How do you build an irresistible shape shifter hero in 20K words? The novella doesn't allow a lot of room for elaborate world building.
When I set out to write Rock My Boat, one of the stories in the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set, I knew I had to craft my shifter with a few
bold strokes. So I asked myself some questions when I made Simon:

What animal does he shift into? 
It doesn’t even have to be an animal. It could be an element. I chose a blue marlin fish because the story is set on the water, I wanted to be a little different, and felt a blue marlin was majestic enough to be hero material. More alpha, say, than a mouse or possum!

What are the signs?
Shifts don’t happen in a blink of an eye. They happen in stages and create quite a show for the heroine lucky enough to see one. Bones change shape and hair can appear in odd places. Simon’s limbs turned to fins and his skin turned blue when he shifted.

What’s his habitat?
Just as animals have habitats, shifters do too. A wolf may feel most at home romping through the woods at night, but a fish in that environment would literally be out of water. Your shifter will have an optimum time of year, temperature, and location. Putting your shifter in his preferred space will make him happy, but that could be boring. Torture him a little. Put him out of his comfort zone and see what he does. Simon can only breathe oxygen for an hour before suffocating so he must always stay close to the water.

What’s his age (in shifter years)?
Shifters have a whole different sense of time than we do. Your hero might be just 30 or 300 years old. What stage is he at with his life cycle as a shifter? Is he a novice, going through the growing pains? Or is he an old pro? Simon is somewhere in the middle.

How do emotions affect him?
Does being upset or lusty bring on a shift involuntarily? How does the heroine, and her ability to cause these emotions, affect him? Rhonda affects Simon so much he runs out of oxygen sooner than normal, leading to the wildest swim of her dreams.

Does he want this?
Is your shifter thrilled to be a shifter or would he rather hang it up? Simon chose to be a shape shifter over death, but he longs to be a normal man again.

How is it in him?
Even in human form, a shifter is a shifter. How does his animal show through in man form? This can be physical or emotional. Simon moved like a fish, making him a great dancer. He also had “fish school” mentality because he never forgot his fish brethren.

Don’t forget clothes!
When your hero shifts, he probably sheds every stitch of clothing. Does he rip out of them like the Incredible Hulk or plan ahead and undress first? What happens when he unexpectedly shifts back to a naked man? Simon had to leave clothes all over the cruise ship and shifting wasn’t the only reason he sometimes came out of them!

Rock My Boat by Afton Locke – Blurb
Workaholic CEO Rhonda Simms embarks on a Caribbean cruise to create an ad campaign for a big maritime freight client. She finds it impossible to concentrate, however, when Simon Mann, a blue marlin shifter, sets his sights on her. From a private, hands-on safety briefing to a wild ride in the ocean, he rocks her ordered world.

Simon drowned years ago in a shipwreck caused by Rhonda’s client, and he’ll do anything to be a normal man again. As his mate, Rhonda is the only person who can help him.

Tired of being so responsible, Rhonda is ready to let loose with a shipboard fling. Mating with Simon could cost a lot more than her virginity, however. Will she stick to her present course or will she let this sexy alpha rock her boat?

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Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set – Blurb
He makes your heart pound and melts your resistance away. He promises you a world of passion and you find it impossible to resist his dark charm. When he catches your eye across the room, you know he means business. He could be an executive, cop, shape shifter, or a bad boy looking for a little fun. Once he has you in his sights, you can’t get away””and after one sizzling night in his arms, you won’t want to. He’s Tall, Dark & Alpha. The alpha male is the ultimate indulgence”¦the richest dark chocolate”¦and we’re offering him to you in abundance.

Delve into the sensual worlds of award-winning authors: Randi Alexander, Koko Brown, Sam Cheever, Delaney Diamond, Eve Langlais, Afton Locke, Dawn Montgomery, Farrah Rochon, Paige Tyler, and Eve Vaughn. Immerse yourself in the alpha male experience.

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*Releases March 8th from Amazon and other online retailers.*

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