Fans of Interracial Romance discussion
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Is it True That Black Romance Doesn't Sell?
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I agree. I think she's capable of more than that.
I think romance is romance, regardless of race. My first novel has an interracial couple, but half the time no one really seemed to care as they just wanted to read the story. I am still trying to make sales, but slowly but surely it will happen I guess. Good luck!Erica:-)
Mz. wrote: "I love Black romance stories that are positive, not predictable and not about hood love. Give me a good Maureen Smith or Melanie Schuster any day. I also have 30 or so Brenda Jackson, and many Adri..."I'll have to check some of these out!
I really enjoyed Fire Baptized! I would also recommend Beverly Jenkins for historical featuring AA characters! Oldies that I read when I was younger that have paranormal elements (though not outright creatures): Eboni Snoe.
Fantasy: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - AA female lead
Shelly Laurenston/G.A. Aiken always have characters of color. I really appreciate her for that. Quite a few of her heroines are AA females.
This is an indy but I enjoyed it, it's super dark though.
Erica wrote: "I think romance is romance, regardless of race. My first novel has an interracial couple, but half the time no one really seemed to care as they just wanted to read the story. I am still trying to ..."Hey Erica,
What is the name of your book? I know you have probably said it before and I am on the late bus.
Erin wrote: "I haven't read any AA romance in ages. Most of the contemporary AA romance is "hood" and while I know it's enormously popular, I just can't read it."Hmm, wasn't aware that most of the contemporary AA romance is "hood." That certainly hasn't been my experience. Maybe you've been picking up books that are characterized as "street lit" (or urban lit, I forget which one is used)? Recently, I've been reading more AA romance than anything. Some of my favorites are by Christina Jones, Beverly Jenkins, Maureen Smith, Candace Shaw, Nia Forrester, Adrianne Byrd, and Synithia Williams. They all are great writers and their stories feature heroines with diverse backgrounds - and these authors recognize that black women are not a monolith (for example, one of Synithia Williams' heroines was a sheet metal worker which I thought was cool).
I've tried to get into AA romances a few times but the ones I picked up was mostly small town Americana. That doesn't really appeal to me as a non-american.
Mod
It just proves that AA romance needs to reflect the diversity of the AA experience.
When I am in the mood for AA romance, I usually read Nia Forrester, Tia Kelly and Christina Jones.
I just recently fell in love with two authors who are AA romance authors D. Camille and Iris Bolling.
Mod
OriginsArt of Deception
The Blacks: Bonus Prequel
D. Camille the black series she's coming out with a new series later this month
Some books I'd recommend are:IR/MC
Falling Stars by Xio Axelrod
Kilted for Pleasure by Melissa Blue
Sharing Space (the complete series) by Nina Perez
So Sweet by Rebekah WeatherspoonAA
Getting Schooled by Christina Jones
Love Is by Tia Kelly
Ivy's League by Nia Forrester
Brunch at Ruby's by DL White
A.P. wrote: "Roslyn, and anybody else here. I'm not sure I know what constitutes an MR. I write IR of mainly Euro-African relationships, and in the wealthier side of society, beause they are human too and have ..."i would read your books
I'm looking for some new stuff to read too, so I will definitely check some of these titles out! My first book was supposed to be a suspense but it turned into a romance(somewhat) LOL. I can't stand that hood stuff either. I would love to see more interracial romance stuff that's more regular. Not all black people are from the hood trying to be a rapper or tagging baby daddies and all the other nonsense that goes on.
Erica wrote: "I'm looking for some new stuff to read too, so I will definitely check some of these titles out! My first book was supposed to be a suspense but it turned into a romance(somewhat) LOL. I can't stan..."Preach!
Hello, I'm looking for a slow burn. I don't have to have a happy ending. A series would be nice, but if not it's okay. It would be nice if it was under 300 pages.
Hello, I'm so happy I found this discussion!
I love black romance but I'm still looking for these special books that will satisfy me. As for now, I read all of N K Jemisin and Octavia Butler's books (yeah, that's my kind of romance lol, and it's not even that black, lot of IR). I took some pleasure in reading Zane but it's way too much for me, I'm not sure it's qualified as romance.
I'm looking for a black romance that doesn't involve drugs, music production, sport or dealing with police / prison. I'm even looking for the black romance where colour fades away because race isn't the issue, in the romance.
I would love some titles, if you can recommend some more, I'll check out the ones in the discussion.
What does AA stand for?
Enjoy your day!
Mod
I'm so happy I found this discussion!
I love black romance but I'm still looking for these special books that will satisfy me. As for now, I read all of N K Jemisin and Octavia Butler's ..."
AA = African American
Arch wrote: "Julia971Thank you Arch! :)
AA means African American romance. Yes AA does sell, maybe not as much as white contemporary romance. I read AA before moving onto IR books. I don't have any specific books, but I can recommend some authors. 1.Sandra Kitt (AA, IR, contemporary romance)
2. Kayla Perrin
3. Rochelle Alers
4. Angela Weaver
5. Gwynne Forster
6. Empi Baryeh
7. Karyn Langhorne
8. Wendy Coakley-Thompson
9. Chamein Canton
10. Keith Walker
11. A.C. Arthur
12. Natalie Dunbar
13. Beverly Clark
14. Leslie Esdaile
15. Donna Hill
16. Mildred E. Riley
17. Crystal B. Bright
18. Alyssa Cole
19. Vanessa Riley
20. Pamela Leigh Starr
Julia971 wrote: "Hello, I'm so happy I found this discussion!
I love black romance but I'm still looking for these special books that will satisfy me. As for now, I read all of N K Jemisin and Octavia Butler's ..."
You might enjoy my fantasy romance, The Ex-Princess--it's an interracial romance where the fact that they're different races really isn't a factor. Good luck on your search! The Ex-Princess
Fiona wrote: "Julia971 wrote: Thank you! :)
"Frost on My Window" by Angela Weaver is an IR "slow burn" book. You're looking for books that emphasize relationships over sex. Sandra Kitt writes such books. "The Color of Love", "Between Friends", and "Close Encounters" are IR relationship novels. Before Sandra wrote IR books, she wrote contemporary books for Harlequin featuring white characters. One of her earliest AA books for Harlequin was "Adam & Eva". She also wrote AA books for the Arabesque Line. Donna Hill, Rochelle Alers, Gwynne Forster are some of the authors for Arabesque and Kimani. Other authors I listed wrote AA books for Genesis Press, which published AA, Interracial, Hispanic, Asian, non-fiction, SF, mysteries, fiction books. I read many AA, IR several Hispanic, and Asian books from Genesis. It's been years since I read their AA books. (But, I read IR books more recently). Some of my favorite AA books are: "Best of Friends" by Natalie Dunbar, "Icie", and "Illusions" by Pamela Leigh Starr, "Southern Comfort and "Code Name: Diva" by J.M. Jeffries, "Not His Type" by Chamein Canton, "A Good Dude" by Keith Walker, "Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Promises" by Reon Laudat. (I have a few IR "keepers" from Genesis Press). If you're willing to go 'Old School' and read print books, check out Genesis Press and Arabesque back titles. (Some are in ebook).
I know a lot of people know Beverly Jenkins mostly for her fantastic historical novels, but she has written some contemporary romantic suspense featuring AA romance that are equally good. One of her books is now a movie that I believe is available on Amazon Prime.If you like New Adult, I have found Jacinta Howard to be a good rep in for AA amongst that subgenre. I super enjoyed her Happiness In Jersey.
Christina C Jones and Jaimey Wesley both write good, sexy contemporaries. I especially liked Love And Other Things by Jones.
She's on my TBR but I haven't read her yet. But I've heard lots of good things about Phyllis Bourne and her Sinclair Brides series whoch is supposed to be light and rom-com-y.
Thank y'all for recommendations. These sound good.
More authors who write great romances with a Black male and female lead. These are the 3 whose books I've read and have yet to come across one I didn't likeFrancis Ray
Alexandria House
Maureen Smith
Julia971 wrote: "Hello, I'm so happy I found this discussion!
I love black romance but I'm still looking for these special books that will satisfy me. As for now, I read all of N K Jemisin and Octavia Butler's ..."
Hello Julia,
I recommend you try reading the Bound to Tradition Trilogy. IR Kenyan/Swede, and set both in Kenya and Europe.
Hope you enjoy the reads.
A P
Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Traditio...
Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Traditio...
Book 3: https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Traditio...
Tina wrote: "I know a lot of people know Beverly Jenkins mostly for her fantastic historical novels, but she has written some contemporary romantic suspense featuring AA romance that are equally good. One of he..."Which book is now a movie?
It depends on who's writing it. The big names/traditional authors do well. Indies, not so much. Most of my books are IR, angsty, almost dark,more erotic than love story and I do ok. My AA in the same vain as my IR did not sell well and it was one of my better written stories.
As an author, I can say that it does sell well. It might not sell as much as other 'more' mainstream niches, but it does have its loyal and caring audience :)I have a couple of interracial romance books. If you want to check them out, just click on my profile.
Arch wrote: "Trenice,I am sorry that you have read my replies and thought that I was saying that authors who write black romance should give up writing black stories, because I have never said that.
As a wri..."
I agree with everything you said, especially about the erotic stuff
I don't need a detailed, step by step sex scene to let me know
I am reading about a mature romance.
This is the reason I have stepped away from reading IR romances of any kind, except for the authors I know and trust.
Mod
I don't need a detailed, step by step sex scene to let me know
I am reading about a mature romance.
This is the reason I have stepped away from reading IR romances of any kind, except for the authors I know and trust."
It is hard for me to find an IR book to read.
Me too Arch, me too.You can check out my bookshelf if you want
though I have not read everything that's there.
some I find out too late it's not what I thought
because they give no warning.
Most IR book authors seem to put more energy into
writing detailed sex scene than the story itself.
Sad but true and I won't apologize for that assessment
because I've been proven right over and over again.
It's so sad and disappointing.
Mod
You can check out my bookshelf if you want
though I have not read everything that's there.
some I find out too late it's not what I thought
because they give no warning.
Most ..."
Thanks, I will. I do not read first person stories. I know about the no warning. I have picked some books that seemed as if they would be okay, according to their description, but when I started reading them, I had to quickly returned or delete them. Thank goodness they were borrowed ebooks or free ebooks.
Fans of Interracial Romance
Books mentioned in this topic
Happiness In Jersey (other topics)Love And Other Things (other topics)
The Ex-Princess (other topics)
Sharing Space (other topics)
Kilted For Pleasure (other topics)
More...
I have been considering buying Indigo on Audible would you recommend the book?