Robin Bradford - Finding diverse romance

ALL I NEED IS EVERYTHING

(finding diverse romance and promoting it to every audience)

What diverse romance isA Central Love Story: The main plot centers around individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work. A writer can include as many subplots as he/she wants as long as the love story is the main focus of the novel.

An Emotionally Satisfying and Optimistic Ending: In a romance, the lovers who risk and struggle for each other and their relationship are rewarded with emotional justice and unconditional love. 

RWA website

Diverse romance is EXACTLY THE SAME. The only difference is the cast of characters.

Diverse romance pt. 2◦ “Diversity” usually means characters that are underrepresented in the genre.

◦ Ethnicity/Race◦ Religion◦ Sexual Orientation◦ Ability

◦ Romances written by diverse authors are often referred to as “Own Voices” books. ◦ Books don’t have to be own voices to offer a look at diverse worlds, and be

inclusive of many different kinds of people. ◦No matter who is writing the book, stereotypes can kill a good story.

What diverse romance isn’t◦ It isn’t just for a segregated group of people

◦ It isn’t of lower quality

◦ It isn’t harder to understand or identify with.

Why does diverse romance matter?

◦ Appeal to diverse communities.◦ Every story is important ◦Humanizes communities with whom you may only have occasional contact◦ Illustrates that we’re all seeking (and capable of finding) our own Happily Ever After.

Who should read diverse romance?(and why?)

◦Not just for diverse individuals. ◦ Everyone benefits from knowing about people different from themselves◦ “Own Voices”◦ The world needs to hear everyone’s stories/Emphasizes that people in all

communities are seeking their “Happily Ever After”

A Little History◦ 1980 – Dell Candlelight published

Entwined Destinies. ◦ 1st African-American romance with a

major publisher. ◦ 575th book in the Dell Candlelight

romance line. ◦Harlequin published it’s 1st AA

Romance in 1984, Sandra Kitt’s Adam and Eva.

◦ Sporadic publishing until 1990s.

Where do I start?◦ The good news is you can start anywhere because diverse romance is more

attainable than ever. ◦ Pick a sub-genre, any sub-genre. ◦ Pick a heat level, any heat level. ◦ You can’t always believe what you’ve been told◦ The myth about self published novels.

Don’t forget the blogs and/or social media

◦ Smart Bitches/Trashy Books http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/◦Heroes & Heartbreakers http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/◦Dear Author http://dearauthor.com/◦ Joyfully Reviewed http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/◦ All About Romance http://allaboutromance.com/

Tips & Tricks◦ Know your small & indie publishers ◦ You’re not going to find reviews for a lot of these things. ◦ Trial and error can be key in building a collection, or when advising books for

patrons.

Riptide PublishingA lot of categories to search and/or browse for titles

Riptide Publishing

Ankara PressAfrican romance ebooks.

WOCinRomance◦Website: http://www.wocinromance.com/◦ Twitter: @WOCinRomance ◦Highlights Women of Color who write Romance novels. ◦Updates weekly, but also has mid-week notices as books are released. ◦ Also, sponsors a monthly book club.

WOC in Romance

WOC in romance

WOC in romance

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Historicals

Historicals

Historicals

Some historicals authors◦ Courtney Milan Lena Hart◦ Alyssa Cole Kianna Alexander◦ Piper Hughley Genevieve Turner◦ Sherry Thomas K.J. Charles◦Heidi Cullinan Bonnie Dee◦ K.A. Mitchell Altonya Washington◦ Joanna Chambers

CONTEMPORARIES

Sports Romance

Romantic Suspense

Contemporaries

Contemporaries

Some contemporary authors◦ Sandra Kitt Nia Wilson◦ Roxie Rivera M. Malone◦ Bernice Layton Nana Malone◦HelenKay Dimon Caridad Piñiero◦ Tracey Livesay Alisha Rai◦ Chelle Cordero Kaia Bennett◦ Elizabeth Cook-Howard K. M. Jackson◦ Josh Lanyon Damon Suede◦ Samreen Ahsan Tasha L. Harrison

PNR/UF

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Some PNR/UF authors◦ Shelley Laurenston◦ Kate Douglas◦ Kit Rocha◦ L. Penelope◦ Ines Johnson◦ Alexis Hall◦ Charlie Cochet◦Nalini Singh◦Meljean Brook◦ Caridad Piñeiro

BibliographyRWA website: https://www.rwa.org/RomanceIn Loving Color: Diversity in Romance Publishing, 2014. Publisher’s Weekly, Nov. 7, 2014Three authors discuss their favorite romance novels featuring people of color, Bitch Media, February 13, 2014 https://bitchmedia.org/post/three-authors-talk-about-their-favorite-romance-novels-featuring-people-of-color