Welcome to Jane Toombs

Today's Friday Friend is Jane Toombs. 

Jane, the Viking from her past and their calico grandcat, Kinko, live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula wilderness on the south shore of Lake Superior where the three great seasons of spring, summer and fall make up for the horrible winters. Jane has somewhere between eighty and ninety published works to her credit, and hopes to make it to one hundred of them if she lives long enough.  

She tells us today about her paranormal preference:

What attracts some authors and readers to paranormal while other of either breed don’t care for it at all? That’s a question I can’t answer because I was introduced to E.A. Poe’s poems and stories as a child and loved almost all of them--especially this line in one of the poems--“the ghoul haunted woodland of Weir.”

In fact I liked that poem so well, all these years later I wrote a story about a ghoul in a cemetery, green in color, who is the hero. Not easy, but I had fun doing it. The title is “It Can’t Be Mine!” and it can be found in my TEN PAST MIDNIGHT, Dark Tales by Jane Toombs.

As I got older I discovered H. P. Lovecraft, who wrote nothing but paranormal tales and A. Merritt, who wrote books with titles like Burn, Witch, Burn, and Creep, Shadow, Creep. Impossible for me to resist those. While Lovecraft wrote highly imaginative horror, Merritt wrote fantasy romance. Enjoyed them both.

My very first sale to a publisher (Avon) was a gothic romance back in 1973. Since then I’ve written seventeen more published gothics because I can indulge my love of the dark side in that kind of story and still have a happy ending. Six of them were Silhouette Shadows., the rest are all historical gothics. by various publishers

While gothics usually are paranormal romance, all paranormal romance isn’t gothic in nature. Some of it is closer to horror. Horror, by its nature, rarely has a happy ending. Since I’m also fond of HEAS, I have only one published horror novel to my credit, Hugger Doll , plus two novellas. So, all in all, my favorite genre to read and write is paranormal romance . Given the nature of paranormal and the fear of it, adds the element of suspense to paranormal stories.

My most recent book, HALLOW HOUSE, is one of those long multigenerational gothic suspense romances loaded with paranormal happenings. My publisher, Books We Love Publishing Partners, decided to publish it in two halves. I was surprised to find a natural place to divide the story, with each part complete in itself. And yet Part One at its end does hold the promise there’ll be a Part Two. Part One is out now, with Part Two to follow shortly. As one reviewer put it: “…Victoria Holt meets Stephen King…”

She isn’t far off. But Hallow House does have a happy ending for each generation, even if they have terrifying times getting there.

All my recent books have a buy button at my website: http://www.janetoombs.com/

Thanks so much for being with us today, Jane.  Congratulations on your publishing success - I'm sure you'll make it to a hundred!
  

An Eye Opener

Well, this week's discussion has certainly been an eye opener for me. If you would have polled me before the week started as to the whole Alpha/Beta preference for a hero, my immediate repsonse would have been Alpha all the way.

But as I've read through the fabulous posts and subsequent discussions this week, I've learned something. I prefer the hybird - as we've dubbed them. It also has come as somewhat of a surprise to me to learn that the heroes I write are really hybrids as well. Initially I would have described them as Alpha, but I've learned a lot this week, and can now see them in a clearer light. And I like what I see.

That said, I couldn't let the opportunity pass by to pay homage to two of my favorite Alpha males from print and screen.

We'll start with Bond, James Bond. The ultimate Alpha male. Oozing charm, sophistication, and most importantly, sex appeal. Cast the always dashing and debonoir Peirce Brosnan to play him, and I'm a gonner. And while Bond may be a romantic hero, he definitely doesn't fit the proto-type for a romance hero. There will be no happily ever after with him. He'll move on to the next gal as soon as he moves on to his next assignment. He tried happily ever after once, and it turned deadly for his bride.

And then there's Dirk Pitt. I often refer to him as the James Bond of deep water diving. Adventurous, independent, and charismatic. In his one and only screen appearance, the utterly charming Matthew McConaughey was cast to play the engimatic, emerald-eyed explorer, and I only wish creative differences between author and producer hadn't put a stop to future portrayals. Unlike Bond, Pitt eventually does settle down with one woman.

Great discussion this week ladies!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Alpha Minus, Beta Plus?

We’ve all read the ‘romance’ novels where the domineering alpha man forces himself on to the weak/innocent/naïve heroine and practically rapes her, but she still falls in love with him? What???

The extreme Alpha man is sometimes portrayed in romance novels as Mr. Machismo, an abrasive, ruthless, overbearing jerk. Maybe it’s what some women fantasize about, but it leaves me cold. An ‘Alpha-plus’ man like this is more likely to be the villain in my story, not the hero.

The extreme Beta man, on the other hand, can come over as a boring ‘Mr Nice Guy’. Carried to its extreme, i.e. the ‘Beta-minus’ level, he is an unremarkable, passive, non-confrontational wimp.

Reading this week’s blogs and comments has confirmed my view that most women prefer the hybrid – what I like to call the Alpha-minus, Beta-plus man, who combines the best qualities of both and loses the worst.

So Alpha-plus loses his macho arrogance and egomaniacal behaviour to become Alpha-minus. He retains his strength, charisma and a self-confidence which is respected, not intimidating. He seeks a mate who is his equal, not one he can dominate.

At the same time, the Beta-minus loses his reticence and passiveness and climbs up the scale to Beta-plus. But he retains his sensitivity, his loyalty, his compassion.

So we get the best of both worlds - strength combined with sensitivity. Now that’s my kind of hero!

Writing the Beta Hero Love Story

The beta hero is the best friend and Mr. Nice Guy rolled into one. He doesn’t enjoy confrontation but when the chips are down you can count on him to be there. We may go for the bad boys at first, but, if we’re smart, the beta hero is the one we marry.

Some of my favorite authors have written books with betas as their heroes. In Lord Carew’s Bride, by Mary Balogh, Harley Wade, the Marquess of Carew, befriends the heroine, Samantha Newman, when he finds her “trespassing” on his estate. When she believes him to be the gardener, he doesn’t disabuse her of the notion. During her three visits, they manage to become, you got it, the best of friends. Hartley is not only titled, but has a pot of money, is talented and artistic, very sweet and patient. Because he’s crippled from an accident that happened during his youth, he finds it difficult to marry, believing it’s his money and title which would attract a wife, and not his personal attributes. Samantha, who fell in love with a cad during her come out season, doesn’t wish to fall in love again. She treasures her friendship with Harley and, because she “loves” him without being “in” love with him, marries him, not knowing how deeply in love with her he is. By the time she discovers she’s in love with him as well, you’re bawling like a baby over this tale of almost unrequited love.

In Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, Colin Bridgerton returns to England, bored with his endless wandering, hoping to discover something that will put a spark back into his life. When he reacquaints himself with quiet Penelope Featherington, who’s loved him forever, he discovers her intelligence and dry wit provide the balm to his troubled soul. Somehow, Penelope sees through him to the man he really is and encourages him to follow his bliss, which in his case means writing about his world travels. Initially, he balks against her revealing a secret which, in his opinion would turn the ton against her. But in true beta hero fashion, he rallies and supports her decision to “come out” as it were, as a best friend would do. In the end, they’re not only in love but each other’s best friend.

In Rita-award winner, Dream a Little Dream, Susan Elizabeth Phillips created a wounded beta hero in Gabe Bonner, a widower, who lost his wife and son in a car accident. Rachel Stone, the heroine, is not welcome in the town of Salvation, her former home, where she lived with her ex-husband, a televangelist who ripped off people right and left. A destitute widow now, she returns to Salvation with her son, Edward, to see if she can find some of her husband’s ill-gotten gains. Even though he doesn’t trust her and is wary of her motivations, she worms into Gabe’s good graces. Together, they rebuild an old drive-in movie theatre, and, along the way, they fall in love. It’s when Gabe is able to put aside his pain to rescue her son that you see what a fine beta hero he truly is.

As you can see, a wounded beta hero love story provides readers with a satisfying and emotional read. And isn’t that why we read in the first place?

Beta male Vs Alpha male: The Romance Stakes.

I blame the romance industry (publishing) for their unbidden constancy of inflicting Alpha males upon readers of romance. What’s wrong with a Beta male?  To be honest, I always fancied Dandini rather than Prince Charming. The latter too vain in every way: Dandini the charmer of the two. Hee hee, and a man on his knees placing glass slipper on feet far more to my liking!

As we know, in the animal kingdom Alpha’s rule by appearance, strength and overall dominance, their reign subject to no sign of weakness! But, often that is not the case within the species Homo sapiens. Ha, you say, no because we have brains that enable us to think for ourselves, plus we’re not driven by instinct alone. The latter, unfortunately, is not strictly true, because if a stunningly good-looking bloke is walking amidst a crowd of average guys he stands out, does he not? And, it’s a likely bet you noticed him!  So, let’s not deny instinct plays a huge part in our lives. Thing is though, that gorgeous hunk could well be a Beta male and his eyes no less predatory than an Alpha male: if a little more subtle in execution of sighting object of interest.

Think of light romance and actors who’ve played stunning Beta Male roles, time and time again, within movies. Cary Grant, as we all know was a good-looking guy who had natural presence, unassuming chocolate voice, and although a hero in his own right and his getting the girl in the end, he avoided confrontation and usually talked himself out of sticky situations.  Hugh Grant has also portrayed similar qualities of bungling along, getting into pickles and talking (lying) his way out of awkward and embarrassing moments. So what is it about the Beta male character that can win over the girl?  

Instinct is more noticeable among the Alpha’s (not always stunningly gorgeous guys): notice their sense of presence, predatory eyes, and desire to be noticed. They often have loud/powerful voices that carry to willing ears, they make eye contact with willing subjects, and they play new object of desire much the same as a fiddler bows his strings. The Alpha male usually acquires powerful status business/career wise and thereby leads while expecting devotees to follow, and mostly they do.

On the other hand there are Alpha Homo sapiens who become bullies in every aspect of their lives (gang culture), in the main because they lack the necessary to be anything other than a macho bully, the same goes for some Alpha females. Inevitably, their lifestyles are more akin to the animal kingdom, though much less interesting because animals have no concept of right from wrong. 

  

So, whom do you prefer, a Beta or Alpha male hero for romantic reading?   

Escape with a Beta hero?

I found on the ‘Road To Romance’ website a workshop on Beta Heroes posted by Michele R. Bardsley.

She says Beta heroes are better suited for romantic comedies because their personalities are more capable of handling crazy circumstances and outrageous events…The reader laughs WITH the beta hero.

Examples of Beta Heroes From Movies
• Jack (Bill Pullman), the nice younger brother, in "While You Were Sleeping.”
Example: He's playing cards with his comatose brother and says, "Whoever gets the high card, gets Lucy." (No direct confrontation.)
• Shane (Keanu Reeves), the kind-hearted ex-quarterback, in "The Replacements"
Example: He steps in to protect his deaf teammate from the insults of the team’s former quarterback. When the quarterback hits him, he takes the punch then says, "Had enough?" (Protects his friends; Wants to avoid confrontation; attempts to defuse situation with humor.)
• Robbie (Adam Sandler), the heartbroken romantic, in "The Wedding Singer"
Example: First clue he's a beta—he's wedding singer. He takes an underage kid who's been drinking at the wedding outside to puke in the Dumpster. (Taking care of others who he perceives needs him.) This is when he meets the heroine, Julia. Sense of humor to deal with situations: "No one could puke more than that kid. I think I saw boot come out of him."

Examples of Beta Heroes From Novels
• Peter, the lovelorn tongue-tied doctor, from GOOD IN BED by Jennifer Weiner
Example: He offers constant support for her without demanding a thing. He doesn't even make his feelings known until almost the end of the book. (Patience, kindness, putting his own feelings/needs aside to meet the heroine's.)
• Ross, the bad-boy wanna-be, from BRIDE IN TRAINING by Michele R. Bardsley
Example: He's a wanna-be bad-boy … so he's already someone who doesn't fit well in the skin of a Harley-riding, leather-jacket-wearing hard case. He takes care of the heroine after she falls ill, despite the fact she doesn't him like him much.
• Race, the thief with a heart of gold, from RACE AGAINST TIME by Justine Davis
Example: The heroine leaves out food for the anonymous burglar who's been stealing food from the homes of people living in a small mountainside community. In thanks, he picks wild flowers and leaves them on her dining room table.

She says a beta hero:
© Is kind, responsible, decent
© Doesn't enjoy confrontation, but won’t back down on an issue he wants resolved
© Is always available to the heroine or to others who need his help
© Is an extrovert or an introvert
© Is practical, down to earth, assesses situations before making decisions
© Has a great sense of humor
© Tends to be Mr. Nice Guy/Everyday Joe
© Is the kind neighbor, the best friend, the good Samaritan


Another site said beta heroes are “kinder, gentler heroes, the kind of men who will change your flat tire, open doors for you, help your kid with his homework, and bring you soup when you are sick… These are the guys we all want to find in real life.”

But are they the guys we dream about running away with?

Welcome to Sherry Gloag

Welcome to today’s Friday Friend, Sherry Gloag. Sherry writes stories that go right to 'The Heart of Romance'. First she introduces herself:

"Why don't you try writing a book?" The oft-asked question hit the air again.
"Who would read it if I did?" I asked my innocent looking husband. He'd learned my secret many years ago, and sporadically 'poked' at my lack of self belief.
"You won't know until you try!" He dropped his bait into the air between us, and for some reason, a few years ago now, I decided to bite.
And am I glad I did?
Not only do I enjoy meeting the characters who demand their stories are told, I have also met and made many wonderful friends, both on line and elsewhere, in the process.
One day my work-in-progress stalled over a stubborn scene that refused to come right, so in frustration I tried turning it into a stand-alone short story in an attempt to find the flaws.
That scene eventually honed down satisfactorily, but left me with an insatiable desire to venture into the world of short story writing.
How could I know, at the time, that the truculent scene would send me off on a new and exciting writing path?
I wrote my first stand-alone short story in July 2009 which, with several others, is now published in LASR
More recently I have discovered the challenging world of reviewing.
For as long as I can remember I've read romances, and am proud to be part of the 48% of readers who enjoy romances.
My first attempt at writing one, was confiscated by my teacher when they realised I was ignoring my homework for my 'great masterpiece'! Sadly I never saw it again! And so my teacher saved the great reading population from what was surely a great master-disaster.

Now I'm back... and delighted with the growing success of my short stories, and jubilant about the release of my debut novel The Brat in October 2010 with The Wild Rose Press.

2011 opens with the release of my sixth short story, Hogmanay, at LASR, and the release, on February 11th, of my second novel, Duty Calls. Also my first venture into a 'longer-short-story of approximately 12k words, The Wrong Target, which is part of the 'Cupid Goes Wild' anthology, released by eTreasures comes out in early February.

Sherry now introduces a new topic to Heroines with Hearts – book trailers:

Businesses rely on them. We are bombarded by them, all the time. What am I talking about?
Advertisements. Television advertisements in particular.
We may claim to dislike them and to ignore them, but they seep into our subliminal consciousness and the more we are bombarded by them, the deeper the message becomes embedded.
For a moment, stop and consider the number of websites you visit that have advertisements inserted in/on them. Almost all of them contain movement. Movement that is out to attract your attention. You could call those advertisements ‘trailer-ads’.
They work! They bring in the customers. If they didn’t companies wouldn’t spend millions on a thirty to sixty second message intended to part us from our cash.
Here in the UK we used to endure three breaks in each hour of TV viewing, now we get four. That’s an extra three hours advertising revenue in every twenty-four. That is also a great deal of commercial money shelled out to grab the viewers’ attention.
So why am I banging on about it?
If it is such a sure-fire way of grabbing customer attention why not consider using the same tactic for advertising your book?
Book trailer videos are becoming more popular and are not that difficult to create, depending on what you want. If you are not sure, do not despair, all you have to do is Google ‘How to create a Book Trailer video’ and you will find pages of instructions to follow.
It becomes a matter of which tutorial you want to follow. And away you go. It took me a while to get the hang of the basics, but once I had them I enjoyed myself. I don’t aspire to creating a complex video, and believe me, there are some awesome book trailers out there.
If this is a promotion tool you’ve never tried but would like to, then put ‘book trailers into the YouTube search and see what comes up.
Study several and work out what it is you like about your favourites. Make notes, about timing, colour synchronicity, content, both visual and textual.
Go back to your own book and work out ten headliner sentences that describe your book and go searching in the multitude of sites that offer photograph or video clips that suit.
When you complete your masterpiece and upload it to YouTube you can then take it up another level and enter your video in one of the many book trailer competitions out there. It is an amazing way to get free publicity for both your trailer and of course, your book.
The book trailer I entered in a competition received over one thousand hits in the thirty days of the competition.
And all this is free.
Free publicity, free promotion. Creating enormous potential for increased book sales!
Most PCs provide Movi-making software, and there are plenty to download for free if you want something else.
And if you want a book trailer but don’t have the time or inclination to create one yourself, you will find several sites happy to offer their services to you.
Since October 2010 I have enjoyed three book releases and created videos for all of them.
From the first, I learned a video over one and a half minutes is considered too long.
So the next challenge was to create about ten sentences for each of my novels that guaranteed to grab the readers’ attention and persuade them to buy my books.
Would they entice you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smB8gnUSHak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7U6jOH9DiA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM19_O6podE
If not, study them and decide why not, and then when you sit down to create your own video, you will have learned what NOT to include.
This is an awesome, free promo tool for selling your book, and one well worth adding to your ever increasing arsenal of promotions tools.

Thank you very much for having me here today.

Thanks for being with us, Sherry.  We wish you every success with your books and with your future writing c career.

Sherry’s second novel, Duty Calls, was released in February 2011.

She’d saved his life…


Rafe Hawk refuses to accept the inheritance, of a large English estate, and the title that goes with it, after his birth father’s death because the man chose duty over the woman he loved and their son. So when he finds himself temporarily living at Kinsale Hall, he’s not prepared to trust anyone associated with the place, including Trudi Delaney and her daughter.
So why, when he looks into their eyes, does he suddenly remember a woman who may have lost her life after a storm while saving his over a decade ago?
Now he could destroy hers.

Instinct warns Trudi Delaney the arrival of the contemptuous American architect at Kinsale Hall will change her life forever. Especially when she discovers he spends so much of his time in areas of Kinsale Hall off-limits to visitors. Eleven years after escaping from her psychotic husband with a stranger, she’s still plagued by nightmares of events she can’t remember. Events such as, who fathered her beautiful daughter?
Now more than a decade later, she is confronted by another stranger. Will this one destroy everything she holds dear?

To Buy:
All Romance: http://tinyurl.com/5vujr53
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NBZL10
Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004NBZL10

Excerpt:
“Stop the car!” Rafe Hawk swung round to face the driver. “I recognise this road. You never said the commission to build those retirement units was at Kinsale Hall. You know damn well I swore never set foot in the place again, eleven years ago.”

Rage hazed his vision. “You knew I’d refuse the commission if you’d revealed the location, and because you withheld that vital information, Arthur, this contract is null and void.” He shot forward in his seat when Arthur tramped on the brakes.

His friend from their Uni days skewed round in his seat. “How long have we known each other?”

Startled by Arthur Clifton’s question, Rafe hesitated. “What’s the length of our friendship got to do with anything? Other than the fact you’re stretching it very thin, if you think I’ll set foot on Kinsale territory again.” He swung open the car door and leaped out, his fingers tunnelling through his windswept hair.

Brilliant blue skies overhead offered a large playground for the early summer sunshine, and the fluffy white clouds sailing by. He saw the high chimney-tops through the trees.

“Do you really think I’d bring you here without a very good reason?” Arthur remained in his seat, his hands on the steering wheel, watching Rafe pace up and down the soft verge beside the open-topped car.

"I can't think of a single reason good enough that justifies you resurrecting events that nearly cost me my life, and possibly cost the life on an unknown woman."

Learn more about The Brat at-
http://www.sherrygloag.com/blurb-and-excerpt.php
To buy:
The Wild Rose Press: http://tinyurl.com/6g8pomj
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Brat-Sherry-Gloag/dp/1601548257
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.com/The-Brat-ebook/dp/B0044XV850/ref=sr_1_cc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288260544&sr=1-1-catcorr

Read about The Wrong Target at –
http://www.sherrygloag.com/blurb-and-excerpt---twt.php
To buy:
Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/49auwtm
Amazon.co.uk: http://tinyurl.com/6kkoscq
eTreasures: http://tinyurl.com/6dyen5a

Sherry Gloag’s Blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/
Sherry Gloag’s website: http://www.sherrygloag.com/