Fans of Interracial Romance discussion
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I'm Tired of the Slave Woman and Master Thing
Read all of the comments, took it all on board and sat for a few moments wondering should I dive in with all the FACTS about this historical past, or leave you all with your feelings. As I am soon to be 50 years old and having gone thru much in life - I'd like to think I've lived and learned... yeah - I have. So... basically... good thread ladies, interesting stuff! *Wink* I have Flight of Fancy to complete, ciao!
What this thread has reminded me of once again, is that there is a vast and crazy variety of tastes and writers to fill them. Personally, I'd like to see some fiction featuring non-whites in other historical times besides the US pre-Civil War period. If any of you have any titles to share, let me know!
lol Mercedes,you sound so passionate about your work that I want to try one of your books!!...even if it's about slaves.
Mercedes wrote: "Read all of the comments, took it all on board and sat for a few moments wondering should I dive in with all the FACTS about this historical past, or leave you all with your feelings. As I am soon ..."Mercedes, write your stories. As a writer, I never write for anyone but myself. At the end of the day, you are the only one that suppose to be comfortable and like your story, no one else. If a person like your type of storytelling, then that's them.
I'm not a fan of historical stories, but I have to say I love For The Roses by Julie Garwood. Cole Clayborne is my baby! I have read so many historical books prior to getting into contemporary books. I own a lot of historical books. I just prefer contemporary books.
I strongly stand on that writing is about using imagination. Plus, there's nothing new under the sun. We don't know everything that has happen in slavery time. No one can honestly say that every black slave woman was treated like a piece of meat by the white owner or son, etc.
I tend to read stories that interest me. If it's not to my liking, I will not read it.
I like reading (and writing) about the period leading up to the Civil War. The Underground Railroad was a fabulos resistance movement and I loved writing about it. Like any resistance movement, the UR has potential for all kinds of sexy stories. I frankly don't understand ehy there aren't more of them. It was a very dangerous time in our nation's history, and dangerous times lend themselves to romance.Nothing annoys me more than someone who assumes that I'm ignorant about history. I have a degree in History and am passionate about the topic. I read more non fiction, usually history, than I do fiction and I stand by my distaste for romantic stories involving slaves and masters. I read Wench and Cane River too, and I stand by my assertion. Were there slaves that "loved" their masters? Yep, captured people are known to feel that way. Do I want to read about it? Hell no. I'm actually far more interested in the enslaved women who resisted by killing their owners. Of course, I can't imagine anyone stupid enough to take a woman's children away and then eating her cooking, but there you go.
Mercedes wrote: "Read all of the comments, took it all on board and sat for a few moments wondering should I dive in with all the FACTS about this historical past, or leave you all with your feelings. As I am soon ..."No disrespect meant Mercedes, but it's not just feelings as you put it. I'm a historical junkie and I am more than aware that there were instances where true love florished between a slave master and a slave. How on earth could it not, LOL? However, and you must concede this point, it's quite problematic when you take into account the overall inequity of the relationship. The slavemaster is in control no matter how you slice it. Yes, he may jeopardize his standing in the community by falling in love with the slave (and that's a huge issue to overcome), but what's at stake for the female slave is far worse. She may love him too, but their relationship is frought with peril. He can leave it. She cannot. Seriously, as a writer in this genre, how do you realistically deal with the inequality aspect in a way that doesn't come off as some antebellum apologistic faerie tale?
Still, I'm all aboard about writers writing what makes them happy. From what I've seen of your work, you have quite the following.
Agree with Vix (again)! I also like to add that a lot of us here know about the history of slavery, some more than others. No one on this thread knows how much someone knows about anything just because of someone's opinion toward the types of books we like or don't like.
Just because some people might prefer not to read books with a certain subject matter doesn't mean they are clueless. I have been reading about slavery and learning about it since I was a child. I love history and I am also a history buff so I just want folks to understand that just because some of us don't like something, it doesn't mean it's because we don't know what were are talking about.
That's just like me being a crime/mystery author saying folks don't know anything about the genre or subject just because they say they don't like it. I don't think any of us need to be schooled on history facts and if so I am sure we are all intelligent enough to know how to research on our own. That is definitely not the case. I love learning and reading about the history of slavery. I just don't care for romance books that focus on slaves and masters. We all have a right to our opinions and it has nothing to do with the authors who write these types of books. No one is trying to say they shouldn't be written, I am saying I no longer care for them, that's all.
I kind of got the feeling that it was seen that if you don't like slavery romance it means you don't know enough about the history.
We're all readers and some of us are also writers and I'd like to think we can all disagree and agree on liking certain things without it taken personally.
I'm not speaking to anyone personally so no one take offense, just wanted to make that clear. Not liking something doesn't mean the person doesn't understand it. It just means they don't like it.
Tisha wrote: "lol Mercedes,you sound so passionate about your work that I want to try one of your books!!...even if it's about slaves."Tisha... I am! In fact, I'll GIVE you the TRILOGY to read for FREE! All three books... that way if anything puts you off - you haven't spent a dime! Contact me when you're ready.
My choosing to reserve comment was not driven by my thinking NO ONE here KNEW history. We all do! ALL OF US - know historical facts... to a point. But there were blanket and sweeping statements made that were hard and stone cold declarations made in there delivery which were not true. NO ONE black... will EVER deny the ugliness of the past, NO ONE. ME - I refuse to let it hang me up. History is often interpreted by the winner of the war - their way! Heck with that! There's more to it, and I plan on telling it.
My primary goal has always been from the very beginning of my writing, to bring the BLACK WOMEN BACK UP to where WE - SHE belongs! Sometimes, you have to go BACK in history at that time when we were all torn down, and write about the WOMEN of that time, that stood as a strong role model to emulate. Against all the odds... she comes up on top... I LOVE those kinds of stories and black women being the lead in them.
That's why I write historicals... too many things LEFT unsaid, unwritten. And YOUNG black women today are still searching form themselves... searching for where they've come from. The OLD history written by romance writers ie; white women - are stores with THEIR agenda.
My historicals have MY Agenda! There are MANY accounts of white masters so enamored by their "Slave wench" that they actually KILLED their white wives and gave all into the hands of the so called, "mammie".
Accounts of them buying entire plantations and leaving the running of it to HER! A Black slave!
Accounts where the heaviest hand - the one quick to beat and order a beating came from who? The so-called "mammie!" Strong, dominant, in charge and taking shit from no one, including the master!!! You won't read about those accounts in history books or white written historicals because those accounts aren't apart of their agenda. And if you do read it, the mammie or black slave women have been demonized. Not to say that many of them weren't mean and evil... with good reason.
Flight of Fancy... is about a fancy who would NOT be one and indeed killed to be free!
I don't fear, resent, or avoid our history, I WRITE about it. About the stories, women, men, black and white, NO ONE wants to write about. And this will not appeal to all... but there are young black LOST women who NEED to KNOW - that while we were slaves and down, we were NOT the only slaves!
They need to know that we weren't slaves because we were BLACK - we were slaves because we were the STRONGEST EVER to be slaves, and endure what the IRISH slaves couldn't endure... what the SCOTS couldn't endure, what some Native Indian WOULDN'T endure!
Irish and Scots were BRANDED on their FACES and foreheads to be marked as slaves! Many died. They were beat and forced into the fields of AMERICA! - and could not endure the scorching sun and died. There is more... but I saving it for Saoirse - my Fancy series and other stories I will tell about SLAVERY pre-civil war!
I'm not angry about coming from a slave past, because I KNOW - BLACK is good at everything! Even slavery, and when all the others WHITE and BROWN died of slavery we stood, endured, and sometimes made the best of our situation, coming out sometimes, better than others did!
WE were not the only ones in history treated with such an indignity... and I will not run from it, hide from it, avoid it. Because there is STILL much to be said that is NOT KNOWN.
I'm gonna tell it - those that read it, will hopefully enjoy the way I tell it MY WAY! Because I have an agenda, just like all the writers who gave it their spin.
I apologize to ALL for sounding preachy... reason I tried to avoid it - but I'm human, and for that I won't apologize. In the nutshell - I truly DON'T CARE who won't read it... I only care about those who do - because there is something they need to consider and think about it.
As I write it, I love reading others ideas on it - if I don't AGREE or if it sets me OFF - like you all - I just stop and go to the next book and focus on writing my own.
No feelings were hurt during this long and drawn out announcement - all who came and took it in, left with everything they came with. Including me... *wink*
Chill m'sista's it's not a big deal... we are who and what we are...
Go Mercedes. I don't like to see cap words, because that's classified as screaming, but you have stood your ground. If a slave/master book isn't someone's thing, then they don't need to read it. As I have said before, there's nothing new under the sun. Hate were present back in slavery time and hate is present in today's time, but in spite of that fact, a lot of white owners were truly in love with their slave woman and didn't see her as a piece of meat.Black history is okay, but I'm not just black. I have other history in my blood as well. Too many slave stories are sugar coated. A lot of the black slaves were slaves to other blacks, way before they came to America and no one can tell me that every black slave owner treated their slaves with love. A lot of black people today don't treat other black people with love.
Continue to have fun writing your stories Mercedes.
I agree with Arch,I'm happy you stood your ground Mercedes.I don't think you sounded preachy b/c we do all know about our collective past as black people.How we chose to adress it or view it varies from one person to another.It's like the whole "N" word drama...Some people use this former racial slur as an empowering word while others avoid it altogether.who's to say which option is better....same thing goes with the whole owner/slave relationship.BTW Mercedes, thank you for your offer...I was actually eying your website not too long ago.I just feel like I would be ripping you off by getting a whole triology for free...lol
Arch, sorry about the cap'd words it's a bad habit that I'll rectify - I only meant them for emphasis. You mentioned another reason I chose IR as my primary for all lit we write - they are stories of my family tree. As a descendant of all the slaves black and white and of the masters too - these people are the reason I even live - it goes without saying - I'm telling their story.Tisha, giving you the trilogy is not going to make us or break us. You're not the first we've given it to, nor will you be the last. So, .PDF? epub? Or kindle? I'll be waiting xxx
Mercedes wrote: "Arch, sorry about the cap'd words it's a bad habit that I'll rectify - I only meant them for emphasis. You mentioned another reason I chose IR as my primary for all lit we write - they are stories ..."No problem Mercedes. Continue to write your stories and enjoy every single one of them. You have readers that enjoy those types of stories.
Now, when you write that dangerous bad boy bw/wm story, let me know. :)
I would love to see interracial writers publish dangerous bad boy, non erotic books. And when I speak about dangerous bad boy, I'm talking about the hero being an assassin, mercenary, etc. - of course the hero has to have flaws. He has to be sassy, sarcastic, tough, bold, and a little killer happy. In other words he'll kill a bad guy in a minute without blinking his eyes.
Sorry for going off topic. I just wish there were interracial books like these.
Arch wrote: I'm talking about the hero being an assassin, mercenary, etc. - of course the hero has to have flaws. He has to be sassy, sarcastic, tough, bold, and a little killer happy. In other words he'll kill a bad guy in a minute without blinking his eyes. ..."This sounds like Shawn. He's not an assassin - but he will kill in the blink of an eye and has. Check out our drama series Bomaw... you MIGHT like it. MIGHT - it's contemporary - 2005 in fact. Shawn, has plenty of flaws - as well his brothers.
If you read it at our website, it's free. Only the volumes costs! All you have to do is register - via; muah - LOL, spammers love my site, so I've disabled open registration. Give it some thought.
message 66:
by
Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress, Group Founder and Moderator
(new)
Thanks for standing up for what you write and why, Mercedes. We don't all have to love the same kinds of books, and that's fine. But it's great to have some enlightenment on where everyone is coming from so we can understand each other. I support you in your writing endeavors, Mercedes. I believe that every one of us who puts our hearts on paper can inspire others by reading those words. Even if the writer goes to dark places, she is sure to reach someone. While there are literary journeys I don't desire to take, I realize that other readers may want to travel those paths, so I am happy that there are quality writers who will provide those travels.
Mercedes, I'm happy that this period moves you and that you feel inclined to write about it. For what it's worth, I love stories about harems and courtesans. I've even had past lives in harems. And many women have no desire to read these types of stories because they feel the same way about them as they do black slave/white master stories. The Turkish harems were brutal and oftentimes the women who had the ear of the sultan were running the show, not the sultan. Just like courtesans throughout history had more political power than the queen, especially if you look at King Louis XIV and King Charles II.
There are millions of readers out there, and everyone has their favorite periods in history and not so favorite. I believe you have an audience for your stories, so write what you feel spurred to write, and just focus on those who are interested.
I like Sci-Fi/Fantasy and I love strong heroine-driven adventures because I feel black women have been terribly under-represented in this genre. So I like to show that we can head up an adventure just as well as a white heroine.
Chaeya
I don't understand what were the sweeping generalizations people made? From where I sit we were all giving our opinions mostly. I also don't think anyone stated anything about slavery that weren't true.Either way, done with it. I've stated my opinions and reasons and once again it has nothing to do with folks who write this.
I think sometimes when we are personally connected to something we tend to take things personally even if not on purpose. It's human I guess.
Also, I gotta say this, no one is hiding from anything just because they choose to not read romances based on slavery. Does that mean we have to read and like everything based on something in history or we're avoiding it? I don't think skipping a certain type of romance book means an avoidance of something that truly happened in history. One is fiction and the other is real. I don't think anyone has some big fear or anything. LOL!Anyway, I am done because I don't have anymore to say on this personally. Thanks for making this discussion so enlightening, ladies.
I'm not sure what history books you refer to, Mercedes, but all the ones I've read talk about these liaisons quite extensively. Famed diarist Mary Chestnut talks about it, as does Harriet Jacobs. The situation with Sally Hemings was widely known in Jefferon's lifetime and was used in political campaigns against him. He and Abigail Adams famously had a falling out over it. This is all stuff that was discussed openly in my high school and college history classes, as was placage. In Alabama, no less. And who doesn't know that those households were ruled by Mammies? Plenty of books talk about that. Like I said, the assumption that people are ignorant of history is unbelievably arrogant. I don't want to read about slaves sleeping with slave owners because I don't find rape, historical or contemporary, entertaining. I'm not ashamed of my slave legacy, IMO those whoshould be ashamed are those who owned slaves. IMO, black women cannot be lifted anywhere on her back, especially when she's under a man who owns her.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mercedes. It was interesting to read the reasons why you choose to write books on this topic.
Chaeya wrote: "Mercedes, I'm happy that this period moves you and that you feel inclined to write about it.I like Sci-Fi/Fantasy and I love strong heroine-driven adventures because I feel black women have been terribly under-represented in this genre.
For what it's worth, I love stories about harems and courtesans. I've even had past lives in harems. ..."
I've got one started up for this genre as well. It's called Al'Koben'Ra - Sci-fi/Fantasy - I'm driven to make this a graphic novel and so, I'm working my muscles a bit in illustrating it. The beginnings of it is at amberswann.com as well under short stories.
I'm BACKLOGGED to absolute madness. I'm carrying Bomaw - with Volume 13 due to come - plus the following that must be done and or started before the end of this year. Flight of Fancy - Saoirse - Bomaw Volume 14 - Fancy Free - Aza - Mistress of Winback Island -(Historical Pirates tale)- Bomaw Volume 15 - Rough Diamond - and then completed first graphic novel, Al'Koben-Ra, Sci-fi/Fantasy.
The list is longer and unfortunately I've had to drop 7 stories off the list, that was hell to do as most were historicals. Time, life and health will tell if I make it.
Merecedes, when I get some time (ha ha, what's that?) I will happily check out some of your stories. I really shouldn't be in here running off at the mouth right now because I'm on the last phase of edits for my book that I have to have ready by the RT next month. My editor was late, the lady doing my map is late, which makes me late, but when have I not done anything totally running ragged to get it done on time.Chaeya
Mercedes wrote: "This sounds like Shawn. He's not an assassin - but he will kill in the blink of an eye and has. Check out our drama series Bomaw... you MIGHT like it. MIGHT - it's contemporary - 2005 in fact. Shawn, has plenty of flaws - as well his brothers. If you read it at our website, it's free. Only the volumes costs! All you have to do is register - via; muah - LOL, spammers love my site, so I've disabled open registration. Give it some thought."
I might have to check this out.
assassin story???...I have to check this out!! For some reason, I like books with dangerous heroes/bad boys who would make me go cry to my mommy in real life.lol I' m kinda in march break right now so I have plenty of time to read....I kinda favor Kindle, so if you don't mind :)
Mercedes, I totally respect the right to your opinion and as I said in my last post, write what moves you. I'm all about that. You speak of blanket assumptions but aren't you assuming from your previous and highly informative post that we who choose NOT to read slave woman/master stories are somewhat lacking in knowledge? Sorry to enlighten you, but everything you posted I already knew and it still doesn't change the fact that for me we are talking about a relationship that is not based on an EQUAL FOOTING. Sorry if I have a serious problem with that, but there it is. That's no slight against you. Granted, the master killed his white wife for a slave woman. It was still his choice to do that. What would happen if one day he felt remorse for his crime? Blame the slave woman for "bewitching" him. He's accepted back into the fold. The slave woman winds up tortured and dead. Yes, I've read an historical account of that. In the case of Sally Hemings, she was literally the mistress of Monticello and both Dolly Madison and Abigail Adams commented upon her status in their writings, as did Alex de Toqueville and the Marquis de Lafayette when Jefferson visited France. Remember when Jefferson went to France, they'd already outlawed slavery and for the Parisians, it was difficult to understand Sally Hemings' relationship with him. They liked Jefferson as a man, but they did not (and many of the French enlightenment leaders such as Rousseau called him out on it) like his keeping of slaves. Also remember this era was the beginning of the French Revolution--liberte, egalite, fraternite? Slavery was not a part of that any longer.
Don't think for a moment that you are the only nerdy black woman who eats, sleeps and breathes history, LOL. Not only am I familiar with the African-America side of my rather convoluted family tree, but also my Scottish clan as well. As a member of the Hannay clan, I wear my ancestral hunting plaid. I am also an Elizabethan re-enactor. Why? Because even in jolly ol' England in the 1600's, we were there and not just as slaves.
By the way, you do know the origins of the bustle, right?
I highly doubt anyone here is ashamed of black history or of black women. Our strength and resilence is the stuff of Homeric legends. Sometimes I get upset because our history is relegated to the second tier. Why on earth do you think we write/read/both about black women when it would probably be easier (and a damn sight more lucrative) to write about flaxen-haired wenches with size 0 waists, LOL? We LOVE being black women. I know I most certainly do!
Tisha wrote: "assassin story???...I have to check this out!! For some reason, I like books with dangerous heroes/bad boys who would make me go cry to my mommy in real life.lol I' m kinda in march break right n..."
Dangerous bad boy stories are fun to write and read.
By the way Mercedes, are you related to Alan Keyes, the former U.S. Ambassador and former presidential hopeful? Just curious from a historical standpoint.
Vixenne wrote: "Mercedes, I totally respect the right to your opinion and as I said in my last post, write what moves you. By the way, you do know the origins of the bustle, right?..."YES! Long time ago in fact, as my grandmother was a woman who carried such a figure. A rump made for riding on the back of... and it was at the age of 22 that one of my top family role models - an aunt, had a good time in telling me about the "Bustle" and it's strong possible origins.
As for Scottish/Irish clans, I'm from the McMullins - I have made several attempts to make full tracking of the family tree, that branch anyway which is from my father's side. From Ackeron, Ms. to New York - and now that I'm in England... if I can get my health in check, my writing caught up, my husband and I will resume tracing the McMullin clan roots right here in England where we live. As Ireland and Scotland are next door to me now, less than a couple hours drive.
As for the part assuming I was the only one with the above history... once more, everything I said stands to be accurate. You see, only a FEW of us when compared to our numbers... know these extra facts. The numbers of educated - truth seeking black women are few in comparison... and the numbers are only slowly getting better - if that! Those at the top are working their formula with all their might to continue the onslaught of dumbing us - and everyone else they consider "Goyim" - down.
As we all know, there are great numbers of girls - teens who won't read anything that isn't pleasure or fantasy driven. Starting at the ripe age of 11 or 12 they get material to read no mother wish they would gain access to, but they do just the same. SO - if they just so happen to get a hold of some of my material, I want them to read something that makes them go... "Hmmm, I didn't know that?" It is at that point, they might - dig further and seek to listen to the history lesson and dig for more. OR they might just seek to read more of what I've written. If they do... they learn more - and more - and maybe, seek to find the facts for themselves.
See unlike you - and I - they DON'T know the truth behind our history. My goal is to reach and switch the light on for THEM... not you. You already know - millions and I repeat... millions of BLACK young girls and women... haven't a clue and are lost! I repeat... are lost... I repeat lost!
Heck, for that matter, there are educated black and white women and others for that matter, lost! So if this can be so, surely it is even more so for the young one who just so happens to get a certain book and has her light turned on. I wanna turn their lights on... because I was once like them.
Young, dumb, lost, not a clue, and didn't want one. It was sneaking and reading various books of fiction that turned my light on.
In the end... my stories are NOT for you. My fictional tales with scattered elements of historical truth, are for THEM. Those who do not know... and there are millions more of them, than there are of you.
As for Alan Keyes... NO relation. Mercedes Keyes is my writing/pen name. I am by birth, a McMullin.
@Mercedes! Can I give you a hug now?I see where you're going now and greatly admire your tenacity for it. I guess the difficult part for you ins't just getting the books to that readership you spoke of, but convincing them that such stories are worth reading. They'll balk at reading about slave women and their masters falling in love because of the conventional narrative.
From what I've researched, the origin of the bustle came about because there were so many men in the royal families of Europe who had mistresses of African descent. In fact there are several fanous paintings of these women hanging in museums from the L'Hermitage to the Louvre. One of the things the white courtesans noticed about their dark-skinned and mulatto rivals was the shape of their posteriors and their small waists (not too different from today). In order to compete and gain favor with these royal personages, they started having these undergarments added to their skirts in order to affect the look of a shapely rear end and the rest as they say, is history, LOL.
Just because you've been wonderful as a passionate author, I'm willing to go out of my zone and give one of your novels a shot. I won't promise you that I will absolutely love it, and yes, I'm coming in with preconceived notions of inequality, but my reviews are always fair.
Great discussion! I think there is a place for all sorts of stories.
What I believe is content should be clearly designated so readers know what they're getting. I think readers that are offended or simply dislike a trope should have plenty of indication if it's there so they can know what to avoid.
Different strokes for different folks.
But clearly indicating content can be a problem in traditional publishing where authors don't always have control over covers, blurbs, etc.
message 82:
by
Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress, Group Founder and Moderator
(new)
Monica, I agree with you that there should be a clear indication of what kind of book it is.I have been burned that way, and it's a bad feeling. It makes you bitter and less likely to want to read something else by that author/publisher.
It is really not the author's fault if it's a traditional publisher. Believe me, it makes the author want to burn down something too :-D
message 84:
by
Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress, Group Founder and Moderator
(last edited Mar 12, 2012 11:50am)
(new)
I know, but if I can only go on the experience of reading one of their books and being burned, I'm not likely to step back into the frying pan, you know. It's a loss for both of us.
Vixenne wrote: "@Mercedes! Can I give you a hug now?I see where you're going now and greatly admire your tenacity for it. I guess the difficult part for you ins't just getting the books to that readership yo..."
I Love hugs, TIGHT - meaningful tearful hugs, and you'd find if you gave me one, I'd hug you right back, tight as can be. I LOVE my sista's, black and white. That's how I see us. And this to me, is it. We're on the brink of do or die. One time, and YOU know this - neither of us had ANY rights, color of skin had nothing to do with it. Women were dispatched at the blink of an eye if they some how displeased their - owners, masters, husbands... all the same back way when.
I come off aggressive sometimes, but I don't mean to be. I've spent my life physically fighting from the age of 7 to 33 - babysitters sons, school mates, family, siblings, 1st husband. Now, my current husband, who is English, just like me, yes white - gets me completely, but - because he is close to 10 years older, is trying to alert me that I need to breathe, chill and learn tact and how to make my points without dominating the discussion.
I'm trying, I really am - and I don't wish to offend or alienate anyone, although I have.
As for reading the younger ones... it's already happened, in fact, I have 3 signed into our JK Space Nook who have already confessed they read my Princess Ces'alena - and then the rest of the trilogy when it came out. The first to contact me, SAYS she is now 19, but was 12 when she read it and loved it. The other two admitted being 14, and 16... so they're out there.
Anywaaaaay - it's all good. And I'm trying - to grow as a writer - to put out material that brings us up, that's all. And... I LOVE history - the past, and I love bringing out in the stories hidden truths not told or rather taught in mainstream grammar schools. yadda yadda yadda...
xoxoxoxox - *Muah* believe me, it ain't nothin' but love, rough love sometimes, but love just the same.
I'm definitely over the femme slave dynamic, as well. As others have noted, I'll read anything that's well written (almost), but generally speaking that's just not a dynamic that appeals to me. By the same token, I love to read explorations of characters/people exploring their boundaries, however that manifests. It's an intriguing plot device and consciousness expander.
My book coming out in May switches roles up a lot, not only in changing the femme slave dynamic, but also toys with how tops can really be assertive bottoms, and doms can be playful teachers. Excerpt at:
http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm...
"Long in passion’s service, confident Asif enjoys his life as a thirty-something escort, bringing romance into the lives of metropolitan socialite cougars. Gifted at seducing wealthy white MILFs and bringing them endless pleasure, the arrogant Persian eschews investing in a personal life. A chance meeting with young artist, Cass, while on the job at a gala event, changes his perspective on women forever, and unleashes desires Asif never knew he had."
Fierce wrote: "I'm definitely over the femme slave dynamic, as well. As others have noted, I'll read anything that's well written (almost), but generally speaking that's just not a dynamic that appeals to me. ..."
So yours is a BDSM novel right? The reason I ask is because BDSM is a wholly different dynamic. We're speaking of a consensual form of loveplay in contrast to the historical slave oppression of black women. A well written black female sub in the BDSM world is nothing like an ancestor who's the unwilling concubine of a man who's society views her as 3/5 of a human being.
Added your book to my TBR stack. I hope Cass is a black female Dominant. There are like almost none of those in book-dom and I'd love to read one.
ETA: I posted a link to a book but realized that despite being on a romance site it was not really romance, more fetish erotica, so I'm just going to delete it entirely so as not to derail the ongoing convo.
I know this is an old discussion, but I'm going to chime in anyway. I write inspirational historical romance and this subject happens to be what I'm currently writing about. I'm working on a three book series about interracial marriage within antebellum French Creole society. Only one of the three takes place in New Orleans.And I'm white as a piece of Wonder bread, to boot. But Louisiana is my home and our history is so rich with racial mixing that I can't *not* write about it. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I will be using the French terms for people of mixed race. The book I have out there right now with an agent is about a quadroon plantation owner fighting his step-mother for control of his plantation, and the white woman he falls in love with. His mother was a free woman, legally married to his white father via a wedding in Paris.
I am not glossing over the horrors of slavery, but neither am I painting all slave owners as Simon Legree. Neither portrayal is true to history. (I also live one parish northwest of where the real Simon Legree owned Solomon Northup, so we're very aware of what slavery was like in this area)
The one I'm writing now is WAY more complicated. The hero is a French Creole man in love with a quadroon slave girl, who he rescues via a bet in a poker game. Yes, he wins her and takes her home with him. Her former master is a Simon Legree type, and the villain of the novel. My heroine is a very strong woman who did not know she was a slave until her father died when she was 13. Things like this did happen here in Louisiana, moreso than in other states because of our French laissez faire attitudes.
She hates what she is, nothing more than a whore. But at the same time she's found a little bit of power in it and has learned how to wield it. She's a fascinating, multifaceted young woman. I'm walking a fine line with my target audience here, and covering ground not often seen in the world of Christian romance. That's part of why I'm writing this.
I also find it an amazing challenge to craft this couple in a way where their romance is believable, passionate and true to Louisiana history. It's forcing me to stretch myself as a writer. To make it even more complicated the year for this one is 1860 and freeing slaves is no longer legally possible.
My hero's business partner is also quadroon, as is his wife, and it's through them that I'm showing the tightening of the noose, so to speak, on the free gens de colour on the eve of the war. Again, his white father was legally married to his mulatto mother. This type of relationship was common enough that the state supreme court felt the need to weigh in on it in 1855. And the French Creoles ignored it, just like they ignored the 1825 law at the center of the ruling.
I have a secondary character, a quadroon man, who is a slave and trapped in a horrible life. It's through his eyes that readers see the injustice and degradation of slavery. His life as a mixed-race man in antebellum Louisiana is in many ways harder than it was for women. He's ripped from his family time and time again, before finally making it back at the end of the war and having to face the father who sold him away.
It's something I'm doing my best to handle with sensitivity and care. As a writer, the conflict potential I have with this is addictive. It's not an easy subject to write about and I'm researching like crazy to back up the truth of what I'm writing. Far too many people (mostly white, of course) judge Louisiana based on Georgia or Virginia and have no idea there was such liberal mixing of the races here, and many a legal marriage between a white man and a black/mulatto/quadroon woman.
I'm also purposely *not* writing about the Cane River Creoles. They get covered a lot and have a relatively high profile. I'm more interested in the untold stuff where the conflict potential makes me salivate.
Balancing the Christian faith element in all of this makes it even more challenging. Especially with an adultery sub-plot in the first book that has continuing repercussions in the other two. I can't have my French Creole white hero seducing a slave woman, neither can I have him bed her without her consent or a marriage license. I do have to take some liberties with the facts in order to make it palatable to my target audience, but all historical writers have to do that at some point or another.
Character backstory is also crucial, IMO, to pulling off a plot like this. Mine are carefully crafted and thoroughly researched so it's believable. I've also flipped the seduction attempt on its head and it's her doing the seducing. Her journey past that and to seeing herself as someone with value beyond her bedroom skills is the core of her character arc.
This whole thread has given me lots to think about as I continue writing this story. Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to share an opinion.
Rachel wrote: "I know this is an old discussion, but I'm going to chime in anyway. I write inspirational historical romance and this subject happens to be what I'm currently writing about. I'm working on a three ..."Go for it... sounds very interesting... I love the idea already!
I'm all for writers telling the stories that move them. We're not all going to like the same type of genres. I figure if you're motivated to write about a subject, there's always some people who would be interested in reading it. Chaeya
"Balancing the Christian faith element in all of this makes it even more challenging. Especially with an adultery sub-plot in the first book that has continuing repercussions in the other two. I can't have my French Creole white hero seducing a slave woman, neither can I have him bed her without her consent or a marriage license. I do have to take some liberties with the facts in order to make it palatable to my target audience, but all historical writers have to do that at some point or another."Heh heh heh. I hate to be the contrarian here but in playing fast and loose with the historical facts, Christian or not, is kind of whitewashing the nuances of what these master/slave relationships really were like. A marriage between an octaroon/quadroon and a white wasn't unthinkable, but it certainly was FAR from the norm. After all, what do you think those Octaroon Balls were about--mistresses, not wives (one reason I LOVED Anne Rice's The Feast of All Saints. I'd rather see a lot more truth than the endless tip-toeing around the tulips as it were. Not that I'm telling you how to write your story, but I'm merely expressing my opinion.
As usual, LOL.
Andrea wrote: "What this thread has reminded me of once again, is that there is a vast and crazy variety of tastes and writers to fill them. Personally, I'd like to see some fiction featuring non-whites in other ..."Andrea, based on your comment, you might enjoy something by Beverly Jenkins. She writes everything from historical romance (mostly non-white), to faith based fiction.
I attempted to read The Slave Master's Son. A definite DNF for me. I'm not sure why, but the dialogue had the hero talking like a Shakespearean actor while the heroine sounded spoke in a more stereotypical manner. If they grew up together for the life of me I don't understand why this would be so. I gave up after a few chapters. Clearly from the Margaret Mitchell version of history. Southern whites and southern whites spoke more or less the sme way, much as they do today. How could it be otherwise? The dslaves learned English from white people, so they spoke it the way white people did.
I hate it when an author plays with hitorical facts which is one of the reasons I won't read antebellum historicals written by whit authors, and yet another reason I stopped reading regencies.
Slavery was an ugly time in this nation's history with few moments of happiness. It was and is a complex period, but way too many authors just don't seem able to negotiate the complexities without whitewashing for some reason or other. Maybe that's why in RL we have such a difficult time dealing with race--because people are so unwilling to be honest.I still love the occasional Regency however, but like most ears, I prefer grittiness to foofy sweetness.
I've read both books and enjoyed them. WENCH is from the perspective of various black women and their white owners and their relationships. They meet each Summer at a resort in the Midwest where the masters take them. SLAVES MASTER'S SON looks at this relationship from the view that they love each other. Having been brought up together on the plantation,childhood playmates and inseperable teens,it is quite understandable that affection and love would develop.Was this true in all instances? No,but it did happen.
Also check out Mercedes Keyes I/R series which begins in Africa,to the plantation in America till the present day. It is another interesting series.
Delaney wrote: "Gemini, I know of two, but they're kinda pricey. Check out Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
and The Slave Master's Son by Tiana Leveen
.I haven't..."
Are we talking about a story in the sense of Roots or something along the lines of the female because the favorite slave and gets light duty and an extra biscuit.I guess if the story stays true to the horrors of slavery and the Masters does not stay in the business of owning human flesh it can work.
Fans of Interracial Romance
Books mentioned in this topic
Wench (other topics)The Slave Master's Son (other topics)
The Flame and the Flower (other topics)
Fever (other topics)
The Feast of All Saints (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Beverly Jenkins (other topics)Diana Gabaldon (other topics)
Maybe she did a good job in Slave Mas..."
I read it and liked it. Only problem, the dialog is off - too long and preachy - however, the story is really good. I highly recommend it!