Fans of Interracial Romance discussion

Reading books takes you to places you've never been, allows you to experience things you wouldn't in real life, and gives you an idea of what it might be like to be with a certain type of person (hero's of different ethnic backgrounds). It's escapism..it allows you to lose yourself in the author's world, and that's a great thing.

I've been a happily-married woman for almost 30 years. I'm still in love with my husband and still think he's sexy. But there is a different kind of set of emotions involved with falling in love, than from the "staying in love" kind. I can't experience that special thrill in real life anymore, so I read romance in order to vicariously feel it. Husband and I are the same color. I love to imagine being someone else, or falling in love across any color lines, because the resolution is that much more satisfying when there are higher barriers the lovers must face in order to be together.

I write bwwm interracial stories and what I like to share is same love, but with different race of people. I like to show that my characters experiences aren't different than same race couples. I know that some people don't like to see interracial couples and give them a hard time, but a hard time just doesn't surround interracial couples - just because two people are the same race, it doesn't mean that some people will not have a problem with that relationship. The hero or heroines skin color might not be the right color or even there may be a difference between the money. I feel that if non interracial books can overlook the problems that some people have with the couples, then the same thing should happen in interracial stories. These are the kind of stories that I like to read as well. I don't care for the "lets break up, because people don't want us to be together" themes. I don't write those kind of scenes. I may write a scene, where the hero or heroine puts someone in their place and show that love is deeper than color.

I read interracial romances because I believe that love conquers all. I don't believe love has a color or that it sees a color. Those manifestations are what society has put forth. If it can work for a same color couple, then it can work for a couple of differing colors.

Interracial romances have the same aspects as any other romance: couple meet, fall in love, go through a conflict(s),resolve conflict(s)and find their happily ever after. While I do think that the conflict(s)in an interracial romance may be bigger to handle, mainly because of the color issue, if the story is written from that point of view, I never think the resolution is insurmountable. More often than not, that issue evolves from the supporting characters, such as friends and family. Sometimes it's from the hero and heroine, but rarely.

I like interracial stories where color is not the main issue and where the author doesn't make it so. In certain circumstances it can't be avoided, especially if it's historical romance. Color is so much a part of the fabric of our country and our history. I don't think, (even if I'd like it not to matter), that it won't ever not be a part of an interracial romance. That being said, I think that realism has always got to be adherred to as well. No matter what kind of romance it is, I want to read about a couple that will fight for their love, triumph in spite of what other people think, but mostly because they believe in their love and each other. That applies to all romances for me.

As a reader, I enjoy the diversity of the men and it really makes me feel that anything is possible. Dating outside of my race was not even on my radar until I picked up an IR romance book. Now I am not only open to the idea but I am actively pursuing dating men from other races. I had my first date with a guy from Sweden several months ago and although we are not together, we are still very good friends. I also have joined several IR dating and Meet up groups. That NEVER would have happened if I had not discovered IR books. They normalized something that seemed taboo to me. Now when I read them, it's with the idea that it could be me in that story. Also, the writers are very good at what they do. Urban fiction exploded in the AA reading market and I never had a taste for it. I was always into historical romances then I found IR and the stories were less about being AA but more about being a normal person loving another normal person who happened to be of a different race. It just seemed to fit.

I guess the short answer is that I get encouragement from the stories.

As a writers, I get to take two people from different backgrounds, races, ages and cultures and bring them together or keep them together with romance which is a beautiful thing. I hope my readers get the same things I get out of them as a reader, encouragement to pursue something different romantically, and, a good hot read featuring a guy they may have never noticed before in real life.

What I get from IR romances is pretty much what I get from any romance--great characters and issues I can relate to on some level. It's nice seeing women of color like myself as objects of desire and I'd like to see far more of it as time goes on. Of course with the change in demographics in this country, my wish is slowly coming true, LOL.

I'm not into the "race as plot" storyline because it can be treated so heavy-handed at times. I like reading about two people from different backgrounds falling in love and dealing with the ups and downs of relationships. I really love quirky characters and situations that take me out of reality for a spell. The only thing I'd enjoy more is seeing diversity of character types.

Because I have always been attracted to men of different cultures is why I wanted to read IR romances. Especially when the author does their research and give me insight into the culture of the other nationality they choose to write about. Unfortunately as an Interracial Romance writer I don't read IR books as often as I like so they are in a TBR file. The reason is I don't want any of my books to be influenced by something I just read, not just interracial romances but all books in general. So I read on vacation or in between books.

The one thing I do not like in my Interracial romances is race problems be the central plot of the story. I find that boring. Also a storyline that the issues could be resolved by conversation. Just like in my soaps or Asian dramas I watch I'm screaming at the tv. Tell her or Tell him! If you just talk to each other people couldn't interfere in your relationship. Yeah, if you need quiet to enjoy tv me and my friends should never be invited to your house for tv night. LOL