For those who can’t remember, or weren’t around, basically, Millenia wrote a book called The Great Pretender. The characters in the book were white. The original cover didn’t feature people on it, and it sold so well (it was a self-pubbed book), that Penguin came a calling.

When the folks at Penguin found out that Millenia was black, they tried to market The Great Pretender as an African American book, and ended up putting two black characters on the front cover of the book, which was absurd because her characters were white. But the worst thing was, they tried to do this, contrary to Millenia’s wishes.

Millenia argued that being categorised as an AA author, would limit her sales potential, as her book would be shelved in the AA literature section, rather than the general lit section. Penguin ignored her, so she was left with no other choice, but to sue.

Lots of people had lots of things to say about Millenia trying to sue Penguin, including that f*cktard Ed Champion, who tried to help matters along by muddying the waters.

I blogged about this issue at the time, and Millenia was kind enough to take part in my Racism In Publishing interviews.

Anyway, the matter has now been resolved, after two long years.

Millenia writes:

So I always dreamed of being like Jackie Collins or Danielle Steel. Of having a career that had nothing to do with my color, everything to do with my stories.

I dreamed of reaching an audience so large that I, too, would one day sell over 400-500 million novels. Or over 300 million, like Sidney Sheldon. Or over 200 million, like Nora Roberts. Or (even) over 70 million, like Sandra Brown. My dream was sooo bright; as bright as the sun itself. I always believed it was attainable. Sink or swim…

I thought there was an equal opportunity.

But despite the current atmosphere, I still have a great deal of faith in the American publishing industry. I am an American. And I believe we can repair the hurtful, Jim Crowesque climate that plagues American publishing. We must. For as Eckhart Tolle carefully explains in A NEW EARTH: What we do to others, we do to ourselves…

I maintain confidence that my stories will find their way into the American mainstream, where they belong. Like any other, they deserve to have a fair chance in the marketplace, don’t they? Unfettered by any “color-of-the-author” impositions?…

The Discrimination Lawsuit.
I’ve received several inquiries about the status. I’m very pleased to share that the matter has now been resolved to my satisfaction through an agreement, the terms of which can never be discussed.

In the interest of my blog’s archival integrity, I fully disclose that all previous discussions about the case have been removed. There will be no further information about the lawsuit on my blog. I’m extremely happy to have this heartbreak behind me – I give beaucoup thanks to my wonderful attorney. And I likewise send a deep, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who offered their unwavering support. I’ll remember it always.

Well that’s just great and very timely, considering the recent racism in romance posts.

Well done Millenia, you took a stand for many, and you came out victorious.

Via Monica’s blog.