Fans of Interracial Romance discussion

Hey guys!

I remember when I first started reading IR books I really got into the historical ones. For instance, Aliyah Burke's A Knight's Vow and later on T.A. Ford's Zoe. Most authors move and stay in contemporaries after this which I imagine sells more. But as a reader I would love to read more historical romances (and fiction) featuring heroines of color in various times and places. There's a lot of history and people of color naturally didn't just appear during the civil rights movement.

I know main publishers don't think it sells but considering how Parker is very open to these types of books and other epubs and small presses are willing to take a chance, I wonder if it's of there's more demand than supply? This is a great opportunity for upcoming IR authors to take a chance in. I have a few ideas in the works but that takes a bit of time to create (and I'm greedy, I want to read others, hehe).

What do you guys think?

Some people will think it's not accurate to have an interracial couple in that time. I have to disagree. The colors were mixing back in the day as well.

I would love to read an interracial Historical book. I would want one that have some LOL moments too.

Hm, well, I think it poses a problem for writers because in the US historical IR is limited. They can generally write historical IR from one of two viewpoints:

a] as a couple overcoming the odds. This is almost cliche now, simply because it's been treated in a somewhat shallow manner, I think. Most historicals treat historical IR in a very vague way, perhaps to retain that "romance" overtone. They don't want to get too in depth about anything so ugly or raw. Any mention of racism is about the principles of the thing or, for lack of a better word, cliche. I think if people went into relevant details, perhaps about the kind of troubles that resulted from an IR couple pre-60s, or things that most people don't know about (which is a lot, admittedly; I think it would only require a little research since schools only teach the barebones facts). I liked Brockmann's example of historical IR in Gone Too Far.

b] The hero's a scumbag, LOL. That wouldn't fly, of course. Unless he changed his ways. Someone might be able to pull that off.

I'd love to write some interracial westerns. I have started a few. I'm down for it, I just feel it would be tricky unless you can make it plausible and get around the antimiscegenation laws. I'm not down for the living together forever HEA. Good points, New_User.
Rae wrote: "Hey guys!

I remember when I first started reading IR books I really got into the historical ones. For instance, Aliyah Burke's A Knight's Vow and later on T.A. Ford's Zoe. Most authors move and..."

I'd like to see some set in England (Great Britain). I have done a little research and there are some instances of families in the upper class with members who were of African descent.

I have a story with a heroine who's mother was African American and her father is a British peer.

Good points! I think there's a lot of uncovered stories that can be explored. I'm with you Arch, it'd be great to read one that's multifacted in its adventure, romance and humorous moments.

That's a good point about vagueness, new user. I think I heard some readers not wanting to lose that escapism in romance so they don't really any real world instances. I guess this would kind of push it into historical fiction (depending on the pub) but it could be interesting if handled well. I still have to check out Brockmann's works. She's in my TBR pile. :-)

Danielle, I'd love to check out that western of yours! That was a particularly interesting time for many IR pairings and a lot of history. I'm with you, I'd like to see some set in England as well (would love to read your story as well). Many moors inhabitant England (including in the Knights of the Round Table from what I understand) and they were a driving force throughout history. France also had a lot of citizens of African descent and I believe Scotland and Ireland did as well (some rulers, too).

Very interesting stuff.

I'll post it in my writing section, Rae.

Great! Looking forward to reading it. :-)

Me too.

Has anyone read Sharon Cullars' "Again"? It's IR and set in historical and present times. It's very shivery and sexy, though poignant.

I haven't.

It's in my TBR pile but I haven't yet either. Heard good things about it. :-)

I am more inclined to read Again after hearing good things about it from my online book friends like you.

I just finished "After the Lies" a few days ago.
I gave it four stars. I liked the realtionship between Cal and Luc. It was interesting to see how they both had secrets and their willingness to keep each others secrets. I haven't read anything before by Mandessa Selby, but I will give her a try again in the future.

I wrote the first interracial Elizabethan Romance featuring BW/WM called The Lord and the Scorpion. Since my book came out several years ago first published by New ConceptsI have seen more interracial historicals and I would love to see some more writers do the Elizabethan period.

That is an underrepresented period. Thanks for writing TLATS, Shiree. Can't wait to see more by you.

Interracial pairiring happen in Historical time. We need to see more of it in Historical Romance books.

Definitely, Arch.

I know they have Native American man and white woman or even white man and Asian woman, but they need Black woman and white man.

Interracial pairing isn't something new. Yes, in slavery days, many black women were rape by white men, but alot of black women weren't rape by white men. The white men were in love with the black women.

True. Many times they could not marry but I am sure that some did have happy lives together.

You're welcome Danielle, I'm currently working on The Prince and the Panther. Which is the character Lucian Gilbert and Sauda's assassin sister Zeundi and his search for his Mother in the Ottoman Turkish Empire. You are so right is an underrepresented period and I would love to see more. I admit it takes alot of research and imagination but I refuse to believe no one was willing to risk all or love openly some one of a different race before the nineteenth century. We as a people are to interracially diverse in our own family trees to believe that.

I support your in your quest to show different love stories through the ages, Shiree. The Elizabethan period was so much fun. I was watching Elizabeth: The Golden Age and drooling over Clive Owen, and I imagine having a Black female doing her thing in that setting would be really awesome.

Arch wrote: "Some people will think it's not accurate to have an interracial couple in that time. I have to disagree. The colors were mixing back in the day as well.

I would love to read an interracial Histo..."

In the ancient world, the colors were definitely mixing it up. Around the Mediterranean especially, with Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Near East and even Celtic Britain. Trade routes were expansive--there was no isolation going on. Back then it wasn't about race as it was about being a citizen or a 'barbarian' which anyone could be. That's why I'd love to see more IR historicals that go back in time.

All good points. :)

Shiree, I admit I'm really curious about this book you're working on now, LOL. Did you research the Osmani (Ottoman) Turks too? :)

new_user wrote: "All good points. :)

Shiree, I admit I'm really curious about this book you're working on now, LOL. Did you research the Osmani (Ottoman) Turks too? :)"

Yes I have and in the book a biblography will be included as to where I did my research. But I must say I am taking creative licenses on the book itself. For not much for the Ottoman was going on. It was in an uproar with no true leadership in 1680. Then the Ottoman was in the midst of decline since 1566. Even though there was a Sultan, he traded his personal pleasures of hunting in 1680 leaving the country to his Grand Vizier to run Same thing happened to the Sultan before him which has been written about alot because it was the time of the women. That Sultan allowed the Valide Sultan (sultan's mother) to rule in secret, but because of it there was a power struggle between the Valide and the first wife for they both could sway Sultan whimpy.
While they were fighting in house they were losing territories won to Europe and Asia. The power and glory that Sultan Sulaiman had built during the time he ruled 1520-1566. The time time my story takes place is during the Elizabethan period for England which was a great time and alot of information to gather. But not a good time for the Ottoman. It's a sketchy time in history with not much to base a storyline on that ties in with accuracy as well as The Lord and the Scorpion could in Elizabethan England.