Megan Erickson: Beta heroes are No. 1 with her

Megan Erickson, author of Make It Right, fesses up to a little beta hero worship.

Megan: There are several times I've opened up a Word document and thought to myself, "Let's write a full-on alpha hero. Come on, Megan. Make him super broody and virile."

I say, "OK, Megan's Voice in her Head. Let's do this."

And then I start writing and all of a sudden, the hero is introspective, the heroine is the one with the tough outer shell, and in the end, she's telling him to grab the headboard in bed and not to let go until she tells him.

Does that happen to anyone else? Just me? OK then.

Because here's the thing. I love me some beta heroes. I love alpha heroes, too, don't get me wrong. I'll read Kristen Ashley's alpha heroes until the cows come home. And then read them again the next day. (Tate is mine. Back off.)

Sometimes I wonder if beta heroes aren't as popular because beta and hero aren't words we typically put together. We hear hero and think alpha. The take-charge guy. The protector. The muscles. First, beta heroes can have the muscles, too, and they can still be protectors. But they recognize their word isn't final.

I've written about 10 books. Some of them are published. Some will be published. Others will never be. (Ha!) But in writing those books, especially the ones no one will ever read, is that I found my voice as an author. I've learned that I'm most comfortable writing a heroine who is heading upward on the alpha scale while my beta hero sits back and lets her take charge with an amused grin on his face.

And I might have finally decided why that works for me. Because that kind of man is HOT. The kind of man who is so secure in his masculinity that he can be in a relationship with a woman who takes charge. He respects her enough that he doesn't think he's always right or that he always has to have the last say.

To me, beta doesn't mean weak. It doesn't mean the opposite of alpha. A beta hero typically means "second." He's still a leader in his own way. But he doesn't have to be the leader.

And writing the dynamic between alpha heroines and beta heroes is fun. Especially when the hero realizes he's not as alpha as he thinks. The push and pull while they battle. The back and forth. And then the dawning mutual respect as they find the balance in their relationship.

When I write, I see past that HEA I write in the last chapter. I see the future. Whether it's them traveling the world and growing old together. Or it's the kids with the white picket fence. I see the arguments when the house is dirty and the kids are crying and the bills need paid. And while that isn't sexy and fun. It's real life. And in my contemporary romances, that's what I write. So I need to see my couple working through those life challenges with mutual respect and love. And I need to see that beta hero sometimes throw up his hands and say, "Fine, we'll do it your way."

Sometimes the heroine is right and sometimes she isn't. But I know at the end of the day, those two will be cuddling in bed laughing about it.

And then the heroine steals the covers, while the beta lets her, rolling his eyes and snuggling closer.

Here's the blurb about Make It Right:

The second novel in the sexy Bowler University series...

Max Payton lives by two rules: Size and strength win any fight, and never show weakness.

When a rash of assaults sends Bowler University for a tail spin, Max volunteers to help teach a self-defense class. One of the other instructors is the beautiful pixie-faced girl he keeps butting heads with...and who challenges everything he thought he knew.

Lea Travers avoids guys like Max — cocky jocks who assume she's fragile because of a disability caused by a childhood accident. She likes to be in control, and something about being with Max makes her feel anything but. But during the moments he lets his guard down, Lea sees a soul as broken inside as she is outside. Trusting him is a whole other problem...

When the assaults ramp up and hit close to home, Lea and Max must learn, before it's too late, that true strength can come from vulnerability...and giving in to trust is sometimes the only way to make things right.

Find out more about Megan and her books at meganerickson.org.