FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[Terisa de morgan]

I NEVER take into account race or gender when I buy a book. And, sincerely, I don't like that somebody wants me to buy or read a book because of the writer's skin color instead of the writing.
I read a lot of writers who don't have media exposure, but I've gone there through word of mouth, checking books or whatever. So, in this case (something quite common now in Romance world with the indie scene), saying that I have to choose a book taking into account where a writer was born or who her/his parents were, looks like a long stretch to my mind, mainly when you're reading books published in the big 5 or similar (like Harlequin).

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

What's the meaning of AOC?

Author of colour. I tend to object to it's lack of specificity.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Author of colour. I tend to object to it's lack of specificity.

As far as I know, white (which almost nobody is aside some persons from Asia) is a colour, so I've always found this expression quite ridiculous and patronizing.

[library addict]

I don't normally take race into account when buying books either. But I also never understood why romances by black authors were not shelved in the romance section but in the African American section along with non-fiction. That makes zero sense to me.

I read a number of Beverly Jenkins historicals over the years before I gave up on historicals. I remember shopping at B Dalton and Waldenbooks back in the day and getting questioned by some clerks over and above the usual snobbery against romance.

I wish everyone was as open minded as readers here, but sadly that's not the case. A lot of readers say they just can't "connect" with characters who are POC which also makes zero sense to me as people are people. And reading about how some authors at RWA would get up and leave if a black author sat at their table breaks my heart. I think talking about it is the only way to move forward.

I'm not on Twitter so I didn't know about the wrong names. They'd fixed the names before I posted the revised list.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I don't normally take race into account when buying books either. But I also never understood why romances by black authors were not shelved in the romance section but in the African American section along with non-fiction. That makes zero sense to me.

I read a number of Beverly Jenkins historicals over the years before I gave up on historicals. I remember shopping at B Dalton and Waldenbooks back in the day and getting questioned by some clerks over and above the usual snobbery against romance.

I wish everyone was as open minded as readers here, but sadly that's not the case. A lot of readers say they just can't "connect" with characters who are POC which also makes zero sense to me as people are people. And reading about how some authors at RWA would get up and leave if a black author sat at their table breaks my heart. I think talking about it is the only way to move forward.

I'm not on Twitter so I didn't know about the wrong names. They'd fixed the names before I posted the revised list.

This. And as pointed out we shouldn't have to seek out AOC romances but they do not get equal time so unless we want things to continue as they are and they continue to be overlooked we must change this. If we just read what is normally promoted it will never changed.

No an author shouldn't get preferential treatment because of their skin color but they should get "equal" treatment which sadly many authors of color are not receiving. Publishers are to blame, bookstores and organizations like RWA. Readers can only go through normal channels and find so many books to read it's up to those mention above to expose us to them and should not be the other way around as it is now.

Sent from my XT1528

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Publishers are to blame, bookstores and organizations like RWA. Readers can only go through normal channels and find so many books to read it's up to those mention above to expose us to them and should not be the other way around as it is now.

NPR had a story about this over the weekend. There's nothing that hasn't been said here, but I thought it might be of interest.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by issybird

NPR had a story about this over the weekend. There's nothing that hasn't been said here, but I thought it might be of interest.

Thanks Issy. I find it does bring more public exposure to the issue at hand. I think we are at a point in society where we can start to change the tide and make the publishers, RWA and others see this isn't right and it must be changed. The only way to do this is for readers and authors to speak out.

Sent from my XT1528

[Catlady]

Romance is not my genre, but over the years I have had occasion to read a number of Beverly Jenkins's books, and I think she is one of the worst writers ever. Her historical settings are intriguing, but I find her writing atrocious. I am baffled by her apparent popularity, and can only think it's because not many romance authors write about non-white characters; she's the only one who does that I've read, given my limited exposure to the genre. I hope others are better writers.

[Atunah]

I agree that if its romance, it should be shelved under romance. I haven't been in a book store though in many many years and even back then I didn't really find a large enough selection in romance anyway. And you got the side looks.

It was much better in used book stores and libraries thankfully.

But I read ebooks exclusively now and a book can be in more than one shelf now. But if its still not under "Romance" I won't see it. If I am looking for a romance, that is where I look. No matter the skin color of the characters or orientation for that matter.

I see some readers now with online presence being closer to their authors. For me its the opposite. With so many more authors and so many more pen names, I have no clue really who is on the other side of those words. I can't even tell if its a man pretending to be a woman. And again, I don't search out authors, I do not want any personal connection to them. I never was into that. I just want to read the books. Now given I read more historical than anything else I think by default there have been mostly white characters. Not saying there haven't been non white characters in history in those countries I often read about, but I do love me some lordlings.

But then are we talking about characters or different ethnic and racial back round or authors. Or both.

If they are there and I like the blurb or theme, I'll read it. I like certain themes, tropes or whatever its called and I don't like others. That isn't going to change.

Like Blossom I prefer contempo stuff to be RS or some thing. I don't read straight up CR much. I like the suspense part. Probably why I also like historical romance with some mystery woven in or just straight up historical mysteries.

I am still struggling with paranormal. As I lean more towards urban fiction there as so much romance is shifter stuff which for some reason outside of UF doesn't interest me. There has be be some other themes for paranormal. I do like the vampires, but I have to read the older stuff to get that. I don't see much new stuff there. Other than YA which I don't read at all.

My head is starting to hurt with all of this. I just want to find a book, hoping its a good one, read it and be happy when it is. I am pretty simple on that front. I just want to read all the good books.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by issybird

NPR had a story about this over the weekend. There's nothing that hasn't been said here, but I thought it might be of interest.

What's pathetic about this article is they did not interview a single black author. For an article specifically about the fact a black romance writer has never won the RITA. Plus the RITAs were not awarded last week.

[kg3]

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[kg3]

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[kg3]

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[library addict]

Free

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Spoiler:

She was born to love then taught to kill. She has become everything but is no one.

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Amazon

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[copyrite]

Thanks for the books!

Originally Posted by kg3

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Oooh a new time travel read for me. Hope the book lives up to the blurb!