Racism In Romance – Marcia King-Gamble Has Her Say…
Friday, March 16, 2007Posted in: Marcia King-Gamble Racism in romance survey
Marcia’s latest book: All About Me
When did you first get published?
I was first published in 1998.
What genre do you write in?
I write both romance and mainstream women’s fiction.
What race/colour are the majority of your characters?
I write for several imprints, but if we are speaking of the Harlequin Kimani Imprint, Arabesque or Sepia, then the only thing that is required is that my hero and heroine are people of color. I tend to have a fair representation of the world in my books.
How is your work marketed?
I’m not sure I understand the question. Authors do most of their own marketing. I tend to market to my mailing list and to the people logging onto my website www.lovemarcia.com or signing up for my newsletter- Romantically Yours.
If you’re asking how does the publishing house market me and my work then I would say to a primarily black audience.
Where are your books generally shelved?
It depends. I asked this question of several book sellers and got different answers. In some neighborhoods it’s on an end cap or separate shelf with a sign that says African American Literature.
In others, I am alphabetized and placed in both the romance and literature sections, and in one situation I was shelved in African American history. Go figure!
Where would you prefer your books to be shelved?
Alphabetized and on shelves with other romance or mainstream authors. Although if the reader reads primarily African American romances, then being set apart makes it easier for them to find. Me.
Have you been subjected to direct/indirect racism from editors, publishers etc in your publishing career.
If I have then I must have missed it. Can’t say I’ve had that experience, then again I don’t go around with a chip on my shoulder.
How do you feel about Oprah Winfrey’s book club- Do you think she could do more to promote AA authors?
I think Oprah could do more to promote the romance genre on the whole. I think she’s a wonderful champion of reading but misses the romance boat.
I believe that Oprah has not realized how much romances have changed and may still think the books are all heaving bosoms and beating breasts. There is a reason why romances makes up 52% of all mass market books sold. When a fan writes you to tell you how you’ve changed their life, now that is a memorable moment.
Do you believe that publishers are more ambivalent when it comes to marketing AA books?
I won’t call it ambivalent. But I do believe there is a preconceived notion that mainstream America or England for that matter, won’t be interested in reading a story about people of color. That is so wrong. I grew up reading stories about characters that are white. A good romance/story has no color barriers.
Which race groups would you say bought the majority of your books?
This depends on where the books are sold and marketed. I’ve had book signings where I didn’t sell to one person of color.
What do you think needs to change in order for more white people to read African American books?
More exposure to multi-cultural books and a totally different marketing approach would help. Currently, and for some odd reason, the white readership thinks that they will not understand the dialogue or even storyline and that is simply not true.
Have you ever been snubbed by white readers/white authors during a signing?
I can’t say I have. I have however been snubbed by black readers who told me they don’t read “those books.” They will often cross over to stand on line and buy from a white author, or will slide by refusing to make eye contact and head for the romance shelf and purchase a white author’s book.
Have you ever been overlooked by an editor in favour of a white author?
Glad to say I’ve not had this experience.
Have you ever been asked to tone down, or increase the ethnicity within your books?
Yes, I’ve been asked by editors to make my stories more ethnic. I’ve tried to explain that even within a specific ethnic group there are class differences. We do not all come from the ghetto nor do we all speak ghettoese.
Are you familiar with Millennia Black’s lawsuit against Penguin? If so, what do you think her chances of winning are?
Not familiar. Sorry!
How do you think her victory will affect the way AA authors are treated within the industry?
N/A
What are your thoughts on niche marketing? What do you think the limitations are if any?
Niche marketing says it all. It may serve a purpose but it does limit an author’s exposure.
Have you been personally involved in trying to bring about changes within the publishing industry, with regards to how African American authors are treated? If so can you tell me about your efforts?
I’ve not had any issues about poor treatment so didn’t realize this was a problem. My only comment, and one that I have shared is that I would like to see our books marketed to a mainstream audience of any ethnicity.
Do you think this will still be a controversial subject in five years time, or do you think major changes would have been made by then?
I hope not, as I said before, a good story can be read and appreciated by any ethnicity. It’s all in the marketing.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
To learn more about Marcia and her books, you can visit her website here.
Coming up next, Angela Henry.
Karen Scott
March 17
9:26 am
This depends on where the books are sold and marketed. I’ve had book signings where I didn’t sell to one person of color.
Now this is interesting. I’m still of the mind that marketing is the key to a lot of the issues that AA authors are currently experiencing. I can’t believe that if AA authored books are marketed to 100 white people, using the right medium (whatever that is), that not one of those white people will buy.
I always think it’s amazing that authors will happily say that they only market to black people, then are surprised when white people don’t buy their books. I understand that sometimes this is a money issue, but sometimes you’ve got to step out of the box, and out of your comfort zone.
If I have then I must have missed it. Can’t say I’ve had that experience, then again I don’t go around with a chip on my shoulder.
I’m a huge believer in not putting obstacles in my way, or bowwrowing trouble, when it comes to my personal and professional life, and one thing I I’ve seen time and time again, are people who expect to meet with racism wherever they go. I’ve always been of the mind that if you expect racism, you’ll pretty much get it.
Letting other people define who you are, and believing that they hold the key to your success, or lack thereof, gives them undeserved power IMO.
Sara Dennis
March 17
5:43 pm
I always think it’s amazing that authors will happily say that they only market to black people, then are surprised when white people don’t buy their books. I understand that sometimes this is a money issue, but sometimes you’ve got to step out of the box, and out of your comfort zone.
Hear hear.
Karen Scott
March 17
8:17 pm
I have however been snubbed by black readers who told me they don’t read “those books.” They will often cross over to stand on line and buy from a white author, or will slide by refusing to make eye contact and head for the romance shelf and purchase a white author’s book.
This is also interesting, I wonder why that would happen? At first I though Marcia meant that the readers didn’t read romance books period, but if those blacks are reading white romance, then that puts a different spin on things. I understand, and I’m familiar with book snobbery, but blacks not wanting to read about other blacks is a little bizarre to me.
rozlips
March 17
9:34 pm
Doesn’t surprise me at all. There are some blacks who believe ‘the white man’s ice is colder.’ Like whites, they presume anything black is subpar. Back when I was in social services I had white clients who refused to see me because I was black, and blacks who did the same. We live within a culture that is built on the notion of white supremacy. Blacks are just as American as any other group. We see the same media. We go to the same schools. We’re incubated within the same culture. Why would it be surprising that they would absorb the same messages as whites? Some of the best white supremacists I know happen to be black. Witness Ward Connerly. (Karen, I’m not sure if you’d be familiar with him. He’s a black man who has worked diligently to overturn affirmative action in college admisisons in California and Michigan. Given that California is a bellweather state there’s little doubt that it will be the end of affirmative action nation-wide.)
Monica Jackson
March 17
10:52 pm
Yep. Sad thing when blacks or those of mixed race are down on blacks. It’s true and I’ve heard far more authors than Marcia say it. (BTW, who’s having a grand old time at the Romance Slam Jam, the lucky thing). The culture we live in is insidious.
I’ve had black or mixed race patients specifically request white doctors on the assumption that they are going to be superior to any black doctor. I’ll look around and see their black or part black kids and wonder about the awful messages they’re getting about themselves from their parents .
As far as marketing, money is so tight for us mid-list folk. Do I spend money promoting my books and myself to the market where my books will be available and my message about my work will be at least received by people willing to give it a try, or to the white market where my books are hard to obtain and readers may reject them unread just because a black person is on the cover? If I had money to waste, I’d target both, but as it is . . .
Which reader’s conference to spend money on? The Romance Slam Jam where everybody has heard about me and will consider my work, or to another one where I’ll get to watch the white authors long lines at their book signings, be snubbed, and I can’t even give my books away for free?
As for getting face time with readers, RSJ is far more bang for my buck.
RWA is a good writer’s conference where you can network, and to an extent so is RT, so black authors who can afford it often attend those, but not so much to interact with their readers as white authors get to do at those conferences.
Shiloh Walker
March 17
11:37 pm
I’ve had black or mixed race patients specifically request white doctors on the assumption that they are going to be superior to any black doctor. I’ll look around and see their black or part black kids and wonder about the awful messages they’re getting about themselves from their parents .
now this is just sad. There is so much ignorance and blindness at the root of racism, and it’s not surprising, I guess, if things like this persist.
I have to wonder, is that why black readers are bypassing them? It just doesn’t make any sense. Do they think it’s somehow different from any other romance? Or do they really think it’s somehow substandard?
Monica Jackson
March 17
11:42 pm
They wannabe white so it’s for the same reasons whites say they don’t read AA romance
1) they’ve never gave them a try or just tried one or two random selects
2) they are under the misperception that they are street or ghetto
3) they think white is right–that anything white is superior
4) and funniest of all, they say they fear they won’t relate to them
Tate
March 17
11:54 pm
Really Monica? Who said those things? You just read between the lines I take it. Project much?
“just tried one or two random selects”
How many should one read before one decides they like them or not?
“they think white is right–that anything white is superior”
Did someone say that or did you just pull that out of your head?
Once again, Monica twists words and intent, “they say they fear they won’t relate to them”.
Shiloh Walker
March 18
1:12 am
oh for pete’s sake. Does have everything have to boil down to some kind of shoving match?
Monica IS an author and she does talk to readers. She has probably asked and gotten these kind of answers.
Monica, (just like a lot of people, me included) can read something and it has an entirely different meaning to her than it did to the person who wrote it. Just like she can say something and others read something different than what she meant. IMHO, I think Monica does sometimes twist what she reads, but I don’t know that she does it intentionally. However, I don’t see that here period. I think she gave me an honest answer to the question I asked.
But Tate, just like Roz is making a lot of white people in general feel defensive, you’re probably doing the same freaking thing to the black authors that are reading this.
There is a problem here, Karen is trying to find a positive solution to it and that’s not going to happen if this dissolves into a pissing match.
It would be interesting…maybe…to ask black readers who love romance if they read AA romance, and if not, why… except I’m getting really tired of conversations, mostly positive, getting some how turned around into name calling and all the other BS that goes along with the name calling.
Shiloh Walker
March 18
1:25 am
1) they’ve never gave them a try or just tried one or two random selects
Just like some people try one or two erotic romances, paranormal romances and then write off the entire genre because one author’s voice didn’t appeal. Short-sighted, I’d say, but not much that can be done.
2) they are under the misperception that they are street or ghetto
This is probably the same reason the typical white romance reader doesn’t read them. I dont’ really want to read street or ghetto and it has nothing to do with not relating to the characters. I honestly can’t relate to a vampire but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to read them. It’s that the voice they are typically written in don’t appeal. But that doesn’t mean I think all black writers write like that.
3) they think white is right–that anything white is superior
This is just plain sad. Unfortunately, it’s only going to add to the problem. But what’s the solution?
4) and funniest of all, they say they fear they won’t relate to them
Are they thinking it’s the ghetto or street lit type of thing? Or something else? A romance is a frickin romance.
One thing I’m thinking is that a lot of the shelving issues seem to vary from store to store and from region to region. I can’t necessarily see that it is a white person solely responsible for it, although that seems to be what Roz feels. If you have readers who won’t go into the regular romance section to look for the AA romances they want, again, that’s something else that adds to the problem.
Lynn
March 18
1:43 am
Someone (pardon not remembering) said AA authors don’t market to a broad (or white) audience. Not true in my case and others I know of. I’ve done ads at Romance Designs, The Romance Club and other websites with mostly white romance authors featured. Frankly between writing, working a day job and cramming in the rest of my life (my family & friends expect me to give them attention, go figure LOL) I don’t have much brain power to do a lot of web stuff like forums, blogs, etc. When I first sold I did take part in a lot that I knew about. But then there is so much on the web it’s mind boggling trying to figure out where to promote, much less have time, money and energy to do it all. Having Googled “romance novel websites” back a few years ago when I started really marketing on the Web, I can tell you those “page 1 of a gazillion results” left me cross-eyed.
katie
March 18
1:47 am
My goodness. I know and am related to lots and lots of black people with those same backasswards ideas.
“Really Monica? Who said those things? You just read between the lines I take it. Project much?”
Tate, every Black person in America knows and is related to loads of Black people who think that way.
“”just tried one or two random selects”
How many should one read before one decides they like them or not?”
People generalize and make assumptions based on little to no data all the time. That’s always a mistake. Perhaps people should read one or two books by an author to decide if they don’t like that author, not a whole race of authors.
” “they think white is right–that anything white is superior”
Did someone say that or did you just pull that out of your head?”
There’s a contingency of Black people who do say that. They won’t buy from Blacks. They won’t hire Black companies to do work around their homes. They choose the White teacher or the White school because they think the White part of that description makes it better. She didn’t pull that out of her head, she sees it every day, just like me. I had a parent pull her son out of my class, put him in a White teacher’s class and then blame me when he did poorly on the State test because I didn’t help the White teacher come up with more challenging lessons!
” Once again, Monica twists words and intent, “they say they fear they won’t relate to them”.” How did she twist any words? She’s an author who, no doubt, has experienced these very things being said to her. If she writes what she knows (and she does), then other people who have lived similar lives with similar backgrounds should be interested in her books. What stops them?
Lynn
March 18
1:51 am
Okay, so this was a few posts back, but to Tate who said AA romances have ghetto language, angry women burning up stuff, etc. I’m surprised. Arabesque was the first AA romance line. All those first books were upper income black folks who wouldn’t have been caught dead speaking improper English. Don’t remember anything being set on fire in the large number I’ve read either. I have to think you picked up urban lit by mistake.
Now I have used broken English as part of characterization to show differences in class, but that wasn’t the way every character spoke. Didn’t show anybody setting anything on fire either. As for sly comments on white folks, I’m probably guilty. But then I make sly comments about human nature on a lot of differet levels- snobby, color-struck black folks, snobby weathly black folks, snobby white folks, you name I’ve probably stepped on some toes LOL But heck, isn’t that what legions of writers do?
avidbookreader
March 18
4:00 am
Sorry to hear about the flak your getting for your efforts, Karen. I must applaud you on at least trying to make a difference and of course Monica has always voiced her opinions on this same topic. I have nothing to add only that I find this discussion very riveting and very thought-provoking.
Keishon
Kate R
March 18
4:34 am
Monica,
DID you give away your books for free at RWA? Is that how I found you? I know I found someone at that conference. I’d go look at my bookshelves to see but it was a long time ago…and I’m lazy.
Speaking of broken English, I took a lit class and had a long list of books I looked forward to reading except the one in dialect. Oohmigod, I so didn’t want to read that book. It might have been racist on my part but I suspect it was laziness.
That book is the only one that made it on my keeper shelf and I’ve read it three times since then and ALWAYS cry when I get to the rabies part. (If you don’t know ZNH’s Their Eyes Were Watching God then you need to get to a bookstore pronto)
Sara Dennis
March 18
4:44 am
I really have to say, every time I read anything from saomeone spouting the point of view that “writing white” means a black author should be considered to be a white woman a “damned good tan” or that a black person choosing not to read books by black authors is because they “wannabe” white, I have to scratch my head.
If white readers are supposed to go support black authors, who may not even feel like they need or want to market to a white audience, it’d be nice to see black authors supporting one another, regardless of what they choose to write or who they sell it to or whether they want to get involved in the shelving fight.
Just like being white doesn’t mean by dafult that you’re racist, being black doesn’t mean that you can only write about black folk or market to black folk.
Just because you’re black, there is no requirement that you read books by black authors or about black folk. Nobody wants to be told what they can and can’t read or what they should or are obligated to read.
Write the best damned book, market it to everybody (yes, without your publisher backing you up if necessary–white folk have to do that too), and then start the process over again.
Read the books that appeal to you based on whatever makes you happy. Don’t let someone guilt or berate you into reading anything. Reading is a pleasure activity. Take pleasure in it first and foremost.
Seriously.
Kate R
March 18
4:44 am
sorry I went off topic again, and in an interview strand, tsk.
That description of the readers avoiding Marcia and not making eye contact is just sad.
Karen, about your list of questions: I wonder how authors would know if they were rejected in favor of another particular author/type of author? They don’t usually work in the office with the editor so they can’t see the process. I suppose as long as you have a contract, you know you haven’t been replaced, but otherwise, how could you know?
Here’s what I know: It’s all about the money.
Sara Dennis
March 18
4:47 am
Apologies for the typos above. I was writing remote and it’s not forgiving about correcting errors.
Monica Jackson
March 18
5:30 am
katie, Tate is stretching big time to attack. I notice she doesn’t say crap to Roz, LOL!
What I’ve always said (over and over and in writing) is people should be able to write fiction without any racial limitations. I’m one of the few authors who publicly support Millenia Black’s right to write white characters if she wishes regardless of HER race.
Talk about twisting words and projecting much. All the straight out lies about what I said and my intentions are wearisome.
The response about writing white was to Tate’s comment, tongue-in-cheek to her wild inaccuracies and lies about black romance. If I wanted to write romance to please HER and those like her, the only way I could do it would be to say I’m white (with a damned good tan), period.
Monica Jackson
March 18
5:48 am
On a more positive note, there are a LOT of black romance readers who love black romance author’s books. Enough to support a lot of books and a lot of authors. I think we discuss the disses more, because they are so hurtful and baffling.
I do think many black romance authors do seek out opportunities to cross-promote and that’s a good thing. But frankly, the way things are now, I think the wisest use of our promotion dollars is growing our target market.
But there are things that can be done to cross-promote that don’t cost much. A website presence is one and reaching out online. I try to help readers try me out without monetary investment.
I distribute E-ARC’s and large excerpts, and also keep generous excerpts accessible from my website and blog. If a reader likes my style, I’ve got a new reader, if they don’t, well, they aren’t out any bucks and neither am I.
Sara Dennis
March 18
5:48 am
Tone is tough to read in text, Monica. It didn’t look tongue-in-cheek to me. That said, I redact the comment about the tan, with my apologies.
The rest of my sentiment stands.
Sandra Schwab
March 18
8:21 am
Now I have used broken English as part of characterization to show differences in class,
And you wouldn’t have been the first to do so. 🙂 Charles Dickens did it with great success (and his characters were all white), Terry Pratchett does it to our great delight (and several of his characters aren’t even human), people who write Scottish romances do it A LOT (though why a medieval Highlander would speak fantasy-Scots will probably remain one of the big mysteries of romancelandia forevermore). To say that one cannot relate to black characters because they might not speak standard English, is a really superficial and lazy argument.
But I do believe there is a preconceived notion that mainstream America or England for that matter, won’t be interested in reading a story about people of color
I was wondering: haven’t multicultural stories been rather successful in other venues of popular culture (e.g. TV series) in the UK? Karen? Laura? It’s strange then that this somehow doesn’t seem to translate into romance.
Claudia
March 18
9:40 am
I work in buildings created when women weren’t typically educated in the sciences with the result that women’s restrooms weren’t originally built and today some of the oldest buildings still have some ground floors w/o them.
Those floors have a men’s with a few urinals and one stall. This situation is both a tangible reminder of past restrictions on women and a continued inconvenience most men benefit from through no fault of their own. They don’t perceive a problem because their needs are met.
Sure, we women can and do opt to use the single stall in the mens, but there are the startled guys and long break time lines to deal with. Wheelchair users can’t use the narrow stall at all and must hope the elevator isn’t out of order.
A lot of the race ‘n publishing discussions remind me of the bathroom situation. There are often benefits to belonging to a mainstream group, even when the benefits don’t scream out their presence. A good npr segment on this in regards to race is Questioning the Meaning of Race
It’s one thing when readers like Tate decide to pass on a purchase, but quite another when editors, agents, reviewers and other industry workers might share the same or similar perceptions, especially when they’re not conscious of it. Authors can choose which houses or agents to submit too, but have little control over much else.
Dalia
March 18
10:44 am
“It would be interesting…maybe…to ask black readers who love romance if they read AA romance, and if not, why..”
I like this idea – being one of those black women that reads white romance and has only just started to try out black romance. Since the reasons for why this is so are manifold and just in my case, it would be interesting to hear what other readers have to say about it.
For the person who wants to know how many books to try before she can decide whether she wants to read black romance…well…I can’t answer that because it’s the wrong question.
Black authors don’t write one sub-genre of romance called “Black”. There’s no link to them other than the author’s race – which has nothing to do with the book’s content.
And to the lady who decided she was being insulted and would return to Karen’s blog when all ‘this’ was over: You didn’t agree with what a commenter, Roz, said to the blog readership in general so you decide that what? The entire situation will be one sustained insult? I don’t get it. But I do see correlations between this response and the ‘I’ve read one book and I didn’t like it so I won’t like any of them.’
Though I keep hearing over (and over) how many people view African-Americans as monolithic it’s always a surprise when I see it in action.
But anyhoo…is that Omarosa on the book cover? 😛
Angelle
March 18
1:31 pm
Monica said: I do think many black romance authors do seek out opportunities to cross-promote and that’s a good thing. But frankly, the way things are now, I think the wisest use of our promotion dollars is growing our target market.
Monica,
If this has been your experience and it seems like many AA authors say that they promote to AA readers (meaning black readers), isn’t this also the case with publishers and booksellers? It seems to me that publicity budget’s tight everywhere unless you’re Dan Brown or something, and pub & booksellers have most likely noticed (like you have) that their promo dollars are better spent on growing AA market rather than trying to branch AA into the mainstream and the rest market (meaning non-black readers). And if that’s the case, this goes beyond race. The question then becomes what makes the AA niche profitable and sustainable so that publishers can continue to buy AA authors and booksellers can continue to shelf AA books. If publishers notice that they can’t make money printing AA books, they’ll discontinue their AA programs, and that’ll be a shame since that may mean many AA authors could lose their slots.
So the key to self desegregation is how to make AA more profitable by taking it mainstream. Unfortunately I rarely hear anything about AA books (buzz or anything like that) and that makes unlikely that I’ll pick one up since I buy new (to me at least) authors by reading reviews, noticing some buzz / good word of mouth, and/or when my bookseller friend recommends them.
Monica
March 18
3:07 pm
So the key to self desegregation is how to make AA more profitable by taking it mainstream. Unfortunately I rarely hear anything about AA books (buzz or anything like that) and that makes unlikely that I’ll pick one up since I buy new (to me at least) authors by reading reviews, noticing some buzz / good word of mouth, and/or when my bookseller friend recommends them.
Taking AA fiction mainstream is the key. Publishers are the ones who can actually do that, but they won’t until they can see the green in doing so. Readers are the ones who can accomplish that. So making people aware of this situation, getting those romance sites to read a few black authors and maybe actually find one that excites them (eventually… I hope) is really the main point of trying to make folks aware of this issue.
Folks were outraged when I first got on AAR and other review sites way back in the day for ignoring black romance. Now do you see why I did so?
For us to be treated like any other authors, readers will have to treat us like any other authors. Only then will soulless, $$$ oriented corporations take note.
katieM
March 18
6:06 pm
Here’s a case in point about why marketing to Black readers will help eliminate the niche. When I go into a bookstore, I know where the Black books are, but that doesn’t mean the sales person knows that I know. So I complain that an author that I like isn’t on the shelves. The clerk looks it up and says “Its in the African American section.” Well, that’s when I complain that the author who writes mysteries, etc., is segregated away from her/his genre because of race! I say it just loud enough that other shoppers will turn away and be embarassed. No ranting and raving, just quiet outrage. If the manager comes out, then I’m confused and shocked at this blatant act of segregation here in the 21st century.
If enough people act out this little scenario, then its going to get back to corporate and eventually to the book publishers. However, before any of that can work, we have to know that there are Black authors who write in our favorite genres. Marketing to Blacks by Black authors is the only way that Blacks will know that they are real.
Also, when you find an author that you like, you should talk about it to your friends and go onto readers blogs and publishers websites and say so. Repeatedly.
Monica is right. Set up a loyal following among your most will readers and then they will begin to clamor for change.
rozlips
March 18
7:21 pm
Sara, I too have supported Millenia Black in her fight with Penguin. I would never in a million years question another author’s right to write whatever characters she wants to.
I agree with Monica, that given my limited dollars, (that is none of any kind), and no promotional support from my publisher I have to focus on what I can do for free, and towards a receptive audience. I’ve had a book-signing at the only local bookstore that carries my book. (The one that is actually in my neighborhood doesn’t have it, and wasn’t interested in a signing). I’ve traveled hundreds of miles to do book signings and book clubs in other areas. Typically those are in areas that are heavily populated with black folks. I’ve had a contest and may well do another one now that I have a blog. I’l have to see.
I’ve had a web presence for ten years and am fairly well-known, especially in interracial/multicultural circles. My decision to write a book was spurred by love of interracial books and the fact that back then (prior to e-books) there weren’t that many of them to be had. E-friends encouraged, poked, prodded and dragged me kicking and screaming into the publishing world. When my book was released I already had a list of several hundred people eagerly awaiting the pub date. I put up a website, and just recently a blog. Both have been very popular. For a first-time author I have a good following.
Those women, who are, to the best of my knowledge all black, have treated me like a sister, as have other black authors. They’ve guided and mentored me in ways I never expected and I’ll always love them for it. When I lost my baby back in December they sent cards, flowers and chocolate. (See, the REALLY KNOW ME!) Even now, I receive emails checking in on me. They will always be my first concern, my first consideration. I have no problem with promoting in those areas that will have me. I haven’t had much success with mainstream review blogs and sites. Maybe that’s just the way it is with first-timers, I’m not really sure. I’ll keep plugging away. But, as I’m sure anyone would understand, the vast majority of my time and scant resources will be spent growing the fanbase that I know is receptive to my type of book.
Sara Dennis
March 19
2:20 am
I understand that there’s only so much promotional money to spread around. I run into the same problem myself. And I understand wanting to put a focus on places that you know are going to reach people who already support you.
But I think that if authors want to reach broader audiences, like Karen said, sometimes you have to step out of the box and take a chance on something that’s not a sure thing.
Or focus on free stuff. I know some people do, but if more AA authors would take the time to announce their new book releases to something like The Romance Studio (I don’t think you have to pay for that particular feature) or join up at Romance Divas or do chat days on mailing lists (the majority of which I don’t think charge), the word might get out.
Not all the time. Promotion takes time too, of course, but just more often, it might make a little difference in getting the word out about the books.
Angelle Trieste
March 19
9:52 am
But, as I’m sure anyone would understand, the vast majority of my time and scant resources will be spent growing the fanbase that I know is receptive to my type of book.
I understand this logic. You want most return on your promo $$. It’s something that Monica’s said also.
So here are my questions. I’m genuinely curious, given some facts that have emerged from this discussion.
1. If black authors don’t promote to the mainstream audience, who should promote AA books to the mainstream audience? (Remember that the success of AA books is more important to black authors than to booksellers, publishers or readers.)
2. The mainstream lit / publishing pie is already flooded by an astounding number of books published each month as well as promo materials and ads from mainstream authors. The number of choices offered to the mainstream audience is more than what they can support or buy. (Hence many books not selling well, etc.) So if black authors don’t promote to the mainstream audience, how are non-black readers going to find AA books?
Karen Scott
March 19
10:45 am
If black authors don’t promote to the mainstream audience, who should promote AA books to the mainstream audience? (Remember that the success of AA books is more important to black authors than to booksellers, publishers or readers.)
This is such a damn good question Angelle, it really never ceases to amaze me that AA authors complain that they don’t get any love from the publishers and the bookstores, but at the same time refuse to show love to the mainstream audience.
If they aren’t going to promote to the wider audience, then it seems to me that they are just as guilty of myopia as the publishers and book stores themselves.
How do other newbie authors who promote to the wider audience manage it?
The phrase about speculating to accumulate couldn’t be truer.
rozlips
March 19
1:49 pm
Neither of us said we don’t promote to the mainstream, simply that we don’t expend as much time there as we do with the audience that we know to be receptive. I’m on two lists for black women who read interracial romances. I know those women are receptive to my work, so yes, I spend more time promoting there than I would at other sites that haven’t expressed an interest. I had no trouble getting reviews from sites that review black romances. Some mainstream sites weren’t interested. Maybe its a newbie thing, maybe they have too many books, I dunno. But I can’t afford to keep sending books to people who say they’re not interested in reading them. If its free, low-cost, or within 200 miles of my hometown then I will give it everything I’ve got. For me its probably a 75/25% split.
Angelle Trieste
March 19
2:38 pm
Rozlips said: Neither of us said we don’t promote to the mainstream, simply that we don’t expend as much time there as we do with the audience that we know to be receptive…(snip)…For me its probably a 75/25% split.
That’s fair. I’m not accusing you of anything if you thought that’s what I was doing. Most of what you (and Monica as well) seem to be saying is that the return on investment is too low when you target the mainstream audience so most of your promo efforts (if not all) goes toward marketing to blacks, which I can respect as a valid business decision.
But this still doesn’t address my two questions:
1. If black authors don’t promote to the mainstream audience, who should promote AA books to the mainstream audience? (Remember that the success of AA books is more important to black authors than to booksellers, publishers or readers.)
2. The mainstream lit / publishing pie is already flooded by an astounding number of books published each month as well as promo materials and ads from mainstream authors. The number of choices offered to the mainstream audience is more than what they can support or buy. (Hence many books not selling well, etc.) So if black authors don’t promote to the mainstream audience, how are non-black readers going to find AA books?
You said you spend about 25% or so of your promo efforts targeting the mainstream audience. But at the same time the interviews I’ve been reading and you and Monica say that black writers want their books marketed to the mainstream audience. So I would think that you should concentrate your effort on marketing to the mainstream (your ideal situation) rather than to the black readers, who make up the AA niche you want to leave.
And when the publishers and booksellers know (they’re not stupid and they read blogs occasionally) that black authors don’t spend their own money to promote to the mainstream audience 110%, why should they want to spend their money to promote black authors when they already know that the current situation is profitable enough for them? Black authors have the most stake in this, not the publishers.
Furthermore, the mainstream audience won’t buy AA books because they don’t know anything about it. And to ask non-black readers to go buy AA books to support black authors who doesn’t think it’s worth it to spend much money promoting to the mainstream audience comes across as being disingenuous. (And occasional flinging of the word “racist” when someone refuses to read certain ethnic/MC or AA books seem like a guilt-trip or something…and it probably won’t solve anything. If any, it would merely alienate the very people who make up the majority of the mainstream audience.)
rozlips
March 19
10:10 pm
First, if you don’t have any quotes to prove that someone has slung the word ‘racist’ around you might want to refrain from making accusations without facts in evidence.
And let me be clear I’m not interested in guilt-tripping anybody. I wrote a book, I simply want it to be accesible to anyone who might possibly want to read it. Now, please explain to me how the hell that can be interpreted as a ‘guilt trip?’ Sounds like some major projection going on here.
As for promoting to the mainstream audience, as I’ve already said, readers have made it clear that they can’t find our books in the store even when they look for them. What in the name of Pete would be the point in expending scarce resources to promote my book to people who can’t even find it? If its located in the A/A section, most whites don’t know it exists. Others have expressed ambivalence in looking for books there. Some have apparently mistakenly purchased urban lit, and the band played on.
Writers do not have the most to gain from this. Most writers’ royalty percentages are very tiny. Publishers earn the lion’s share. I doubt very seriously that most of them have any idea, nor do they give a damn what most writers do with their own money. Even if they did, I doubt they’d pay any attention. They’re basing their decisions on what they think will make money, and in this culture it pays to assume that whites aren’t interested in reading about blacks. They do the same thing in the movie industry. They do very few movies with non-whites, and when they do they have to have a white lead. That’s how you get Nicholas Cage leading a movie about Navajo codetalkers, and don’t even get me started on The Last Samurai.
(Yet another reason blacks are leery about discussing these issues with whites. When its all said and done all the fingers will be pointing at you. What is the freaking point.)