Countdown to Publication: Wanted: White Ambassadors to Help Me Cross Over

Hi SheWriters,

Let me just start out by saying, I love White people. Many of my closest friends are White. I have a favorite auntie who is White and my Uncle Harry is White too. And people, even my husband is White. Actually, he’s Spanish, but if you saw him walking down the street, you’d definitely peg him for a White guy. So, believe me when I say, I love White people.

But I’m still in a bind. I am in the unique position of being a Black author who is about to launch her first novel and I want White (and Asian, and Hispanic, etc) women to read it. Many of you here at SheWrites, who happen to be White, have already expressed interest in Substitute Me, and in fact, some of you have already pre-ordered it on Amazon. And I truly thank you for that, but in the grand scheme of things, that isn’t enough.

If this whole discussion is already making you feel uncomfortable and kind of dirty, I apologize. I hate it too. I hate that I have to categorize my friends by skin color as I plan the promotional campaign for my book. But I’m going to do it anyway because I’m a realist. Despite the fact that my diverse, inner-circle of friends reads across the rainbow, the rest of the world doesn’t work like that apparently. Readers tend to stick to what they know. And if my book ends up in the African-American section of the bookstore or library, the majority of non-Black America isn’t browsing there, unless somebody tells them to. That’s where my special White friends would come in.

Since I’m sure many of you listened in to the SheWrites radio discussion on ‘seg-book-gation’ with Carleen Brice and maybe read the follow-up article posted the day after, then you know that Black authors are most often only marketed to Black people. Even when I try to understand this practice I can’t, so I’m not going to bother rehashing the asinine thinking behind it. Instead, I’d like to explain where I’m coming from.

Substitute Me is the story of two women whose lives are drastically changed by their meeting. Kate Carter is a White woman who hires Zora Anderson, a Black woman, to be her nanny. Once Zora begins working for the Carters, life will never be the same. The story is set in contemporary Brooklyn, and examines issues of modern-day motherhood that I believe all women can relate to. The story is told in alternating chapters from Zora’s perspective and then Kate’s perspective. It’s neither a Black story nor a White story, but rather, it is a woman’s story.

Of course it’s not the book for everyone, but I’d say women who enjoy Jodi Picoult or Jacqueline Mitchard novels might like it. And for anyone who found themselves completely engaged with the subject matter of Kathryn Stockett’s, The Help or Ayelet Waldman’s, Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, Substitute Me will probably be right up their alley. Suffice it to say, I want the book to be a bestseller, but more importantly, I just want a lot of women to read it and discuss it and pass it on to their friends and say, “you’ve got to read this book.” I want this book to start conversations and perhaps even push us all a little bit to change our thinking. My writing mantra has always been, “I write to change the world.”

And the sad fact is, I can’t change anything without some White friends. It is a statistical impossibility that Substitute Me will have a chance to shine, if only my Black friends spread the word. Even my editor at Atria knows that. When I was creating my list of writer friends to blurb the book, she implored me to find a White author/friend. “It doesn’t even matter what genre she writes in,” she told me. “Just make sure she’s White.” Are you surprised that my White author/friend’s quote made the front cover of the book?

So, I need a bunch of White friends, to tell their White friends (Facebook friends count too) and all of the other White people they know about my book. Just to give it a chance. Maybe suggest it for their book club. Ask their local library and bookstores to stock it. And then maybe, just maybe, it will have a chance at being a success. And please be clear. I'm not trying to drum up any White man's guilt here. I don't want anyone to feel like they need to support a Black author because it's the right thing to do, like paying your taxes on time. Basically it comes down to the fact that since we still live in a segregated society when it comes to book buying, I just need ambassadors to introduce my work -- not shove it down people's throats -- to the other side.

Okay. I’m done. Awkward race conversation is over. I’m thinking my next book is going to feature a romance between a Latina doctor and an Iraqi translator living in Budapest. Then we won’t have to have these Black -White book discussions. Or will we?

Tags: #issues we face, #loricountdown, #marketing, ethnicity

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Comment by Sherrice Thomas on August 3, 2010 at 6:37pm: This dialogue is getting better every day. I would love it if someone could share how a self published author could overcome what Katherine Harms is proposing. She brings up a valid point and I would love to hear your ideas around that dilemma.

Comment by Kamy Wicoff on August 3, 2010 at 7:06am: Yes, Bernice, we must have these conversations, and I can promise you we will keep on having them on She Writes.

Comment by Bernice L. McFadden on August 3, 2010 at 6:52am: I'm late to this conversation - but here goes: It's sad that we authors who happen to be black have to have these "awkward" conversations - but the reality is that we HAVE TO HAVE THESE AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS. They are necessary to inform and enlighten those of us reading and writing on the otherside of the color-line. It is my hope that one day very soon we will not have to have these "awkward" conversations...

Comment by Kristi Holmes Espineira on July 27, 2010 at 3:25pm: Staying away from any controversy here, because that's how I roll, just wanted to say that I enjoyed "Kinky Gazpacho" -- as a white woman married to a man who is a Spaniard by heritage but raised in Venezuela, I thought so many of your observations on race and Spain were fascinating. And I will gladly read your novel and get the word out to my many book-loving friends of various races/ethnicities/sexual orientations! I run a book club, and have a new blog about writing and books, so I'd be happy to help get the word out.

Comment by Evelyn N. Alfred on July 27, 2010 at 2:20am: *lurking*

Comment by Katherine Harms on July 26, 2010 at 10:14am: I have uncovered a real problem with your book. Maybe it is because it is in pre-release status. I cannot preview your book on Amazon. I can't decide if even I want to read it without being able to look inside. I usually buy the Kindle version of books, and I can't order a sample there, either. I can't very well talk up a book I cannot read. Help me out here.

Comment by Sezin Koehler on July 26, 2010 at 3:43am: Dear Jenne,

Who has the right to criticise? In an open forum (or society, for that matter) that extols free speech then every single individual has a right to whatever opinion they may hold and they have a right to voice that opinion.

With that in mind, how have I "interfered" with the author's free speech? She has commented several times below as well as written the blog which we are all discussing. I have done nothing to block her from either of these things.

If anyone is being interfered with it is actually me, since comments about my thoughts on this forum are now spilling over onto my personal She Writes page encouraging me to not speak my mind about what I find problematic here. As a woman of color and a social scientist I have a great deal invested in the themes the author has noted and I have an equal right to express my thoughts without being harassed.

My next question is, are you expecting that a blog post will only have positive responses? If that is the case then She Writes should make that very clear in their comments policy that anything that questions the method or words of an author must be reserved for private discussion with the person.

I am of the school that dialogue is key. Dialogue does not mean that everyone chimes in agreeing. Dialogue is a back and forth in which we are able to discuss our varied perspectives in the hopes of learning something from people who agree, but also from people who don't.

It bears clarifying that we have not been critical of Lori herself, we have merely challenged her methods. There is a marked distinction between the two.

Sincerely,

Sezin

Comment by Catherine Yigit on July 26, 2010 at 3:22am: Who is interfering with free speech here? I see lots of it. Surely that's what a blog is all about?

Everyone has the right to disagree. Everyone has the right to their opinion. Everyone has the right on a public blog to express their opinion (once civility is respected).

If you post something controversial (and sometimes even something uncontroversial) you have to expect objections. If objections and comments are not welcome, commenting should be disallowed. Though keeping any disagreements open in the comments is better than a poster getting privately criticised by complete strangers, in my opinion.

I wish Lori well with her book, but her approach put me off commenting until now.

Comment by Andrea Jesse Joli on July 26, 2010 at 12:02am: Who are the "detractors"? I see some valid and constructive criticsm, but no "detractors". Those who are specific in their criticism of what they view as problems are not trying to detract from anything.

Other responded that criticism offered was a denial of race issues. Clearly that is not fair. We are not in denial of the issue of race, but are engaging with the issue by presenting our criticism. If one posts openly about this issue, one is inviting critical feedback. Why not welcome that, and use it as an opportunity to disagree? I didn't see any bashing or dismissal of the post or the book. Telling those who raise critical points to "get over it" as one responder did, is a form of demanding obedience in thought. "Get over your own viewpoints" as they are not our viewpoints. That does not help counter racism or raise awareness of race issues.

I think the subject of why there is a separate section for African American writers and topics is an important one. There is a women's section and a gay section as well in most stores. It's my impression that this is in response to interest in feminist issues, gay rights issues, gay culture, black rights issues, black culture, race issues. There is a Christian section, an Islam section, a Buddhism section, a Judaism section. That doesn't mean a Buddhist or Christian novelist will be kept from the main literature section. If a Christian novelist has Christianity as the book's predominant theme, though, then it might be kept in the Christian section, not because it is not good enough for the main section, but because that's where those most likely to be interested in it will find it. If it is interesting to those who aren't Christian or specifically interested in their identities as Christians, and it is good enough to compete with all the titles in the main literature section, than the bookstore will put it there (if not in both sections).

Colson Whitehead is not next to Fitzgerald because books are put in alphabetical order of the author's last name. He is in the same section of the bookstore, however. Your point?

The issue of race and ongoing racism in the publishing industry and in publicity is an important one. It would be great to read a post that discussed these issues issues. In that vein, I will say that it makes my hair rise a little when I read, "I love white people." If the post is meant to promote the book, I'd rather read about why I'd be interested in reading and promoting this book (which in fact does sound interesting). It wouldn't offend me at all if the same post included a discussion of racism and race dynamics in society and in the publishing industry. But assuring me I am loved because I am white (rather than hated because I am white?) doesn't do that. It is an implicit accusation of racism (and a denial of racism that no one accused you of), which isn't a good marketing approach, however good the book may be. That's not detraction of the book, just of the way the race issue is being treated.

Comment by Tayari Jones on July 25, 2010 at 8:46pm: I must be honest and say that as an African-American writers, I sort of get your point that you want white readers because you want better numbers, right? Or is it because you think you have something to say that will be helpful to that audience? Or something like that. You want a bigger career. I get that and it's something that pretty much everyone can relate to on some level.

But as an African-American READER I found this very alienating. It made me feel as if I belong to a group to small, too powerless to matter. I really appreciated Donna and Virgnia's shout-out to the black female readership that has supported them through the years-- I am part of that readership and it felt good to know that my support counts to them.

When I published my first novel, Nikki Giovanni invited me out to her home for a two day visit. As you know, she has had a wonderful career that has spanned decades. She can still pack a house. When she gave me advice she said, "Take care of your audience and they will take care of you." She then gave me several examples of how to do this. But one of the things she told me is that you should be grateful to every single person who comes out to your events or buys your books. Let them know that you understand it to be a gift.