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emeryleewho · 7 months

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I keep seeing posts talking about the WGA/Sag-Aftra strike, which yes, good, but in all this "support writers" sentiment I'm seeing no one talk about book writers, which I think is something people should know more about right now.

We are at an all-time high for book bans, namely targeting queer & PoC-authored books. This means that a lot of schools and libraries are no longer stocking diverse YA books, and if you're not in publishing, you may not realize this but school & libraries are by far one of the biggest markets for diverse YA books.

This means that in 2023, YA book sales are down. This is also in part because Barnes & Noble (the largest physical book retailer in the U.S.) is no longer really stocking YA hardcovers. This means that marginalized authors and debut authors are struggling to sell books.

But it's a LOT worse than that. In the past couple of years, marginalized authors are *really* struggling to get new book deals. Most books are acquired by a publisher about 2 years before they release to the public, so this isn't all that noticeable yet, but a LOT of marginalized authors I've spoken to (myself included) have been unable to sell a new YA book since 2020. So while I had a book out last year, even if I sell one right now, you won't see it until 2025-2026. That's three to four years without a new release or the income I get from publishing those books.

On top of that, Big 5 publishers have started closing imprints (namely their diverse imprints) and have started telling their marginalized YA authors to just go. I've had multiple authors tell me their publisher basically said, "eh, we don't care to put in the work for you anymore. You can just go somewhere else". Of the authors who *are* getting offered new contracts, we're being offered pay far below the cost of living and we're being handed contracts that split our payments 4 or 5 ways and require we sign over our work to be used to train AI so they can replace us a few years down the road.

Authors are freelancers who own our IPs, which means we can't unionize the way Hollywood writers can, and despite authors showing up in droves to support HarperCollins employees when they went on strike for fair wages, we're being hung out to dry when it comes to our own rights.

If you enjoy diverse books, especially diverse YA, please understand that many of the authors you loved over the past 3-5 years are being forced out of the industry. We're being exploited, and we have no way to defend ourselves. Our books sales are drying up thanks to anti-queer legislation, our rights are being eaten up by AI, and our publishers are degrading us while profiting of us and refusing to share those profits with us.

Within the publishing industry, we've all been watching this decline happen over the last decade, but outside of it, I know most people have no idea what's going on so please spread the word. And if you care about diverse books especially in YA, please support marginalized authors in any way you can. The industry needs to be reminded that it needs us before we're all eliminated from it.

#Books #diverse books #author #publishing #sag aftra #writers strike #writers #labor rights #workers rights #wga strike

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writingwithcolor · 5 months

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It wouldn’t be historically accurate for my story to include BIPOC!

This is an argument often made about European-style fantasy media like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Disney’s Frozen. Audiences, often white, assume that due to the majority-white setting, adding any visible number of BIPOC to the story would be unrealistic.

What these critics fail to realize is that BIPOC do in fact live, and have lived, in these settings, and records of BIPOC presence in places assumed to be majority-white have been buried, written out, or not taught due to white supremacist and/or colonial bias in the field of history. There are historical European settings that were far more diverse than is often portrayed. Consider:

The Moorish Empire exerted an extensive influence over life and culture in Southern Europe from Spain from 711 to 1492

The Ottomans were heavily involved in European affairs up until the treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, but still considered a part of Europe even through the 19th century

The sheer size of the Roman Empire ensured the continued movement of people from various backgrounds within the Mediterranean well until the end of the Byzantine Empire.

“Historical accuracy” should not be used as an excuse for media to be exclusively white in its casting. While there are places which are or were predominantly white, there will always be factors like global trade and immigration that bring multiculturalism to their doors.

And even if the presence of a certain demographic is unrealistic for a certain setting? Consider that we’ve accepted far worse inaccuracies in historical fiction in the name of artistic license. Consider that our understanding of human history is, and will always be, incomplete.

Further Reading:

Historically Diverse London, “Historical Accuracy,” and Creator Accountability

Making a Black Pride and Prejudice Resonate

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This Q&A is an excerpt from our General FAQ for Newcomers, which can be found in our new Masterpost of rules and FAQs. If you're new to Writing With Color and/or want more writing resources, check it out!

-Writing With Color

#writing with color #writeblr #representation #poc representation #history #historical fiction #historical accuracy #writing advice #writing tips #writers on tumblr #diverse books #diversity matters #faq

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sapphicbookclub · 1 year

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23 sapphic books in 2023

Here’s a list of 2023 book releases with f/f pairings that you can add to your TBR and you can preorder now to support the authors!

Science Fiction / Fantasy books:

The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang

Ravensong by Cayla Fay

The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Lucha of the Night Forest Tehlor by Kay Mejia

The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom by Nina Varela

Contemporary romance books:

Life is Strange: Steph’s Story by Rosiee Thor

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Out of Character by Jenna Miller

What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar

The Girl Next Door by Cecilia Vinesse

Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko

Mimosa by Archie Bongiovanni

The Rules of Us by Jennifer Nissley

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni

If Tomorrow Doesn't Come by Jen St. Jude

The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur

May 2023 bring you even more sapphicness and books! 🎆🎇

#sapphic books #lgbt books #queer books #diverse books #lgbtq books #sbl

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gabibookworm · 1 month

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Here are some fiction books by Palestinian authors about Palestinian characters that I've read and enjoyed! Whether it's about living under the occupation or teenage diaspora falling in love, it's important to support Palestinian authors and read their stories, especially as attempts at censorship increase Let me know if you have any recs for me to add to my tbr!

#booklr #books #diverse books #ya books #bookworm #ya romance #womens fiction #poetry #palestinian books

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black-is-beautiful18 · 3 months

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And here we go again with the “I just can’t connect to Black characters 🥺” bs. Y’all don’t like Black ppl so that’s why you don’t like reading about us. No one cares if LegendBorn or Children of Blood and Bone are some of your favs, cuz what exactly is stopping you from finding books similar to them???? And then to say that Black authors should be more like Asian authors while also insinuating that we don’t have our own historical or cultural myths, especially when we exist on multiple continents and islands, is absolutely ludicrous. Not to mention that a statement like that feeds into racism and the fetishization of Asian ppl. Children of color are forced to see nothing but white ppl in every form of media all our lives and not once does not being able to connect to the characters stop us from enjoying that piece of media. You can empathize with dragons, elves, orcs, and witches easily. Anyone darker than dry glue however, needs to prove why you should read our stories and have sympathy for our characters. This is exactly why I don’t trust white readers regardless of if they read diversely or not cuz some of y’all don’t even read the books. You just get them for brownie points or judge them harshly cuz you still don’t see the characters as deserving of empathy.

#white people #white readers #why would you say that #black authors #asian authors #latino authors #indigenous authors #diverse books #legendborn #children of blood and bone #racism #fetishization #i said what i said #unique writes

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traeumenvonbuechern · 1 year

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Books By Trans Authors Of Color You Should Read - Part 2

My first post about this topic was pretty popular, so here's another (non-exhaustive) list of amazing books by trans authors of color you should read/pre-order!

Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender Unwieldy Creatures by Addie Tsai Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás Keep Me Close by R.M. Virtues

Moonflower by Kacen Callender The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee With a Vengeance by Freydís Moon The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao Supporting Trans People of Colour by Sabah Choudrey Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore Tell Me How It Ends by Quinton Li Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon

#trans rights readathon #trans books #trans books 365 #trans authors of color #trans authors #queer books #lgbtqia books #lgbt books #booklr #bookblr #queer lit #book recs #book recommendations #authors of color #diverse books

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alinahdee · 6 months

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I saw this making the rounds on Twitter and decided to make it a proper challenge:

Since it's the end of October, I'm going to begin this year with November. So here is the challenge:

NOVEMBER - INDIGENOUS LITERATURE

DECEMBER - LESBIAN / WLW AUTHORS

JANUARY - BIRACIAL / MULTIRACIAL AUTHORS

FEBRUARY - BLACK LITERATURE

MARCH - LATINX LITERATURE

APRIL - GAY / MLM AUTHORS

MAY - ASIAN LITERATURE

JUNE - TRANS AUTHORS

JULY - ARAB / MUSLIM LITERATURE

AUGUST - INDIAN / HINDU LITERATURE

SEPTEMBER - NON-BINARY AUTHORS

OCTOBER - JEWISH /HEBREW LITERATURE

This can be novels, entire series, poems, essays, etc, just as long as it fits the criteria.

Share what you are reading, share what authors you've fallen in love with, tell us all about something new you've learned, etc.

#reading #books #book #literature #challenge #diverse books

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ya-world-challenge · 2 years

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25 YA Books for Indigenous Peoples Day

NOTES: For brevity and diversity, I did not include all the North American Native books I found, but there are plenty more - feel free to post your favorites in the comments! Most books are from indigenous authors, but not all - do your own research if you like. Not all books may be “technically” YA. I’d love to hear more suggestions of Latin American indigenous stories or Hawai’ian native stories which were difficult to find.

EDIT: This is just a random list by a random tumblr blog from 2022 - get out there and find your own books or list some in the comments if you find this list lacking.

Australia

The Things She's Seen by Amebelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina

The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

Becoming Kirrali Lewis by Jane Harrison

Swallow the Air by Tara June Winch

Canada

The Missing by Melanie Florence

Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

A Girl Called Echo by Katherena Vermette

Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett

Japan - Ainu

Golden Kamuy by Satoru Noda

Latin America

Saints of the Household by Ari Tison

Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen

The Huaca by Marcia Argueta Mickelson

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

New Zealand - Maori

The Whale Rider, Witi Ihimaera

Falling into Rarohenga by Steph Matuku

United States

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Trail of Lighting by Rebecca Roanhorse

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith

#indigenous peoples day #indigenous #book list #fuck columbus #native american #first nations #diverse ya #diversity in media #diverse books #aboriginal #maori #latin america #north america #south america #australia #canada #japan #new zealand #united states

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alondrathegiraffe · 1 year

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the traumatized three (Francis, Noemí, Catalina) and the cucarachas (Virgil, Howard, Florence)

#once again if you havent heard this book is everything to me #mexican gothic #silvia moreno garcia #love how the first three turned out #noemi taboada #francis doyle #shadows are placed all wrong LMAOOO fuck itt #😭🧎🏽‍♀️#my art #diverse books

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djrusso-romance · 5 months

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From my instagram:

Mon Reyes did the artwork!

Before there was Xavian, the sweet-and-spicy bodyguard space elf... there was Five. An equally smart but deadly gargoyle-like alien just trying to get the F off the planet so he can be left alone in peace.

He gets more than he bargains for, of course, when he crash lands in the Netherlands and meets Sanne.

Parents aren't supposed to have favorites, but as an author, I definitely do. Stroopwafels & Starlight's Five and We Own the Stars's Xavian are two of my favorite MMCs I've written!

If you read and enjoyed We Own the Stars, then I highly recommend moving straight into Stroopwafels & Starlight.

***

Something I haven't mentioned in the past because it never comes up in the plot itself is that yes, this book is still inherently queer, because Five is pansexual! If you're cute, have a cute personality, then you're game to him.

Sanne, on the other hand, is straight. No one has asked me about her, but I figured I'd mention it anyway hahaha.

#diverse books #alien books #alien romance books #sci fi romance books #fantasy romance books #romance books #paranormal romance books #monster romance #smutty reads #monster smut #monster fucker #monster x human #monster boyfriend #booklr #writelr #lgbt authors #queer authors

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mattwritesmonsters · 1 year

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400+ Trans Books!!

A friend of mine is hosting a Storygraph reading challenge centering trans books and authors! Over 400 books!!

Even if you don't care for Storygraph, feel free to simply use it as a database of trans fiction.

(i'm also on it hehe)

#diverse books #book recs #booklr #trans writers #book recommendations #trans protagonist #trans books #trans author #queer horror #queer sci fi #queer romance #queer fantasy #storygraph #reading

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writingwithcolor · 5 months

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Wouldn’t my writing be worse off if I forced in elements like diversity?

If you are asking this question, you have yet to challenge the “default” of your culture’s media. Consider that the majority of modern Western media fill their casts with white men, and when there are women or POC, they stick out conspicuously. Many people view adding diversity as tweaking some white man characters by toggling race or gender. But this assumes that “white man” is some default, standard character template.

If you feel pressured to include diversity in your writing, distance yourself from this pressure and ask yourself why you feel it. If you feel attacked when seeing campaigns for more diversity or criticism of all-white, uninclusive media, sit with the discomfort and ask yourself why those who are different from you say they need diverse media.

These are people whose voices and faces are rarely visible in entertainment. Despite this, they enjoy an adventure as much as anyone, and have become accustomed to projecting onto white characters. Yet, when the reverse is asked of white audiences to acknowledge protagonists of color, it becomes a difficult ask. These character choices are immediately questioned, discredited, fought against, and accused of being “woke” or “unrelatable.”

This resistance reflects a larger issue: the imbalance between audiences’ empathy towards the majority/“default” and empathy towards those perceived as Other.

By mostly reading about white people, they become easier to relate to. By the same token, if we are not reading media and histories from the perspective of POC, we end up with more people who literally fail to relate to POC. When we talk about hope-deficits, increased alienation and lower self-worth among marginalized populations, underrepresentation in media is a big factor. Imagine for a moment: never the beautiful princess in the tower, never the badass hero riding dragons; always the two-second sidekick.

People of color are people and want to be seen and treated as such. Not as a burden to devote your time to, but people who have a place in the world, fictional or no. Really, writing a world in your story that is all or mostly white is more unrealistic, more forced—after all, there are far more non-white people on Earth. Becoming comfortable with diversity requires unlearning White as the Default and POC as the Other. It takes setting aside feelings of pressure to emphasize, open your heart and listen.