cathleen Ross who has a love for alphaholes and loves writing them in her books. I asked her a few questions about her love of them. Here's what she had to say.
You love writing about alphaholes. What is it about an alphahole that attracts you?
I
like my romance edgy. For me it's the dark, handsome hero who will go
further to get the heroine than other heroes, even if the heroine
doesn’t want him at first. He also needs to be wealthy because poor
isn’t sexy. That makes for an exciting read.
Why write about alphaholes and not nice guys?
I
know lots of nice guys. They’re the men I have as friends. That’s
reality for me. Alpha holes are exciting in fiction. He is the guy who
is resourceful. A leader. A survivor like Rick Grimes in Walking Dead.
He’ll also go to any length to win the heroine. In fiction it’s the
edginess that appeals to me along with an element of danger. Quite
often my alpha holes have a military background so they know how to
protect themselves and the heroine. Nice heroes bore me. Nice heroes
are often in sweet romance. They don’t even have sex.
Describe your perfect alpha hole.
They’re
fit and hot looking. Great at making snap decisions. Intelligent. The
type of guy who makes it clear that it’s not okay when a heroine
crosses a line she shouldn’t cross. They are also skilful lovers and
romantic when they need to be. The fantasy is enticing.
Do alphaholes need redeeming?
The
redemption is an important part of being an alpha hole because the
alpha hole will go to great lengths to ravish the heroine. It’s sex on
the edge. It’s behaviour on the edge. Quite often when I’m writing an
alpha hole I have to write a heroine who is powerful enough to resist
him. She’s either attempted to destroy the alpha hole’s honour or
resisting him for a good reason. As a romance writer, you still have to
have the heroine bring the alpha hole to his knees, which is hard to do
when the power is in the alpha hole’s favour. It’s often in the love
scene where I show the hero being tender. In other stories I have him
do something for the heroine that she didn’t think possible.
And if they do, how would you go about doing it?
My
heroines have to know when to walk away from the alpha hole. By the end
of my books I’ve usually softened my hero. For example in my free
medieval Scottish romance, Highlander, Lady Isobel doesn’t have a
choice when she is given in marriage by her father to the enemy knight
Sir James Bruce. She’s strong willed enough to resist him, so he throws
her over his horse. I redeem him by having him save Isobel’s beloved
twin brother from death. When readers find that my alpha hole has a
soft underbelly, they seem to really enjoy it.
My
sheikh, Rafi in the boxed set, Taken by the Sheikh, is an alpha hole
who is prepared to kidnap his bride. He’s already paid the bride price
so it is his right to have her. He’s the ultimate alpha hole. It’s only
when my heroine discovers that Rafi has always loved her and that he
was her late brother’s best friend, that she sees his soft underbelly
and lets her guard down.
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If your heroine was dating an alphahole, do you think she could bring him home to meet mama?
My daughter once brought
home an asshole. Does that count?
Is it possible to date or marry a real life alphahole? Will it work and give you a happy ever after?
I
think alpha holes are hard work on a day to day basis because they are
so strong-willed and not good listeners. It takes a strong woman to
manage an alpha hole. It means the happy ever after has greater highs
and lows. I used to think not fighting was a sign of a good marriage
but learning to stand your ground is extremely important.
Can you give me a few examples of you favourite alpha holes?
I
love Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. Scarlett could never get
anything past him. Stepbrother Unsealed by Nicole Snow had a great
alpha hole. I also enjoyed Christina Phillip’s Khalid in Taken by the
Sheikh and Mel Tescho’s, Max in Taken by the Billionaire Stepbrother.
Well, there you have it. Straight from the author's mouth. What makes an alphahole great.
Have you read an alphahole yet? Do you have any to recommend?
My two favorites are Erik from Enslaved by an Alpha by Viola Rivard and Creighton from Dirty Billionaire by Meghan March.
Enslaved by the Alpha
(Note: this is a 7 part serial) |
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What a great interview. It's funny because I never thought I did, or could, write an alphahole until I discovered people thought Khalid was one! This still makes me giggle :-)
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's that take what you want, dominant, controlling personality. I love that in a make believe man. :-)
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