Look what I came across in my perusing of a romance site’s
new releases post. A new Harlequin Blaze romance with an interracial couple on
the cover. A black woman/white man pair. A darker-skinned chick. Again, I am
sure the Art Dept. at Harlequin thought it was being oh so now. Look, at least
it took a chance. Dare I say that they must have read my rant on the deliberate
whitewashing of covers to attract white readers? One can only hope. Ok. I got a
tad happy ‘cuz the black heroine didn’t have a weave hanging down to her azz,
didn’t come off as “street” and she was actually touching the hero. Still not
looking at him though. Then I read on and, well, the book. The book itself
should be so progressive. It contains two novellas featuring a species as the focus. Members of Helios
come to Earth to romance the population. It’s a paranormal but oh, man. Here we
go. A black chick gets the spotlight in the book. YAY! Sounds good. But,
but…Harlequin, honey, I am certain some non-White authors had stories just as
good. Did you even consider them? And do not tell me you did not get
submissions. You know you get them. If the call went out for submissions, you
got ‘em. You chose NOT to pick any of them. You pick stuff like that other
“multicultural” train wreck of a romance you published a few months back with
the self-hating half-Black heroine. So now with the release of this new book, all
of RomanceLandia will be taken on that
lap around the pat-yourself-on-the-back track. You, Harlequin, will get undeserved
kudos and unlimited Scooby snacks for being progressive and forward-thinking in
filling the “multicultural” void. Puh-leeze.
This book clearly has a BLACK woman in it, but is not tagged
as “multicultural” as most ALL other books are when one person in the lover’s duo
is NOT White. This book is being touted
as “Urban Fantasy” and “Romance.” Two categories that get waaaaaay more
searches, and eyes, on them then “multicultural.” This means this book will be
“seen” by more potential buyers by simply being in those categories on Amazon.
That helps those writers immensely! They will get MORE sales because they are
not relegated to ONLY “multicultural.” This makes non-White romance writers see
red. Their books with a non-White character gets shuttled off to
“multicultural” ONLY! And anybody with a brain, knows that category gets the
LEAST play on Amazon and other retailers! People are either too lazy to search,
or are not interested in that category. That spells LOST SALES! While WHITE writers
can pen the rainbow and will get listed in any category they, or their
publisher, wish. And get tons of views! Do you get that that is segregation? Do
you understand that? Do you understand that this practice seriously curbs a
non-White writer’s earning potential? Their exposure? Is that sinking in? And
people wonder why some non-White romance authors are a tad fed up. And most White
writers sit on their hands, silent, acting innocent, reaping the benefits, happy
to not rock the apple cart of the world of romance. But these same writers get
all in their feelings when this is pointed out to them. But hey, I’m just
putting it out there like it is.
The thing is not a one of us non-White, romance writers
would be vocal about any of this ish if we were treated with respect by the
industry, the reading public and by fellow White writers. But RomanceLandia
can’t resists tooting its own horn at the expense of others. I have no ax to grind. But I do have an aversion to being pissed on and told it's raining.
The truth hurts like a son-of-a-bitch but it also sets you
free.
This is how it is in RomanceLandia. There is nothing nice,
ladylike, civil or just in that realm. It is as bloody as an MMA bout. Maybe
more so. At least in MMA there are rules. In RomanceLandia, it is a cage fight
without any rules. Everyday.
This is why proceed as I see fit and say what I want.
And if you were wondering, those novellas in that new
release were written by Addison Fox and Karin Whiddon. Two white authors.
P.s. I’m not posting the cover. But do go here to read the
blurb and see the cover. And check the categories it’s listed in.
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