K. Alex Walker's Blog, page 3

I absolutely love writing the billionaire trope. I’ve written alpha a-holes, playboys, and charming heroes. In each book, I get to live out a fantasy life where money is no object and you can enjoy the fruits of your labor—or the inheritance from your parents’ labor. Private jets, mansions, haute couture, and exquisite cuisine are the norm.

It’s easy to think of billionaire characters as one-dimensional, but I like to think of them as people with normal problems; they just happen to be filthy rich. From there I can craft interesting characters that readers can relate to, even for the powerful a-hole ones. 

I do this in a few ways.

First, I show the billionaire having relatable problems. Next, I add depth by giving them an interesting backstory, and then, I humanize them by showing their emotional side.

Relatable Problems

Billionaires live in a world that’s different from the rest of us, and therefore don’t understand the problems of the average person. The disparity between a wealthy person’s lifestyle and the average person’s lifestyle can be quite stark. 

They’re not living paycheck to paycheck. They’re not sitting in traffic on a long commute, and if they are, it’s in the comfort of a limo or luxury vehicle while someone else drives and they work in the back seat. 

Having a car break down could mean lost wages from missing work and then struggling to find alternative transportation. A billionaire simply picks another car from their fleet of vehicles and keeps it moving. 

Since our lives are different, it’s important to create a character with relatable problems. In the case of Bruno, in my latest release Bruno (Family Ties, book 4), the hero is a billionaire chef and entrepreneur, but he’s tired of the dating scene and has decided to work with a matchmaker. 

In the opening chapter, we see Bruno on a date that is not going well. After he drops off his date, he has a short conversation with his driver:

“Home please, Orson,” Bruno told the older man, and slid onto the plush leather of the interior.

They pulled away from the curb. 

“Consider yourself lucky that you’re happily married. You don’t want to be out here like me, struggling,” Bruno said.

Orson met his gaze in the rearview mirror, amusement in his eyes. “I count my blessings every day.”

The average person can relate Bruno’s dating fatigue, and in fact his frustrations add a bit of humor to the situation, which makes him all the more relatable.

An Interesting Backstory

Giving a billionaire character an interesting backstory is another way to add depth and make them interesting. The backstory could include an explanation of how they managed to become as wealthy as they are and delve into their motivations. 

Rather than reading about someone who simply accumulates wealth, explaining the character’s motivations makes for a more layered character that’s interesting to readers. In the case of Bruno, his first love broke his heart when she left him as a young chef when he was working long hours. 

Bruno could have had his parents finance his first restaurant, but he chose not to. Instead, he wanted to learn the restaurant business from the bottom. He explains his reasoning to the heroine, Marissa, in the following scene:

“Her favorite words were, ‘You work too much,’ and her final words to me were ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ She didn’t understand that I didn’t want to take the easy way out. I had been handed everything in my life. I wanted to earn my place as a chef, and that meant long hours and starting from the bottom, the way everyone else did.”

Humanize Them

I enjoy writing ice-cold billionaires, but all billionaires need to be humanized to be fully enjoyed by readers—and this makes for a more interesting character. 

As a reader myself, when I’m reading another author’s work, this is the part that always sucks me in and makes me fall for the hero. He might be an ice-cold alpha-hole, but there’s a reason for it, and I appreciate when authors peel back the layers and allow us to see the human side of the character by letting us see emotion from them.

The emotion doesn’t have to be sadness or anger. It could be joy. It could be showing them being playful and teasing, especially with the heroine. Below is a mini-excerpt showing just that—a teasing Bruno. He and Marissa are at his brother’s wedding. They’re dancing to a song and then the music changes:

Minutes later, they were dancing to “Beautiful” by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell. 

Bruno twirled Marissa around the dance floor and surreptitiously grabbed her ass.

“Quit,” she said, laughing and shoving away his hand. 

“You know I can’t help myself,” he murmured, pulling her in close to bury his face in her neck. 

She moaned and latched her arms around his neck. She kissed his jaw. “Behave. Your obsession with ass is unhealthy.”  

There are other scenes where we see the couple flirting and teasing, all of which make Bruno the billionaire more interesting than if he’d been a rich-man caricature.

Conclusion

Overall, the billionaire trope is one of my favorites to read and to write. Not only for the fantasy life the characters live, but also because when written well, the storyline includes characters that are interesting and relatable.

About The Author

Delaney Diamond is a USA Today Bestselling Author of more than 50 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, and dozens of romance short stories. She reads romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, and a fair amount of nonfiction. When she’s not busy reading or writing, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes, dining at one of her favorite restaurants, or traveling to an interesting locale. To get sneak peeks, notices of sale prices, and find out about new releases, join her mailing list. And enjoy free stories on her website at delaneydiamond.com.

Website: delaneydiamond.com

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Bruno Synopsis

Sparks fly between a matchmaker and her billionaire client, blurring the lines between love and professionalism.

Entrepreneur and acclaimed chef Bruno Santana is tired of the dating scene and reluctantly hires matchmaker Marissa Liburd to help him find a wife. As he embarks on a series of dates, none of the women measure up, and he quickly realizes why. Despite Marissa’s professional demeanor, he’s increasingly attracted to her and drawn to her warmth and personality during their consultations.

Marissa, a single mom juggling the demands of her career and son, faces an unexpected challenge. She’s captivated by Bruno, who embodies everything a woman could want. He’s successful, good-looking, and very wealthy. 

Dating clients is strictly forbidden, and Marissa grapples with the intense chemistry simmering between them—aware that giving in could jeopardize everything she’s worked hard for—her reputation and her livelihood. 

Bruno – Where To Buy

Signed paperbacks

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Barnes and Noble

Apple

Kobo

Google Play

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212397611-bruno

September’s the farthest I could allow it to be nudged because I’ve been ready to unveil this story for a while. However, this book has to go through a different process than the other A&A titles. Also, even though I’ll be adding a CW, Heart of a Villain has themes/touches on subjects that may be triggering for some readers.

But, I also come bearing gifts.Exclusive Sneak Peek – Heart of a Villain

Episodes 1 through 11 are now available on Kindle Vella! READ NOW* * * * *

I hope Luya's story offers a little escapism over the weekend! For the last three months, I've been living out of boxes and a bedroom at a family member's house, so my weekend will be spent unpacking more of these endless number of boxes.

Or not…

This You?

You’re passionate about romance, especially dark romance, and the art of storytelling. You have insights, tips, or experiences to share with fellow authors and readers. You have a little bit of free time and folders/notebooks/note files of ideas.

I’ve been thinking about additional ways to do more within the author and reader community, so I’m excited to open my platform to guest bloggers who are eager to contribute their unique perspectives on a variety of topics related to dark romance, the writing craft, and more. Whether you're a seasoned author, an aspiring writer, or a devoted reader, I welcome your voice and expertise. Currently, I’m seeking guest bloggers interested in writing about the following topics:

Why X Is My Favorite Trope Share your love for your favorite romance trope and explore why it resonates with you as a writer or reader. How to Create A Mafia/Cartel/Organized Crime Family Dive into the intricate world of mafia romance and provide tips and techniques for building compelling and authentic mafia families in your stories. What Is Dark Romance Explore the nuances of dark romance and discuss what sets it apart from other romance subgenres, from its themes and tropes to its appeal to readers. How To Write Heroines That Resonate with Readers Offer guidance on creating strong, relatable heroines, discussing character development, personality traits, and the importance of representation. How To Write Spicy/Steamy Love Scenes Share your tips and techniques for crafting steamy love scenes that sizzle off the page, from building tension to writing compelling dialogue.

 

If you're interested in contributing a guest blog post on any of these topics (or if you have another idea in mind), I would love to hear from you! Please send a brief pitch outlining your proposed topic and a brief bio introducing yourself and your writing background.

 

Submission Guidelines:

Blog posts should be between 800-1500 words. Submissions should be original and not previously published elsewhere. Please include a short author bio (approximately 50 words) with your submission. We reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, style, and length (a collaborative effort). To submit your pitch or for more information, please email here (gotta keep the email under a link for the spam bots). 

 

I look forward to hearing from you!

P.S. – I've received a few queries about featuring books on my blog, and I'm very honored! However, at the moment, I'm unable to do so. I do hope that changes in the future. If that becomes the case, I'll make a post.

Where we started… Where we're headed…

Hi! 

So, I (very) recently changed Delgano's original cover, but (!!!) the remaining Angels & Assassins covers will remain the same (I love, love, love them). 

Also, Adrían and Sayeda's story hasn't been changed or anything. However, to cut down on some confusion, the series has been updated to reflect Alpha v. Omega.

I hope that helps!!!!

Where will Thanasis fit in? Alpha? Omega? Does it really matter as long as it doesn't block his access to Wren?

Hi! 

So, I (very) recently changed Delgano's original cover, but (!!!) the remaining Angels & Assassins covers will remain the same (I love, love, love them). 

Also, Adrían and Sayeda's story hasn't been changed or anything. However, to cut down on some confusion, the series has been updated to reflect Alpha v. Omega.

I hope that helps!!!!

Where will Thanasis fit in? Alpha? Omega? Does it really matter as long as it doesn't block his access to Wren?

“Inside the allure of darkness, we often find our true selves.”

Ten years ago, Adrían Delgano officially left his previous life as a cartel enforcer behind to become part of a ghost unit deployed to various high-conflict areas around the globe. Also, ten years ago, he left behind the first woman to make him feel as if he still retained shades of red in his coal-black heart.

Sayeda Price.

But the last time he saw Sayeda, it was as her lifeless body burned in the back of a discarded van, the flames consuming the metal frame around her—or so he thought until she shows up at the house of a friend neither of them knew they shared.

Now, not only is she pretending not to know who he is, but he learns that she's part of the same Brazilian cartel he vowed never to return to.

However, even if it means returning to a life entrenched in the organized crime family he once served, Adrían refuses to lose her again. Yet, as he navigates the dangerous underworld, he finds himself torn between his desire to possess Sayeda, in every way imaginable, and the allure of slipping back into the dark identity he once thought he'd left behind.

This release has me a bit bone tired, so I'm resting up (see? I'm being good). However, I wanted to pop in and let you all know how much I will forever adore how much you LOVE these characters.

“You’re hard to read,” he said, reaching for a roll of bread. “I suppose that’s intentional? It makes it more of a challenge to manipulate you?”

Sayeda shrugged. “Or it could be another reason.”

“And what’s that?”

“I’m not a book…sir.”

Somehow, she’d gotten him to smile twice. The red-haired she-devil needed to spend time with this woman to learn how to communicate in ways that wouldn’t get her throat slit.

“Please, don’t call me ‘sir.’”

She handed him the platter, turned, and headed for the stove. “Dinner will be ready soon. Try not to fill yourself up on bread.”

“I’m a big boy with a healthy appetite.”

“Flirting already, Mr. Delgano?”

Flirtatiousness was superficial, and seeing as how she was softening him like ice cream held above an open flame, he would need to be superficial with her. If he wasn’t, he might mess around and find himself with a friend, and Pedro was a shining example of what he did to his “friends.”

“I’m not flirting with you. I’m being, for the lack of a better word, a dick. Do you know what that word means?”

The stove ticked, and blue-orange fire sprung up from one of the burners in the front. “I’m familiar with the term,” she said. “Why are you being…one of those?”

“I was abducted and transported across the globe while drugged. Now, I’m trapped somewhere I’m not familiar with, kilometers from home, with guns on me at all times. So far, I’ve met only two women, one who I’m probably going to kill and the other…well, at the moment, I haven’t decided what I want to do to her.”

“I guess I see your point.”

“Why am I here?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Don’t make me ask again.”

“I won’t make you, but you’ll get the same answer if you do.”

He set down the platter and approached her from behind, grabbing a knife from a wooden block. She didn’t flinch, even as he gripped her chin and raised her head, both to expose her neck and so that she could look him in the eyes. Then he held the blade against her throat, and it wasn’t fear that he saw in her eyes. Instead, what he saw was so unexpected, he faltered.

“Do it,” she whispered.

Please enjoy! It’s always a pleasure!