Thursday's Tidbits with Nina Croft ~ @Nina_Croft #XOThurTB

Thursday’s Tidbits is about sharing an author sharing an exciting tidbit of information to help other authors.

Today we have Nina Croft talking about When is an Alpha hero is too Alpha…

Callum, the hero of my latest release, Death Defying, gave me a few problems when I was writing the book. And a lot of attitude. I kept trying to tell him to be just a little bit nicer, that people have to love him or they won’t read my book. And he’s like: “You’re mistaking me for someone who gives a…”

It’s not entirely his fault. He was born with a predisposition to arrogance, and it’s not been improved by the fact that for the last four hundred years, Callum has been leader of the known universe. He’s got used to everyone doing what he says, the moment he says it, and not worrying too much what people think about him.

That got me thinking about just how alpha an alpha hero should be. I know this is subjective, and one person’s alpha hero is another’s arrogant asshole, but personally, I like my heroes to be very alpha. Even so, maybe there are a few rules I should know about. Is there some lines that even an alpha hero shouldn’t cross? Just what is it that tips him from loved and lusted after to hated and despised?

Back to Callum—here are a few facts:

• Callum is around a thousand years old, but five hundred of those were spent in Cryo on the journey out from Earth. 
• Back on Earth, he was a hero and heartthrob to thousands. An ace fighter pilot with more kills than anyone else. 
• He’s the most powerful man in the universe and has been since he discovered the secret of immortality five hundred years ago. 
• He’s the oldest of The Collective, the group of telepathic immortals who rule the world. 
• He’s fed up with being in charge—in fact the job sucks big time and he’s bored out of his mind. 
• Recently, Callum sprouted wings. He’s beginning to realize he’s no longer entirely human, and he wants to know what he is. 
• With that in mind, Callum has just employed the crew of El Cazador to help him hunt for the truth. He’s ready for an adventure. 

Which is just as well… 

So yes, I would say Callum is a little on the arrogant side, but luckily, for him, there’s someone on hand to deal with his condition. My heroine, captain Tannis, of the star cruiser, El Cazador, is used to dealing with arrogant assholes. After all, her best friend is Ricardo Sanchez: space pirate and vampire. Tannis is going to knock Callum into shape, hopefully quickly, before the rest of the crew get fed up with their new client and toss him out the airlock without a spacesuit.

Callum thinks he’s going to find out all about being an alien. In fact he’s about to rediscover what it’s like to be human. And it’s going to be a painful process.

So all you alpha lovers out there—what tips you over the edge from love to hate? What are the things that even an alpha hero isn’t allowed to do?

Buy Link: Amazon|Barnes & Noble
Price: Kindle - $0.99 Paperback - $5.39
Genre: Accessible Science Fiction
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Release Date: 2/24/14

Excerpt: 

He released his hold on her and stepped back. Tannis pushed her heavy lids open to find Callum watching her, head tilted to one side. His expression was blank; she had no clue what he was thinking. Then he gave a slow smile, and her heart rate picked up. Her legs were shaking, and she locked them. She’d never known her body could feel like that, could react like that.

He remained silent, and she bit her lip. Then coughed, opened her mouth, and closed it again. She had no clue what to say. Tearing her gaze from his, she peered around and realized they were still in the corridor outside her cabin. She’d lost all track of where they were.

If anyone caught her canoodling with their client, she would never live it down. Luckily, the corridor was deserted.

She licked her lips and took a deep breath. “Would you like to come in?” She nodded at her door.

He shook his head. For a moment, she didn’t understand, and then he took another step back as though distancing himself.

“I honestly never meant for anything to happen tonight,” he said.

“You didn’t?”

“I just meant to make sure nothing happened with anyone else.”

Her eyes narrowed, and his lips twitched.

“I was trying to give you some space.” His hand came up to touch his lip and he winced as though at a memory. “I decided you needed time to forgive me, before I tried again.”

“I’ll never forgive you.” That was the goddamned truth, but she wasn’t sure forgiveness was what mattered anymore.

“Well maybe not forgive but at least see past what happened. Then I thought a kiss wouldn’t hurt, and we both got carried away. But I’m guessing this whole sex thing is new to you, and I don’t want you coming back later and claiming I took advantage of your innocence.”

“I am not innocent.”

“No? Maybe not innocent in some things, but I’m guessing that’s the first orgasm you’ve ever had.”

She so didn’t want to be here right now. Her hands fisted at her side as she fought the urge to punch him in the nose.

Been there. Done that.

She was supposed to have moved on. But he was infuriating, and she wasn’t used to holding back. “Look, if you’re not coming in, maybe you’d better piss off. Go practice your Mr. Nice Guy disguise on someone else.”

“I will. If I practice enough maybe it will sink in. Anyway…” He nodded at her door. “When this is over, ask me again.”

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I grew up in the north of England, and after training as an accountant, I spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left me with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. I then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but have now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds.

I share the farm with my husband, four dogs, three cats, a horse, two goats, a three-legged Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, and a handful of chickens. It’s a perfect place to indulge my two great passions, reading and writing.

I write lots of different things, but mainly paranormal and science-fiction, usually with a strong element of romance.