Welcome to the Queer Romance Blog Hop, where queer writers and readers of queer romance share their thoughts on the genre, as well as a few recommendations for books to read! Everyone participating in this blog hop identifies as queer and also reads and/or writes (or edits, or reviews!) queer romance. For our purposes, queer romance refers to books with:
1. LGBTQ+ main characters
2. In romantic relationships
3. That have a happy ending. (No Brokeback Mountain here, folks!)
It’s my turn on the fun party-go-round! Rebekah Weatherspoon, here. I write lesbian and bisexual erotic and paranormal romance for Bold Strokes Books. I like to focus on interracial/multicultural couples. It’s kinda my thing. 🙂
1. Let’s start off with the getting-to-know-you stuff: How do you identify, and what does that mean to you? Whatever level of detail you’re comfortable with, of course!
I identify as pansexual. I’ve seen a lot of definitions for the term, but for me pansexuality means I’m drawn to one’s personality and not what’s going on in their pants.
2. What’s your preferred “flavour” of queer romance (e.g. trans*, f/f, m/m, menage with queer characters, etc.) Why?
As I mentioned above, I write lesbian and bisexual romance, with the characters’ happily ever after ending with two women together. Why? I enjoy writing about women. I find the sexual politics between men and women work their way into a great deal of our lives. It’s nice to focus on a relationship where men aren’t the focus.
3. Do you write/read/review? Do you think being queer affects your participation or platform in romancelandia?
I do read a lot and review as well. I suppose my being queer does affect my platform, but not my participation. I live as a queer person, so it’s going to inform all aspects of my life. As a writer of lesbian relationships my place in romancelandia is an interesting one. I find that lesbian romance has a smaller support system. Our readers are loyal and amazing and though I don’t think my voice as an author has been silenced by other authors, it is difficult to get reviewers and new readers to try my work. Lesbian romance doesn’t have to support that gay or m/m romance does.
4. What drew you to queer romance?
I started writing in the world of fanfiction. Twilight fanfiction to be exact. I wrote a few hetero pairings, but I wanted to explore some of the female characters who were left out in the wind. I wanted more of Rose and Leah and way more of Bella without Edward. I ended up writing a story about Bella and Alice and then another story about Bella and Leah. When I started working on my original stories I wanted to keep going with female pairings.
5. What do you love about queer romance in general, and/or your specific subgenre?
I just love romance in general. I tend to write fun playful characters, so when I write about two women together I can shift between a serious seductions to post coital conversations that take on the air of a slumber party.
6. What’s your pet peeve?
My pet peeve is the realities of LGBT representation and marketing in romanceland. I see LGBT/GLBT used to describe blogs, lists, even publishers, but what they really mean is a very specific kind of m/m. I think people should be free to read and enjoy whatever they want, but those four letters mean something very specific to me and I’d like to see those things represented equally.
7. What growth would you like to see in the genre, going forward? Any ideas on how to accomplish that?
I would like to see queer authors and characters marketed equally. I think publishers see LGBT works as a niche market so they treat those works as if they belong in a niche market and then say SEE THESE TITLES DON’T SELL AS MUCH. That’s because they don’t get the shelf space or the marketing pushes. My local B&N carries my titles nearly fifty yards away from the romance section. How are romance readers going to take a chance on them if they can’t even see them?
8. Do you seek out other queer authors when you read?
I do. 🙂
9. How do you feel, in general, about straight peoples’ participation in reading, writing, and reviewing queer romance?
I think straight people writing and reviewing queer characters and authors is great. I don’t like it when straight authors praise themselves for being inclusive and ignore queer authors who are also doing the work.
10. Rec us 3 titles in your chosen subgenre and tell us why you love them.
Such a Pretty Face by Gabrielle Goldsby – Plus-sized Latina finds love with a white contractor. Very sweet romance, with realistic family subplot.
The Collectors by Lesley Gowan – One of the best BDSM romance I’ve ever read. Newbie submissive matched with a super sexy Mistress and they actually fall in love.
The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin by Colette Moody. Two words. Lesbian. Pirates.
All said, I’d like to thank Heidi for putting this together! Happy Reading!
Thanks for reading and for following the tour! Be sure to use the links below to check out more great posts from our participants!
