Romance novels have always offered a joyful and happy escape for readers whenever they need them. There is no shame in wanting to slip into a world where a happily-ever-after is guaranteed. Reading romance, and writing it, is a privilege because of this. But I'll be honest that, like many people, my heart is incredibly heavy this week. And while below this message I packed in some happy escape-y fun, it didn't feel right not to address the loss and devastation our country has seen the past week - from the wildfires in Northern California (where my husband is from) to Hurricane Laura's destruction, from the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha and the killing of two protesters in the days after.
I keep a quote from John Lewis on the lock screen of my phone and it has been my guiding light recently: "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?" When I spent eight years working in the field of homelessness, one of my many coping mechanisms was to focus directly on the community in front of me. Looking up, taking in the gravity of the whole world's pain, often made me feel hopeless. Looking into my community, focusing on my neighbors and the women and children we were serving, helped stabilize my focus. Gave me goals, gave me clear action-steps and motivation to keep going. I said this in a previous newsletter, but I'll repeat it again: Our romance novel community reflects the world we live in. Which means our community is steeped in racism and bias (among many other forms of discrimination). The only silver lining to that egregious fact is that it means *you* can make a difference in the community you love so much.
Black lives matter. Black joy matters. Black love matters and Black romance matters.
Romance author Jasmine Guillory's TIME Magazine article on the role of Black fiction made it very clear: "Black lives are not a problem to be solved or an academic text that can be studied. To recognize Black lives as ones to celebrate, empathize with and care about, here’s your antiracism work: read more fiction by and about Black people...In the pages of the romance novels I read and write, I see the Black women I’ve seen my whole life. They are successful, respected and involved in loving, fulfilling and happy relationships. I want the world to know not just about our pain, but the whole of our lives, and especially our joy."
So here are some of the amazing spaces in our community offering a celebration of Black joy and love:
Join the #BrownNippleChallenge: Amazing romance author Nana Malone is hosting the #BrownNippleChallenge and it is an awesome way to stay involved. Romance readers: follow Nana on Instagram, where every month she hosts a read-along of a romance novel written by a BIPOC author and provides links to other authors in our community hosting their own read-alongs. Click here for her most recent post, support the authors she's reading and follow the other authors participating. Romance authors: if you want to host your own #BrownNippleChallenge click this link here. I'll be hosting in the fall in Kathryn Nolan's Hippie Chicks ❤
WOC in Romance: WOCInRomance is a place to promote Women of Color in romance fiction. This blog/movement is trans-inclusive and open to gender fluid and non-binary authors as well. (You can also follow them on Instagram at @wocinromance)
Hidden Gems Bookclub: Join in the fun! This monthly bookclub on Facebook focuses on BIPOC authors and main characters from marginalized groups. They've been reading some incredible romances recently.
Two podcast recommendations:
Shelf Love: I love this podcast and the brilliant authors and academics featured on there! The central thesis for Shelf Love is that romance is a genre that deserves dignity and respect. As text that celebrates and centers marginalized voices, many romance books are individually complex, intersectional works of art.
Black Romance Podcast: This brand new podcast features weekly conversations with Black writers, editors and scholars of historical and contemporary popular romance fiction.
An awesome nonprofit to support:
We Need Diverse Books: This nonprofit is doing amazing things in the world of publishing. Their mission statement is putting more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children. Their vision: a world in which all children see themselves in the pages of a book. From their website: "We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities*, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities"
Click here to learn about the extent of their programs - and click the button below if you want to throw a little cash their way!
Donate to We Need Diverse Books
Thank you for all that you're doing to make our community better. ❤
With abundant love,
Kathryn