Inter-racial romances

von62653 · Dec 30, 2006

I have a WIP romance novel but the entire time I've been writing it, I haven't been really happy with my male main character. However, all week in my mind he's become a black man and I really like him now and he fits the role much better. My white heroine is just the way I want her so my question is - are publishing houses more accepting to inter-racial relationships these days? :Shrug:

Dawn R · Dec 30, 2006

I'll be watching this space with interest, Vonnie. I'm a New Zealander of Scottish and English descent; my husband is Maori, which were the people living here before the Colonials arrived and pinched all the best land! Certainly, here, there are plenty of mixed race marriages.

My latest novel has a mixed race relationship in it, and I confess, I hadn't thought much about the wider implications of that. I don't think it will hurt sales here in NZ (I'm being very positive here, and assuming my publisher is going to love it

) but overseas - who knows.

I don't have any American publishing experience so won't give advise, but I will be looking in on this post.

PS. Follow your heart, write what you have to write, let the story lead you where it wants. (But that isn't advise!)

veinglory · Dec 30, 2006

It really isn't a problem, in fact many imprints or small presses specifically serve this market and others (included major presses) are making special requests for it.

Cathy C · Dec 31, 2006

There are plenty of interracial books on the shelves right now, so I don't see why not. One of our books, Moon's Web, had an Indonesian heroine and a first generation African transplant to America.

Bubastes · Jan 3, 2007

veinglory said:
It really isn't a problem, in fact many imprints or small presses specifically serve this market and others (included major presses) are making special requests for it.

Really? Could you provide more details on the major press requests? You may have solved a huge dilemma for me.

Sweetlebee · Jan 3, 2007

Keep in mind that the black male-white female relationship is the "stickiest" of all inter-racial relationships!

Tallymark · Jan 3, 2007

Inter-racial romances are accepted, but it's inter-species romances that're popular these days, don'cha know! Are you sure you can't make him a black vampire? (j/k)

von62653 · Jan 3, 2007

Tallymark said:
Inter-racial romances are accepted, but it's inter-species romances that're popular these days, don'cha know! Are you sure you can't make him a black vampire? (j/k)

My guy is so sexy and handsome I just can't make him a vampire - waaaaaaaaa!!! I don't want him biting anybody's neck either!! :Jump:

Oh well - maybe by the time I finish - black male/white female will be popular.

veinglory · Jan 3, 2007

I read about interracial in a magazine recently but am having trouble tracking that piece down (I thought it was in either RT or my TWNZ newsletter ut it doesn't seem to be). I think one of the examples given was a Harlequin editor? Does that ring a bell with anyone?

Jackie B. · Jan 3, 2007

I know that New Concepts (e-pub) started an entire line dedicated to interracial romances. I think you're fine as long as the publisher isn't too terribly traditional or focuses on Southern themes (other than sheik romances and the occasional White/Hispanic relationship, I'm not sure Harlequin really focuses on interracial relationships all that much.)

aruna · Jan 3, 2007

All my novels have interracial romances. In my case they're black or Indian or mixed-race females with white males. I don;t know the American market but that is probably far more acceptable than vice versa. In fact, I HAVE to do it that way if I want to write for a mainstream market.
You may meet up with some opposition, or you may be told not to make him VERY black (ie, make him mixed race) That's just the way it is.

veinglory · Jan 4, 2007

Jackie B. said:
(other than sheik romances and the occasional White/Hispanic relationship, I'm not sure Harlequin really focuses on interracial relationships all that much.)

Sure they do, mainly African American (man or woman) under superromance or presents, Eva Rutland is one author my failing memory can conjur up. I have seen interracial also fairly often under Arabesque and Silhouette (Desire, IM, SE). I know I did see some calls for it somewhere but am damned if I can find it. The largest publisher I can think of that specifically focusses on interracial is Indigo (love spectrum) but the othr major houses are clearly publishing it with cover art that uses the interracial angle as a selling point.

veinglory · Jan 4, 2007

I think I tracked it down, Kimana, the Harlequin African American imprint looks for interracial for their Arabesque line.

Crinklish · Jan 5, 2007

Kimani Press

It's Kimani, and the Harlequin editors in charge of that line are Linda Gill (formerly of BET Books) and Mavis Allen. Good luck!

veinglory · Jan 5, 2007

Oops, thanks for the correction. I've read a few of there from the BET days and thought they were very good.

von62653 · Jan 20, 2007

Hi everybody,

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm still struggling to turn my male character back into the caucasion persuasion just to be on the safe side but I gotta go with my gut whether it sells or not. I'm in love with my African-American hero and so is my female lead so I'll just have go with the publishers who are open-minded enough to accept the white/black relationship concept. That is if I ever get the darn book finished.

Thanks for your support.

BTW - where's the spellcheck for these posts? I can't seem to find it.

Inter-racial romances

von62653

Dawn R

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Bubastes

bananaed

Sweetlebee

Tallymark

von62653

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Jackie B.

aruna

On a wing and a prayer

veinglory

volitare nequeo

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Crinklish

veinglory

volitare nequeo

von62653