Thank you for sharing these resources and addressing election anxiety head on. I tend to enjoy dark romances but this week I just can’t pick them up. I feel like punching someone (men, in general) and can’t stomach reading about men being in control of anything or anyone. Maybe it’s time for me to dip my toe in queer romances while I work on fighting the patriarchy…
I ran into a similar issue when trying to listen to my loaned audiobooks from the library. I managed to finish Lights out by Navessa Allen solely because it wasn't JUST a dark romance- it was also stupidly funny. I needed that laugh so it was easier than others. I will also be delving into my sapphic recs from my friends to combat this mix of anxiety and anger 💖
I just found your Substack and am enjoying it so much. I’m a new romance reader and it’s bringing me so much comfort these days! I particularly appreciate the empathy we build by reading romance with unique or underrepresented characters. I never cheer for anyone like the protagonist of a romance!
This is such an incredible list of resources, Alyssa. And a great reminder that reading is political and that we, as readers, have power. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I want to thank you for your earnestness because I can’t be anything *but* cynical right now. I really appreciate the resources you linked and will be sharing them amongst my bookish friends and book clubs.
I taught a course at the University level earlier this year on Dangerous Words, which included book bans. I still believe in the power of words and stories to change things for the better, but it’s hard to feel hopeful about it right now. Thanks for being a light.
I have so many thoughts. I love everything you've said. As a woman and a mother to three grown daughters, I'm devastated by the election results. I, like you, am trying not to sink into cynicism or fear. But here's where I have a little different perspective. I'm an indie romance author who writes closed door romantic comedy. My front facing marketing doesn't include the word clean because I'm really uncomfortable with that term and because I have some heavy kissing and a few swears, some readers wouldn't call my books clean. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when I tell people I write romance without sex scenes, they assume I write for teen girls. There's nothing wrong with writing for teen girls-- all the props to YA writers--it's the dismissiveness that comes with that assumption. First, because I write romance I'm not writing anything important, second, because I'm writing for teen girls (again, I'm NOT), what I write is even less important, if not just silly. But you're absolutely right that romance is political. Most of my friends who write in the same genre as I do share my same politics. We don't want books banned. We believe women should have autonomy over their own bodies. We fear for what may happen to our LGBTQ friends and family members come January. But because we don't have open-door sex scenes in our books, most of our readers are more politically conservative, so we have to be careful how we portray our own beliefs. Our incomes depend on it. So, how do I include the political beliefs that align with my own values? I write strong female characters who have careers, aspirations, and goals outside of their love interest. I write men who respect that and are willing to sacrifice their own ambitions to support women. I bring up questions about how caretaking of children and parents primarily falls on women. I talk about housing insecurity and the lack of mental health care. I have my own hockey book, but it's about a hockey player fighting for girls to have their own hockey rink so they have opportunities to play that his own sister didn't. In my latest book, I have a trans character. I may not be able to say she's trans (the one book I wrote that has a married lesbian couple got blackballed by some Bookstagrammers and is, by far, my lowest seller), but I hope that anyone who knows a trans person will recognize that's what I'm doing and that my other readers will wonder if maybe they don't have anything to be afraid of. That people are just people, and we're all here trying to live our best lives, even if we disagree how to do that. And I know so many other "clean" writers who do the same thing. Is it the coward's way to push more progressive ideas about gender equality and sexual orientation? Maybe. I wrestle with questions of what I want my writing to accomplish all the time, and I always come back to the same answer: connection. Cutting people off doesn't meet that goal. Forcing people out of their comfort zones won't achieve it. I think of what I write as a way to help people take baby steps out of their own fears and prejudices. Because, the fact of the matter is, trad publishing has been pushing LGBTQ and diverse lit hard (YAY! I think they should), but the result has been book banning and the right going further right rather than more openness to understanding other people's experiences. BookTok has taken the place of trad publishing's influence, and the result is more whiteness. My instinct is to blast everyone who voted for Trump, but I did that the first time around and accomplished nothing. No one changed their mind. And that freaking sucks. I'm so angry. But if I'm going to keep things from getting worse, I have to meet people where they are and coax them out of their corners. Anyway, I'm sorry this is so long. Your post really resonates with me. All I'd ask is that no one make the assumption that romance has to include sex scenes or that writers who don't have open-door scenes must also be politically conservative or super religious. Some are. Most I know are not, and neither are their books.
It's definitely the work of cis white women to be making those connections so it's great that you are working to do so in a way that keeps the line of communication open.
hi Brittany! I'm glad you found this post helpful. As a fellow cis white woman, I would caution you to resist centering yourself when it comes to this issue since you are in a safer position than most. Being worried what people might think about you isn't the same as being at risk. But we can use our position of privilege to support marginalized creators and fight book bans.
Alyssa, thank you. The point I was trying to make got lost in my own story, and I did unintentionally center myself. I appreciate the reminder. In an ironic way, I think our interaction also illustrates what I was trying to say. Everyone wants their story to be heard. Trump has tapped into the very human fear that making space means losing my space. It means there's no more room for my story. I'll not only be displaced from my position of privilege, but erased. Which is stupid, because there's no limit to the amount of stories that can be told, figuratively or literally. But if we who are reeling from Trump's win only listen to the diverse stories we want to hear, then we're tapping into the same fear that he is amplifying. Right now I'm holding onto Vice-President Harris's message to her supporters. "Together, we can rise above. Let's remind ourselves every day to be the light, to stay compassionate, and to hold onto our dreams for a better, kinder world. The world needs that spirit now more than ever. We need to be as strong as possible, support each other and protect each other especially the vulnerable." I think the best way to amplify marginalized voices is to be compassionate. Full stop. We don't have to amplify stories that are racist, homophobic, or harmful, but I do think we have to be willing to listen to stories we don't agree with and respond with both compassion for the teller and the stories of those who are hurt by racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. etc. That is so much more difficult than letting anger fuel our responses, but we're not going to win if we try to fight Trump and his supporters with their own game. And I think romance is the perfect genre to use for creating understanding and compassion because it is all about connection, both physical and emotional. Anyway, thanks again for your respectful response. I really appreciate what you're doing here for marginalized voices and indie authors.
Thank you for sharing these resources and addressing election anxiety head on. I tend to enjoy dark romances but this week I just can’t pick them up. I feel like punching someone (men, in general) and can’t stomach reading about men being in control of anything or anyone. Maybe it’s time for me to dip my toe in queer romances while I work on fighting the patriarchy…
I ran into a similar issue when trying to listen to my loaned audiobooks from the library. I managed to finish Lights out by Navessa Allen solely because it wasn't JUST a dark romance- it was also stupidly funny. I needed that laugh so it was easier than others. I will also be delving into my sapphic recs from my friends to combat this mix of anxiety and anger 💖
I just found your Substack and am enjoying it so much. I’m a new romance reader and it’s bringing me so much comfort these days! I particularly appreciate the empathy we build by reading romance with unique or underrepresented characters. I never cheer for anyone like the protagonist of a romance!
This is such an incredible list of resources, Alyssa. And a great reminder that reading is political and that we, as readers, have power. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I want to thank you for your earnestness because I can’t be anything *but* cynical right now. I really appreciate the resources you linked and will be sharing them amongst my bookish friends and book clubs.
I taught a course at the University level earlier this year on Dangerous Words, which included book bans. I still believe in the power of words and stories to change things for the better, but it’s hard to feel hopeful about it right now. Thanks for being a light.
I have so many thoughts. I love everything you've said. As a woman and a mother to three grown daughters, I'm devastated by the election results. I, like you, am trying not to sink into cynicism or fear. But here's where I have a little different perspective. I'm an indie romance author who writes closed door romantic comedy. My front facing marketing doesn't include the word clean because I'm really uncomfortable with that term and because I have some heavy kissing and a few swears, some readers wouldn't call my books clean. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when I tell people I write romance without sex scenes, they assume I write for teen girls. There's nothing wrong with writing for teen girls-- all the props to YA writers--it's the dismissiveness that comes with that assumption. First, because I write romance I'm not writing anything important, second, because I'm writing for teen girls (again, I'm NOT), what I write is even less important, if not just silly. But you're absolutely right that romance is political. Most of my friends who write in the same genre as I do share my same politics. We don't want books banned. We believe women should have autonomy over their own bodies. We fear for what may happen to our LGBTQ friends and family members come January. But because we don't have open-door sex scenes in our books, most of our readers are more politically conservative, so we have to be careful how we portray our own beliefs. Our incomes depend on it. So, how do I include the political beliefs that align with my own values? I write strong female characters who have careers, aspirations, and goals outside of their love interest. I write men who respect that and are willing to sacrifice their own ambitions to support women. I bring up questions about how caretaking of children and parents primarily falls on women. I talk about housing insecurity and the lack of mental health care. I have my own hockey book, but it's about a hockey player fighting for girls to have their own hockey rink so they have opportunities to play that his own sister didn't. In my latest book, I have a trans character. I may not be able to say she's trans (the one book I wrote that has a married lesbian couple got blackballed by some Bookstagrammers and is, by far, my lowest seller), but I hope that anyone who knows a trans person will recognize that's what I'm doing and that my other readers will wonder if maybe they don't have anything to be afraid of. That people are just people, and we're all here trying to live our best lives, even if we disagree how to do that. And I know so many other "clean" writers who do the same thing. Is it the coward's way to push more progressive ideas about gender equality and sexual orientation? Maybe. I wrestle with questions of what I want my writing to accomplish all the time, and I always come back to the same answer: connection. Cutting people off doesn't meet that goal. Forcing people out of their comfort zones won't achieve it. I think of what I write as a way to help people take baby steps out of their own fears and prejudices. Because, the fact of the matter is, trad publishing has been pushing LGBTQ and diverse lit hard (YAY! I think they should), but the result has been book banning and the right going further right rather than more openness to understanding other people's experiences. BookTok has taken the place of trad publishing's influence, and the result is more whiteness. My instinct is to blast everyone who voted for Trump, but I did that the first time around and accomplished nothing. No one changed their mind. And that freaking sucks. I'm so angry. But if I'm going to keep things from getting worse, I have to meet people where they are and coax them out of their corners. Anyway, I'm sorry this is so long. Your post really resonates with me. All I'd ask is that no one make the assumption that romance has to include sex scenes or that writers who don't have open-door scenes must also be politically conservative or super religious. Some are. Most I know are not, and neither are their books.
It's definitely the work of cis white women to be making those connections so it's great that you are working to do so in a way that keeps the line of communication open.
hi Brittany! I'm glad you found this post helpful. As a fellow cis white woman, I would caution you to resist centering yourself when it comes to this issue since you are in a safer position than most. Being worried what people might think about you isn't the same as being at risk. But we can use our position of privilege to support marginalized creators and fight book bans.
Alyssa, thank you. The point I was trying to make got lost in my own story, and I did unintentionally center myself. I appreciate the reminder. In an ironic way, I think our interaction also illustrates what I was trying to say. Everyone wants their story to be heard. Trump has tapped into the very human fear that making space means losing my space. It means there's no more room for my story. I'll not only be displaced from my position of privilege, but erased. Which is stupid, because there's no limit to the amount of stories that can be told, figuratively or literally. But if we who are reeling from Trump's win only listen to the diverse stories we want to hear, then we're tapping into the same fear that he is amplifying. Right now I'm holding onto Vice-President Harris's message to her supporters. "Together, we can rise above. Let's remind ourselves every day to be the light, to stay compassionate, and to hold onto our dreams for a better, kinder world. The world needs that spirit now more than ever. We need to be as strong as possible, support each other and protect each other especially the vulnerable." I think the best way to amplify marginalized voices is to be compassionate. Full stop. We don't have to amplify stories that are racist, homophobic, or harmful, but I do think we have to be willing to listen to stories we don't agree with and respond with both compassion for the teller and the stories of those who are hurt by racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. etc. That is so much more difficult than letting anger fuel our responses, but we're not going to win if we try to fight Trump and his supporters with their own game. And I think romance is the perfect genre to use for creating understanding and compassion because it is all about connection, both physical and emotional. Anyway, thanks again for your respectful response. I really appreciate what you're doing here for marginalized voices and indie authors.
Thank you, Brittany! I'm so happy to have real conversations here.