Fans of Interracial Romance discussion

....to be afraid. I swear, all I have to do is MENTION wanting to see a black heroine over on the Kristen Ashley board and conversation STOPS. Its crazy. And frustrating.

Totally! I mentioned that once in the group discussion and....*crickets*

Now that I've had some time to think on it, I dont want to see KA write a Black heroine. I couldnt imagine that she'd do it any justice and I'm not here for the stereotype, sassy black chick. Every time she writes a secondary as the friend to her main female lead who is Black, it's the same type of character each time....like we're all ONLY the sassy sidekick. And notice all her Black female characters in the background prefer only Black men - thats at least in the series I've read - Dream Man and Unfinished Hero....I can't speak on the others. I'm OK with KA sticking to what she knows and not writing something that'll make me dislike her and stop spending my money on her books.

Don't take this the wrong way. Deep in my heart I reject that.

I won't settle for less than having what should be. Mainstream authors need to understand that black women are a big part of their audience. If they want to keep their book sales up, they need to understand that and their reading needs to reflect that.

Here's what I think. If Kristen Ashley hears from her BF readers and they say what they want from her, she has the option to give them what they want. If her non-BF audience has an issue with that, they have the choice to get used to having a non-white heroine or move onto another author. I think that someone like KA, who has a reputation for being a straight-shooting, decent person is okay with losing narrow-minded, bigoted people in her audience.

Do both of you have blogs? I suggest starting one and talking about this on your blog. I use my book blog (and my other general blog) for this purpose. Even if people don't listen, I said my peace.

Don't get me wrong I agree that it'd be great if more mainstream authors like KA did write more heroines of color but I just don't want it to be done in a way that'll offend me because it's a monolith of who I and my sistren of color are IRL. Do I want mainstream Caucasian writers to write more characters who aren't like them, yes -- in theory it's a great thing! But in practice a lot of times when writers go outside their "box" it's just not authentic. And that goes for more than race, obviously. I don't want a Black character just for the sake of it...I'm fine with KA's main characters being mostly Caucasian even tho I'm a Black woman reading her books. It's doesn't offend me that she writes from HER worldview. Sometimes one has to come from a place to write that experience in a way that is authentic.

Instead of me focusing on a Caucasian author writing characters who aren't White, I'd rather see a writer of color who writes non-White characters elevated to the level of fame and shine that is bestowed upon KA, Nora Roberts, and the like. I want to see a day when we use the term "mainstream" and it doesn't automatically mean "White".

I'm all for supporting non-white authors to achieve the success of their white counterparts, but I definitely don't let white authors off the hook from writing about PoC. I don't choose books based on my race. I choose books based on my interest. Why should it be different for a white reader?

I think some authors don't because they fear that review, that email that says they didn't write a character of color authentic enough. What they need to understand is that authors of color receive the same kind of reviews and emails. Write an authentic character. That really is the solution. Because I'm going to be honest, my "sistren" (great word, BTW, lol) has a blond streak down the middle of her head and occasionally says really, like and dude. I'm from CA.

Well said, Melissa. I wanted to mention that fact. That not all black women are the same. I wonder if someone might read a character like myself and thought, "She doesn't read like a black woman."

So is your issue with White readers not seeming to want books about PoC or the authors who don't write about PoC? I presume both...

If writing were my livelihood and the vast majority of the fans spending money on my books aren't going to buy a book that isn't of interest to them, then that affects my bottom line...what is my incentive? There are a lot of WoC who read KA but I would wager that we are outnumbered by her non-Woc audience. I don't think KA (or others) don't love their readers who are PoC any less, but this is a profession that affords them their lifestyle so I understand when they lean in the way that the majority of their readers want them to.

Would we ask that an author like Maureen Smith who writes primarily about AAs write more Caucasian characters??? Someone who isnt a PoC could reasonably go there too.

In utopia, writers would write whatever about whoever and race wouldn't be an issue, but utopia is a far away land that my GPS can't find.

FTR, I agree with all your points, but I'm just stating what is I see as my reality.

@ BkGurl, yes both. Let me say you make some good points. Here's my viewpoint on what you said very sagely. I tend to look at writing as an art as much as a job, so I don't believe in compromising myself for money. Those are my values. I don't want to support authors who are willing to sell themselves out for money. I do use my pocketbook and my voice to get my point across. If people don't want to listen, that's okay too. I have books I can read if I stop buying other ones.

That may offend some authors on the group, and I don't mean to be offensive, but it's the truth for me. I'm struggling with an author I love who is going in a direction I don't think I can support. Certainly there are other favorites who write in genres I won't buy and it's tough, but I have to stand by my principles in that sense.

Danielle, I applaud that sentiment and I agree wholeheartedly. And I'm by no means saying there aren't authors who don't live that way as well. BUT, I can understand (although not agree) when some don't want to be the trailblazer. Everyone isn't willing or able for whatever their reasons are to take on that fight. That's all I'm saying...

There is one author who I love that is a Caucasian; she writes very diverse characters...many of her books would be in the IRR genre and some are "mainstream", some are BDSM, some are "vanilla", some of her heroines are "curvy girls" and some aren't. I've read almost everything in her backlist because not only do I like her writing style it does reflect the world I live in where people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, interests, etc. I follow her on FB and she frequently talks about the venomous emails she gets from readers who take issue with her writing about non-White character(s)...she puts it all out there and it makes me sad at being reminded of the world in which we live. Those emails haven't stopped her from writing what she pleases and readers like myself are happier for it.

I don't understand why readers OR writers even feel like it should be an issue. For readers, they should get that even if they share race with a character, they likely often share nothing else. Body type, hair color, whatever. Yet they are able to immerse themselves anyway. I want SO BADLY to ask them why is this different.

For the writers, others gave already pointed out that if authors only wrote characters they could identify with we would have no vamps, weres, hookers, orphans etc. Ofcourse some will want more culture infused or whatever. But there IS such a thing as research if they feel they need to include some cultural nods.

I WANT to ask them if they have yet to consider that WE have ALWAYS had to use our imaginations and get over race when reading mainstream.

And ya, sales count. Bur that's assuming the vast majority of your readers will skip that ONE book all because the lead is black. That's sad.

I can't tell you how icky it makes me feel to think of authors I enjoy reading catering to narrow-minded bigots who complain about reading non-white (or non-black for that matter) characters. Oh how that would make drop an author if I were to find out that is what is motivating what they write.

As far as the Kristen Ashley question, here is a Q&A thread they have for her on the Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group. You should check it out and see if the question has been answered already and if it was not answered to your satisfaction, then ask it in a very specific and different way. I haven't read her books, so it would kind of awkward and weird for me to ask it.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

ETA: Best to scan through the thread and see if it's been asked. They will delete repeat questions, so keep that in mind, so make sure it's not a repeat question.

Danielle, I bet some authors are influenced highly by their publisher whether they'd like to branch out more or not. A friend of mine who is a Caucasian woman is a writer, not a romance author but her latest book has a hint of romance between two characters that are WW/BM and her editor noted that it might not fly with the publisher, but she kept it in anyway. Lo and behold when the publisher got hold of it they suggested removing that aspect of the story because "thats not what the readers want". She's refusing to remove it so I think they are doing some research with advance reviewers to see if that aspect of the story is an issue with readers or not. As I said this isn't a romance novel...so it's just hints, heated looks, and flirty talk between these characters, not full on relationship and/or sex between them. And it totally makes sense for the story, not out of left field.

Same author I mentioned in previous comment above broke from her publisher to self pub her books...she said because they wanted her books to go in a more mainstream direction...eg less kink, more White characters, etc.

Danielle The Book Huntress wrote: "As far as the Kristen Ashley question, here is a Q&A thread they have for her on the Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group. You should check it out and see if the question has been answered alread..."

I asked her on FB. She responded but not quite completely lol. We dissect it in another thread here in the forum. Its titled Should I Stop Reading Kristen Ashley. I saw the thread and recounted my interaction with Ms Ashley there.

@ Savannah, I know you did, but some might not have gone to that thread, so that's why I'm posting it here.

BkGurl wrote: "Danielle, I bet some authors are influenced highly by their publisher whether they'd like to branch out more or not. A friend of mine who is a Caucasian woman is a writer, not a romance author but..."

I can see why so many authors are going the self-pub route. I think that if I do get pubbed one day I will probably do smaller press or self-publication.

Yeah self pub does make a lot of sense if one can afford it.

That's another reason to give Madeline Sheehan big props because her books are about biker culture, which isn't a big haven for people of color. Yet her latest book has an interracial couple as the B storyline. It really surprised me.

Wow! Interesting topic ladies. Thanks Savannah for getting it started.

I know that lately, when I look at my physical library of thousands of books that I own and haven't read yet, I'm more than a little disappointed that most of them don't feature characters of color.

I'm glad that Savannah asked KA directly, and I hope she listens and I hope that starts a trend for more authors to listen. I'm willing to bet that women of color spend just as much money buying their books, and just as much time reading them.

I wouldn't be too concerned about the reception you got from the KA fans on that board being some sort of decisive referendum.

My impression of that board is that it is totally fan-girl. By that I mean, there is very little real critical discussion on the work and most of it is squee. I actually joined when it first formed and left after a bit because it was all squee. I like the types of discussions we have here on this because we discuss books, characters, tropes and authors both appreciatively and critically.

In that vein I think there is a feeling that they would accept an AA heroine if KA wrote one because they view her very reverently. I would compare her fandom with that of JR Ward's. There is a lot of "we trust her..." stuff going on so they'll follow where she leads

However that does not mean they will accept anyone coming in and making that sort of a suggestion. Added to that, I think a majority of that fandom are people who really can't discussion race. They don't know how and are not comfortable trying. So you asking about an AA heroine and a possible IR romance to boot, may be seen as you trying to is imposing a race dialog they are not sure how to respond to. Hence, crickets. It just doesn't fit in with the squee.

On the upside, you only got *crickets* and not hostility which has happened with the JR Ward fangirls.

Let me clarify: The Q&A thread is for Kristen Ashley to answer questions, which she does, so if you have a question for her, I see no problem with going there and asking it.

Danielle The Book Huntress wrote: "Let me clarify: The Q&A thread is for Kristen Ashley to answer questions, which she does, so if you have a question for her, I see no problem with going there and asking it."

Thanks for sharing the link to that discussion Danielle.

No problem!

What bothers me about the most about KA and mainstream authors writing PoC is they think it's so "hard". I don't know how many times I face-palm whenever this question comes up because the excuse is always the same and it's always lame. "I don't know if I can do a fill-in-the-blank character right." It's insulting and frankly racist. What they really have a problem with is wanting to write a stereotyped character and not being called out for it. I often wonder where these authors live and/or work, or whether they know their children attend school with students of different races. The irony is, there are quite a few white writers who do a wonderful job of crafting complex characters of color. Moreover, whether Ashley and her ilk pay attention to demographics, PoC are changing the face of this country and if they want to remain relevant in this age of multiracialism, they need to stop acting as if their only audience are white women. And while we can hope the KA's in romancelandia will have a racial V-8, black romance suthors should be expanding their horizons and writing our own Rock Chick-type stories.

Tina wrote: "I wouldn't be too concerned about the reception you got from the KA fans on that board being some sort of decisive referendum.

My impression of that board is that it is totally fan-girl. By that ..."

I agree with you, Tina. Fully. Its one reason I only go in there normally when I've JUST finished a KA book. If I really like it, I go in and gush. They make it very clear in most every thread (the thread starter post at least) that nothing critical is allowed. Now, that's definitely fine considering if its a fan board and the originators feel that's necessary, who am I to say differently? BUT, I don't really think that's something I'd ever be interested in as a go-to area no matter WHO the author was. I like being free to express my feelings fully. And I've yet to read a book that I wouldn't change something about. Not even those that get 5 stars from me. We're all individuals and as such, theres usually going to be at least one tiny thing that would have just thrown an extra smidge of icing on an already wonderful cake. To go around acting like an author is infallible is nonsense to me and I've had a hard time NOT injecting that thought process into even my most positive posts there. I tread carefully, trying to be mindful of the rules, but I know some still read my posts and do a bit of head scratching. They are usually followed by "Well, that doesn't bother me", to which I laugh and move on. There are a few gals over there with character complaints but they very few who say they think something could have been done better.

But I'm rambling. Just to say though, I agree with what you're saying. I do think its a comfort level thing. They don't know what to do with the question without a.) inferring that she's been lacking thus far by not including an AA heroine and b.) possibly voicing a desire for something that the author herself may not be onboard with. Plus, its race and like you said-not something they've ever HAD to think about. Its Candyland lol. And I don't mean that derisively. Hard topics just don't belong there in their Shangri La Lovefest (again, nothing wrong with having one)and this is something they would view as hard.
Ultimately, I squee for no WOMAN. lol its just not that serious. I've got my ships, but I'm not fangirling over a writer. A few characters? Sure LOL!