Comments on: Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is… http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bettye Griffin http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17310 Bettye Griffin Wed, 09 May 2007 18:00:01 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17310 I spoke to representatives of Borders, and they maintain that their customers like to have African-American fiction shelved separately, and that is why they do it. I personally am uncomfortable with the idea of black authors like myself being shelved separately (I don't think this is why all those people fighting for equality had in mind when they were attacked, beaten, and sometimes killed.) But the issue of shelving is a big one, and many authors have problems with it. I resent having my novels placed under the heading of "Street Lit," and I also resent having my mainstream women's fiction classified as "Romance." I write romance, yes; but I also write mainstream women's fiction, and they are two different things. Anyway, I also can't argue with Borders for giving their customers what they want. That's why they're in business. I have to wonder if that is why I've noticed more African-American customers in Borders than I do at Barnes & Noble (I have set up the majority of my book signings at Borders, who has a very strong presence here in the Chicago area). Even though I prefer the shelving practices of Barnes & Noble (*all* the fiction is alphabetical by author, with certain newer titles set up on the "African-American fiction" display table), I have to promote where the people who are most likely to buy my books shop. Bettye Griffin www.bettyegriffin.com www.chew-the-fat-with-Bettye.blogspot.com I spoke to representatives of Borders, and they maintain that their customers like to have African-American fiction shelved separately, and that is why they do it.

I personally am uncomfortable with the idea of black authors like myself being shelved separately (I don’t think this is why all those people fighting for equality had in mind when they were attacked, beaten, and sometimes killed.) But the issue of shelving is a big one, and many authors have problems with it. I resent having my novels placed under the heading of “Street Lit,” and I also resent having my mainstream women’s fiction classified as “Romance.” I write romance, yes; but I also write mainstream women’s fiction, and they are two different things.

Anyway, I also can’t argue with Borders for giving their customers what they want. That’s why they’re in business. I have to wonder if that is why I’ve noticed more African-American customers in Borders than I do at Barnes & Noble (I have set up the majority of my book signings at Borders, who has a very strong presence here in the Chicago area).

Even though I prefer the shelving practices of Barnes & Noble (*all* the fiction is alphabetical by author, with certain newer titles set up on the “African-American fiction” display table), I have to promote where the people who are most likely to buy my books shop.

Bettye Griffin
http://www.bettyegriffin.com
http://www.chew-the-fat-with-Bettye.blogspot.com

]]> By: Monica http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17270 Monica Tue, 08 May 2007 13:43:23 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17270 You know, I was getting discouraged and Karen Scott predictably smacked me upside the head and pointed me to your post. Maybe the banging of my head upside the concrete wall for frickin' years was worth something more than a headache :razz:. You know, I was getting discouraged and Karen Scott predictably smacked me upside the head and pointed me to your post.

Maybe the banging of my head upside the concrete wall for frickin’ years was worth something more than a headache :razz: .

]]> By: Tara Marie http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17269 Tara Marie Tue, 08 May 2007 13:35:09 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17269 Monica--It might have taken me a while, but really--I did finally get it. :grin: Monica–It might have taken me a while, but really–I did finally get it. :grin:

]]> By: Monica http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17268 Monica Tue, 08 May 2007 13:30:41 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17268 Thank you, Tara Marie. Thank you, Tara Marie.

]]> By: Tara Marie http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17262 Tara Marie Tue, 08 May 2007 12:41:54 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17262 Ms. Smith, you've explained why I had a hard time understanding the complaints against an AA section, but finally I realized it's not about marketability, it's about right and wrong. Ms Glass uses following definition...<i>The definition of discrimination is “treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit”</i>. African American authors are not given a CHOICE in stores that segregate, their work is held separate because of the color of their skin. If we don't tolerate it in restaurants and schools we shouldn't in bookstores. Ms. Smith, you’ve explained why I had a hard time understanding the complaints against an AA section, but finally I realized it’s not about marketability, it’s about right and wrong. Ms Glass uses following definition…The definition of discrimination is “treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit”.

African American authors are not given a CHOICE in stores that segregate, their work is held separate because of the color of their skin.

If we don’t tolerate it in restaurants and schools we shouldn’t in bookstores.

]]> By: Seressia Glass: Blog Me » Following Up on being a black romance writer http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17247 Seressia Glass: Blog Me » Following Up on being a black romance writer Tue, 08 May 2007 00:38:57 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17247 [...] Romancing the blog has a post covering the topic.  Monica Jackson also blogs about it.  Actually, this writer has been blogging about the subject for years, and I can certainly see why she feels she’s pounding her head bloody against a locked door. [...] [...] Romancing the blog has a post covering the topic.  Monica Jackson also blogs about it.  Actually, this writer has been blogging about the subject for years, and I can certainly see why she feels she’s pounding her head bloody against a locked door. [...]

]]> By: Seressia http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17246 Seressia Tue, 08 May 2007 00:03:53 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17246 The second definition of racism according to the American Heritage Dictionary is "Discrimination or prejudice based on race." The definition of discrimination is "treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit" So clumping a group of books together, in which the sole defining characteristic is the author's color/or the imprint's focus, can be argued as being racism. Especially when you consider other ethnic groups are not separated out in this manner in Borders or Waldenbooks. Where's the Asian fiction section? Shouldn't the Native American romances be in the Native American section? All the regencies in the British history section? Where's the fiction with Maori protagonists? Again there is an assumption that all black people are going to buy any black book because a black person wrote it, so why not put them all together. This is simply not the case, especially when it comes to genre fiction. The second definition of racism according to the American Heritage Dictionary is “Discrimination or prejudice based on race.” The definition of discrimination is “treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit”

So clumping a group of books together, in which the sole defining characteristic is the author’s color/or the imprint’s focus, can be argued as being racism. Especially when you consider other ethnic groups are not separated out in this manner in Borders or Waldenbooks. Where’s the Asian fiction section? Shouldn’t the Native American romances be in the Native American section? All the regencies in the British history section? Where’s the fiction with Maori protagonists?

Again there is an assumption that all black people are going to buy any black book because a black person wrote it, so why not put them all together. This is simply not the case, especially when it comes to genre fiction.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17245 Melissa Mon, 07 May 2007 23:33:48 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17245 Deborah Smith said, "*And*, while yes, some readers are looking for a specific author, the marketing rationale is that “If you like this author’s book then maybe you’ll like books by these similar authors.” I seriously doubt AA romances are being shelved separately from other romances due to any form of racism." See the problem comes from is if the authors only similiarity is their skin color, then that can be seen as racist hiding behind the excuse of marketability. It's being called niche marketing but it's not being based of the content of the story but the color of the author. Even if you don't see it as racist then see the problem is the authors and readers voices aren't being heard. In the simpliest terms they are asking why can't my book be with the general romance section or erotica, or paranormal, etc.? Kimani Press is an imprint of Harlequin so why isn't these books on the same shevles as a Blaze, Desire, American Romance, and all the other imprints and lines they own? Okay, if you don't see that as a problem then ask is the way AA authors are marketed(clumped in alphabetical order no thought to genre) helping or hindering sells? Deborah Smith said, “*And*, while yes, some readers are looking for a specific author, the marketing rationale is that “If you like this author’s book then maybe you’ll like books by these similar authors.” I seriously doubt AA romances are being shelved separately from other romances due to any form of racism.”

See the problem comes from is if the authors only similiarity is their skin color, then that can be seen as racist hiding behind the excuse of marketability. It’s being called niche marketing but it’s not being based of the content of the story but the color of the author.

Even if you don’t see it as racist then see the problem is the authors and readers voices aren’t being heard. In the simpliest terms they are asking why can’t my book be with the general romance section or erotica, or paranormal, etc.?

Kimani Press is an imprint of Harlequin so why isn’t these books on the same shevles as a Blaze, Desire, American Romance, and all the other imprints and lines they own?

Okay, if you don’t see that as a problem then ask is the way AA authors are marketed(clumped in alphabetical order no thought to genre) helping or hindering sells?

]]> By: Claudia http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17244 Claudia Mon, 07 May 2007 22:00:13 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17244 I recently filled out one of those notorious Borders surveys and wonder about the accuracy of the AA book research. I never told Borders my race and don't know if they sent copies to all Borders Reward memebers or if they tracked the fact that I make AA book purchases. The survey was described as being general, but it seemed like 90-95% of the questions were about AA books. I think it would have been very tempting for anyone to give affirmative answers to questions like the ones about the convenience of and special cultural/ethnic acknowledgement in having separate shelves. There was even a question about whether respondents thought an AA children's book section was a great idea... There were also questions about coupons, promotions, bookclubs and other issues in relation to AA books and AA readers. I said I liked convenience, but always left comments emphasizing that I like consistency even more. I was really irritated to find Kimanis on an endcap facing a little visited corner of my store when everyone was looking for Kimanis in the AA and romance section. I recently filled out one of those notorious Borders surveys and wonder about the accuracy of the AA book research. I never told Borders my race and don’t know if they sent copies to all Borders Reward memebers or if they tracked the fact that I make AA book purchases.

The survey was described as being general, but it seemed like 90-95% of the questions were about AA books. I think it would have been very tempting for anyone to give affirmative answers to questions like the ones about the convenience of and special cultural/ethnic acknowledgement in having separate shelves. There was even a question about whether respondents thought an AA children’s book section was a great idea… There were also questions about coupons, promotions, bookclubs and other issues in relation to AA books and AA readers.

I said I liked convenience, but always left comments emphasizing that I like consistency even more. I was really irritated to find Kimanis on an endcap facing a little visited corner of my store when everyone was looking for Kimanis in the AA and romance section.

]]> By: Deborah Smith http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/04/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/comment-page-1/#comment-17242 Deborah Smith Mon, 07 May 2007 19:49:19 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/05/02/putting-my-money-where-my-mouth-is/#comment-17242 I think it's a mistake to assume bookstores are either condescending or racist when they shelve AA books together. As a small press publisher I've learned a lot about the way wholesalers and booksellers do business: It's all about branding, about types, genres, and easily identifiable niches. There's soooo much competition for readers' attention and time. Anything that makes it easier for readers to find a certain specific type of book promotes sales. So it's my guess that bookstores are mostly concerned with providing their AA customers (including non-AA readers who want to read AA fiction) with a simple go-to place to find it. *And*, while yes, some readers are looking for a specific author, the marketing rationale is that "If you like this author's book then maybe you'll like books by these similar authors." I seriously doubt AA romances are being shelved separately from other romances due to any form of racism. It's always about what sells the most books the fastest. I think it’s a mistake to assume bookstores are either condescending or racist when they shelve AA books together. As a small press publisher I’ve learned a lot about the way wholesalers and booksellers do business: It’s all about branding, about types, genres, and easily identifiable niches. There’s soooo much competition for readers’ attention and time. Anything that makes it easier for readers to find a certain specific type of book promotes sales. So it’s my guess that bookstores are mostly concerned with providing their AA customers (including non-AA readers who want to read AA fiction) with a simple go-to place to find it. *And*, while yes, some readers are looking for a specific author, the marketing rationale is that “If you like this author’s book then maybe you’ll like books by these similar authors.” I seriously doubt AA romances are being shelved separately from other romances due to any form of racism. It’s always about what sells the most books the fastest.

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