Monica Jackson has blogged about a PW article regarding Genesis Press’ allegedly shoddy business practices, including “failure to issue royalty statements, delayed and missing payments and inaccurate tax forms.” Seems a group of authors have banded together to protest Genesis’ history of unprofessional conduct and breach of contract.
Authors quoted in the article have a long history of problems with the publisher, and Genesis has responded that they’re aware that they are behind but are making efforts to correct the problems. They also place the blame on their previous distributor.
Monica adds her own story in her entry, and it’s sadly similar to the rest: her novella was published, but she received no royalty statement as contracted. Nor did she receive a 1099. Most of the authors quoted, and Monica herself, received no satisfaction for their repeated inquiries to Genesis.
Genesis further insistst that all past problems with authors have been resolved, but those same authors disagree that they were even contacted about their complaints.
Monica’s theory as to why the authors tolerated this treatment from a publisher is that it stems from a mentality among minority authors that treatment like that from a publisher is better than not publishing at all, or self-publishing. She also wonders if romance blogs and authors will pay attention to an issue that affects only minority authors.
While I am less than delighted as a romance blogger at being painted with the white brush of assumed disinterest, I have to say, that freaking sucks, and I’m horrified that Genesis got away with it for as long as they did.
The authors quoted have already written to the RWA and to the Writer’s Guild to alert them to their concerns regarding Genesis’ business practices, particularly now that older Genesis books are being re-released by Kensington. Beyond that effort, what more can they do?
Writers getting screwed sucks no matter what color they are.
Something to do: Sci-fi writer Piers Anthony is involved in e-publishing and he keeps a good pub/bad pub list here: http://www.hipiers.com/publishing.html
It’s not a formal list like the Better Business Bureau, but it’ll warn new writers of what they can expect. (My sister found her publisher on his “good guys” list and is pretty happy with them.)
Come to think of it, Monica probably should complain to the Better Business Bureau in whatever city Genesis is registered. In fact, she should get as many writers as possible to file written complaints… The BBB requires a written complaint, but they will investigate and try to resolve the complaint. Info on complaints and resolution is kept on file so anyone who thinks of doing business with a company can check their record first.
Thanks for the interest!
We are doing more, but you understand we’ve got to keep it on the dowlow.
Another thing we’re doing is starting an organization.
This organization’s focus will be black writers. Topics such as how to interface with the nonblack literary community and grow the black writer’s niche will probably be among things addressed, because we don’t share the same readers, marketing or distribution as white authors.
We don’t have an effective organization for black writers for various reasons. We’re trying to start one and we need all the support we can get.
We will be taking nominations, voting in officers, bylaws, etc.
I don’t think integration is the answer. I don’t think it’s possible the way things are now. I think autonomy, organization and strength are—but that doesn’t mean we can’t work together to achieve those ends.
Nonblack folk, if you’ve had an interest in the black niche or want to support us, sign up! We welcome everybody.
Sign up at http://monicajackson.com/blackwriters.html
Lia, I’ll pass that idea on.
Sarah as far as romance sites and bloggers taking this on, seriously, can you imagine PW coming out with an issue this big that affected white romance authors and it not being the talk of the romance blogosphere?
That article came out a couple days ago. Who’s picked it up?
It does illustrate clearly to the black romance author that we aren’t a part of the romance community.
But maybe that’s what some needed to realize.
Was Ellora’s Cave screwing their writers and suing them picked up by all the romance blogs a couple of years back? I don’t remember that it was. It was pretty much confined to those affected by the case: e-pubbed writers and those aspiring to be e-pubbed writers. Those ladies got hung out to dry and had to defend themselves at their own expense.
Once we’ve been told not to date (publish with) the asshole, there’s nothing we can do about those who won’t listen and would rather be in an abusive relationship than be alone.
Monica, I ask this: What exactly is it that you’d like the larger writing community to do?
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/
This is a great site. There’s a whole page on where to go when you get screwed.
I second on Piers’ site as well.
‘What exactly is it that you’d like the larger writing community to do?’
From what I’ve seen, those who screw writers are banking on the fact that newbies don’t know the law and/or don’t have the money to hire legal council. Nine times out of ten, the authors give up, even if it’s blatently obvious they’re right and the publisher is wrong. They get away with it, they keep screwing people.
You really want to help these people out? Find pro bono counsel or a CPA. It could be a friend of yours, even.
Newbie authors need mentoring and legal counsel. Only then will they be protected from the conniving and the unstable. Blogs and exposure are wonderful, but as you said, some people ignore the obvious.
Even if law type folk volunteered a couple of hours a week to review cases and give advice…or even read through contracts. Experienced authors would even be helpful in this.
Did PW write such an article about Ellora’s Cave and the romance blogosphere wasn’t in an uproar?
With the support and encouragement given to every little blip of erotic romance, I’m astounded.
I don’t expect the romance community, since it is as it is, to do anything.
If we were a part of the romance community, it would be evident. As it is, it’s evident we’re not.
If you’re excluded and marginalized from a community, there’s nothing to do but make your own.
We’ve been excluded for years, but the hope that we were romance writers and would eventually be included in the romance community as full fledged members, with romance readers considering us the equal of any other romance author. After over a dozen years, it comes time to face reality that this isn’t the case, and do something.
If you want to do something too, you’re welcome to sign up.
http://blogginginblack.com/blackwriters.html
You’re still not answering the question. You’re simply rehashing your accusations and casting aspersions.
One more time: EXACTLY what is that the “romance community†could/should do that it’s not doing? How is it “evident†that you and yours are not a part of said community?
To reiterate what I stated on my blog:
The romance community is made up of people who write romance, who read romance, who buy romance, who review romance, who talk about romance, who promote romance, who care about romance, and yes, who blog about romance.
These people very rarely read, buy, review, talk about, promote, care about or blog about black romance authors or our work.
Example: Erotic romance is also a sub-genre. It gets read, bought, reviewed, talked about, promoted, cared about and blogged about. Erotic romance authors are part of the romance community, no matter how much some traditional romance authors and readers wish they weren’t.
Yes, black authors are discriminated against and excluded from the romance community by the will of its members as a whole. What I don’t understand how admitting the obvious is so difficult.
I recommend you read this excellent article, then you might finally get my “accusations and aspersions.”
I wish everybody would
http://www.lipmagazine.org/~timwise/whatcard.html
‘Example: Erotic romance is also a sub-genre. It gets read, bought, reviewed, talked about, promoted, cared about and blogged about. Erotic romance authors are part of the romance community, no matter how much some traditional romance authors and readers wish they weren’t.’
Righhht….Because we stood by what we did and fought our asses off, not to mention created a highly marketable genre that the mainstream pubs eschewed until they saw the numbers EC was racking up. You’re seeing several years of heads hitting brick walls.
Do the same, and you all will be just fine. I totally support your wanting to step up and fight. Being oppressed and ignored sucks monkey ass.
I know less than nothing about law or publishing contracts, but might a class action suit be possible? Viable? Perhaps the ‘downlow’ mentioned in the 2nd comment addresses this.
Regardless. No author should be stolen from & then lied to & expected to sit at their computer & smile like a good little girl. I wish all success to Monica & her fellow authors in their efforts~
I swear as stimulating as these discussions are, I’m beginning to get tired.
So I did it advance. I hope you don’t mind.
The next salvo will be somebody writes, “I read an African-American romance (or “two or three) and it just wasn’t that great.”
Answer: Sorry, you will not be able to convince me that I’m inherently inferior to any white romance writer because I’m black. I’ve read far more three white author’s romances that sucked. So?
“Sputter, sputter, fume, fume. You’re such a bitch, how dare you say anything bad about white (nonblack) people? You’re the racist. I hate you! I will never read your books!”
Answer: Yawn. I bet you were going to run right out and buy my books to add to your shelf of black romance authors. I’m devastated.
“I am not a racist.”
Answer: Sorry, but if you’re so defensive about intent on denying raicsm exists, you probably are. Fortunately, you’ll be able to live quite well with that fact. Us, since there are so damn many of you, not so much.
“It’s so much trouble to find those books. I never know what to look for.”
Answer: Sorry, I know it’s harder. We are segregated and marginalized by race and that’s what makes it so. That’s the way somebody wants it. That somebody is not us. We’d love for you to spend your money on our books. We really would. You can look in the direction of my books first. Excepts on my site. 😉
“What can I do?”
Answer: That’s a hard one. You can care, I guess. SB has always cared. It’s a big thing and means a lot. The problem is that this society is a racist one, no different from when blacks weren’t allowed in the city pool. It’s changed, but not as much as people think.
I don’t think MLK had the right answer. As a race, we haven’t progressed, we’ve slid backwards. We have more tokens and a class of house Negros, but as a whole, no, we haven’t progressed even as we’ve become more integrated.
Malcolm X was on the right track in some ways. He preached integrity, organization, strength, and autonomy. I think that’s the only way we can prevail against the crushing weight of oppression.
If you think that the fact that black romance authors can’t really be romance authors and enjoy the same market, distribution and potential as any white romance author although we write romance, if the fact we’re considered the inferior of any white romance author (or we’d would be a part of the romance community) isn’t a crushing weight of oppression, you’re kidding yourself, not me.
That’s it, I’m out. Sorry if I missed a post.
I don’t want to be a bitch, but I’ve been wrangling and explaining to me what seems to be the obvious for what seems to be years and am fresh off a stint at AAR, which is always trying.
Ananda, we have stuff up our hat. Many more authors are coming forward with stories of nonpayment.
He has been threatening people one-on-one so we have to be very careful about letting him know our moves.
Mistress Stef,
Thanks. Erotic romance does step up mightily to those horseheads who try to diss you, but you are a part of romance. The response is always vociferous. You’re supported.
If we step up the silence is deafening. I’ve heard many black romance writers say if they mention race at all, their ears get blistered by the silence or otherwise, the immediate denial of their perceptions.
I’ve stepped up for years, and sigh, I know.
Mistress Stef,
Thanks. Erotic romance does step up mightily to those horseheads who try to diss you, but you are a part of romance. The response is always vociferous. You’re supported.
**Yes. Now. You should have been with me three years ago, which I got constant emails from folks trying to save my soul and blasted in forums by people calling me a pornmonger. Believe it or not, I do know how you feel.
If we step up the silence is deafening.
I’ve stepped up for years, and sigh, I know.
***Well, you have one more very loud bitch stepping up with you. I signed up on your link. As anyone who ever met me at RT can attest, I’m pretty damned hard to ignore. I also have a severe case of bullshit intolerance.
Pardon my ignorance, but do people really look into the author’s race before they read them? If it’s a book written by a Native American, specifically about being a Native American trying to fit in a white culture, not everyone will be able to relate or be interested in following that character’s journey. But if a Native American woman wrote a book about being a kick-ass heroine, living in a suburban city and looking for love- what’s to stop me from relating to the character? It seems to be about content not race to me.
People only look at the race if the author is black.
From what I’ve heard that’s when they make the assumption that the content is inferior and avoid it.
On her blog, Monica said,
“My ancestors have been here working to build this country for free, longer than many white immigrants, with a greater contribution to this country than most of them have made.
This is our country. My family has no memory of Africa. We remember the South.
They should have left a Southern state or two to us after the civil war and made all the white folks move. Now, that would be fair. And they wouldn’t have to be around us today.
The agenda for us to force integration isn’t realistic. We’re a minority, around 13% of the population, and the majority of the people we live among are hostile to us.
What we have is a survival complex.”
This fails the smell test at its most basic level. If a Latino, Asian, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, Aboriginal, or Native American person said that, would we then call it what it is on its face? I leave the determination to the reader as an exercise.
The determination should be that I’m sick of being discriminated against and shat upon to a degree that no Latino, Asian, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, or Native American suffers from presently in this country.
If Latino, Asian, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, or Native American wrote a romance they wouldn’t be segregated to any Nigger section. (I excluded the dark and nappy haired Aboriginal who certainly would be put in the African American romance section, no matter whether American or not). Romance readers would read them as any other author.
The response was to a black reader who said we weren’t clever enough to force the romance community and publishing to integrate with us or move back to Africa.
It comes a time after years of trying to integrate, to fit in, to placate and pacify racists, to give up. I think the time is now.
What I wrote was true. Blacks suffered horribly at the hands of hostile whites during Reconstruction. Entire towns were looted and burned and people killed because whites didn’t want prosperous blacks within their midst. We would have been far better off if ceded our own area after the Civil War.
And from now on, if you want to comment on one of my remarks on MY BLOG, you can do it there. It’s a public blog with no restrictions and anon posting if desired.
It is unfair to take comments from my space out of context, and post them in a white arena to try to deny racism for your own comfort and try to tar me.
I’m not sure I’m understanding your point. This is not an attack—I truly want to understand where you’re going. This is a heated discussion, and sometimes meaning can be skewed.
Are you saying that African-American authors should cecede from the romance industry because they’re treated like redheaded stepchildren and basically start their own area?
If so, isn’t that defeating the purpose of attempting to bring African-American writing to the front of the bus, so to speak, and gain it the attention it deserves?
We can’t secede from the romance genre because we aren’t a part of it.
We aren’t treated like step-children. We treated like dogs kept outside.
Before 1985 we weren’t allowed in romance, period. After 1994, we’re allowed, but not as a part of romance.
We have different readers, Stef. Totally different readers. Your readers will not read my books with the same content as yours, for various reasons, no matter what I write.
They’ll read a mystery first.
We are marketed by demographics. My books simply aren’t carried where your books are. My books are only carried in places where there are significant blacks.
In the town I live there are never any books by any black author of any genre.
A white romance author’s distibution is far more massive than I can dream about.
So I don’t have the same readers, the sanme prints runs and distributions, nor are my books in the same place.
What is there to secede from?
I think we need to deal with the hard hand we’ve been dealt.
And what’s more, the romance community and industry will wind the clock back to 1993 before integrating.
We won’t be able to publish and sell. This is a fact.
Hmmm.
So is it black literature in general you feel is treated this way, or simply black romance?
Also, you mentioned that erotic romance is part of this genre—my sales data actually shows black and interracial sells quite well in erotica/erotic romance. But an issue I had was a lack of submissions of that type, and I saw very few at other epubs as well.
Could part of the issue be that there are less African-America writers, possibly for the reasons you cited?
I think black commercial literature is marginalized, but it’s particularly severe in black romance.
In other genres there are at least tokens, the hope that a black writer can rise to be a Mosley or Butler as can happe in mainstram (McMillan) or literary (Jones) fiction if deemed “universal.” Black writers can’t speak the human experience, only the racial one, unless white folks pronounce we can as an exception.
Kim McLarin, a literary writer has written a great piece on that. There is bitterness among the ranks, because most black writers are treated differently (less than) a white one but the situation in romance is utterly ridiculous.
I mentioned on my blog that erotic romance has a different racial history toward blacks than romance and what applies to romance doesn’t apply there.
‘I mentioned on my blog that erotic romance has a different racial history toward blacks than romance and what applies to romance doesn’t apply there.’
As it does to GLBT content. Erotic romance is more openminded because we’re closer to our market, and able to switch trends faster. Also, I personally don’t care who does what if it’s a good story and hot.
Iactually asked whether you felt it was specifc to romance because I’m pondering the idea that the treatment is not necessarily racially motivated, but merely the same reason for the recent kerfluffle at RT, where a M/M book was denied a review:
That certain factions of the romance industry cling desperately to the basic romance formula and anything ‘different’ from the basic Conservative outlook and HEA is considered an issue. Black. Interracial. Gay. Lesbian.
Perhaps it’s not quite so personal.
Monica, I have written about the plight of the black romance author…way back in April in a blog post at Accessromance. It was not the focus of my blog—I was talking overall about culture and if a heroine is from one culture (Latina, in my case) would readers automatically put a book down because of it.
I’ve always believed that black romance should NOT be shelved in its own section, but in the regular romance section where all romance readers can find it. I’ve seen stores do this—usually stores with independent shelving, like my local Waldens, and the books sell great.
Trouble is, the romance community does NOT decide where the books are shelved. The publishers and the bookstores do. In my opinion, you are railing at the wrong people.
Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, the noted Latina writer, is constantly fighting this battle. Bookstores often put her books in the Spanish language section despite the fact that a) her books are written entirely in English and b) she’s 100% American. Boy, that last name must really throw them off.
I totally get where you are coming from, but I hope that when you organize, that you bring your arguments to the right people. I’ve come to believe very strongly that readers don’t much give a crap about the details so long as you give them a good story. But first, they have to find the book—and that’s not the romance community’s call. (Unless I’m misunderstanding what you mean by romance community.)
Julie, all the publishers really care about is money.
We are handled the way we are because of what people who read, buy, review, talk about and care about romance have chosen to do. If the romance community treated our books like any other romance author’s books, we would be integrated today.
Harlequin tried. Didn’t work. Other publishers have tried. White romance readers won’t buy us as soon as they peep the cover. If we’re not identifed as black, and they buy, they get mad too. After seeing how rigid romance readers are about their heroines, looks, body size, Lord knows what, on AAR, I can understand why they definitely can’t related to a hated minority.
All pubs care about are sales numbers and money, and as far as black authors how we sell well is to sell is to other blacks only.
From what I’ve observed, Latina romance and chick lit writers are regarded as white and not segregated. You’re definitely not regarded as less than as and your books avoided because you’re Latina.
If you were black, you couldn’t enjoy sales to the same readers.
Mi abuela is Latina, is that enough to cross over and get some romance readers? 🙂
Monica, I think you’re demonstrating aptly exactly why some of us don’t read ‘black romance’.
I, personally, don’t really care what color the person on the cover is. In general, I pick up a book and look at the back cover and read the blurb, and if it looks interesting, start reading the first chapter. From what I can tell watching other people in bookstores, this is common behavior. I’ve bought plenty of good ‘black romances’ this way. (most of them have ended up being ‘African’ romanace novels, which were just really cool, and one or two of which I even re-read.)
On the other hand, if the main charecter is an angry female who wants to blame all her problems on the world and not take responsibility for her own issues? I put that book down and move away. Quickly. I dispise the victim mentality, because it is a choice. You can choose to be a victim of everything or you can choose to deal with it to the best of your ability. And don’t tell me that I have no clue what it’s like.
The sub-genre that I find that in most commonly is the ‘black romance’. Yes, it happens in most of the other sub-genres, but I find it over and over and over again there. So, if the books are labeled as ‘African-American Romance!’, I’ll start looking somewhere else. It is not the race of the charecter which turns me off, it is the prevailing attitude frequently displayed.
I second Susuile.
I don’t believe I can identify with the racist / opperession issues so frequently mentioned by black authors, who seem very interested in them and talk about them often. So I prefer to read books with characters who aren’t likely harp on these issues.
There they are, I knew they show up.
And if you think we’re victims, wanting something from the likes of you, you’re mistaken. My sole purppose here is to wake people up to what you really think of black authors, especially if we dare to speak about our reality, because you can’t stand to look in the mirror at your ugliness.
I’m very aware your sort would never buy anything from me as long as I stay black, no matter whether I kiss your ass so hard my lips look chapped.
I’d rather not. I’d rather hold the mirror up so you can see what you look like.
Thank you for making it easier.
You can tell when racists have never cracked the spine of an AA romance. Race issues are seldom, if ever, approached within romance. It’s about love and relationships.
The main complaint from racists about black romance is that it isn’t black enough. They expect a different experience and are shocked when the characters are just like them and have love affairs just like they do.
When you say this, do you mean to say that it’s the readers’ and reviewers’ fault that the black romance books are segregated?
If many romance readers won’t read a romance because of the race of the authors, whatever the excuse they choose to give, (mentioning race or being oppressed, making them uncomfortable, being angry, loud, or a victim—which are common lies racists use to excuse their hate, btw), and many, many romance readers won’t even read black authors when the books were put under their noses as Harlequin did several times, who else fault is it?
These romance readers have the right not to read blacks and to hate us too if it makes them feel good. That’s not my point.
We’re organizing to help ourselves finally, because we’re waking up to what the readers like those above really think about us.
Our readers are different. They are the market we need to grow and nurture, not those other people who despise for what we are.
Wellllll, based on your response to my post on AAR, I just ordered In My Dreams, and yes, I saw the cover on Amazon before I clicked on that “buy” button. I am so craving more variety in Romance heroines, especially when it comes to body image issues.
What I don’t want, though, is to go into the book with all of your comments about race shaping my response to your book, because I don’t think that would be fair to your work as Romance. Obviously I’m not going to be seeing white where you write black, but I also don’t want to be so conscious of the racial issues as you draw them outside your books that I lose the integrity of the story inside the book. And yet, I feel right now like I’ve got to work a little to divorce my book-reading self from your out-of-book comments, because your talk ABOUT Romance is so steeped in race. I’m not making any kind of judgment about that—I understand why you feel you need to say what you say, and I admire that you can stick to your guns when people get upset with you. I’m just commenting on the fact I sense some tension between your insistence that Romance is Romance and all the race-talk about what Romance readers and writers will and won’t do, etc. Because I don’t want the latter to “color” my reading experience of your book beyond what’s there.
Oh, and a comment about the idea of AA authors organizing into a more coherent group for the purposes of self-representation. I think this is a crucial step for ANY self-identified group that aims for mainstream acceptance and power. Because I’ve yet to see any group that doesn’t sit smack in the middle of the circle gain a more central position without a critical mass of representation. For the most part, IMO, NO ONE willingly gives up what they perceive to be an important power position, and getting that power shared usually requires some form of insistence on the part of those who see themselves as bereft. I just think this is the pattern of group behavior, regardless of the characteristics defining each group.
Robin, I’m an activist sort. I can’t sit silent at injustice, even when it doesn’t affect me. I’d get into arguments with the Phelps about their hatred of homosexual people when I lived down the block from them and I’m not homosexual and those people are crazy.
If I knew how the romance genre was going to be, I can honestly say I would have never written it. I was very naive, just wanting to be a writer, not thinking my race was such a big deal.
But just because I’m an activist, doesn’t mean I’m not a person. When I write, I’m not thinking about being black any more than a white author thinks about being white and in how white she is into her book.
I just write a story about people.
I separated my site from my blog. There is no link. Only a few of my readers frequent my blog, more go to my site.
I should stop posting in the romance community. The only reason I do is because I know the majority of the people here aren’t my readers. So I’m my normal activist self, writing whatever I feel.
I probably would be a lot more circumspect around my readers.
That’s why I think seeking power from romance is futile. We need to grow our own readers, our own niche, and support each other. The best thing would be to forget romance.
The disappointment when the Ritas come around, the constant kicks in the teeth. Give it up and make our own community, I want to scream.
The only good thing about Genesis Press is that we’re finally feeling empowered about doing something about something for once, and some are waking up the the reality that they aren’t a part of the romance genre and thus are ready to move forward and get something done instead of waiting on people who despise is to do it for us.
Thank the Lord.
I have to agree with Monica’s 06:47 PM post. There is this unspoken “law” that when black authors use the racial background of themselves and their characters to flesh out the story, it’s a “black” novel. There’s no such thing as a black author writing a novel(horror,romance,mystery,thriller,etc) simply about characters and their journey, who just so happen to be black.
Why can Arthur Golden write “Memoirs of A Geisha” even though he is a white American? Why is it that hordes of readers of all colors flock to movies and books about the Holocaust, or Amy Tan’s experiences as a Chinese-American are lauded? Or why black authors are looked at askance if they:
a) don’t write books where the characters are the second coming of “Good Times”
b) want to write characters of a different ethnic background than they are?
Or worse(to use a more relevant example), when a white author writes black protagonists in their romance and it’s accepted—the romance is even fangirl gushed about—but these readers won’t even look at a romance branded as “African-American romance”.
That is the point I feel Monica was making in terms of black authors of (romantic) fiction. Erotic romance is a sub-genre all to itself: as long as the spine says “erotic romance”, fans, new and old, will try it. Not so for “AA” romance.
FYI, the link won’t work to the post on my blog that referred to Genesis Press. I was advised that some are seeking to punish authors who expect to be paid according to contract for their work.
Exactly right, Shay. We can’t do a thing about other people’s choices, but we can empower ourselves and enlarge our base of readers.
We need to raise our rep with the black reader who’s into E. Lynn and Kimberla Lawson.
We also needed to broaden out in sub-genres among our base readers. I’m editing an anthology out next June, paranormal erotica, very hot and edgy with LA Banks Donna Hill, Janice Sims and JM Jeffries.
When I first started reading this comment thread I thought ‘whoa, it can’t really be that bad, can it?’. See, I’m from the Netherlands, so I feel a bit out of my depth when it comes to African American romance, or even fiction as a whole. But then I started thinking. I don’t believe I’ve ever read AA romance. I say I don’t ‘believe’, because I’m not sure. It’s not common practice here to have pictures of the author on the book (it does happen, but it’s not a rule, nor an exception). And I wouldn’t know it from the author’s name. So unless I Google an author, I can never be 100% sure of the author’s race. And I’d like to think that it wouldn’t matter to me.
However, we experience the same problems with second generation Dutch Moroccan and Turkish writers. Unless the press picks up on them (usually because they write something poignant or stinging about integration of minorities in Dutch society), you’ll find them somewhere on the bottom shelf of the bookstore.
As for romance by authors of that descent, I’ve never even seen it. I mean, I guess it should exist (I think Meg Cabot writes about Saudi romance in Princess Diaries), but I never heard a peep about it. And yet in that community there are probably writers who try to get published, or read, but fail miserably.
So in conclusion, I started off thinking that the situation can’t be that bad. But even if it was all in the minds of the AA authors, even if it was just a feeling of being ‘discarded’ and undervalued (which I’m not saying)… Even then, wouldn’t it still be awful? I can’t imagine anyone who loves to read, whether it be romance, SF or detectives, wanting talented writers to be abused like this.