Cheris Hodges's Blog, page 4

It's like fighting an up hill battle wearing banana peels

Another day, another publisher shuts down.
Crimson Romance, a division of Simon and Schuster, is no more. This is significant because according to the Ripped Bodice 2017 Diversity Study, Crimson had 29.3 percent of their books written by people of color. That's the highest number of the publishers on that list.
Also from the report:

For every 100 books published by the leading romance publishers in 2017, only 6.2 were written by people of color. Down from 7.8 in 2016.

 Authors of color have the odds stacked against them when it comes to traditional publishing and you almost wonder, why do we do it?
Obviously, it's because we love telling stories. We think Black Love matters and we want to tell our own stories without stereotypes.

See, when you see #ownvoice, #weneeddiverseromance #Diverseromance, those hashtags aren't for marketing purposes, it's a rallying cry. I don't know about you, but as a romance reader, I want to see people who look like me falling in love. Why can't black people get their HEA? Latinos, handicap people, LGBTQ people?

It's like a broken record.

Kimani Press, a division of Harlequin, is closing and most of the books in the other series lines are written by white women — even if black and brown faces are on the covers. When a friend of mine was on Facebook talking about the Ripped Bodice report, a non-POC woman basically said authors of color should stick to indie publishing. Talk about white privilege. She's traditionally published, but she doesn't think people who don't look like her should have the same opportunity. Her attitude is obviously mirrored by editors or the NY gatekeepers. There's a publisher on the Ripped Bodice report that has 0 percent of AOC writing for them. Also, Pocket Books told the Romance Writers Association in 2015 that they didn't publish African American romance.
Publishers want black readers to buy their books, they just don't want black writers telling their stories. You can get mad if you want to, but the numbers don't lie.

So when did I fall in love with . . . Car sales?

He looked me in the eye with a little smirk and asked, "Can you pass the drug test?"
"Of course."
And with that, I was hired.
Hired where?
At a Ford dealership that serves Starbucks in the lobby. I might just be in love.
The first time I sold a car was in 2013. And I never thought it was something I'd fall in love with. I'm a journalist. I'm a writer. But some where along the way, I turned into a car girl. I blame my former general manager. The guy who must be psychic because he hired me with no experience.

I took a break from the car business for a couple of years and hated every job I had. Especially the proofreading job. And I thought that was in my wheel house. So, I got a chance to come back to the business and do what I do best, talk to people and email them.

I don't know when I fell in love with selling cars. Y'all remember the Wonderland stories.
But there's something about making someone happy and getting them into their dream car. Or helping a person get their first car.
And now, I'm going to be putting everybody in a Mustang! That is, if I passed the drug test.
**Spoiler Alert** I got 99 problems but passing the drug test ain't one.

Celebrating Women's History Month with Kathy Douglass

Kathy Douglass
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Kathy Douglass writes sweet romance that makes you laugh and cry. And I want to move to Sweet Briar tomorrow!


When did you fall in love with romance? I fell in love with romance when I was in high school. I found my older sister’s books and after reading a few I was hooked. I read every book I could get my hands on. I drifted away for a while and read a lot of horror stories. After being scared silly, I returned to romance where I have stayed.
How long have you been writing about minority characters? I’ve always written about minority characters. From my really, really bad first book that has never seen the light of day, to the one I’m working on now, my hero and heroine have always been African-American. There may be minor characters whose race is not defined, but the main characters are always African-American.
When you started writing, what was your motivation?  I started writing when my kids were in pre-school. While they were in class, I had a whopping two hours and fifteen minutes to myself four days a week. The school was far enough away that it didn’t make sense to go home. At first I did my grocery shopping (alone!) and ran other errands. The pre-school was near a college campus, so after a while I started going to the library. They had used books for sale for a quarter, so I started picking up the old romances and reading them. After a while, I had read all of them. Story ideas started flitting through my mind and I thought to myself that I could write one.
At first I wrote just to fill the time and to amuse myself. After a while, I wrote because I wanted to see my books in the stores.
When was your first romance novel published? My first romance was published in February, 2017.
What is the first thing you thought when you got fan reaction to your book? Wow! I couldn’t believe someone not related to me had actually written an email letting me know she liked my book. It was a surreal moment.
Who are some of your favorite AOC? I’m going to keep this list to 10. In no particular order -
Francis RayFarrah RochonCheris HodgesRochelle AlersReese RyanPhyllis BourneAnn ChristopherCarolyn HectorPiper HuguleyBeverly Jenkins
What is your favorite romance novel? Trouble Don’t Last Always by Francis Ray.
How would you describe your novels? I write sweet, small town contemporary romances.
If you had the choice to put one of your books on screen, which one would it be and why? I would choose How to Steal the Lawman’s Heart because it’s the first book in the Sweet Briar Sweethearts series. It introduced characters who eventually get books of their own.
Who would you cast in the movie as the hero and the heroine?The models I used in my pinterest board were Henry Simmons and Rochelle Aytes so I’d cast them.

Celebrating Women's History Month with Elle Wright

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Romance author Elle Wright joins me today to celebrate Woman's History month. She's also about to kick off a new series! 
When did you fall in love with romance?
I fell in love with romance about seventeen years ago. I had just had my daughter, and was home on medical leave for complications. I was bored out of my mind, and a little depressed, when my mother came for a visit. She handed me Indigo by Beverly Jenkins and encouraged me to read it as an escape. Immediately, I shoved the book away and told her I’m not reading that book. But she insisted, telling me it was a lovely read, set in an area close to my hometown. I relented and took the book. And let me tell you, I’m so glad I did. Reading that book changed my entire life. From that moment on, I was a lover of all things Beverly Jenkins and that one book kick started my love of the genre.
How long have you been writing about minority characters?
Writing minority characters is a must for me, and I’ve been doing it since I picked up the pen to write my own novel. I am in love with “Black Love” so I write about the love between black men and women.
When you started writing, what was your motivation?
Initially, I wanted to pen a soap opera, complete with drama, sex, and emotional dialogue. I was inspired by the ability to tell multiple stories from different POVs. And of course, I wanted the money. LOL  
But then I started writing my first book, and I realized I could do this. What motivates me is actually reading the finished product. What motivates me is the gleam in my children’s eyes when they tell people their mother is an author. What motivates me are the words, the characters, the story. I can’t stop.
When was your first romance novel published?
My first romance novel was The Forbidden Man, published in July of 2015. It was book one in my Edge of Scandal series.
What is the first thing you thought when you got fan reaction to your book?
I was floored. Seriously. I couldn’t believe that people actually loved my book, and loved it enough to read it twice! Then, to hear authors that I’ve read and admired tell me they enjoyed it… Oh God!  I balled my eyes out. I was so overjoyed.
Who are some of your favorite AOC?
Oh, too many to name. Beverly Jenkins, Brenda Jackson, Cheris Hodges, Zuri Day, Nicki Night, Sheryl Lister, Sherelle Green, Kennedy Ryan, Angela Seals, Anita Davis, Christine Hughes, Nana Prah, Christina Lauren… the list could go on and on.
What is your favorite romance novel?
Indigo is still my favorite romance novel. I read it at least once a year, and still get chills when Galen stands up in that church!!!
How would you describe your novels?
This is always hard for me. I would classify my books as edgy contemporary romance. An Elle Wright book has scandal, heat, humor, and heart.
If you had the choice to put one of your books on screen, which one would it be and why?
Oh boy… this is hard because I’m always writing. But if I’d have to choose one, it would be The Forbidden Man. I absolutely LOVE Morgan and Sydney. They are my heartbeats, and they were first.
Who would you cast in the movie as the hero and the heroine?
Ooo boy… Anyone that knows me knows who my choice for Morgan Smith would be: Idris Elba, of course. And for Sydney? I’d say Rochelle Aytes or Tia Mowry.

Celebrating Women's History Month with Vanessa Riley

It's fitting that author Vanessa Riley is joining my celebration of Women's History Month today. She writes about all things regency. And yes, black people were around and free during the regency.
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Vanessa Riley 






















When did you fall in love with romance?
I was in my teens watching my parent’s marriage implode and I needed to believe that lasting happy-ever-afters were still possible.
How long have you been writing about minority characters? Since 2013 with a heroine of Spanish descent. However as I gained acceptance writing for the Regency Romance community, I let my passion for the Blackamoor and mulatto communities of that era shine. My third novel, The Bargain, was my breakout hit, for a lot of reasons, but mainly for Precious Jewel, an unabashedly brave formerly enslaved woman who finds her strength trying to help save a colony in South Africa.When you started writing, what was your motivation? I had vivid dreams that would go away until I wrote them down. Now I can’t get the rhythm of the prose out of my head until it’s typed.When was your first romance novel published? 2013What is the first thing you thought when you got fan reaction to your book? Oh, my goodness. I found my people. Seriously, it was very humbling.Who are some of your favorite AOC? Beverly Jenkins, Alyssa Cole, Phyllis Bourne, Cheris Hodges, Farah Rochon
What is your favorite romance novel? Pride & Prejudice, Something Like LoveHow would you describe your novels? I write the story of the voiceless 10,000 Blackamoor and Mulatto peoples who lived in London during the time of Jane Austen. They live and loved and found ways to survive so that future generations could also have happy-ever-aftersIf you had the choice to put one of your books on screen, which one would it be and why? The Butterfly Bride (10/29/2018). The romance and the suspense in this historical romance should be breath-taking. Who would you cast in the movie as the hero and the heroine?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but I think they are busy.

Celebrating Women's History Month with Joy Avery

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Joy Avery
























When did you fall in love with romance?I fell in love with romance after reading my first Brenda Jackson novel. I had been writing in a different genre until I read her book and knew this was the type of book I wanted to write.
How long have you been writing about minority characters?I’ve been writing about minority characters since my pen first hit paper, over ten years ago. Black love fills me and I celebrate it with each love story I write.

When you started writing, what was your motivation?Loving the written word was my motivation behind starting to write. I enjoyed watching my characters and their worlds come to life on the page.

When was your first romance novel published?My first romance novel was published in January 2014. Smoke in the Citi. It’s a second chance at love romance.

What is the first thing you thought when you got fan reaction to your book?The first thing I thought when I got fan reaction to my book was: Woohoo! I was thrilled that people were reading and enjoying it. It gave me motivation to write the next.

Who are some of your favorite AOC?Some of my favorite authors of color are: Beverly Jenkins, Brenda Jackson, Deborah Fletcher Mello, Reese Ryan, W. Parks Brigham, just to name a few.

What is your favorite romance novel?My favorite romance novel, hands down, is INDIGO by Beverly Jenkins.
How would you describe your novels?The way I would describe my novels is: Real characters. Real journeys. Real good love.

If you had the choice to put one of your books on screen, which one would it be and why?If I had the choice to put one of my books on screen, it would be A Gentleman’s Agreement. It has a little drama, a lot of love, and fun, relatable characters.
Who would you cast in the movie as the hero and the heroine?
Ooo, that’s a hard one. Maybe Robert Christoper Riley as the hero; Regina Hall as the heroine.

Happy Women's History Month

Today is special. Not because it's my birthday — and Reese Ryan's birthday and Lupita Nyong'o's birthday —but today is the first day of Women's History Month.

No where in the world have there been more history making women than in the world of romance. Yes, I'm biased because I'm a romance novelist. But here are some facts:

Estimated annual total sales value of romance in 2013: $1.08 billion (source: BookStats)Romance novel share of the U.S. fiction market: 34% (source: Nielsen BookScan/PubTrack Digital 2015)What formats of romance fiction are selling? (source: Nielsen BookScan/PubTrack Digital 2015; figures do not include self-published romance e-book sales or Amazon-published e-books)E-books: 61% Mass-market paperback: 26%Trade paperback: 11%Hardcover: 1.4%Who is the romance book buyer? (source: Nielsen Books & Consumer Tracker)Female: 84%Male: 16%  —Source RWA.org.

African American romance has a colorful and unique history that is too often overlooked and ignored by mainstream media and the industry itself.
The Romance Writers of America organization was co founded by an African American romance editor, Vivian Stephens in 1979.

At the time, writers groups largely ignore the romance genre, and these women recognized the value of an organization dedicated to the needs of romance writers in the rapidly growing American romance fiction market.By December 1980, these five writers had grown to thirty-seven, and they held the first official meeting of Romance Writers of America® in Houston, Texas. The first board of directors was elected, and they quickly set about recruiting members. The first annual Romance Writers of America conference was held in June 1981 and was an overwhelming success. 

Despite what some people have been reading lately, African American romance novels weren't born in 2018 with the publication of a certain book. Sandra Kitt's first three novels, including Adam and Eva were published by Harlequin in 1984 —making Ms. Kitt one of the mothers of African American romance. She was the first black woman to the published by the romance powerhouse. 
The very first African American romance novel was written by a journalist named Elise Washington. She wrote under the pen name Rosalind Welles. The book was Entwined Destinies and was released in December 1980.
Washington died at age 66 in New York City on May 5, 2009, according to a report from NPR. 
A few days ago, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Brenda Jackson released her 120th book, Best Laid Plans.
In 2014, Mrs. Jackson won the Romantic Times Pioneer Romance award. 
 "There were so many before me," she said of winning the award. "And I'm glad they acknowledged them. People like Rochelle Alers, Beverly Jenkins and Francis Ray were published before me." Jackson, Kitt and Beverly Jenkins were honored at the Romantic Times convention that year. 
Beverly Jenkins, who brings history alive with her romance novels, was first published by Avon Books in 1994 with the novel Night Song. 
Last year, she told the Huffington Post this about her novels: 

Setting my books where I do and why is tied to re-stitching the pieces of the American history quilt that have been left out. Weaving those facts into a great story gives me the opportunity to reach readers in ways that they appreciate and retain with no threat of a test on Friday. I place my stories where African-Americans actually walked and include a bibliography for readers who may wish to do more research on the highlighted topics.

So in honor of Women's history month, I want to salute these trailblazers of romance and thank these ladies for showing us that we can share and tell the stories of black love! 


Beverly Jenkins
Brenda Jackson




Rosalind Welles Sandra Kitt

Motherhood isn't the goal for every woman

I'm 40 years old. And I don't have children. Guess what, I don't want any.
People often ask me, why don't you have kids?
I smile and keep it moving, but I'm going to go ahead and let you nosy mofos know what I've kept my womb empty all of the years.

1. I'm the youngest in my family. My first nephew came when I was in the seventh grade. A cute little boy who I promptly dropped when he was about six months old. Oops. Also, the first person to ever piss on me. That was 1989.
Then, in 1991 came my second nephew. When he was born he had a cone head. I was scared. But, his grandmothers knew what to do to round his head out. I dropped him as well. He also pissed on me.
2. I make bad relationship choices. We're not even going to talk about the dude who got married on me while sending me roses and confessing his love. Fuck him today, tomorrow and forever. What if I had gotten pregnant with his child?
3. My father's children are all married, except me. They should have kids. I can not raise a child without making sure she or he has the relationship with her or his father that I have with mine. Y'all know my pops is my hero. And yes, I'd be that mother to tell her child that "Yo' daddy ain't shit." I know my limitations.
4. Conceiving is going to be really hard for me. Without telling all of my medical business, I have some reproductive issues that would make me having a child become a multimillion dollar under taking. No. Thank. You. Because if I spend that kind of money to become a mother, you can best believe I'm protecting my investment like a motherfucker.

So, here's the deal, stop asking why I don't have kids. And I was never that little girl who wanted baby dolls to pretend she was a mother. I wanted Barbie and Ken dolls so they could have sex. Besides, baby sitting for my brother and sister proved to me that I'm not motherhood material. I'm good with being the coolest auntie in world.
Besides, nephews and nieces are the kids you can spoil and return to their parents.

50 years of the best Christmas romance ever

December 24, 1967
A wounded Vietnam veteran married the love of his life in her mother’s living room.
That man was my dad and that woman was my mother.

Three kids and 50 years later, my sister pulled off a miracle of all miracles. She kept a secret from both of them and we celebrated their 70th birthday and 50 year anniversary. I’m still not sure how she hid it, since the building we used is the one right outside of the park named after my dad. Then there was the gathering of the pictures for the video. My mother is not a fan of people taking her old pictures without asking more questions than the FBI and CIA.
And somehow we got my dad to put on a suit that day, when he said, "I'm comfortable in my leisure clothes." You might be wondering why I haven't written this story.
Two reasons. First, my mama told me no.
And secondly, books come to an end and this story is going to keep going and going. That's the magic of getting married on Christmas Eve.

It's Beginning to Read a lot like Christmas Part 7 . . .

This post is my Christmas love letter to the one and only, Brenda Jackson.
Thank you for Coop. Yes, Coop made my holiday and it isn't even Christmas yet. Coop is the book boyfriend we all deserve. And it's a Christmas story.

The story I'm talking about is His Secret Son. 
Three nights with a Texan…and one pregnancy surprise! Only from  New York Times  bestselling author Brenda Jackson!

The Texas rancher and navy SEAL who fathered Bristol Lockett’s son died a hero’s death…or so she was told. Yet when Laramie “Coop” Cooper strolls into her exhibit at an art gallery three years later, he’s very much alive—and still making her pulse zing. The all-consuming chemistry between them is as undeniable now as it was then, but Bristol won’t risk her heart—or their son’s. Little does Bristol know he’s determined to win over his unexpected family at any cost!




With a snowy New York and Paris background, this story takes you on a romantic journey of passion, family and hot sex. HOT. SEX.

Thank you, Brenda Jackson! You made my Christmas with this story right here!