Survey says ... Multicultural Romance

Hawaii taught me diversity ...

I discovered Buzzr TV during Winter Storm Jonas. The cable station replays game shows from the 80s - Match Game, Super Password, Card Sharks, and Family Feud with Richard Dawson. During Family Feud's Fast Money, Dawson asked, "Name an occupation that makes people feel good."  

My answer, of course, was romance writer.  Romance creates hope. Romance sparks love. Romance delivers the Happily Ever After.  I intended to write more about this topic ... but a family feud has erupted in Romanceland.  A feud that needs to be addressed. 

Freelance writer Bobbi Dumas posted an article on Kirkus Reviews, New Year, New Reading Resolution, at this link.   Bobbi introduced her month long promotion of Celebrating Diversity in Romance at this link.

Scroll to the second comment to read the questions posted by historical author Courtney Milan. 

Bobbi responded to Courtney in a second post at this link.

Courtney posted a summary of the issues on her own blog, Speaking up against systemic racism in the publishing industry, at this link.  She wrote, If you care about romance and the future of the romance genre, why aren’t you angry with me?

Wendy the Super Librarian adds her thoughts, The One Where Wendy Talks About Diversity, at this link.

I understand Courtney's anger.  I've seen injustice in the military, as an officer and a spouse.  I have witnessed officers and their spouses, who had the means and opportunity to address injustice, simply ignore it.  I have reported unethical behavior to commanders, only to find myself the target of retribution.  I know my actions made a difference, but it was painful to be isolated by my own community.  This happened during my family's last year in Hawaii when my husband was away in Korea.  Two other military spouses kept me sane - NL Gassert, author of Gay Fiction, and D. Renee Bagby, author of Interracial Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. 

Nadja and the Laie Sea Arch

Nadja, Renee, and I met on a weekly basis to tour the island. We would chat about books, TV, and movies. I would share my adventures at conventions. I think they would have enjoyed the 2014 RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans, especially the Welcome Party (link). RT sponsored the delicious crepe breakfast along with a salute to romance trailblazers, including:

- Lindsay McKenna as the pioneer of Military Romances (she is a Vietnam era Navy veteran)

- Heather Graham for her efforts to revitalize New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina

- Brenda Jackson, Sandra Kitt, and Beverly Jenkins for pioneering multicultural romance.

Sadly, the audience talked through Lindsay's comments. Then, most of the audience walked out after they finished their crepes just as Kathryn Falk took to the stage to introduce the multicultural pioneers.  They missed hearing how these women overcame challenges to bring their stories to life in romance novels.  I was embarrassed that many attendees did not take the time to hear these legends. From this experience, I understand why multicultural writers feel dismissed by the romance industry.

(I will ask RT if they recorded the Welcome Party.  If the staff did, I will encourage RT to post it on YouTube ... it is worth watching!)

Barse's Romance in the Library of Congress
Public Domain (link)

In February 2015, I attended a special symposium, What Is Love? Romance in the Digital Age, at the Library of Congress (link, link, link, and link).  The first panel, Romance Canon, featured multicultural pioneer Beverly Jenkins.  As I wrote on my blog,

I borrowed a pen from the lovely lady next to me - a fan of Beverly Jenkins - so I could take notes. I uncapped the pen just in time to hear Beverly discuss that African American romance has been absent from romance canon. She added that it took Terry McMillan's WAITING TO EXHALE to hit the best seller for the publishing industry to realize black women actually read books (Beverly was very funny in her delivery).

I skipped the second panel to watch the documentary Love Between the Covers (link).  The film spotlighted the everyday lives of several authors, including Beverly Jenkins.  She spoke to the camera (paraphrase), "If readers can accept vampires fall in love, why can't they accept African Americans in a relationship?"  Beverly's comments still resonate with me.

One year later, Beverly's question has been answered with her latest release, FORBIDDEN.  It landed on Sarah MacLean's recommend reads for February in the Washington Post (link),

Jenkins does not shy away from the challenges that Eddy and Rhine and all black Americans face in the 1870s, and the truth of their journey makes this romance even more powerful when Rhine must reveal the truth to be worthy of Eddy’s love. This is historical romance at its very best.

Military friends at RT in Dallas
Tamara Argyle, Sharon Hamilton, Jackson Young,
 Siera London, and Kathy Crouch.

Back to Family Feud.  Dawson asked, "Name an occupation that makes people feel good."  The number one answer, "Nurse."  I immediately thought of Siera London.

I met Siera, a retired Navy nurse, during the 2014 RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans.  She introduced herself to me as a fellow RomVet at the SOS America promo table. The following year, we bumped into each other at the Library of Congress.  She also attended RT in Dallas, where I invited her to be a guest on my blog (link).  

Thank you, Siera, for your service!

In celebration of nurses and authors, who make people feel good, I am giving away Siera's latest release, A DOCTOR FOR CHRISTMAS: A Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Novella, to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Siera currently lives in the Florida Keys - what do you know about the keys?  I grew up in Miami, so the Keys were a weekend escape where we enjoyed Key Lime Pie!

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, February 6, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 7.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

More books from Siera London

Celebrate Little Victories - Baltimore Book Festival

Last weekend, I attended the Baltimore Book Festival (link) in the Inner Harbor.  The Maryland Romance Writers (link) hosted in its own stage and invited me to participate in Blogging About Books:

Book bloggers talk about running a successful book blog, working with authors and publishers, how to keep their fans engaged, and offer authors tips for building successful relationships with book bloggers.

Panelists: Andye Eppes, ReadingTeen.net; Jen Fisher, Jenuine Cupcakes/Young Adult Book Central; Hannah McBride, The Irish Banana Review; Stephanie Sinclair, Cuddlebuggery; Jillian Stein, Read-Love-Blog; Kim Lowe, SOS Aloha Blog

During the panel, I stated, "If I post it, they will read it," which was later tweeted by the audience!  I acknowledged my faithful followers - you! - make it worth the effort.

I caught up with Damon Suede (link) and D. Renee Bagby (link).  Damon proved to be an amazing dancer at the RT Booklovers Convention ... and Renee is one of my travel buddies from Hawaii. 

Have you attended a book festival?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 11, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Susana Ellis and A TWELFTH NIGHT TALE

Time to play Six Degrees of Separation with historical author Susana Ellis in honor of her holiday release, A TWELFTH NIGHT TALE:

1.  Susana's sister lived near me on Hickam AFB.  In fact, our sons attended the same scout troop.  My family also walked their dog, Trusty, during their extended trip off island.

2.  I've shared my adventures around the island of Oahu with my friends (and authors) NL Gassert (link) and D. Renee Bagby (link).

Renee, NL, and Ivy at Ka'ena Point.

3.  D. Renee Bagby featured Susana on her "D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters" (link).

4.  Susana is a a member of the Maumee Valley Romance Writers of America - MVRWA (link).  

5.  The MVRWA also includes Rue Allen, a member of the RomVets (link), "military women who have turned the sword to pen".     

6.  I am also a member of the RomVets - I traded my military keyboard for a blogger's forum to promote romance authors like Susana Ellis!

RomVets at RWA/2012

A TWELFTH NIGHT NIGHT TALE is available November 21:

A wounded soldier and the girl next door find peace and love 

amidst a backdrop of rural Christmas traditions. 

Without dowries and the opportunity to meet eligible gentlemen, the five Barlow sisters stand little chance of making advantageous marriages. But when the eldest attracts the attention of a wealthy viscount, suddenly it seems as though Fate is smiling upon them.

Lucy knows that she owes it to her younger sisters to encourage Lord Bexley's attentions, since marriage to a peer will secure their futures as well as hers. The man of her dreams has always looked like Andrew Livingston, her best friend's brother. But he's always treated her like a child, and, in any case, is betrothed to another. Perhaps the time has come to put away childhood dreams and accept reality…and Lord Bexley.

Andrew has returned from the Peninsula with more emotional scars to deal with than just the lame arm. Surprisingly, it's his sister's friend “Little Lucy” who shows him the way out of his melancholy. He can't help noticing that Lucy's grown up into a lovely young woman, but with an eligible viscount courting her, he'll need a little Christmas magic to win her for himself. 

Susana is offering a special grand prize on her website at susanaellis.com.   Meanwhile, I am giving away my own "Christmas Magic".  Since all roads lead to Hawaii, I am offering up my last Hawaiian ornament.  To enter the giveaway,

1.   Leave a comment about "Lucy" - do you know anyone with that name?  I don't ... but I LOVED LUCY!

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 23, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 24.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City