If you have read my book, Genetic Attraction, or read my blogs, you know i have a special love for beta males, the men who seldom wear wife-beater t-shirts, have little chest hair, cry occasionally and have a vocabulary of more than 25 words. And since i write M/M and M/M/F menage romances, my beta males are sometimes quite noticeably gay. I love guyliner, a touch of jewelry, and even a bit of glitter. One of my favorite pre-readers commented on my hero, David, in the upcoming Volley Balls, “He seems a bit effeminate here. Did you intend that?” My answer was a decided “Yes!” Of course, he has two of the alphay-est alpha males around to offset him. My supermodel, Roan, in Genetic Attraction and The Scientist and the Supermodel (coming May 31) is beautiful and wise and strong, but not truly an alpha male. He is gentle and submissive by nature, and, for many readers, he is their favorite hero.
But i’m not alone in my love of beta males. I’ve learned from the best. Jet Mykles has made a wonderful specialty of the non-alpha male, even including a few cross-dressers and transvestites. My favorite of her books, The Sursein Judgement, stars a most blatantly gay hero beautifully balanced by a wonderful, almost oafish farm boy. Lynn Lorenz writes very alpha males mostly, but one of her best and most popular books is called Edward Unconditionally, featuring a flamboyant, effeminate hero who it’s impossible not to love — or to forget. You probably know how much i love Sloan Parker’s book, More. And my favorite of her three heroes? Matthew, the gentle heart of the threesome and the book. Josh Lanyon and Ethan Day also create some wonderful betas.
Perhaps more woman like alpha males than favor my more gentle heroes, but i try to give a variety to choose from. Clearly, however, enough women like effeminate pretty boys to keep people like Adam Lambert and Bill Kaulitz very popular. Most of my heroes don’t wear feathers — yet! LOL.
What kind of heroes do you like to read and write? Are you alpha all the way? Or like a little variety?