Historical romance author, Isobel Carr emailed to main office of RWA for clarification regarding the Romance Writers Ink Chapter of RWA no longer accepting same-sex entries because “some members of the chapter felt “uncomfortable” with same-sex entries for the More than Magic contest.
From: erin.fry@rwa.org
To: Isobel Carr@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 16:49:46 -0600
Subject: Re: Twitter question regarding chapter contest rules
Hi Isobel,
I just realized the statement I sent you was Allison Kelley's personalized response to a member and might not make sense to you.
Here's the general statement:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address this situation. Whenever I receive a complaint, I know that a member’s expectations have not been met. Failing to meet member expectations is regrettable; however, it is very difficult in an organization with such a large and diverse membership as RWA’s to meet every member’s needs and expectations in all situations.
Several posts have quoted RWA’s definition of romance, but I wish to point out that RWA does not have an official definition of “romance.” Instead, RWA acknowledges that romance fiction includes two basic elements—a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending. The determination of whether or not a book meets this criterion is left to individual readers.
Chapter licensing agreements do not dictate the rules for chapter contests, and the idea that RWA can or should police contests run by its 145 chapters is fraught with complications. Following the suggestion logically, how far should RWA go with regulating chapter contests? Should RWA require chapters to only allow entries that would qualify for the RITA competition? If so, that would rule out contests that are open to books that are self published and/or books published by many small presses. Viewing the situation from another perspective, if the Rainbow chapter wished to hold a contest for the best LGBT books, should RWA say that’s not allowed? Personally, I don’t think so. Each chapter is separately incorporated and governed by volunteer leaders who are expected to make decisions in the best interests of the organization they serve. Each chapter is therefore allowed to offer programs and services that reflect the special interests and sensibilities of its members.
At the national level, RWA’s membership (more than 10,000 members and 145 chapters) is served by a staff of 10, and RWA is fortunate to have a large pool of judges for the RITA and Golden Heart contests. I understand the concerns about RWA Ink’s contest, but I also understand the challenges of recruiting judges and contest coordinators, who are, in fact, volunteers. Compelling volunteers to judge books they are not comfortable reading will not produce fair and unbiased results, and chapters that are fully staffed by volunteers may not have the resources to identify and recruit enough judges willing to judge everything the romance genre encompasses.
Respectfully,
Allison Kelley, CAE
Executive Director
allison.kelley@rwa.org
My apologies for the mistake.
Erin Fry
Editor & Publications Manager
Romance Writers of America
14615 Benfer Rd, Houston, TX 77069
erin.fry@rwa.org
832-717-5200, extension 122
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Update: Romance Writer's of America's Official Response to Romance Writers Ink Chapter LGBT Discrimination
WTFckery Factor: Romance Writers of America Discriminates Against LGBT Romance
Discrimination and intolerance are hot button issues for me. I’ve been on the end of both. I haven't always been accepted by people, so when a person or a group of people aren’t considered acceptable, it really upsets me.
I’ve talked about how important acknowledgement and recognition is for an author before. It varies for authors because acknowledgment and recognition is subjective. Some believe hitting a list like the NY Times or USA Today, or perhaps a certain amount of dollars they receive in royalties can achieve this. Another way is entering a writing contest, finaling in their category of choice and perhaps even winning it.
The Romance Writers of America has many chapters across the United States, including in other countries. These chapters hold various contests for published authors and writers, where for a small fee you can enter and have your worked judge.RWA has a major contest each year called the RITAS where authors or their publishers can submit their work to be judged by their peers, and depending on how well the work is judged, the book will go onto to final in a specific category and have the chance to win best romance of the year for that category.
When it comes to the romance genre, it appears a “real” romance is a love story between a man and a woman. RWA doesn’t have a LGBT category, so if you’re an author of LGBT romance, you can’t submit for the RITAS. And in regards to the Romance Writers Ink Chapter of RWA, they will no longer accept same-sex entries because “some members of the chapter felt “uncomfortable” with same-sex entries.
Author, Heidi Cullinan brought this to light on her blog yesterday titled: RWA Shouldn’t Be in the Business of Discrimination.
Heidi adds: “When I asked about this, I was told the board made a ruling on same-sex entries in contests and said basically that chapters could make their own judgments based on genre. The heading of the issue was labeled “same-sex entries in contests,” so there’s no question this is the clause that made RWI feel they could pop that line I opened with onto their website, sigh in relief, and move on with their day. Make no mistake. RWA national said this is kosher.”
After reading Heidi’s post, I was enraged. I understand LGBT literature is not for everyone, but I find it funny that an organization like RWA that was founded by women, and for the most part is run and supported by women would turn their backs on LGBT romance and the authors who write them because women know all too well what it’s like to be discriminated against. Women have only had the right to vote in the U.S. for less than 100 hundred years. In other countries, women are considered second class citizens. How hypocritical of an organization like RWA to discriminate against LGBT romance.
What if RWI and RWA decided they weren’t “uncomfortable” with accepting romances with a hero or heroine who has a physical handicap or were Black, Asian, Jewish, Christian Mormon, etc. or the heroine was a size ten or size sixteen when she should be under a size eight because that’s what an “acceptable” woman should be portrayed as in romance?
Why are people more accepting of all types of sexual acts between a man and a woman in romance like oral, anal, bondage, S&M, or what have you? But when it comes to same sex romance, there is an uncomfortability factor regarding two men or two women making love much like a straight couple would? A hero can stick his penis up the heroine’s ass or stick his tongue in her vagina or have her give him a blow job and no one will bat an eye, but when a man sticks his penis in another man’s ass or a woman gives oral pleasure to another woman, it’s considered uncomfortable? Does anyone find this hypocritical? I do.
This sickens me immensely that a national organization like RWA, that has a tough time already being taken seriously by the mainstream media and in some publishing circles would turn their backs on LGBT romance, that in my mind is the perfect example of showing acceptance of love in all forms.
In 2008 I joined RWA. I gladly paid my $95 dues at that time even before I decided I wanted to write and get published. The three RWA conferences I attended and the people I met there amazed me with their intelligence, knowledge and kindness. But as of last year I noticed some major cracks in the organization that rubbed me the wrong way.
RWA heavily promotes traditional publishing. They barely acknowledge digital publishing unless a traditional publisher, like the big six NY publishers decide to publish digitally. I can’t think of any panels at the national conference run exclusively by digital publishers and or their authors unless it was a spotlight panel, and even then that was very far and few between. In the digital world, LGBT romance and fiction excels and has become very successful. As for panels promoting LGBT publishers and their authors, there was nothing. During the three RWA conferences I attended, there was not one panel or book signing only for LGBT romance.
When I jump started my writing and got published, I decided I wanted to write all types of romance and was proud that in one year I published multiple titles that dealt with Straight, Gay (M/M) and F/F romance. My goal was to show romantic love in all forms, regardless of gender. In doing so, I decided I wanted to write more LGBT romance because to be honest it pays better for me and I enjoy writing it.
I joined RWA because it gave me a sense of belonging and acceptance. And when I reach PAN status and was welcomed into that fold all because of a lesbian romance, I thought I had arrived. But apparently what I’m writing isn’t acceptable still and based on Heidi’s post and RWA’s stance on allowing chapters to reject LGBT romance for contests, I no longer want to be part of an organization that doesn’t practice what they preach.
RWA states: in their Code of Ethics:
“The mission of Romance Writers of America is to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy.
RWA members strive for excellence and integrity in the profession of romance writing.
Honesty and Integrity. An Industry Professional shall perform his/her duties with honesty and integrity. The Industry Professional shall not mislead, deceive, dupe, defraud or victimize clients, members of the organization, the general public, or any person with whom RWA does business as an Association.”
Nowhere on the RWA website does it state that a romance is only between a man and a woman and same gender love stories are not allowed. “A Central Love Story: The main plot centers around two 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.” In their subcategories on the website, there is no mention of GLBT romance.
Honesty and integrity and being an advocate for romance? RWA has duped me big time in regards to this.
So as of last night I emailed RWA and told them I no longer what to be affiliated with their organization and to take me off their PAN authors listed on their website. I refuse to acknowledge my PAN status and RWA any longer. I’m dropping out of the Yahoo Pan author loop that has aided me in so many ways. From this moment on RWA doesn’t exist to me.I’ve gone to the RWA NYC Chapter’s Golden Apple awards and NJRWA’s Put Your Heart in a Book Conference and the Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference, which is an offshoot of the NJ RWA chapter. Attending these events in the future is now uncertain because I don’t I feel I don’t belong or am accepted based on what I write. Why would I go to something where I’m not wanted?
Because of RWA’s stance on LGBT romance, when my membership is up for renewal in August, I will let it pass. My $85 dues will be put to better use elsewhere and already have.
Last night I was so angry that I channeled my rage and donated not $85, but $100 to the It Gets Better Project:
Kate,
Thank you for your generous contribution of $100.00 to the Iola Foundation made in support of the It Gets Better Project. We appreciate the support from so many people like you who want to put an end to anti-LGBT bullying.
More than 30,000 unique positive messages have been recorded to show young LGBT people the possibility of a better tomorrow, if they just believe that it will get better. With your donation, we are able to continue to share these messages of hope and the potential for a bright future with LGBT youth.
The It Gets Better Project will continue to thrive and reach LGBT youth as long as people continue to talk about the Project and share their stories. If you haven’t already done so, please record a video message or submit your written story of how your life got better. Let young LGBT people know how life has gotten better for you.
Share the It Gets Better Project with your friends and family by letting them know that http://www.itgetsbetter.org is a great place to watch videos and learn about how people are making it better every day for LGBT youth.
Sincerely,
Brian Pines
Treasurer
Iola Foundation
From now on, my dues that would have been sent to RWA will be denoted each year to a organization like It Gets Better that teaches tolerance and acceptance.
I may not be some big time author who makes millions of dollars or have a big enough platform to make waves and force RWA to rethink their stance on LGBT romance, but I feel if I can do something as small as turning away from them and supporting other organizations that preach tolerance and acceptance regardless of gender, the color of one’s skin or someone’s sexual preference, it’s a start.
RWA, you should be ashamed.
If you feel the same way as I do, please write the Romance Writers of America at info@rwa.org and tell them how you feel.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Book Spotlight: A Bid For Love by KT Grant (A 1 Night Stand Story)
And the book spotlights keep on coming! Originally A Bid For Love was going to be released in June 2011, but was moved and officially comes out on February 14th!
This is a short contemporary M/M romance that features a May/December romance between two men in Las Vegas and part of the 1 Night Stand series.
Synopsis: Anthony Conlin is a forty-one year old workaholic in love with his twenty-nine year old neighbor, Reece Whitmore, who looks like he belongs on the cover of GQ magazine. Anthony longs for Reece to the point of obsession, but doesn’t think he stands a chance because of their difference in age, his graying hair and a less than rock hard physique.
When Anthony’s friend, Jagger Castillo urges Anthony to try the matching services of One Night Stand, Anthony still refuses because of his crush on Reece. But Jagger, along with the help of Madame Evangeline, the owner of the 1NS has something up their sleeves to make certain Anthony and Reece finally get together.
A charity auction sets the stage and rolls into motion a night Anthony and Reece will never forget.
Click here for excerpt
Book Spotlight: The Watchmaker's Lady by Heather Massey
Steampunk fans who like some "steam" in their stories, as in erotic will want to check out The Watchmaker's Lady from Heather Massey coming from Red Sage in April.
The Watchmaker’s Lady: A Clockpunk Trilogy story
The least you need to know:
A watchmaker in 1840 New England falls in love with a beautiful clockwork automaton, but how long before the townspeople discover his forbidden affair?
Story blurb: Matthew Goddard is a lonely watchmaker in 1840 New England. One fateful day, he discovers the lover of his dreams in a dusty corner of the local general store—Isabel, a bisque porcelain mannequin head with mesmerizing, smoky blue eyes. When Matthew invites her to come live with him, she eagerly “accepts.”
The couple embarks on a lust-filled affair, one fueled by Matthew’s wild imagination. In order to provide Isabel with a brass body and pretty clothes, he begins a secret side business selling clockwork sex toys to his wealthy female customers.
Danger, however, threatens their idyllic romance when a disgruntled customer exposes Matthew’s forbidden business to the townspeople. Despite the growing menace, Matthew will stop at nothing in order to save his soul mate—and protect their love.
**
On the surface, The Watchmaker’s Lady is a deeply sensual tale about a forbidden affair between a man and his Victorian sex doll. But if you dig a little deeper beneath the kink, you’ll discover a heartwarming romance between two soul mates who manage to find each other—and stay together—despite overwhelming odds.
Tags:
* Clockpunk
* An artisan hero with a unique occupation
* A Victorian sex doll heroine
* An unusual historical romance/Victorian setting
* Erotically charged love scenes that deliver a highly romantic style of kink
* Plus a few other surprises, which I’m not going to spoil for you. In fact, I hope you’ll have fun keeping them a secret until your fellow readers discover them on their own!
For more information about the work of Heather Massey, visit her Web site at www.heathermassey.com and her science fiction romance blog, The Galaxy Express.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
A Few Things That Make Me Smile. It's All About....
pink blanket love
cat weave
I've been accused of having them, so why not some cute ones to take over the world?
the hores! Big shot out to Tori over this one. (Smexy's Sidekick)
And the coming apocalypse...that is the duck apocalypse.
Just a few things to make your Thursday a little happier.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
My Thoughts on the Fifty Shades Trilogy by E.L James
The phenomenon surrounding this trilogy is both incredible and scary. I can promise you because of the popularity of the Fifty Shades trilogy, you’ll see more of these stories blatantly based on fan fiction being published in the coming years that will most likely sell well. Writers publishing fan fiction as original fiction isn’t something new. Take a look at all the sequels and sometimes annoying retelling's of Pride and Prejudice as an example. But that’s allowed because Pride and Prejudice is a free domain book. Writing and selling fan fiction based on Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series isn’t free domain and it gets sketchy because of the issue of copyright. But I have to hand it to E.L. Because of the obsessive nature of Twilight fans, she took her story to a platform, knowing if she invoked Meyer’s characters and inserted them in her own story (even if she used the names like Edward, Jacob, Bella and so forth) regardless if her own characters were no where near Meyer’s characters in terms of personality or character traits, she’d have a hit on her hand.
It’s been awhile since a series made me roll my eyes and felt such raging annoyance over the actions of two characters. The last time I felt this way was while I read Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series and the character of Jericho “Le Douche” Barrons. James’s Christian Grey isn’t a Barrons (thank God), and very early on I couldn’t help but compare Christian to Roarke from JD Robb’s In Death series. But the only comparison between Christian and Roarke is that these two men are incredibly handsome and rich. Christian is a disturbed megalomaniac, while Roarke doesn't need any form of therapy and is everything a hero and man should be that women should proudly admit they’re attracted to.
Since Fifty Shades of Grey is based on Twilight, I really thought it would be exactly like Twilight, sans the paranormal element. Other than Ana accepting Christian and all his faults, much like Bella does with Edward, and the Pacific Northeast setting, I can’t see any other comparisons between Fifty and Twilight. Fifty Shades of Grey is a Harlequin Presents on over the top crack that combines the characters and plot of the 1986’s cult classic soft porn- 9 ½ Weeks. (I would be very surprised if E.L. said she never saw 9 ½ Weeks because the comparisons are so glaring) The way Christian Grey is portrayed reminded me of Mickey Rourke’s John who seduces and almost destroys Kim Basinger’s Elizabeth with his unhealthy sexual kinks.
Christian Grey is one unhealthy minded individual all because of his past. His mother was a crack whore and Christian was a victim of her pimp who abused him physically and possibly sexually. Christian is saved and adopted by a married couple who gives him a nurturing and loving home where he can overcome his abuse. At fifteen, Christian ends up having a pedophilic, S&M relationship with one of his mother’s friends. From that five year sexual relationship, Christian becomes even more unstable with his sexual desires. The only way he can find sexual gratification is through BDSM or types of kinkery fuckery as he calls it. Christian fully admits he’s fifty shades of fucked up. But even though Christian is emotionally and mentally unstable (he doesn’t like to be touched) he goes on to do great things. By the age of twenty-seven he’s extremely rich, powerful and runs his own company. Women fall at his feet, but because he’s never had a long term relationship with a woman, his family, who loves and adores him (his parents and a younger brother and sister) assumes he’s gay.
When Fifty Shades of Grey begins we meet Anastasia Steele, a soon to be college graduate who hopes to get a job in publishing. Her roommate Kate was scheduled to interview Christian Grey, the CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc, but since Kate is sick, Ana will do it in her stead. And from Ana’s meeting with Christian, her life will become a wacked out smutty version of Alice down the rabbit hole. The moment Christian meets Ana, he decides there’s something special about her and wants her for his own. Ana’s a virgin who doesn’t realize how beautiful she is. Every man she comes in contact with lusts after her. Christian lusts after Ana also, but his lusting is more of the obsessive kind. Christian wants Ana to be his latest conquest and become his sexual submissive. Ana at first is wary of Christian because he’s too overpowering, seductive and dares to woe her with his fortune and amazing knowledge of wine and force feeding her because she doesn't eat and Christian hates that (his crack ho mommy starved him as a kid and his charitable self longs to make hungry people around the world have enough nourishment). But when a richer than Midas, hot as sin, brooding male wants to give you the world and allow you to walk on the wild side with him as a f'ed up form of therapy, what’s a woman like Ana to do?
Ana accepts Christian but with some reservations. Ana is new territory for Christian and even though he wants to eat her up and spit her out, he tries his best to treat her with care. The first time they make love is near perfect.This love scene zings with smoldering emotion and hotness. But then Christian tells Ana he can’t stick with the vanilla and in order for them to be together she has to be open to his dark BDSM side where he wants to hurt her in order to find satisfaction. He lays it all out on the line and through emails and a not so legal binding contract, it’s up to Ana to accept the terms and let Christian have complete ownership of her body, heart and soul.
The second book, Fifty Shades Darker is pretty much a rehash of the first book. Only after three days from when Ana has left Christian, they’re back together. Again Ana must decide if she’ll be the willing victim to Christian’s sexual depravity while Christian courts her with outlandish gifts and using manipulation to get what he wants. But now Ana is dealing with a sexual predator of a boss who wants to destroy Christian. The reason for this is revealed in the third book, Fifty Shades Freed where Christian and Ana are now married and Ana’s ex-boss is out to for revenge against them both.
By the time I started reading Freed, I was pretty much bored with Christian and Ana’s emo issues. Ana thinks Christian is scary because of the way he reacts to her, especially when she doesn’t behave. Christian threatens to beat the shit out of Ana when she dares to have more than one drink with Kate at some club while he’s away for a night and can’t keep watch over her. Christian uses verbal threats to the point of overkill. He’s all bluster and talk and never does more than that. Christian comes across more as a spoiled rich boy who has tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. Why Ana is so attractive to him stupefies me. So what if he’s rich and handsome? What else does he have to recommend for himself? He uses threats as scare tactics that never go anywhere and his issues and depravity we’re told about never come to completion.
When all is said and done, the reader has been taken on a snooze worthy ride that doesn’t deliver. This trilogy is more like riding in a bumper car at an amusement park.
Fifty Shades Freed is the perfect example of every stereotypical semi-erotic romance. The amount of times Ana breaks down in tears because Christian is so mean and the mentions of channeling her inner goddess when she has sex with him made me want to strangle her. Everything here is like an ice cream sundae with gummy bears on top because it's sickly sweet.
And don't get me started on the lameness of the ending and the care bear epilogue.
I really can’t understand why this trilogy has the massive fan base. Everything introduced from the characteristics of Christian and Ana to the lacking suspense and action is nothing new. The reading community at large has been conned and doesn’t seem to care.
The HEA here isn’t believable and the romance a poor substitute of what a real romance novel should be. To me, a romance is all about empowerment and strengthening the main couple. If the hero or heroine walks out on the relationship, the author hopefully has done a good enough job where you believe both main characters will carry on with their lives and be a better person for knowing one another. E.L. James has failed miserably with this trilogy. While I believe Ana would be able to survive without Christian, I can’t say the same with him. Christian would end up making Ana’s life miserable and becoming a true, psychotic stalker in every sense of the word where their ending would be a murder suicide that brings to mind another movie from the 80's-Star 80. (Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House)
Finale Grades:
Fifty Shades of Grey: B-
Fifty Shades Darker: C
Fifty Shades Freed: C-
Overall grade for the Fifty Shades trilogy: C
Other opinions on the Fifty Shades trilogy:
Jessica at Read React Review: 50 Things About 50 Shades (Of Grey)
The Book Pushers giveaway and review of Fifty Shades Freed
Heartbreaker & Heroes reaction to Fifty Shades of Grey
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Ferris Bueller Revisited 25 Years Later Thanks to Honda
The 1986 cult classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off has been revisited 25 years later thanks to Honda and the commercial they created for the this year's Super Bowl. If you were a child of the 80's, you'll get a real big kick out of this like I did as Matthew Broderick channeling Ferris again.
Can you spot all the "easter eggs" from the original movie? This totes of awesome sauce....
From Honda: "To celebrate the launch of the all-new 2012 CR-V, Honda brought Ferris Bueller's Day Off back in a big game commercial. We cast Matthew Broderick as himself, skipping out on a day of acting work and living it up in his all-new CR-V. Relive movie history with Honda's fresh twist and wonderful homage to this '80s classic. Think you're a true fan of Ferris Bueller's Day Off? We hid over two dozen references to the movie throughout the commercial. Some are obvious, some are VERY subtle. See how many you can find."
Monday, January 30, 2012
Cultivating Lesbian Romance At Pink Petal Books
At Pink Petal Books our slogan is “love is a beautiful thing”, which means how can we not publish lesbian romance. If we truly walk our talk when we say love is a beautiful thing, and it is something in which I do strongly believe, then we would be remiss in not publishing romance simply because of the pairing. I’ve heard the rumors; I’m sure you have, too, that f/f doesn’t sell. While the readers of f/f romance may not be the perceived “traditional” romance audience (man, woman, baby makes three), they are there. And there is also cross-over in the erotic romance area with the erotica market as well. Plus, today’s romance readers are savvy. Not all of them want the perfect nuclear family, and many of them share our belief that love/romance is wonderful, no matter the pairing, genre, or heat level.
Honestly, I believe that if an author thinks there is “no money” to be had, then there won’t be. In the classic metaphysical concept of “we create our own reality”, then we will manifest what we believe. We need to change our perception that in today’s ever-changing market, we can make a book be whatever we’d like it to be. Do some genres take work? Yes. Do some genres take research and reaching out to new markets? Of course. But at Pink Petal Books, as well as my own personal experience, lesbian romance oftentimes does better than more “traditional” heterosexual romance. (We also have some sensual/sweet stories which defy the “only sex sells” mantra too, further strengthening my belief that an author can make his or her own niche in the market and do well.)
For me, it boils down to the romance. Readers who pick up a romance novel want love, a romance, emotions, and the happily ever after/happy for now sort of ending that is expected. In the past when I’ve read romances with f/f scenes, they’ve seemed tacked on, like someone said “ooh, I need to up the sex quotient here, let’s add a little girl-on-girl”. That didn’t move the romance along, and as a reader, it didn’t move me. The romances which I enjoy reading, and publishing, are romances where even if the f/f relationship is secondary, or one of many in the book, it has feeling and emotions. It feels real, not an add-on to perhaps draw in male readers or like a gratuitous boob shot in a movie.
Our newest release this month, Her Secret Incantations by Heather Avalon, begins with a f/f relationship between two bi-sexual long-time friends and lovers. Each woman has a distinct voice and personal, strong reasons for being back in the relationship, as well as the reasons why she left. When the male leads show up, there’s an understanding of the women’s history and status as lovers, and the knowledge that as bisexual women, our female leads will need to be allowed to be with each other. There is no “primary” or “secondary” relationships, per se, but rather an understanding of a true polyandrous lifestyle and the sacrifices and acceptances which need to happen to make it work.
Secret Lives of Sea Crest Wives by Kerri Nelson takes a contemporary approach to lesbian romance. The book deals with friends, each one going through her own issues. When one of the women, again bisexual, refuses to deny her attraction to women, she runs into a lover from her past. This relationship in the book, woven throughout the story reinforces not only our belief that love of all kinds is a beautiful thing, but that relationships between the same sex have much the same perils and joys as relationships between different sexes. It’s a healthy, and a sexy, look at modern relationships within the microcosm of a group of friends.
Going back to the civil war, Southern Rose by Mary Winter, tells the tale of two widows, one who loved her husband, one who married him because he was gay and the marriage was one of convenience for both. Again we have bisexual characters who end up in a long-term same-sex relationship. It looks at the social elements surrounding such a relationship given the restrictive time period in which they’re in, and how these two women made their relationship work.
We’ve also published lesbian erotica by Megan Rose, and while this is not romance per se, there is definitely an air of things continuing, of a “happy with the situation for now” sort of ending. And given that relationships are as individual as the people involved in them, I feel that this also fits with our belief about love and relationships.
Though the stories we published all have bisexual women, it is not a requirement. I look at this as similar to the ménage romances where a gay character suddenly realizes that yes, he can love a woman and still love his partner. Given the characters’ histories, it is not a female version of “gay for you”, because the women have either established that they have had same-sex relationships in the past, or because they have been with that woman in the past.
Truthfully, while there is always going to be a push to be more “edgy” and lesbian romances might be one of the final frontiers in erotic romance, I think the trend toward more storytelling and less sex sans plot, will mean that the door opens even wider for lesbian romances. A love story is a love story. And though the stories all mentioned here are erotic, I see no reason why a sweet or sensual lesbian story wouldn’t be just as satisfying a read. I think there is a lot of room to explore the story, and the emotions, inherent in two women sharing their lives together, and I believe that it, too, has a strong place on the ereaders and bookshelves of romance readers.
Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts with you.
Guest Author Post: Isabo Kelly: Ebooks, I Remember When…
I can even remember the conversations that started the publishing house where I ended up. A few friends on Compuserve Romance Forum (anyone remember that?) were discussing how much we all loved paranormal, fantasy and science fiction romances, but we couldn’t find them. And those of us writing them couldn’t find places to publish our books. There were a small number trickling out but not nearly enough to satisfy our voracious reading habits. So two of the ladies involved in this discussion decided to open their own publishing company. An ebook company. They called it Dreams Unlimited.
Anyone happen to remember them from way back in the day? They published a Sherrilyn Kenyon book, a Diana Gabaldon novella, Linnea Sinclair’s first book, JC Wilder’s first book, and a few of us other authors, too. They were so far ahead of their time, they published a gay romance meant for a general audience, not just the GLBT audience, and they dabbled in erotic romances, including some of the best ménage stories I’ve ever read.
For physical copies of the books, we used 3.5” floppy disks (try even finding a computer to read those now!).You had no choice but to read the books on a computer or print them up. There were exactly two formats: .PDF and .HTML. Even the technology for a shopping cart wasn’t really there yet, so for a while after they opened, they filled the orders manually.
Hard to believe, huh? But that’s how we started with ebooks. No one knew what they were, and it was complicated explaining that, yes I really was published, but no you won’t be able to find the book in a bookstore. At the time, I was living in Ireland and not everyone even had a computer!
But we were all very excited about the new format, the new way to publish. A thriving small press industry rose from those humble beginnings. We all figured in five years, ebooks would be not only accepted but a popular way to read books.
Unfortunately, we were off by a few years. It took technology a bit longer to catch up and make the reading and buying of ebooks so easy. It’s funny but even though I’ve been involved in and watching this industry grow for so long, the changes that have taken place in the last three years still took me by surprise. I mean, we all saw this coming eventually. But when things didn’t happen in five years, “eventually” started to look a lot farther off. Then suddenly it was upon us.
Now, when I say I have an ebook coming out, I don’t have to explain what that is. People ask me if it will be available on (insert your favorite ereader here), and I can happily say it will. Suddenly, where I’ve been for almost thirteen years is exactly where everyone wants to be in publishing.
And I can say, I remember when…
So what about you guys? Anyone else remember the industry this far back or even farther? What was your first introduction to ebooks? When did they show up on your radar? And what did you think?
(By the way, I still have some of those early floppy disks, including Sherrilyn’s and Diana’s books. I figure they’ll be collectors’ items some day.)
Isabo BIO:
Isabo Kelly’s latest fantasy romance, BRIGHTARROW BURNING, was recently published by Samhain Publishing. And yes, it’s available in all possible formats for all available ereaders. For more about Isabo and her books, visit her at www.isabokelly.com or follow her on Twitter @IsaboKelly were she tells a lot of stories about her rambunctious toddler, Destructo.
Isabo Kelly Links:
Website: www.isabokelly.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/IsaboKelly
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IsaboKelly
Available for $3.50
Samhain: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/brightarrow-burning-p-6480.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brightarrow-Burning-ebook/dp/B0057WU76I
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brightarrow-burning-isabo-kelly/1103991238
Synopsis: Layla Brightarrow’s world fell apart the day the Sorcerers invaded her city, intent on using her fellow humans’ pain to augment their spells. Worse, the neighboring elven kingdom declared neutrality, effectively abandoning her people to struggle for survival.
Then some of the elves break neutrality to trade with the Sorcerers, and Layla is ordered to assassinate Althir, brother of the elf lord she has secretly loved all her life.
When Ulric of Glengowyn uncovers his brother’s plot—and that Layla is one of the assassins sent to stop him—his first instinct is to protect her from all possible harm. He’ll even use seduction, if necessary, to get her into a position to talk some sense into her.
Years of pent-up desire is too much for Layla to resist…and one touch unleashes an unquenchable fire that changes everything. Leaving Layla caught between duty and a love that could be her destruction. Or her salvation.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
WTFckery or Not? You Decide
Your Sunday WTFckery post is back with a vengeance!
1. Nothing says WTFckery like disturbing sounding books and their covers that make you want to bleach your eyes... (Thanks to Penny Watson)
By the way, Bigfoot is named Leonard and he has a mom who wants him to procreate with one of the women he kidnaps.
Synopsis: Book 2 of The Monster Sex Series
Kidnapped by horny, ape-like creatures in Mt. Hood National Forest, Porsche, Shelly, and Leslie find themselves in a lusty situation, as a tribe of Bigfoots use their willing, nubile bodies to satisfy their monster cocks.
So now there are books known as Ménage a Quatre Romance? 1 woman, 3 men, not enough holes to go around...
Bootiful bouncy reading!
Synopsis: Becca goes to a bar planning to take the first man who doesn’t stare at her generous tits home with her. She catches the eye of a hot man across the bar, and her heart sinks when a man joins him. Both men come to her table and talk to her and offer to go home with her. Neither stared at her boobs. What should she do?
2. Shady dealings are going down in order for products to get 5 star reviews on Amazon. Reviewers are being offered money to post positive reviews and give more stars to products so the consumer will buy them thinking honest reviews are being posted. From the NY Times:
For $2 a Star, an Online Retailer Gets 5-Star Product Reviews
"Fake reviews are drawing the attention of regulators. They have cracked down on a few firms for deceitful hyping and suspect these are far from isolated instances. “Advertising disguised as editorial is an old problem, but it’s now presenting itself in different ways,” said Mary K. Engle, the Federal Trade Commission’s associate director for advertising practices. “We’re very concerned.”
Researchers like Bing Liu, a computer science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, are also taking notice, trying to devise mathematical models to systematically unmask the bogus endorsements. “More people are depending on reviews for what to buy and where to go, so the incentives for faking are getting bigger,” said Mr. Liu. “It’s a very cheap way of marketing.”
By last week, 310 out of 335 reviews of VIP Deals’ Vipertek brand premium slim black leather case folio cover were five stars and nearly all the rest were four stars. The acclaim seemed authentic, barring the occasional indiscretion. “I would have done 4 stars instead of 5 without the deal,” one man bluntly wrote."
3. Killing giraffes for sport angers me immensely. The people who pay over $10,000 for the hunt have no soul. From Daily Mail:
"Tourist trophy hunters are paying thousands of pounds to go and shoot giraffes with high-powered guns and bows. The gentle giants are loved around the world for their comical appearance and gentle nature.Hunters pay up to a whopping £10,000 for the the chance to slay them - preferring bulls because they are the biggest.
Safari clubs and game reserves ask for a £1,500 trophy fee, and then add on rates for guides and trackers costing around £1,000 per day. The hunts typically last three-to-five days and see tourists using .458 Winchester Magnum rifles to kill the animals.With most hunters flying to Africa from their homes in Europe or America, the costs stretch into five figures."
The hunting continues even though numbers of the animals are plummeting.To help the Giraffe Conservation Foundation click here visit http://www.giraffeconservation.org
4. This sheet and pillow would eat you in your sleep.
5. The movie poster for Shame was banned in Hungry. I wonder why...
6. This is one of the many reasons I believe dolls will rise up like zombies and either torture us or kill us in our sleep. From Environmental Graffiti:
Would you explore the remains of an abandoned doll factory based on these pictures?
"An eerie silence hangs in the air. Even the wind seems to have died down to nothing. It’s dark inside the old factory, and cool in spite of the heat outside. Hundreds of molds and casts are stacked against the wall, over tables and on shelves, almost attractive in their ramshackle regularity. In contrast, the limbs, heads and bodies strewn around the dilapidated space are creepy – almost macabre – as if the stricken figures have been victims of dissection. Or butchery."
7. The last time I saw a pig like this was in my dissection class in high school. Now in cake form:
8. The coffee addict that I am would so buy the world's largest coffee cup. From Archie McPhee:
Can be yours for $47.50
"Is there any greater symbol of your love of coffee than 6" tall, 10" in diameter real porcelain cup perched on the edge of your desk or kitchen counter? While you should never drink 20 cups of coffee in one sitting, you can take comfort in knowing that the World's Largest Coffee Cup could hold 20 regular cups. Of course, that's only 19 cups if you leave room for cream. Made of porcelain."
9. Nom nom, sparkly colorful unicorn poop. From Instructables:
"Magically Delicious! Unicorns may manage their elusiveness but they left behind some fanciful evidence of their existence and I was able to recreate their leavings. The real deal - it's made of sugar cookies, rainbow dragees, rainbow star sprinkles, white sparkle gel, and rainbow disco dust."
10. And your Regretsy WTFckery is self explanatory based on the title- Pile of Sit. A $600 chair that looks more like a torture device. But at least it swivels!
I hope you have enjoyed this week's best in WTFckery!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
