Comments on: An Open Letter To Oprah… http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah/ The book crazy blogger who has an opinion on everything, from Britney Spears to the global economy Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:05:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Virginia DeBerry http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah/comment-page-1/#comment-48972 Virginia DeBerry Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:29:51 +0000 http://karenknowsbest.com/?p=5158#comment-48972 Thanks for reposting my letter. I truly appreciate it--our plight is that of many many African American authors today and it's wonderful to know that you are in our corner! Virginia Thanks for reposting my letter. I truly appreciate it–our plight is that of many many African American authors today and it’s wonderful to know that you are in our corner!

Virginia

]]> By: sallahdog http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah/comment-page-1/#comment-48882 sallahdog Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:49:55 +0000 http://karenknowsbest.com/?p=5158#comment-48882 I am sure its worse for black authors, because they are so few in number and I am not in any way marginalizing their plight. I also see this marketing stuff going on in other genres and other authors... If I see one more author of mainstream romance jump on the paranormal bandwagon and muck it up I am going to scream... Used to be paranormal, were my favorite, but I am so sick of the same tired retread and crappy world building (in paranormal , altuni, or scifi the world building is critical for me) that I have gone back to historical or contemp romance for the moment, to give myself a breather.. Its frustrating to me that some publisher decides that if X sold well, we need to flood the market with it...whatever it is.. I have broadened my tastes to include several new to me black authors from reading this blog and others, and NONE of them write urban street lit, and if they did, it wouldn't appeal to me, just like crime or techno thrillers dont appeal to me... I am sure its worse for black authors, because they are so few in number and I am not in any way marginalizing their plight. I also see this marketing stuff going on in other genres and other authors… If I see one more author of mainstream romance jump on the paranormal bandwagon and muck it up I am going to scream… Used to be paranormal, were my favorite, but I am so sick of the same tired retread and crappy world building (in paranormal , altuni, or scifi the world building is critical for me) that I have gone back to historical or contemp romance for the moment, to give myself a breather..

Its frustrating to me that some publisher decides that if X sold well, we need to flood the market with it…whatever it is.. I have broadened my tastes to include several new to me black authors from reading this blog and others, and NONE of them write urban street lit, and if they did, it wouldn’t appeal to me, just like crime or techno thrillers dont appeal to me…

]]> By: sallahdog http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah/comment-page-1/#comment-48881 sallahdog Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:41:47 +0000 http://karenknowsbest.com/?p=5158#comment-48881 does oprah even give a crap about books that have romance that doesnt end in death in them? I would hope she would care about black authors being able to do authentic books instead of tossing in crap just to please some marketers "more grit" desire.. does oprah even give a crap about books that have romance that doesnt end in death in them? I would hope she would care about black authors being able to do authentic books instead of tossing in crap just to please some marketers “more grit” desire..

]]> By: Ebony http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah/comment-page-1/#comment-48876 Ebony Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:50:12 +0000 http://karenknowsbest.com/?p=5158#comment-48876 katieM those books are out there, but like you said you have to wade through street lit to get to them. I prefer looking for books by genre and then last name instead of having them all thrown together. katieM those books are out there, but like you said you have to wade through street lit to get to them. I prefer looking for books by genre and then last name instead of having them all thrown together.

]]> By: katieM http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah/comment-page-1/#comment-48861 katieM Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:18:03 +0000 http://karenknowsbest.com/?p=5158#comment-48861 I don't understand the rise in "street lit" over other genres. But then, I see us - in particular Black women- disappearing from mainstream media altogether. I don't see us on TV in meaningful roles; the crap on radio is just that - crap; and we get one movie a year - usually some Tyler Perry mess. I love mysteries, romance, comics, and science fiction. I can't find any black authors on the shelves in those genres, just a few in between the "streety" junk. I don’t understand the rise in “street lit” over other genres. But then, I see us – in particular Black women- disappearing from mainstream media altogether. I don’t see us on TV in meaningful roles; the crap on radio is just that – crap; and we get one movie a year – usually some Tyler Perry mess. I love mysteries, romance, comics, and science fiction. I can’t find any black authors on the shelves in those genres, just a few in between the “streety” junk.

]]> By: Roslyn Holcomb http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah/comment-page-1/#comment-48850 Roslyn Holcomb Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:39:06 +0000 http://karenknowsbest.com/?p=5158#comment-48850 I feared this would happen when "street lit" became so popular. I'm not sure what the solution is, but it's frustrating as hell to be told that you must write something you don't want to write. It's also damned near impossible to do. I feared this would happen when “street lit” became so popular. I’m not sure what the solution is, but it’s frustrating as hell to be told that you must write something you don’t want to write. It’s also damned near impossible to do.

]]> By: Ebony http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/27/an-open-letter-to-oprah/comment-page-1/#comment-48833 Ebony Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:41:06 +0000 http://karenknowsbest.com/?p=5158#comment-48833 I love all of their books and would hate to see them not get picked up by a publisher. I love all of their books and would hate to see them not get picked up by a publisher.

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