Hero Breakdown: Alpha, Beta, Gamma. . .Delta?

Lately, I've been obsessed with wanting to create a new type of Hero category in paranormal romance. . .Delta.

I know. I know.

WTF is a Delta?

Well, I don't quite know, so I'm hoping all of you will help me!

If you can, comment & give me five great qualities that a Delta Hero should have! (I'll give you a cookie. . .seriously I will send a cookie to your house if I love your five qualities!)

NOTE: Don't forget the Bad Boy Love ebook giveaway is still happening. Enter below! 5 books for one winner....including the The Burning Bush (ARC).

Okay, back to the Delta.
To be fair, I'll do a breakdown of how I define the other Hero categories (if you disagree. . .Good. . . then give me your definitions and list).

ALPHA

This should be easy to understand if you are a big urban fantasy and/or paranormal romance reader.

This guy is dominant! He rips and tears his enemies into tiny pieces. When he loves, he consumes and possesses his woman. He's also guaranteed to have a huge one (I have not seen an alpha have a little one yet. . .).

He tends to have the urge to say things like Mine! Mate!

Watch out. . .Alpha's tend to mark their woman--biting, draping them in their scent, etc

• Think pretty much any character from J.R. Ward's series!

• Barrons from Karen Moning's fever series!

• Bones from Jeanine Frost's The Night Huntress!

• MeShack and Zulu from my Habitat series!

My favorite Alpha?

CURRAN aka The Beast Lord!

 ROOOOOOAAAARRRRR!

BETA

The Beta is a great, lovable, and dependable guy! Mom's love him! He'll help the heroine fight or find the murder as well as open the door for her. He's perfectly okay with standing in the background as the heroine beats the hell out of people! Shoot, he may even need to be saved by the heroine a couple times.

• Think Edward from Stephanie Meyers Twilight Series! (yeah I said it! Deal with it. . .he's a freaking Beta not an Alpha.)

My Favorite Beta?

Its a big TIE between Seth and Micah

SETH aka Sexy Writer!

(Come on writers need love too!)

MICAH aka Alpha of St. Louis's Were-leopards

GAMMA

NO I did not make this up!! I swear its real! People call some heroes Gamma!

So this one is a tough one to define, but in my research I've found the Gamma to have some qualities of the Alpha and Beta, BUT also some really undesirable qualities.

It seems that a Gamma hero can be:

• disfigured, maimed, blind, etc

• not immediately Sexy like the Alpha. . .it takes some time for the heroine to see his sexy qualities.

•  has some sort of social or mental disorder

• may turn many readers off, but in the end was just really misunderstood.

• has a boat load of baggage

Think "Sick-in-the-head-millionaire" Christian from E.L. James' Fifty Shades series.

Think "Scarred and Eye-patch-wearing" Declan from the Nightshade series. 

Think "Full-body-Tattooed and Guilt-ridden-depressive" Malkolm from Kristen Painter's House of Comarre series.

My favorite Gamma?

Terrible aka My-Simply-Not-To-Be-Fucked-With-Book-Baby-Daddy.

So what is a DELTA???

I would love to create a new hero for the genre. A guy that has never been seen before. . .a breath of fresh air for heroes.

Give me some qualities people!!!!

HERE's THE eBOOKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY:





Or if you have already read Fire Baptized then you'll recieve The Burning Bush (ARC) in September.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tall, Dark, and Deadly! 1st Post for ALPHA WEEK

This week at Fantasy Floozies is all about Alphas! Everyday we will discuss the phenomena of the Alpha in paranormal romance/urban fantasy! Here's our first guest post on this topic! 

                    

NOTE: There will be a four ebook Bad Boy Love Giveaway starting Wednesday and ending Friday! Make sure you enter! The author below, Tamelia's book A Dragon's Seduction will be part of the giveaway! Woop Woop!

 Guest Post by Tamelia Tumlin

Thank you, Kenya for having me as a guest today. It is an honor to be here and discuss paranormal heroes with your readers.  

What is it about tall, dark, and deadly men that give women a thrill?  Is it simply because they are so deliciously sexy? Or maybe it is because they offer something a little on the taboo side? Perhaps, it is the fact they are powerful beyond anything imaginable and so very Alpha.

Personally, I say all of this contributes to the lure of paranormal heroes, but the main draw for most women is their undeniable strength and integrity.  Paranormal heroes may possess a sensuous charisma that no woman can resist, but he will also have a dark side that could very well be deadly to the heroine if he’s not careful.

For example, in my novella, A Dragon’s Seduction, the hero is a dragonshifter who falls in love with his mortal enemy, a sorceress. This wouldn’t be too bad, except his inner dragon knows she could destroy him and it fights the hero every step of the way. Even to the point of turning on the heroine when it felt threatened. But, as with most paranormal heroes, the hero in my book chooses to protect the heroine at all cost. Even if it means possible self-destruction.

Paranormal heroes have flaws just like any other hero, but they are also confident, sexy and downright irresistible. What makes a paranormal hero so alluring is the fact he has power to do anything he wants, yet he is willing to give it all up to protect the woman he loves.  This is the ultimate rush for most readers.  Women love a powerful, sexy and yes, even dangerous man, but she also wants one who is willing to do whatever it takes to protect and cherish her no matter what. 

My favorite paranormal characters are vampires. Ever since I watched Love at First Bite starring George Hamilton many, many years ago I was hooked. But, this humorous fascination with the undead sexy heroes turned to an attraction for the darker, dangerous brooding types found in Amanda Ashley’s books during my teen years which spilled over into my adult life.

Vampires are a staple of the paranormal heroes, but there are many others that are equally compelling. Werewolves, shifters, even demons as long as they have two very important qualities: honor and integrity.  Not to mention, of  course, an undying (pardon the pun) love for the heroine. So, who are your favorite paranormal characters? Which tall, dark, and deadly hero do you like to read about the most?

Some of Tamelia's Other Books

Tamelia Tumlin sold her first story to Dogwood Tales Magazine many years ago while taking a creative writing course in college. The short story titled "The Traveler" was the feature story for that edition. After graduating college in elementary education, life, a teaching career and a wonderful son consumed most of her time. However, in the past couple of years, the yearning to pen fabulous romantic tales of to-die-for heroes and spirited heroines has taken over. Ms. Tumlin has worked with several online publishers, but she is now writing for Steel Magnolia Press. Juggling motherhood, teaching and writing is a challenge, but one she welcomes to pursue her passion. Her novels range from sweet and sassy to dark and dangerous.

Find Tamlia Here:

      www.tameliatumlin.com

     www.steelmagnoliapress.com

          https://twitter.com/tameliatumlin

      

   http://www.goodreads.com/TameliaTumlin