When you read a romance novel and you’re introduced to the hero, what kind of male do you expect him to be? Do you prefer a male who is kind and gentle? One who is debonair with lots of money? Or do you prefer an alpha male with muscles and a brash attitude?

I must admit my taste in heroes has changed over the years. When I started reading inspirational romances in my teens, the temperate type who was handsome yet tame, who knew how to waltz, liked the symphony and could recite a pleasant poem made my day. Now, I am at a different place when it comes to what I want in a hero. For now, it seems, when it comes to reading about the hero…the more alpha the male the better. The more muscular and macho…let me read more.

I don’t know when the alpha male wormed his way into my literary heart. I guess it was some time while I was writing my first two romance novels Slave Girl and Something to Hide. In Slave Girl, Kudar al Numan, the hero, is not like the heroes I grew up reading. He’s handsome…and knows it. He’s rich…yet cocky. On the subject of women…he is presumptuous. But, somehow, I like him. In my second novel, Something to Hide, Brock Cunningham is a struggling rancher with a chip on his shoulder. He’s brooding and moody. You know, the strong silent type who’s not one to sit around and navel gaze as he discusses his feelings.

When I was in the midst of writing these books, I remember hearing someone say that romance readers wanted to read books with strong women but not alpha males. I didn’t realize the heroes in my novels were alpha men until it was bought to my attention after the stories were published. Now, I must admit, I like to read and write about alpha men. What about you? How do you feel about alpha men? Do you like alpha men? Are they “back in style”? Did they ever go out of style? Tell me what you think.

“Do you promise to love and cherish each other as long as you both shall live?”…Undoubtedly you have heard these words uttered by a minister at a wedding ceremony. This line is then followed by the bride and the groom both saying “I Do”. Think of the couples you have known in your life. Think of your own experience. Has there been someone special in your life who you’ve loved. Has that relationship lasted a lifetime? I ask you, “Is it possible to be in a committed relationship with the person you love and have the relationship last for a lifetime?”

In today’s busy society it seems to be hard for love relationships to last. Is it true that no relationship lasts forever? Or does it just seem that way? I wonder why it seems finding your soul mate and being with that person for a lifetime is so hard to do. Is it because there are so many distractions around us such as work, television, children and the internet? Or is it that people are different than they used to be? Or maybe men and women are the same as they’ve always been. However, now because of education and financial independence individuals are better able to act on their desire to move on if a relationship hits a rough patch. What do you think?  Is it possible to be in a committed relationship with the person you love and have the relationship last for a lifetime? And, if you think it is possible, why does it seem so hard for couple to stay together? Tell me, what do you think?

Why do you read romance novels?

Trashy.  Smut. Filth. These are words people have used to describe romance novels. Why do some people insist on using derogatory terms to describe (and therefore define) the genre of romance? If you ask those same people what type of person reads a romance novel they will say ‘bored housewives’. Excuse me! Nothing could be further from the truth! Romance readers are educated. According to statistic on the Romance Writers of America website, 42% of romance readers have a bachelor’s degree or higher. And, whether working in the work place or staying at home, we romance lovers have busy fulfilled lives. So, I ask you, how can those of us who love to read romance change the image of the romance novel? 

It seems the people who bash romance novels are people who do not read them. Yet, they lump all romances into one category. The category: Trashy. Because of their lack of knowledge, no matter what the subgenre of romance whether historical, contemporary, western etc it seems these people think romance books are filled with nothing but sex. If they took the time to delve into a romantic book, they would see romance novels are much more than that. They would see romance novels are stories that celebrate the alluring love relationship between a man and a woman. They are stories with intriguing character conflicts and, of course, happy endings which propagate the notion that love conquers all.  

Take my historical novel Slave Girl. Slave Girl by Sheniqua Waters is a tantalizing story of a young Egyptian beauty who is kidnapped from the banks of theNile River and sold into slavery. She is placed on an auction block in
Constantinople and sold into a Turkish harem. Once there, she must deal with harem politics and jealousy from the other women when she becomes their Master’s, Kudar al Numan’s, favorite. Our hero, Kudar, must overcome tradition, distance and other obstacles to be with the woman he loves. While Slave Girl does contain some ravishing love scenes that is not what the story is about.  Is it possible to get those who don’t read romance to stop viewing the genre in negative terms and start viewing the genre in a different light? How can we get general audiences to see the genre of romance as one of love, hope and optimism?  What do you think? Is it possible to change the image of the romance novel? 

Sheniqua Waters