I’m doing an article for RT Bookclub about Latina Lit (or Chica Lit as it’s been called). I’m also captaining a panel about it at the upcoming RT convention. But the more I read Latina lit, the less I feel qualified in associating myself with these books. Not that I don’t like them–I do! Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez’s DIRTY GIRLS SOCIAL CLUB, the first “Chica Lit” novel, inspired me in part in creating Marisela Morales, the Cuban-American heroine of my own DIRTY series (DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, June 2005; DIRTY LITTLE LIES, September 2006). Delving into the Cuban-American part of my heritage has been enlightening and educational and fun. But the common themes I’m seeing in the “real” Chica Lit books (mainly conflicts based on family issues) aren’t ones I explore in my novels, which are more romantic adventure/suspense. Does it make a difference?
Do readers really care if a heroine is a different nationality than she is? Do you like reading about women driven by different cultural morés or do you like your heroine to be an “every woman” only driven by her own experiences? This is a question I’ve been asking myself and that I don’t know the answer to–and I don’t know that I need an answer necessarily, either. I’m just curious. I’m writing these books because I love them. Marisela is Cuban-American because I needed the conflicts that come with being ethnic in a world that doesn’t always accept that. I mean, look at the news. All this immigration controversy and walkouts and demonstrations–are they helping my future sales or hurting them or none of the above? She’s also Cuban-American because I am (I’m also Italian-American if anyone is getting confused) and because I wanted to explore that part of my heritage. I wanted to give her a backstory frought with conflict and her ethnicity helped me do that. And let’s face it–she’s also Cuban-American because I knew that giving her that background would make editors sit up and notice. I wasn’t wrong.
As DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS was released in trade paperback and shelved in the fiction section, a lot of my romance readers never found it. The ones that did seemed to love it–I didn’t get one negative email and only one bad review–and that was from a Chick lit website that objected to the super-hot sexuality. (I guess people don’t get busy the right way in Chick lit? And this was probably one of the tamest books I’d ever written…so to say I was shocked is an understatement. Oh, let’s not digress.)
DIRTY LITTLE LIES will come out as a mass market paperback shelved in romance as romantic suspense. Is this the right place for a book with a Latina heroine? I think it is. I think readers like the flavor that ethnicity can add to a book. I don’t think readers limit themselves…but then, what about the African-American books. Why are they often shelved in a whole different place in the bookstore? What keeps “minority” literature out of mainstream hands?
A whole bunch of questions, with few answers. I just keep writing my books, focusing on the parts I love the best–the action, the adventure, the sex. And yes, the great characters. Sultry Cuban-American Marisela. Sinfully sexy Cuban-American Frankie. The slightly uptight but infinitely delicious British export Ian Blake. And then there’s Max, my mystery man. He has no ethnicity. Right now, he has no last name! And even as a secondary character, I got lots of mail about Max. There’s something about men who can look right through you, you know?
I’d be very curious to hear readers thoughts about ethnicity or the lack thereof in romance novels–or in any novels. I tend to think that a novel can’t be deconstructed by its parts–but needs to be experienced as a whole. In other words, that books like DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS and DIRTY LITTLE LIES shouldn’t be pigeonholed as Chica lit or Latina lit, but just as romantic suspense–at least, the kind that doesn’t end with happily ever afters because it’s a series, but has lots of great sex and growing relationships. I think that African-American romances need to be shelved with the other romances if they aren’t already. Romance is romance. Ethnicity is just a part–one that shouldn’t be separated from the whole.
What do you think?
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:smile:Wow, I am first. LOL.
I agree with you. ALL romance should be shelved together. What difference should the ethnic background of the characters make? Romance is Romance.
by Pat
on April 2nd, 2006 at 8:15 am
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I don’t think African-American romances shouldn’t be shelved separately.
Race does not preclude one from connecting with someone from another race. One of best friends is Brazilian-born living in the US, and I’m Chinese, born in Malaysia and living in Singapore.
So why would ethnicity preclude one from connecting with a character from another race?
In that case, why would publishers bother translating books to other languages? Likewise, why would they bother to export books to places that do not have a white majority?
IMHO, it’s because we feel the same emotions. Love, lust, hate, anger, depression, etc. Ultimately, no matter what our skin color is, we are all looking for happiness.
by May
on April 2nd, 2006 at 8:35 am
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Hi, Pat! Thanks for posting. I’m glad you agree…it has always bothered me that AA books were put in their own section. I know that it allowed the AA audience to find them easily, but it kept “mainstream” romance readers from finding them because they go straight to the romance section. And May, you make some interesting points. I always wonder, though, that if the ethnicity of characters is erased in the translations–as I’m not fluent in any foreign language, I can’t read my translations and can’t tell. My Latina book, so far, has not been sold overseas. My category books have. I’ve written one Latina heroine so far (in GETTING REAL, a novella collection) and a Latino hero in MORE THAN WORDS. I did an Italian family in INSATIABLE, which has been reprinted in several languages. I always wondered how it was handled, but I guess I’ll never really know.
I’ve always believed that readers are more open-minded than publishers/marketing gurus give them credit for, but I have to admit that other than my stalwart romance readers, most of my “new” readers for DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS were Latina. Or maybe, they were just the only ones who wrote!
by Julie Leto
on April 2nd, 2006 at 9:40 am
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I am what is referred to as a Heinz 57!:cool: I’ve traced my ancestors back to Russia, Wales, Ireland & Slovenia to name just a few countries.
When I look for a book to read, which is often, I’m only interested in being absorbed into the story. I don’t care if the characters are of the same ethnicity or not.
by Susan
on April 2nd, 2006 at 10:45 am
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I agree that romance is romance and different ethnic backgrounds shouldn’t be shelved separately. It might prevent me from finding books I want to read. I am however interested in the different ethnicities of the characters and learning about different cultures, whether it’s Latina, Asian, French, Jewish, or a mix. I find it especially interesting to read about characters from very different backgrounds, say Irish and Asian, and how these cultural differences make the character who they are, but that doesn’t mean the fundamentals of romance are going to be any different. It’s all about dealing with feelings and trust and relationships.
But overall, if the story is told well, it doesn’t make much of a difference overall. I just don’t want to read about cookie-cutter characters, regardless of their background.
by Stacy ~
on April 2nd, 2006 at 2:52 pm
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Julie,
I couldnt agree more! The point of view may be slightly different, but love is love no matter how you slice it! It is interesting to me to read a h/h a of different ethic background, especially if the author delves somewhat into their culture.
BTW, I think Stacy explained it perfectly. 
by Angie
on April 2nd, 2006 at 3:22 pm
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Thanks, Stacy and Angie, for adding to the discussion. I totally agree with both of you…I love to read about characters of a different ethnicity than me. One of my favorite books last year was GODDESS FOR HIRE by Sonia Singh. I knew next to nothing about this culture until I read this book and frankly, it helped me relate to my one Indian friend because now I knew a little bit more about her life. We see each other socially and don’t really talk much about anything except being mothers–so the book was a great way for me to learn about her (we discussed it next time we saw each other.)
And that’s always good, right?
by Julie Leto
on April 2nd, 2006 at 6:48 pm
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If it’s romance, it should be shelved in romance, regardless of the ethnicity of its characters.
I can’t wait for the sequel to Dirty Little Secrets. It was such a fun book to read.
by Nicole
on April 2nd, 2006 at 7:17 pm
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Thanks, Nicole! I’m turning in the final manuscript of DIRTY LITTLE LIES tomorrow!
You know, you brought up an interesting point…if a romance is a romance.
What if it’s NOT necessarily a romance, by the strictest definition? Because let’s face it, Marisela’s books are not romances. The balance of suspense to romance is generously 70-30. And there is no “HEA” because its a series and Marisela’s relationship with Frankie (and Ian) is a developing one. Each book ends satisfactorily…but not “happy” in that commitment sort of way.
In the first book, I wasn’t worried b/c it was to be shelved in Fiction. But now, I’m moving to romance. I’d like to think that if romance readers can embrace J.D. Robb’s books as romance (as evidenced by her multiple RITA nominations with the Eve Dallas books) then they’ll take a chance on Marisela, too.
Opinions?
by Julie Leto
on April 2nd, 2006 at 8:36 pm
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yep it should not be separated, romance is romance.
i read a great book with a mixed race herione,and i love it and it did not change my thinking about the book. everyone please read afternoon delight by mia zachery
by KIM H
on April 2nd, 2006 at 9:40 pm
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They definitely should be shelved together,they are romance books and shouldn’t be seperated. I like reading about about different races mixed or otherwise because I learn about another culture a bit and it adds variety to the majority of the romance books.
by Dena
on April 3rd, 2006 at 11:01 am
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Thanks, Kim & Dena, for adding your opinions to the mix. Although, we all seem to be agreeing. Boy, how often does THAT happen in publishing? (Answer, not often!)
by Julie Leto
on April 3rd, 2006 at 10:14 pm
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For me a good book is a good book and I don’t care what the ethnicity of the characters are. As so many have said already, a great story is the main thing we are all looking for. I think all romances should be shelved together. :grin:
Denise A. Agnew
http://www.deniseagnew.com
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