Alpha, Beta & Omega Heroes

I got a ton of writing done this weekend. I'm currently working on the second book in the Temptation, Wyoming series. (The first book, Wrestling With Temptation comes out on January 12th from Siren Publishing). Anyway, this one I'm working on is a FFM menage and the dominant character in the story is a woman. It's got some BDSM in it and she's in charge. That was a twist for me since I usually write about dominant males.
The hero has a very submissive personality like an omega, but he also stands up to her through parts of the book and speaks his mind. At times he seems more like her right hand man, or a beta. Hm. Does that make him an ombeta? Lol
I realize alpha males seem to be most popular and I prefer writing them. In fiction there's just something about a strong, take charge, possessive, protective kind of guy. A natural leader who prefers to give orders rather than take them, but has a sensitive side, even if he hides it well. A rebel who blazes his own trail, but can't resist that special someone who can tame him without taking away that dark edge.
I also really like writing about beta heroes. The sweet, supportive right hand man who has a strong enough personality to lead when necessary, but a tender side that is just so irresistible. In fiction, I have a hard time deciding which I like more: alphas or betas, but in real life give me the beta. <3
Omega is something I have only written about once or twice so far. In Wrestling With Temptation I wrote about a wolf pack and of course there was an omega. He was sweet, submissive and loyal. A lot like a puppy. I've done some research on wolves and while I always thought the omega was the low guy on the totem pole (he is), but he's hardly neglected. I guess when packs feed there's a hierarchy and certain pieces go to certain ranking wolves. This is apparently why the more dominant the wolf, the darker their markings are because they are used to eating certain parts of their prey, which shows up in their coat. Kind of like people. The better we eat, the clearer and more radiant our skin generally looks. Anyway, according to the information I read, the omega has to eat last (poor guy) and kind of acts as a court jester if any of the feeding wolves overstep their bounds or get snippy with each other. He basically keeps them from fighting while they eat. Then when they're done, one of the betas brings the omega something good to eat. (If he's getting the second in command's food, it has to be good). So in actuality the little guys are cared for and everybody ends up happy.   

Release Dates For Upcoming Books

So I have an idea of roughly what date two of my books come out on. Haunting Siren should be released on January 1 from No Boundaries Press. (That's the book with the ghost)
Wrestling With Temptation (the werewolf menage book) is scheduled to be released on January 12 from Siren Publishing.
I also have a dark fantasy erotica book that is supposed to come out in January, but I don't have the precise date yet. Once I have more details on it, I'll let you know the title and date, etc.
I'm hoping those dates don't change, but there they are.

Woo!!

I got another book published! Wooo!!!! This one is a paranormal erotic romance with a ghost in it. More details later, but it will be coming out in January from No Boundaries Press. It's not a horror story, though. So those who like blood and guts likely won't be interested. Still, the story has a ghost in it, but it's not really a wet yourself in fear chill factor. It's more of a subtle creepiness. But it's an erotic romance, so of course there must be love and lust. :)
Anyway, more details later. Here's a beautiful, creepy picture to celebrate and a belated Halloween pic.

Cover Questionnaires

So as you know my werewolf menage story, Wrestling With Temptation got published a couple of weeks ago with Siren Publishing. (Yes, I'm now referring to it by its title rather than "that werewolf story" Lol) It's due out int January. Woo!!

I filled out a cover questionnaire like it did when I signed on at Rebel Ink Press. I remember how surprised I was when I found out the authors write the blurbs. Fortunately I had fun with this, though the bitty blurb I had to do was tough. Now when it comes time for the excerpt, if I have to choose, then uh oh. How would I know which part to pick out from the others? Hopefully the publishers will choose.
Anyway, this latest cover questionnaire I filled out was longer. They give you the option when you're describing your characters to send a link of an actress or actor you pictured for the role as a reference point. (Obviously they can't slap a picture of those people on the cover; it's just to give them an idea of what's in my head.) I was excited. If I had just sent them a link without them asking I would have felt like a weirdo. Lol But since they asked I was happy to do so.
Sometimes it just helps when you're writing to have a clear picture in your head of what the hero or heroine looks like. I've found it helps to visualize the characters better and while sometimes during the course of writing that person in my head is who I picture the whole way through, there are other times where the character begins to take on its own form. Similar to its original source, but quite uniquely its own.
I absolutely love when I'm reading and the author will admit to who they pictured for their characters. It's so perfect! That way you have a clear vision in your head and sound of their voice to go by when reading. The story comes alive more, rather than just knowing the person is blond with blue eyes, but you can't really picture their face.

Updates For Upcoming Books

My werewolf menage story got published! Woo!! It's due out in January. My dark fantasy erotica book is supposed to come out at that time as well. I'll post the blurbs to these as soon as I can and eventually some excerpts. I can't wait!

HEA, HFN & ETR

I've noticed that erotic romance publishers will often say they want a HEA (Happily ever after) or HFN (Happy for now) ending. Some say they are fine with sad or unconventional endings, but most aren't.
At one of my publishers HEA means that the heroine and hero/heroes are either engaged or married at the end. HFN means they're basically dating or just sexually involved.
That said one of my books ended in a committed Master/slave relationship, which is why they didn't put HFN on it, because there was a lasting commitment there. However, because the heroes didn't say "Marry me, baby" the publisher didn't mark it as HEA.
So at least at Siren Publishing when it doesn't say either HEA or HFN it doesn't necessarily mean nobody ends up together permanently. They very well may. It just means they don't get married or aren't engaged by the end of the book. It can still have a committed happy ending though. Unless it says HFN in which case it just means they're either dating or having a fling.
I understand the appeal of happily ever after. Forever love, endless joy, bunnies and roses. I mean who wouldn't want that? :)
What I don't get is how a happy for now ending is supposed to satisfy me personally. To me that says (to use a quote a man said to a woman in an old movie) "Don't worry about me. If I ever want out of this I'll just drop the sponge and won't be around."
What?! Naturally the woman stayed with him because this movie was made in the fifties I think and they often portrayed women differently back then. I saw one old movie where the woman was abused repeatedly by this guy, but she stayed with him and liked being abused, because she knew he loved her even though he beat her up. Huh.
Anyway, to the quote from that other movie I would have said: "See you, jerk." I mean seriously. They just started dating and he tells her this. What the heck? To me a HFN ending is disappointing. If I read a romance book, the characters don't have to necessarily get married at the end, but they sure as heck better be committed in some way.
The one exception would be if it was a continuing series. Then I wouldn't mind a HFN in the first few books, because the last book would have the HEA. That I don't mind. Those can be fun. :)
Then there is the subject of ETR (epic tragic romantic) ending. I made up the abbreviation myself so don't laugh. Aw, go ahead. Laughing is delightful. Anyway, while I'd have to agree with the majority that HEA is the way to go for most endings, I personally find ETR endings very moving if done correctly to show me the power of love, the tragedy of obstacles and not merely just to rip my heart out for the sake of making me cry. Like the ending in Titanic. Granted they ended up in the afterlife together, so that was happy, but the part before where he dies and she has to go on living without him. That is so freaking sad, but it touched me because as someone in love, I can feel that scene very deeply.
Another example of a well done tragic ending would be Gone With The Wind. I admit I wanted them to stay together. They were perfect for each other and even though Scarlett deserved to be left, at the same time it kind of tugs at my heart because she's in tears and you know how much she loves him. That part where they're on the stairs and she tugs on his arm. The look on his face seemed loving and profound like he might be reminiscing about the good times they had, but ultimately his mind was made up. After he walks out and she watches him leave, I keep thinking freaking tackle him and drag him back inside! Come back!
So while some sad endings are just gr because they aren't done right (like movies where you don't care about the characters and they all just die in the end), some of them are done so well and touch you so deeply that they stick with you for a long time afterward, sometimes longer than certain HEA.
The saddest movie I ever saw was Spartacus. I don't mean the show that's on now. I've never seen that. I'm talking about the old movie with Kirk Douglas and that one lady (I don't remember her name. Jean Simmons maybe?). I got choked up so many times during that. I've only seen it once, but certain parts of that movie are branded in my mind forever. Good movie, but it breaks and touches your heart so many times it almost becomes immortal in your memory because of how tragic it was.
As I said, HEA are the best, but HFN is not satisfying to me because it's basically saying, "eh, we might be together tomorrow, we might not. We may have a future together and all our dreams might come true, or I might just leave you if things get tough or dull."
I don't want to read that. Heck, I'd take the sad, but beautiful and romantic ending that moves me deeply over the "you're okay for now" one any day. Am I the only one who feels that way? Or are there others who would rather have a good cry over a beautiful, romantic tragedy where you know they really loved each other, over the "you please me for now, but we'll see," ending?
Fear not, most of my books end with HEA, only on occasion do I have a sad one, but there is no doubt whatsoever that they love each other in the deepest possible way.
My goodness, how I carry on. I'll let you go and quit ranting. Happy fall! This weather is gorgeous :)

Happenings Of Late

I sent my final manuscript in for my dark fantasy erotica book. It should be out at the beginning of the new year. I'm so excited!
I'm working on a paranormal with werewolves right now. It's quite fun and I do love wolves. I bought a book on wolves to devour more information on them. Yes, I know I'm writing about werewolves, but hey, if these guys are half wolf why not make their animal aspect natural to an extent? I mean the pack can't all be alphas. Somebody's got to be the omega, beta, mid ranking wolves, etc. This one might be a harder sell since one of the heroes is well...an antihero with a dark (evil) past. Oh, well. They can't all be perfect, right?
My favorite heroes in books and certain movies were basically antiheroes. Rhett Butler and The Phantom Of The Opera. To me they're perfect - in fiction that is. In real life it might be disturbing being with someone like that, but in fiction it's so intriguing and delightful!
I recently read a spicy version of P.O.T.O. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It has occurred to me how fun it might be to write my own sensual phantom story. Not sure if I would send it in afterward. Of course I would research the crap out of everything, stay true to the characters, but take liberties with the sensuality and (cough) ending. Still, I like to do my own thing and have never written fan fiction before, so it might be best to complete, edit and dissect the heck out of my written specimen before seeing if I'm brave enough to mail it, or click the button and send it. I'm grateful people have written fan fiction on it and would be interested in obtaining more if the characters aren't morbidly distorted from the original. Enhanced is fine and changing the tragic ending is more than fine with me :)
I loved the phantom as a kid, because he kidnapped Christine in the old movie I saw and well, as a kid my sister and I always played we were pretty ladies with gorgeous dresses getting kidnapped by bad guys because we were just so beautiful how could they resist capturing us and forcing us into marriage? Lol I'm not sure if this is a normal childhood thing for girls to play, or if I was just a unique one.
I have seen the play, two or three movies of the Phantom and peeked at the original novel in a book store. I want to read it soon. I mean who in their right mind would write a fan fiction piece without reading the original first? I'm not crazy! I must know every side of the phantom in every media and literature form.
Then when I saw the newest movie made, OMG Gerard Butler is the perfect phantom! He can sing amazing too! I have the soundtrack and the movie. Both are brilliant masterpieces and while Christine has a beautiful voice, why did she walk away from him?!
Anyway, it has occurred to me that this post sounds like I have been doing nothing but living as a raving phantom lunatic lately. I assure you that is not the case. I have also been pregnant. I won't go into it, because I don't know what it is yet, but I call it a he, or fatty, or chubbers on occasion, simply because I don't know what he is yet and I hope he is a chubby baby. Aren't they just the cutest? The laughing, chubby baby with all the rolls and squishies? Oh, yes!
Will talk more later.