BUY BOOKS or else BYE BOOKS

Sad news: @tanehisicoates's Black Panther comic is being cancelled by Marvel https://t.co/UPBClA21Dc (h/t @TheVerge)— Alexander Nazaryan (@alexnazaryan) May 15, 2017

I recently went to Comic Con & wrote a lil abt experience: https://t.co/MdHSiWJeo5 At end of post is link to article abt increased diversity— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

Title of article is - Comics: You’ve Got Your Diversity, So Why Don’t You Buy Them? Excellent MF'ing question. https://t.co/lTt1baY7EX— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

1 of 2: Whether subject is comic books or novels or any other category of book, you can't diss publishers for not being more diverse if when— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

2 of 3: they do pub content that is right up the alley you're supposedly asking for, you ignore it and so the publisher doesn't make $$$$$$$— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

Clearly there is plenty of support 4 artistic works from POC SOME of the time. Look no further than Get Out or DuVernay or Empire or Atlanta— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

But other times, despite positive word of mouth & plenty of rah rah from cheerleaders, sufficient support simply is not there.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

This makes sense. Not everything can be a hit. The market loves what it loves and ignores what fails to catch on for whatever reasons.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

My point is you can't just point exclusively to racism as reason why you're not seeing more representation of this group or that group.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

It isn't just the NFL that's a copycat league. So too is publishing, movie making, etc. When there's a hit, imitators are sure to follow.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

When there's a flop, it will likely be a long ass time before another attempt to mine that particular area for gold will be made.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

Chances are limited for content producers who are outside of the mainstream (yes, mainstream = white). Support needs to show up big time.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

& ultimately there needs to be some crossover to the success. You think Get Out made all that $$ with only blacks going to see it? Hell nah!— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

U want > POC repped on page/screen? Don't make a hashtag. Don't write a think piece. Hit easy button & simply put your $ where your mouth is— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

If you build it they will come is bullsh*t. Often they won't show up. But what is true 100% is - If you buy it, they will produce more of it— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

Oscars won't be "so white" if more people who are brown/marginalized put down > green to see themselves represented in a top quality manner.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

By top quality I don't mean "Madea's Pregnant" (not knocking Perry's hustle but is what it is). I mean top quality. https://t.co/OY4nurKFcZ— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

Headway is certainly being made. Success of Moonlight e.g. probably doesn't happen a few years ago. But the exception needs 2b made The Rule— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

Seek, discover, purchase, promote, spread word of mouth love for the type of art you appreciate and want to see more of on regular basis.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 16, 2017

I was thrilled by Fences finally making it to the big screen. It earned some award nomination, but > important, hopefully made decent $$$.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

If the box office #S were there, we'll see more August Wilson and other #BlackExcellence on screen. If it wasn't, "Madea's Pregnant AGAIN".— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

PoC aren't out here writing diverse books just for y'all to retweet and add them to your "tbr" YOU NEED TO BUY, READ AND SUPPORT THESE BOOKS pic.twitter.com/vVARZu7yt6— l e e n a h (@froitana) May 14, 2017

And read them as part of your regular reading habits, not just part of an event or special occasion. https://t.co/9XzyLJW4rF— vantine (@vantine) May 15, 2017

this thread ❤️ also if you're short on money: follow authors for giveaways and deals, check 'used' on amazon, and try the book depository https://t.co/6EdjtzXLzH— edna (@booknymph) May 14, 2017

Giveaway for Matters of Convenience is underway https://t.co/f4r4ThWiFk & Kindle ed. is discounted to just $1.99 https://t.co/sDgGixMhRY— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) May 15, 2017

In other book related news...

Harlequin is closing Kimani, Western, Superromance, Nocturne, and Love Inspired Historical lines. (2/3)— Courtney!!! Milan (@courtneymilan) May 15, 2017

But I refuse to grow disheartened. I will continue to write from the heart and hope that readers give it a try. I will continue to find and support and promote brilliant writing from a diverse array of authors. Some I will like, some I will love, from time to time there will be a MEH...






...and every so often I will be awed and powerfully reminded of why I fell in love of reading and writing in the first place.