Monday, July 8, 2013

Guest post by T.A. Grey author of The Loneliest Alpha




A great big Thank you to T.A. Grey for guest posting today! 

How I Write Hot Alpha Men By T. A. Grey

How do I write hot alpha men? I was asked this question by a couple of great ladies who enjoy my books. First I was very pleased to hear that a bunch of ladies enjoyed the kind of men I write, and the more I thought about it the more I realized I’ve had a lot of women tell me they enjoy my Alpha Men. How do I do it? Well, let’s take a look.

Firstly, I didn’t know I was doing it. I used to think that other authors could write Alpha Men and I was just trying to. I never felt that I really reached this “Alpha Man” level in my books because parts of them would be kind, sweet, endearing, not an asshat, not completely controlling.





For instance, if the heroine wanted the hero to leave for some reason or another, then he would. Now, she might be upset because she didn’t “really” wanted him to leave, but he did. He didn’t stay and force her to endure his presence. So, I always thought I was “doing it a bit wrong”.

I’m learning though that maybe I was doing it right by trying to do it my own way. I think, and hope, that I’ve created unique Alpha Men.

HOW I DO IT

It begins with the story idea. Usually, though not always, this starts with a scene. I see something happening in my head. With my latest release THE LONELIEST ALPHA I saw this sensual, very intense situation in which a woman was blindfolded and tied up in a dark room with a mysterious man asking her questions about herself. He’d “taken” her because he liked her. He won’t show his face, he has a unique, deep, scratchy voice like something happened to it. The woman realizes she’s not really in danger but that doesn’t make the oddness of the situation easier.

So that’s the first chapter of the book. It’s great! And that’s how the story began for me. But of course just seeing this scene doesn’t make a character. That’s when I start asking myself questions.

Why is his voice strange? Why does he keep to the shadows and darkness? Why won’t he show her his face? This must be important for him or else he wouldn’t go through all this trouble.



  I realized he must be hiding something. As I began writing the scene, the hero, Gavin MacKellen started to come to me. I realized he was badly disfigured in his face and the beauty of Alicia Clarkson, the heroine, has captivated him.





Now I know his secret—face disfigurement—and from there I can realize his other weaknesses and strengths. These are always the most evident when he’s around the beautiful Alicia Clarkson, because she undoes him.

That’s how I realized that The Loneliest Alpha is a beauty and the beast love story.

I now have the beginning of an interesting and sexy man. That’s how I begin with all my male characters. I see them in a scene. The Alpha Male always act a very specific way, and then I ask why they are acting that way. I put answers to those questions and slowly learn about the hero.





As women when we read a hero who’s aware of his ugly face we can empathize, sympathize. We relate and understand. We want him to overcome his problems. But it won’t be easy. Gavin tries to push away the inevitable for as long as possible—not letting Alicia see his face—but of course it must happen sometime. And oh yes is it something to see!

I believe that an interesting man is the start to creating a Hot Alpha Man. As a woman we want a man who’s interesting, who has a deep story, and problems to face and overcome. It also doesn’t hurt if he’s a lykaen (my personal take on werewolves), Alpha of the pack, holds a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders, and has six-pack abs.

That how I write Hot Alpha Men. The idea starts with a small scene and eventually works into a bigger idea until I have a full-flushed character with deep problems, reasons, and history. I believe it’s not just the physical characteristics that make us women like an Alpha Male. It’s all in his personality, how he acts, and why he does it. :-)



About the Author:

I love to write the kind of stories that will keep you up late at night and make your heart pound. It's my goal to make each new book better, more exciting, and more action-packed to keep thrilling you. I'm always trying to push the boundaries with my imagination, and yours, to create something new and different.

Open up one of my novels and you will find hot, erotic stories that will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fly through the pages. I write addictive love stories and I hope you like them.

Find me on:

My Website / Facebook /  Twitter / Goodreads  Blog


Book Description:

One look will change their lives forever.

Lingerie designer Alicia Clarkson just had to open her stupid mouth. Now thanks to trying to defend a fellow pack mate, Alicia’s been blindfolded, tied up, and carted off to the new alpha of the Oregon pack—Gavin MacKellen.

However, the blindfold doesn’t come off so soon. Alicia’s curiosity gets fired up when Gavin refuses to reveal his face to her. Just what happened to him? He talks to her from shadowy corners and behind closed doors. The man is as allusive as a squirrely fox, but Alicia doesn’t play games and the quiet spoken, hoarse voiced alpha doesn’t stand a chance against her. They settle on an agreement, thirty days for them to get to know each other because that’s the only way this cowboy alpha will have it.

Gavin MacKellen needs a mate. But he knows no good woman would ever want to look at his face after the incident he suffered. After one look at Alicia Clarkson all his plans fly out the window. The woman’s beauty has him damn stunned speechless. She torments his thoughts and Gavin finds himself yearning to know everything about her. As relationship forms, love threatens to grow between them but Gavin struggles to cope with his physical appearance in the face of the beautiful Alicia.

Will she be the one to stand in the face of a monster and accept or will she turn her back on him as everyone else has?


The Loneliest Alpha

The Untouchables, Book One

Author: T. A. Grey

Genre: paranormal erotic romance

Number of pages: 350

Word Count: ~100,000

Cover Artist: Hallie Chandler

Purchase links:

Amazon * BN Smashwords * Kobo ARe





Excerpt:

“When is the last time you were with a man?”

Her body jerked. “Excuse me?”

He sighed, the sound thick not with impatience but caution. “I won’t repeat myself, Alicia Clarkson.”

She froze at the sound of her name even as a part of her understood that he had to know her name. The tone of his voice had changed though, the grating sound becoming a growl.

She answered as soon as she collected herself. “Seven months ago. No six. Yeah, six months, I think.”

“Were you sleeping with him?”

She bit the inside of her cheek, jaw flaring as a blush covered her face. “I don’t see what this as to do with–”

“Just answer the question,” he said in that slow, measured voice. He sounded like someone who didn’t waste words but chose them with care.

“Yes, I did.” Why that admission embarrassed her when she knew there was no shame in what she’d done annoyed her.

Then he spoke and every inch of her stiffened. Even her heart skipped a beat. “What do you look for…in a man?”

“What?” she said, her voice as soft as a whisper. He sounded curious, maybe even a little embarrassed.

“Answer the question, please.”

She shook her head sending locks of hair snapping across her cheek and stood, teetered, then widened her stance to steady herself. “No, I’m done with this. I won’t play your little games anymore. You either explain what this is about or untie me. Actually, untie me and show me the door. I’ve been ready to leave since I got here.”

He stood and she took an abrupt step back. Was it because she feared him—damn right.

“Turn around.”

“Like hell.”

“Turn around so I can untie you.”

Biting her lip, she debated his words. He could by lying. “Promise that’s all you want?”

He grunted some sound of agreement.

She was loathed to give him her back but she did, slowly. Better to show him her back than to keep the ropes on for god knows how long. He grabbed the rope binding her wrists and her heart jumped with fear. He could kill her; hurt her in so many ways.

“Stare straight ahead.”

Naturally, she tried to look over her shoulder but he grabbed the back of her head and turned it to face forward before she could catch a glimpse.

“Don’t.” A warning.

It became difficult to breathe. This close, she caught his scent. It was fresh and masculine smelled of something rugged and outdoors. The lykaen in her rolled onto its back and stretched, content. Whoa. Reel it in, Alicia.

She jumped at the sound of his voice so close to her ear. He had a gravelly, coarse voice, deep as a bass singers. He held the rope hostage as he spoke. “I’m searching for my mate, not lookin’ for no whore. I want you to stay here while we get to know each other. That means I’m gonna have some questions you’ll need to answer. You got that?”

Not really. “Yeah,” she said instead since she didn’t see any other options.

Another grunt of approval, then she heard the metal swish of a switchblade coming out. She wiggled, tugging to get her arms free as fear rode her.

“Please don’t hurt me.” She hung her head, arms trembling in his grasp.

“Stay still. I don’t wanna nick you.”

Like that her fear passed. The blade passed through the ropes with ease and her shoulders sagged with relief. The itchy, cursed rope fell away. She smiled at the tiny pleasure of being free.

“You’ll sleep down the hall. I’ll have Will show you the room.”

Fingers touched her forearms, strong and direct. And then it vanished in an instant.

Rubbing her arms at the sudden chill, Alicia turned back only to find he’d retreated back into the shadows.

She didn’t mean to ask it but the words flew from her lips. “Why won’t you let me see your face?”

He opened the door, stepping into the hallway. She was so certain he wouldn’t answer her that she fiddled with her reddened wrists to hide her eyes.

But then he did answer and his words couldn’t have shocked her more.

“I don’t want you to see my face ‘cause I’m an ugly son of a bitch and you’re too pretty to be looking at that.”

She gaped as he quietly shut the door behind him.


I really, really, really want to read this.

What do you think?






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12 comments:

  1. i love " kind " alpha" men.... not all controlling ( like adam hauptman or bones in a lesser mesure, aidan too) we don't need full control to feel protected and i'm glad some author understand that...

    this book is interesting and learning how it came to be just make it even more interresting ( and i'm curious about this version of shifter/werewolves)

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    1. Me too Miki. :-) This will be one of the next books that I buy.

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    2. i hope you get the gift card for it^^

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  2. Fascinating book! Beauty and the beast love stories are always enjoyable. I loved the excerpt and the author's post on writing alpha men. It is always so interesting to learn about an author's inspiration.

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  3. I love the excerpt, cover and blurb. I really have to pick this one and try it out. Sounds so good!

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    1. I agree Melissa. I am eager to read this one as well!

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  4. Def. a must have! :D Sexy alpha men, Im in!

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    1. ^^ really happy you got it dear! i hope you will enjoy it!

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    2. :) Thank you! I will let you know how it is.

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