I’d been thinking about interracial romance over the weekend, while I was trying to draft a section for The Book (OMG The Whole Genre?!) {that’s a working title, obviously} that examined minorities in RomanceLandia. What a verdant, green - or white, perhaps - pasture of peaceful writing that was. Not a landmine in sight for my clodding feet to trip on. No, no. *head desk* So when a friend of mine forwarded me a news article that Mildred Loving, the Black woman whose marriage to a white man overturned laws against interracial marriage died today at the age of 68, I had to think how different the world is in 2008 vs. 1958. Before I move on - our condolences to her family. I always thought it was unspeakably awesome that the name of the court case that declared laws restricting marriage on basis of race unconstitutional was called “Loving v. Virginia.”
Since I count among my neighbors several interracial couples and families, I have been spoiled with an experience that indicates interracial marriage as something that’s somewhat common. As the friend who forwarded me the article said to me over email, I’m nuts if I think that’s the rule across the US. It’s certainly not the case in romance - interracial couples in romance novels are still somewhat rare, though there are more of them of late. One writer of bestselling awesomeness told me recently that many romance writers, including herself, would love to write a romance that crosses racial lines - but those books are difficult to get into publication from established print romance publishers. In the e-format, there’s a more vigorous supply, but then, the “e” in romance is the one area that does tend to push the boundaries of the genre a little bit harder, giving the “nudge nudge” a more diverse meaning. Samhain has an entire section of interracial titles, featuring white heroes and Black heroines, and vice versa—and hero/hero, as well, so clearly someone or many someones are shopping for interracial romance specifically.
A website that reviews romance novels from a couple of smart bitches who will always give it to you straight. No bullshit. No gushing--unless the author really deserves it. To find out more, read all about us or check out our minty-fresh and funkadelic FAQ section.
Thank you for reassuring my marbles. However, you’ve inflated my ego so that now I think I may have some speck of intelligence after all - congratulations, you’ve created a monster ;-) My myopia is suddenly not so bad…
…From We've Got More Legs
Patricia Briggs is currently my favourite ‘paranormal’ author, but I admit to knowing the exact release date of the next Anita Blake. I got suckered (uh, sorry) into the whole vampire thing when I read Interview with a Vampire in…
From How we know vampire romances have finally hit the big time:
Oh, tell me that isn’t Nathan Kamp on the Hawkins cover! I’ve just been over at DA, where a bunch of us have been Nathan Kamping ourselves into a group swoon.
Is it he, or am I starting…
The couple looks similar to me as well. Also - your mention of the airbrushing immediately made me think of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XEHpyQbwM0 scary.
From We've Got More Legs
Jennifer Armintrout made me come out of lurkdom by invoking L.J. Smith.
Darn, I missed that comment! Yes, the LJ Smith books are a gazillion times better than Twilight, but I’m a total fangrl when it comes to…
From How we know vampire romances have finally hit the big time:
