Supporting #ownvoices
Corinne Duyvis is running a giveaway to help bolster #ownvoices books.
You can learn more about how to enter at Corinne’s site. You have a chance to win a bunch of amazing books for participating.
Essentially, it’s to encourage reviews of #ownvoices work on retailer sites. #ownvoices are books written by “a marginalized/diverse protagonist written by someone who shares that identity. It’s useful shorthand, and a great way to share or ask for such recommendations.” While of course all authors should try to write diversely, people writing about their own experiences, through the lens of fiction, is very important and should be supported. I could write a POC lead, but I could never actually know what it’s like to grow up under systemic racism, for instance, no matter how much research I do. Here’s a little more about #ownvoices.
I’ve been trying to read more diversely the last few years, but even with concentrated effort, it’s hard. So I’m going to be posting some reviews before leap year, and keep it up after that. Book reviews on vendor sites are very important–once a book has a set number of reviews, people browsing are more likely to take a chance on it and pick it up. Algorithms start picking it up and recommending it to more people. Maybe it will be chosen for promotions such as the Deal of the Day. All of it’s really important.
(I hesitate to mention this, but I identify as bisexual, so Pantomime and Shadowplay are #ownvoices, though I’m not intersex or genderfluid. Writing Pantomime–and False Hearts–helped figure out my sexuality, but that’s a post for another day. I’m always desperate for more reviews, so if you would like to leave one on a vendor site, I would appreciate it so much).
Some #ownvoices books I’ve read recently I plan to review over the next few weeks: Ariah by B.R. Sanders, Otherbound & On the Edge of Gone (when it’s released) by Corinne Duyvis, Ash, Adaption & Inheritance by Malinda Lo, More Than This by Patrick Ness, Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman, and more. I might not get to all of them, but I’ll try. I’ll definitely try to review any #ownvoices I read before Leap Day, too.
My reviewing is rusty; I had a tiny book blog for a few years, but since I’ve been an author I’ve stepped away from it. I only plan to review books I enjoy. But I’m looking forward to it.
Need some recommendations and not sure where to start?
Goodreads list of trans SFF written by trans authors. (though it has Jim Hines on it, who I don’t think is trans, so it might not be super accurate)
Goodreads list of middle grade, young adult, and new adult #ownvoices books
Dahlia Adler has a list of #ownvoices books for disability and neurodiversity
Happy reading and reviewing!
