La-Tessa
Romance author Gwyneth Bolton penned an excellent article for Romance: B(u)y the Book about the evolution of African American romance and it’s impact on her. She mentions how, while she read mainstream romance (romance featuring white heroes and heroines), she often longed to read about characters that were like her.
Many black women romance readers, like myself, read romance novels long before the first African American imprints appeared in the early 90s. Many still read a wide variety of romance and don’t limit their reading based on the race of the author or the race of the characters in the book. Some only started reading romance novels when the black romances were published and never will read a romance with white leads. Some have read white authors in the past when they couldn’t find black authors and will never read another white romance again now that they can find black romances. However, most black readers will tell you that they read black romances because they want to be able to relate to the book. They want heroines that look like them.
When I first started reading romance, AA romance was non existent– meaning even if there were a few of them out there, they were not getting the publicity and attention the mainstream romances were. Until the early to mid 90’s, I’d never heard of, or seen, any romances, either in the library or on book shelves, featuring any minority leads. But as a lover of romance, I could (and still do) appreciate any good story, regardless of the race (or species in the case of paranormal) of the hero and/or heroine.
Over the last few years, as I’ve gotten closer to the industry as both a reviewer and an author, I’ve noticed that not all people feel that way. And some are, for whatever reason, very closed-minded about what they will or want read. Of the AA romance readers and authors I’ve spoken to, about 90%, of them still read across the many subgenres of romance, regardless of the lead character(s) race. Yet, when I polled my non AA friends and writers, only about 5% of them have ever read, or plan to read, an AA romance– or any story featuring minority leads.
I’ve often wondered why this is so and if this discrepancy will ever cease to be a main factor. The optimist in me hopes it does, a good story is a good story, regardless.
In the case of the African American readers and writers I’ve spoken too, most, if not all, are open to reading culturally diverse novels because of the lack of AA romance novels that were available at the time of their introduction to the genre. So as times progressed and more AA romance became available, they began to read them more, but never totally abandoned the mainstream romance stories.
On the other hand, I know of an AA romance reader that refuses to read anything but AA romance. I’ve asked why, but after not getting a straight answer, I decided to not push it so I left it alone. However, I think I will gift her with one or two non-AA romance titles just to see if she likes them. Maybe then I we can have an open dialog about her stance. And she’s not alone in her preference, I attended a conference last year where quite a few readers spoke about their preference and intent to read only AA romance.
In the case of the non-African American romance readers and writers I’ve asked, I’ve never gotten an answer that wasn’t some variant of “Hmm…I don’t know.” So my response is usually “Since you don’t have a solid reason, do you plan on trying one out? ” I then proceed to recommend some of my favorite authors and titles in hopes of exposing them to some great stories that they otherwise would never have read.
Has anyone even taken me up on my challenge?? I don’t know, but I would like to think they have.
Another interesting thing I’ve noticed is that it’s mostly the older readers and writers I’ve spoken too (regardless of race) that are more firmly rooted in their preference to either read or not read books by or featuring African Americans; while the younger readers and writers have more of an open mind about it. The same can be said of readers of paranormal and urban fantasy. I’ve noticed that readers of these sub genres tend to be more open when it comes to the cultural diversity of the books they read as well.
Reading this article made me to realize how much I’ve been thinking about this particular topic over the last 5 years, or so. As both an African American author aspiring to become published one day, and as a professional Marketing Analyst, I’m very interested in the climate of the current market, consumer demographics, and the future trends and shifts in the market and consumer behavior. I believe these indicators influences an editor’s purchasing decisions, and possible influeces agents and authors as they are putting together marketing and PR plans.
I’m interested in your opinion. What type of fiction do you read? Are you open and willing to about characters of different cultural & ethnic backgrounds than you? Or do you prefer one over the other?
To check out Mrs. Bolton’s article in full, click here.
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Elisabeth Kent
Great editorial, La-Tessa! A nice addition to the blog.
To answer your questions, while I read a variety of genres, my tastes tend toward historical romance and paranormal romance as well as mainstream fiction, but I’m open to reading anything as long as it’s an entertaining story. 🙂 This includes reading various sub-genres, including fiction that features lead characters of other races. I have read other AA literature and poetry (Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou), but I have yet to read an AA romance – although I have been reading a heartfelt inter-racial romance WIP one of my friends is working on 🙂 I think the main reason for this is I’m just not sure who to read. Who are the top authors in the genre today? What are some good recommendations? In any event, I think it’s far past time for a breakout AA romance novel to hit the mainstream shelves. 🙂
Gwyneth Bolton
Great post, La-Tessa! You pick up on the other part of it… all the black readers who won’t read romance novels at all. I think that the stigma attached to romance as a genre in general limits the amount of readers that African American romance authors can get from that very large pool of black readers who will real just about all African American fiction except romance. I don’t know if they feel like it’s frilly or lacks substance or whatever… I see it this way, all genre fiction or popular fiction is looked down on by folks who only consider “Literary” fiction or high culture fiction worthy of reading. So if you’re going to sink into low culture and read popular mainstream African American fiction, or mysteries or sci-fi you might as well go all the way and pick up some romance, too. LOL. They are missing out on some really great stories…
La-Tessa
Lisa, there are several wonderful African American romance authors out there, I hate to even try to list them. I have a few of my favs listed on my Bookshelf page, but for starters, I have to recommend: Brenda Jackson (great contemporaries & steamies), Rochelle Alers (great contemporaries-her Hideaway Series is one of my favorite series of all times), and Beverly Jenkins (GREAT historicals).
As far as some great titles to pick up, you can check out http://www.RomanceInColor.com for reviews on AA titles going back to 1994–RIC is a great resource. I’d also like to mention “Crush”, by Crystal Hubbard (a great IR romance) and Gwyneth’s latest release, “Sizzling Seduction” (due out in October), is the lastest installment in her Hightower series, which has been very well received.
But I could go on all day with good recommendations. And I can’t wait to read more about this IR romance you’re talking about 😉
La-Tessa
Gwyneth, thanks for visiting my site and gettin this conversation started. This is truly something I’ve thought about for years, but I probably never would have done a post on it if your articial hadn’t spurred me on.
And you’re are so right, anyone that snubs their nose at romance in general, or AA romance in particular, are missing out of some wonderful stories.
Alison Pion
LT — great blog. I fall into the category of reader who will read any and everything as long as it’s a good story. Interestingly, I seem to fit your pattern – as I love historicals, but I am also a huge fan of paranormals, urban fantasy, and science fiction — in part because those sub genres allow for so much more experimentation with not only race, but also religion, class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation — and I absolutely love reading about how characters contend with those treacherous waters. A great story is a great story – and I wouldn’t miss out on reading one for the world.
Robin Hillyer-Miles
Great editorial La-Tessa and it does make you think, doesn’t it?
I usually read mainstreams or mysteries.
Bring one of your favorite AA books on Thursday and I’ll read it on the trip! I’m a very, very fast reader.
La-Tessa
Will do Robin…. I’m going to find a couple of good ones too!!
Megan
I’ve never read an AA romance, but then I’ve never read any romance novel. I’m not opposed, I certainly won’t rule anything out especially now that I’ve been proven wholly wrong about Twilight.
I’ve never had a real desire to read romance novels, but having really enjoyed the romance storyline in Twilight (ok, enjoyed is an understatement), I think that I’ll be much more inclined to pick up a romance novel now.
Having said that, if/when I do, I’ll read whatever you say is good. If that includes an AA romance, cool. If not, cool too. If I can relate to vampire love & sex, then I’m quite certain I can relate to AA love & sex. Love & sex is love & sex no matter WHO it involves.
Stacey
As a white chick, frequent writer and sometimes reader, I can tell you I’ve never read an AA romance, for several reasons that I’ve never thought about until reading your post.
One, I’d never encountered it until hearing about it from you. When I go to bookstores, it’s usually either for something specific or it’s some type of specialty bookstore (like Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books, this super funky bookstore we went to in NYC a few weeks ago – it was great), so I’d just never seen it.
Two, I’m not a big reader of romance novels, unless you count the “Chick-Lit” genre that includes mainstream books like The Devil Wears Prada, Something Borrowed, Sushi for Beginners, etc. Three, I guess I’ve never had reason to think about the difference between white literature and black literature.
As a white woman, so much out there in the entertainment world overall is by white people and about white people. So I’ve never had reason to seek out something different – NOT because I think it’s OK that so much out there centers around white culture and not because I don’t want to read AA fiction and not because I don’t appreciate the differences in culture and not because I don’t want to immerse myself in and learn more about other races/cultures/etc. – I actually do. I’ve just never had reason to even THINK about it.
Does that make sense? It’s hard to explain, I guess, but maybe put yourself in my shoes. Where in your post you talked about women reading AA fiction to find women they can relate to, well, I relate to the characters in fiction about white culture. So, when it comes to fiction/romance at least, I’ve never sought out anything different. I probably should. If you recommend a great book by an AA author about AA characters (and maybe even let me borrow it – lol), I would definitely read it.
.-= Stacey´s last blog ..Exciting Meeting for Memphis =-.
Anjuelle Floyd
The discussion on Gwyneth Bolton’s blog was so wonderful discussion. I feel horrible that I’m coming in on it so late.
But you, LaTessa, take it one step further. Like, Gwyneth, I too wonder about the African American reader of romance who will not read any romances beyond the ones who have black heroines and heroes.
As an African American writer of literary women’s fiction (of African American wives and husbands) I read novels of white marriages, and marriages between wives and husbands of other nationalities not because that is what I prefer them, but mainly because the author raises and explores issues of and with which I am interested and can identify.
I am a great lover of Bollywood movies. This largely comes out of my love for South Asian novels and short stories depicting the lives of women and men, wives and husbands who are brown like me and my husband, and struggle with issues that I can relate to.
Jhumpa Lahiri, Lavanya Sankara and most particularly Thrity Umrigar are three of the most influential writers in my life. I also simply love the messages of their works.
The interconnectedness of the stories in my collection, “Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident” is due to my having read Bangalore Stories: The Red Carpet by Lavanya Sankaran.
I fell in love with short stories because of Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies”. I also read “The Namesake” and loved the movie. Although I must say, the book was better. I have also purchased Unaccustomed Earth and my heart was warmed to see an African American woman in the hair shop reading Unaccustomed Earth.
I say this because the most powerful book I have read to date is Thrity Umrigar’s “The Weight of Heaven.”
I read it on vacation and my husband also loved it.
Thrity was a guest on my BTR show, “Book Talk, Creativity and Family Matters”. I explained how South Asian writers have and do fill a void for me both as a person who loves reading stories with psychological and spiritual depth and with people who are brown like me, and as a reader who is studying the craft.
Thrity then said that Toni Morrison and Alice Walker had highly influenced her works.
I was touched. I was also burdened with the question of why more African American readers do not read the works of South Asian writers.
On another note, and I shared this at Romane B(u) y the Book, I wonder how much the advent of African American Romance will effect, hopefully assist in, bringing ALL kinds of people to read stories about African American wives and husbands loving each other despite what life and the world throws at them.
I have to say that I have what seems an equal balance of African American, white, and non-African American/non-white readers.
And some times this leaves me wondering how African Americans see my work.
Thanks LaTessa for turning me on to Gwyneth’s wonderful discussion and then taking it one step further here at your site.
.-= Anjuelle Floyd´s last blog ..On Writing, and Exploring the Human Heart =-.
Keren Childers
I have been reading romance/erotic novels since my early junior high school days. At that time, I had to sneak and read my mother’s books. My first book was Happy Hooker. There were no AA American books available. Now that AA novels are available, I must admit I read 95% AA and 5% non AA American books. I just love my AA romance authors. They generate great stories and I find myself relating to them. I do venture out and read interracial and others, but I prefer AA.
La Monica
Great discussion. The same discussion is going on about A.A. young adult which is the genre I write in and read more than 90% of the time.
I definitely think the A.A. romance market could stand to do some re-educating of the masses about what a romance consists of. I’m sure when a lot of people think of romance, they automatically picture the bare-chested, white hero with flowing blong locks and his damsel in distress (also 1/2 naked w/flowing blonde locks), clinging to his chiseled chest or bulging calf. It’s a stereotype I know, but perception is a huge problem.
I’m a writer in a writer’s group with published AA women’s fic authors and unpublished wannabe’s like me. It was just a few months ago when one of my sistawriterpals asked me how I would categorize her wip because she was planning on submitting it to a contest. I automatically assumed it would be classified as women’s fic until she did research and found that her story fit the “formula” for a romance. I realized that I didn’t know romance like I thought I did if I couldn’t even tell what a romance was. And clearly it was not the stereotypical pic that immediately came to mind.
I bet you if you surveyed AA readers reluctant to read romance, they’d be surprised to discover that they’ve probably been reading romance and didn’t know it because it was marketed as something else.
A.T. Russell
LaTessa,
I’m currently editing an IR romance as well. Like any author, I believe my story is fantastic. I also took into account the ideas you espoused in your post when I wrote my novel. All of your points deeply concern me. See, I have two children, one 21 and the other 20. Daughter and son, respectively, and I get to see the multicultural lifestyles they lead. It’s amazing for these weary eyes to witness. Then I think back to my writing p.o.v. for every storyline. My MC’s are typically strong AA men. Now, going into publishing after New Year 2012, will I face a cultural curve in readership? It’s a weighty contemplation that nearly affected the way I wrote the story. Were it not for my pigheadedness, I may not have completed something I’m infinitely proud of. Still, the stances with regard to folks and their preferences may determine the level of success I may or may not find.
Your post acutely touches my thoughts and I seriously appreciate you having addressed these concerns. While I have more considerations that I’d love to share, you’ve essentially captured what needs to be discussed in some open forum within the industry we both strive to be successful in. Thank you and keep writing your story.
S,
A.T.
La-Tessa
Thanks for stopping by A.T. & sharing your thoughts. I agree, being an AA author writing about AA/ IR characters does present it’s own set of unique challenges. But like you said, I’ve got to be true to me & write MY story as I see it.
Much success to you.