What Color is Your Love?

I remember when I first started reading romance novels back in 8^th grade. I’d tell you how long ago that was, but let’s just say dinosaurs were still roaming Earth. The covers of these books usually featured a blond-haired, blue-eyed heroine and a dark-haired, flinty-eyed hero who was generally much older than his ingénue love. Was it a reflection of real-life? I seriously doubt it was an accurate picture even way back then of their appearance or their ages.

Now is the point where I should step up on a politically correct soapbox to say race shouldn’t be a factor when it comes to romance writing. Maybe it shouldn’t be, but it is. Just yesterday, I was having a conversation with a highly-educated professional woman who happens to be single and African-American. I mention her race because it plays a role in our conversation. She was bemoaning the fact that it was difficult to find her male counterpart to date because a lot of them were dating white women.

That got me thinking. Was this actually true? I had to admit that when it came to interracial couples of my acquaintance, the preponderance were males of another race married to white females. According to research published in 2013 by the Pew Research Center, African-American men are twice as likely as African-American women to intermarry. Among Asians and Native Americans, the trend is just the opposite (Wang, 2015).

Now, I don’t want to go into a big dissertation on the trends in interracial couples and marriage. Let’s just say that you can check out US Census figures and the Pew research and find the following statistics: In 2013, more than one out of ten new marriages were among couples of differing races; nearly seven percent of all existing marriages were interracial.

So where is the diversity in romance? It’s coming. I’m not sure I would go so far as an article in TIME from May of 2014 which loudly proclaims in its headline: “Steamy Romance Novels Flush With Color,” and includes the subhead: “interracial relationships are a hot new trend in love lit.”(Sachs, 2014) However, I will say that the issue is coming out in the open for a lot more discussion. That happened at Romance Writers of America’s 2015 national convention. We’ve also had those discussions in my own RWA chapter.

I see women of color banding together to support one another’s careers. That’s fantastic. We should all be supportive of efforts to make our romance writing a truer reflection of love in all its many forms, no matter the race, gender, or number combinations.

Should the focus of interracial romance always be about race? First and foremost, they should be about love, about two people who are right for each other because they like and respect the other person. I do think we would be fooling ourselves, though, if we say it’s a non-issue.

I live and teach in an area that is split roughly down the middle between African-Americans and Caucasians. Just as my colleague’s concern about the number of black men dating white women came out in conversation, so have I heard people—both black and white—express concerns about interracial relationships. Prejudice is still out there. Personally, I prefer to address things head on rather than pretending it doesn’t exist. I’ve never been a proponent of what I call the “emperor’s new clothes” philosophy.

So, when you read the second novella in my series “Teacher’s Pets,” I don’t steer away from the fact that Ben’s a really hot white guy dating a really hot black woman, but I don’t feel I’ve made it the central conflict either. (Perfect Harmonie, Teacher's Pet #2, coming May 25!)

And I have to say to my sister of another mother…thanks for giving me the idea when you said, “Hey, put me in one of your books.”

Sources:

Sachs, Andrea. (2014). “Steamy Romance Novels Flush With Color”. TIME. Retrieved from: http://time.com/43710/interracial-romance-novels/

Wang, Wendy. (2015). “Interracial Marriage: Who is ‘marrying out’?”. Pew Research Center. Retrieved From: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/06/12/interracial-marriage-who-is-marrying-out/

Now Available for Nook!

My new release, Spare Dick, is now available at Barnes and Noble for the Nook. Click here for a link to the buy page.

Hook, Line & Sinker Release Date!

My new male/male short story will release on June 15, 2012 from The Wild Rose Press as part of their Boys of Summer series. I'm so excited! I really enjoyed writing the two heroes, Taz and Ridge. They're two men you can't help but cheer on to their HEA...and they are hot.

Here's the blurb:  Outdoorsman Taz Harris can't imagine life in a stuffy office, but times are hard and his family's hunting and fishing business is on the line. That's why the week he'll serve as entrepreneur Ridge Pender's fishing guide has to be perfect. Even if that means denying what he feels for Ridge.

Denial is the last thing Ridge wants. He's returned to Harris Mountain Lake, for more than sunshine and fresh air. He wants the sexy fisherman who made him forget his fast paced life. He wants Taz--in his arms and in his bed. But as their passion sizzles in the summer heat, finances--not fishing--could tear them apart forever.

No Invitation Needed--Check out this New Author

If you enjoy your erotica with a male-male twist, Oral Invitation by B.J. Hayes is an excellent read for under a dollar. Here's the blurb:

Dylan Lindstrom has always loved women and always will. At least that's what he thinks until free spirit Jackson Carter invites him back to his place for a beer. Jackson is athletic, outgoing, good-looking, loves motorcycles—a man’s man—and Dylan feels an instant connection with him. But when Jackson offers him more than a bike ride through Denver, Dylan must decide if he’s ready to accept Jackson’s oral invitation.

Intrigued?

Here's the excerpt--it was enough to grab me--Hook, Line & Sinker--lol.

“Here it is.” He handed Dylan a brochure. “I’ve done this ride before. We go through Dillon, then over Rabbit Ears Pass through Steamboat to this tiny little town called Murphy where we have dinner and spend the night. Then we head back around the long way.” He pointed to the map inside the brochure. “There’s some great scenery through here, and we ought to glimpse some wildlife. A beautiful canyon. It’s about four hours the first day, five hours home the second. Because it’s short, we don’t have to get up at the buttcrack of dawn.”

Dylan laughed. “That sounds good. I’m not a real morning person. Except when I get up to play racquetball.”

“You play? So do I. We should play sometime.”

“Yeah, sure. I’d like to.”

“Okay, I’ll give you a call.” He pressed the brochure into Dylan’s hand. “You can keep this. I hope you’ll think about going.”

“I sure will. I haven’t had the time for a long ride in a while. I’ve missed it.” He took a long draft of his beer. “I used to ride all summer when I was in college, the years after college, too. I haven’t had time lately. Been too busy building my business. I sure miss the sun and wind on my face, though. So relaxing.”

“I know what you mean,” Jackson said. “There’s something about being on that bike that relaxes me like nothing else.” He let out a soft chuckle. “Well, almost nothing else.”

“Yeah.” Dylan couldn’t help smiling. “I’d take a good blow job over a bike ride any day.”

“Me, too.” Jackson looked straight into Dylan’s eyes. “You want one now?”

This is not a long read by any means, but Hayes has created two well-rounded (and endowed) characters you'll find yourself rooting for. The sex scenes are hot and explicit, but with plenty of emotion to help you remember what you're reading is a romance.

Wow!

I am so excited to be able to show you the cover to my upcoming release. Hook, Line & Sinker will be coming out from The Wild Rose Press as part of their Boys of Summer series. Look for it in just a few months. If the weather hasn't heated you up, this story will!