But the fact is that black authors don’t share in that greater romance market (no matter what their work is like), so it’s apples and oranges.

I think if a black romance author writes atypical books from what black romance niche readers want (such as paranormal novels), she’d be better off in mainstream where both blacks and whites are more likely to be exposed to her work, even though that market is much more competitive, as you say.

You’re right. I gotta admit it.

Some people’s best isn’t good enough.

Romance is inherently a ranch house genre.

I think any author who’s very different from the pack needs to consider whether they want to publish in the romance genre carefully.

Especially the black author because the reality is that a black author writing black characters is simply not going to get read by the majority of romance readers regardless of how well or what she writes.

Tess Garritsen says she writes white characters because she wants to sell. Black women don’t really have that option either unless they are light skinned enough to look not quite black.

If a black romance author doesn’t write ranch houses that appeal to the readers in that small niche market, she’s screwed. Those niche readers want romance–traditional romance, sistahgurl, or soap opera. A fresh take is always welcome, but something completely different usually isn’t.

As a black woman, and with the atypical sort of book that I write, if I had to do it all over again, I’d go mainstream all the way–the direction I’m moving now, and never venture into romance at all.

Amen, sister. This is exactly what tortures the contemporary author. Because you might write the best book you can, but Sally Author, who knows precisely what the majority wants, and knows how to deliver it fast and hot, will take up your shelf space, and your publisher’s marketing money will flow towards her new releases. Not because Sally is a better author, but because she happened to fit with the majority. And you and your Best But Not So Marketable Book (if it ever gets bought) are bound to have lukewarm reviews from ninety percent of the reviewers, and a few sad dusty paperbacks tucked in a dark corner of a bookstore.

PBW is a bigger optimist than me. I’ve seen so many great stories sink just because they weren’t mainstream, or weren’t marketed enough, or didn’t hit one of the public’s hot buttons, my pink glasses turned blood red.

Besides, on the final sad note. If you write your best book, the best book you can possibly write… it is not a guarantee the book will be any good. Applying one’s best effort does not always provide a brilliant result. If you want to write good books, and not bad books, it doesn’t mean you have it in you to write books good enough to overcome the market issue.
People tend to forget about that.

Your Llasa and my dachshund had better stay apart, but they have that toe licking thing down.

As for the Victorian, that’s perfect. Do you know how many nooks and crannies you can find in the Victorian? There’s room for a little of everything and a very unique group of voices in there. I’m with you. I’ll go for the Victorian every time.

I tend to agree with PBW that marketing/promo isn’t alone going to sell books. It helps, but if the book is crap, the author isn’t going to sell well with the second one. Unfortunately, a lot of good books can’t generate the buzz necessary to rise to the top of the huge pack. That’s why consistently writing good stories will hopefully land a writer a solid career — either you’ll have a small but faithful following, or eventually one book with breakout and then you’ll have a successful backlist.

Tess Gerritsen, to me, is the epitome of this. THE SURGEON was her “breakout” novel; I loved it and THE APPRENTICE so much, I bought her entire backlist — they were all fabulous stories, particularly GRAVITY.

I write the stories that I want to write, and I hope that each one is better than the last.

It makes you a writer. And it makes me jealous. You have marketing and publicity experience, lucky gurl? Run wit’ it!

There’s a reason I don’t post clear pictures of myself. Believe me, a horse is a big improvement over the Real Me.

Going back to lurking…