I didn’t order this! Did I?

[erastes]

I’ve got an odd book from the library. I don’t remember reserving it, and it’s a title and author I’ve never heard of – I think they must have given me the wrong title.  Did anyone here recommend this? Glass books of the dream eaters by By Dahlquist, G.W.

Baffled. ETA: Mystery solved! Chris Smith recced it!

There’s a pretty good rant by one of the Janes over at Dear Author—aimed squarely at RWA asking why erotic romance is denied an entry into the RITAs. Looking at their self-proclaimed Bible of What the RWA Considers to Qualify as Romance it’s very carefully worded now as to not exclude the “alternative lifestyle” (amazing how that sounds like the word nigger when said by some people isn’t it?).

However, as you can see by Jane’s post – each judge has a power of veto, so it’s all too easy to vote a gay romance out as

Any entry receiving 3 NR (not a romance), 3 NSRE (no strong romantic elements), 3 NPF (not properly formatted, for entries in the Golden Heart contest) or 3 WC (wrong category) scores shall not be eligible to advance to the finals even if the scores would otherwise qualify it as a finalist

Many romance fans (and I’m not accusing the judges of this, as I have no idea who they are) don’t consider that gay fiction CAN be romance. Until a few years ago

it was a rare enough beestie, Gay Fiction could generally be divided into Literature and/or Porn. When I realised what I was writing was basically gay historical Romance I went online to find out where I could sell it. and found that no-one was publishing it (other than under the guise of L or P). I got in touch with the only people I could find who WERE publishing it, Scott and Scott of Romentics fame, and they said they’d had the same problem, which is why they had set up their own press.

A few years back there was massive wank when someone (can’t remember who) attempted to specify Romance as only between a man and a woman and they were forced to retract that. But sadly, despite the categories being beautifully accepting, we all know that if one sent up the best written GLBTQ romance ever written it would probably get voted off. Sadly, I am often reminded of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield, rushing out to chase the donkeys off her lawn.

There’s a lovely phrase in this article, written in 2001, which says

it would be a bad idea to make RWA officially homophobic,

Which says a mouthful, really.

Comments

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

Me. I recced it.

And fuck RWA. Sorry. I don't need reassuarance from "non offical homophobes".

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Hm...I know I've read The Glass Books of the Dream-Eaters and enjoyed it -- a bit slow to begin, but it picks up and is decidedly weird -- that being said, the universe is absolutely brilliant.

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

Have you read the follow up - just read it last week! Insane world. Brilliantly done. I need the next one now!!

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

I had no idea there was a follow-up! ::darts off to Amazon to add to wish list::

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

It is called "The Dark Volume". There better be a follow up to it too!

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

I'll have to read it, too.

But not now. No time. Too much going on.

[madrigalist.livejournal.com]

There is a lot regarding the RITA that needs to be redone to include a broader spectrum of entries. Not only that but the RITA needs to get recognition OUTSIDE of the industry. How many non-RWA members truly know about it. If I walked up to a reader in the romance section of a book store chances are they would be limited in their knowledge of the award. And when I win it, I would like the world to know what it takes!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Well exactly. We;ve all head of the Hugos and the Booker, but who has heard of a Rita or an Eppie.

[shiawmeimei.livejournal.com]

When I made my PAN status with RWA in 2007, it was based on the sale of The Cost of Eternity, a gay erotic romance. I almost entered it in the RITA that year but decided I didn't have the money to blow trying to make a point.

Don't group all of RWA into one homophobic bunch. All the authors I've come in contact with through RWA have been supportive of my writing. Unfortunately, there's a small group of oldtimers with too much influence who protest the erotic loud enough to be heard.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

What I find a little baffling is that many of the Mills and Boons I've read recently have been every bit as erotic as many so-called erotic books, and yet they aren't labelled as such.

Oh I don't tar the entire organisation with the same brush, not at all. I've heard a lot of good, especially in the chapters but the organisation needs to Wake the Fuck Up. They are getting to the stage where they are now - despite the Cruise article's affirming that they want to be seen to be in the 21st century - almost laughable. Ignoring gay romance when it's been legal to have gay relations (over here at least) for 40 or so years??? They should be ashamed of themselves.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

It was the attempt to rewrite the definition of romance to exclude same-sex. I do like what they came up with (also the Crusie article)

"A romance is a love story that has an emotionally satisfying, optimistic ending."

But the "unofficial" official homophobia? Sucks, and not in a good way.

And to RWA members--I know there are a lot of people who disagree with this... at least, I know many people say their groups are supportive. I just wish the membership felt strongly enough to make the effort, because if all the people who say they want inclusion spoke up loud and clear, change would happen.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

You would qualify, because you always manage that kind of ending. I seem to fail spectacularly on that score.

I wish they would too, I suppose the sort of people who might suggest a referendum are the same people who don't want one.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

And Ransom qualified for their "published author" standards... until they changed them. But.. dang, Tangled Web qualifies again.

Still not interested.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Go to bed!

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

yes, ma'am.

[jessewave.livejournal.com]

I know that RWA is influential and all that but isn't it about time to kick them to the curb and start a new "Romance" association that's truly inclusive? If the whole bunch of authors who complain about this organization and take their membership dues elsewhere they would soon smarten up.

Btw E, I'm not sensitive about much and I love you but PLEASE try not to use the "n" word, even in jest or in a context such as this one. I don't ever use this word because I consider it really offensive with many negative historical connotations.

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering how many judges mark each book for the RITA. If there are only three, for example, then getting those three downchecks would actually be kind of tough. (And do you have to get three of all the same flavor downchecks, or would one "Not Romance" and two "Wrong Category" marks, for example, do it?) But if ten judges mark each book, then the chances of a gay or erotic romance happening to fall into the hands of three bigoted biddies is much greater.

I agree that starting a new organization would probably be best in the long run, but there are too many influential people who have too much invested already in RWA -- not only the big name writers, but also editors and publishers and agents who like having the one-stop-shopping option for connecting with "all" the romance writers. :/ And of course, the writer members like having that access to the editors, publishers and agents.

And speaking of investment, did you see that comment about how any local chapter that secedes has to clean out its treasury and send the money up to National? Talk about golden handcuffs! Although my first thought about that would be to make your secession plans, then spend all the money. Hold your own writers' conference or something, and spend the money on facility rental, food, equipment, goodies for the reg packets, whatever. Oh, and if that won't completely clean out the bank account, make the conference free. :) There you go. As soon as the conference is over and the bookkeeping details are wrapped up, walk away from RWA and start fundraising for your new, independent group.

But that's just me. :/

Angie