Comments on: Seattle Weekly Explores the Ethnic Divide in Romances http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/ Romance, Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal, Young Adult, Book reviews, industry news, and commentary from a reader's point of view Sun, 27 May 2012 13:28:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Seressia http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-91452 Seressia Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:43:11 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/11/07/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-91452 Interracials have been around for more than a decade, at least ones with a black heroine and hero of another ethnicity. Sandra Kitt's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-Friends-Sandra-Kitt/dp/0451191846/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8/002-8938977-7849657?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194579369&sr=8-8" rel="nofollow">first one</a> came out through Signet in 1998. I agree, almost all the multicultural romances written by non-black romance authors are shelved with general romance. Stores that segregate black fiction throw the black romances in that section. Would have been nice if the reporter had dialed down the snark a bit. Must have been hard to type with his nose in the air like that. Interracials have been around for more than a decade, at least ones with a black heroine and hero of another ethnicity. Sandra Kitt’s first one came out through Signet in 1998.

I agree, almost all the multicultural romances written by non-black romance authors are shelved with general romance. Stores that segregate black fiction throw the black romances in that section.

Would have been nice if the reporter had dialed down the snark a bit. Must have been hard to type with his nose in the air like that.

]]> By: Leah http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-91307 Leah Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:43:10 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/11/07/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-91307 I think there are a number of multicultural books out there that are being marketed as general Romance rather than to a specific ethnic group. For example, Jade Lee's books often feature an Asian character, but it's not like folks at Dorchester have a specific Asian line. Marjorie Liu also has a diverse array of characters in her book. And there are a number of other authors. But it's true that you really have to go looking for them because there's nothing in the marketing that screams: Hey, I'm diverse; come look at me! I think there are a number of multicultural books out there that are being marketed as general Romance rather than to a specific ethnic group. For example, Jade Lee’s books often feature an Asian character, but it’s not like folks at Dorchester have a specific Asian line. Marjorie Liu also has a diverse array of characters in her book. And there are a number of other authors. But it’s true that you really have to go looking for them because there’s nothing in the marketing that screams: Hey, I’m diverse; come look at me!

]]> By: Jean http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-91183 Jean Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:00:44 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/11/07/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-91183 I know that Liquid Silver has at least one author, Rebecca Williams, whose heroines are of mixed cultural heritage. In "Good Intentions," Jarrah is part Maori. I know that Liquid Silver has at least one author, Rebecca Williams, whose heroines are of mixed cultural heritage. In “Good Intentions,” Jarrah is part Maori.

]]> By: skatergurljubulee http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90951 skatergurljubulee Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:01:14 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/11/07/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90951 I am mostly into either paranormal, or inter-racial romance simply because it's what appeals to me. Most writers in the inter-racial romance genre are doing a note worthy job of showing how a story that critics would consider "bodice rippers" into a real gem. I'm black and I'm married to a white man so I like to read stories that are relatable. It's sad that at bookstores and at libraries (it's this case at mine) the aurthors are seperated by race instead of genre. From what I understand, there are quite a few AA authors that would just like to be placed in the genre in which they write. And it's almost worse if you aren't black or white. I wish this wasn't the case, but it is. The only way that I help is by notifiying the librarians and bookstore owners if they've made a mistake. I do that for both AA authors and when I see a paranormal book I've read thrown into the horror section or scifi/fantasy. Well, there's my two cents. I am mostly into either paranormal, or inter-racial romance simply because it’s what appeals to me. Most writers in the inter-racial romance genre are doing a note worthy job of showing how a story that critics would consider “bodice rippers” into a real gem. I’m black and I’m married to a white man so I like to read stories that are relatable. It’s sad that at bookstores and at libraries (it’s this case at mine) the aurthors are seperated by race instead of genre. From what I understand, there are quite a few AA authors that would just like to be placed in the genre in which they write. And it’s almost worse if you aren’t black or white.
I wish this wasn’t the case, but it is. The only way that I help is by notifiying the librarians and bookstore owners if they’ve made a mistake. I do that for both AA authors and when I see a paranormal book I’ve read thrown into the horror section or scifi/fantasy.
Well, there’s my two cents.

]]> By: veinglory http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90899 veinglory Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:53:20 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/11/07/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90899 There is the new playground of 'inter-racial' which mixes things up a bit. There is the new playground of ‘inter-racial’ which mixes things up a bit.

]]> By: Angela http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90799 Angela Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:13:45 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/11/07/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90799 But I agree about the tone of the article: it's very snobby.What I most take umbrage with is the fact that the writer has written this article in a way that obscures the topic. By poking fun at the romance genre, he'll make people focus on growing irritated about that and then they'll end up ignoring what the article is actually about--the troublesome history and conflict of race in America. It isn't just some "romance genre/bodice ripper" thing--it's an issue that permeates practically every inch of our lives, and with people like him distracting the issue from a chance for true, open dialogue, change will only come in fits and starts. But I agree about the tone of the article: it’s very snobby.What I most take umbrage with is the fact that the writer has written this article in a way that obscures the topic. By poking fun at the romance genre, he’ll make people focus on growing irritated about that and then they’ll end up ignoring what the article is actually about–the troublesome history and conflict of race in America. It isn’t just some “romance genre/bodice ripper” thing–it’s an issue that permeates practically every inch of our lives, and with people like him distracting the issue from a chance for true, open dialogue, change will only come in fits and starts.

]]> By: Angela http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90796 Angela Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:05:21 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/11/07/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90796 It's such a crap shoot. We are different, we all like to see faces that look like our own in this vast "white" world, but then we either get separated, or others are deemed truly "unmarketable" and are ignored...it's frustrating. It’s such a crap shoot. We are different, we all like to see faces that look like our own in this vast “white” world, but then we either get separated, or others are deemed truly “unmarketable” and are ignored…it’s frustrating.

]]> By: Sarah McCarty http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90781 Sarah McCarty Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:12:11 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/11/07/seattle-weekly-explores-the-ethnic-divide-in-romances/#comment-90781 That article didn't miss a chance to take a shot at the genre, did it? That article didn’t miss a chance to take a shot at the genre, did it?

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