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Diversity in Fiction
By Kay Blake
As a little girl growing up I read all the time. I
always had to have a book in my hand, in my bag or wherever else I could sneak
a book into. I was the girl that lived at the library and had personal
relationships with the librarians simply because I loved the written word.
As I got older I realized that there were so many
great books that I’ve gotten the chance to read, but very few of those books
had people of color in them. Or better yet when you are a girl growing up in a
place as diverse as New York City, it was hard to find books with people that
looked like me.
I was always a quick reader and an advanced reader so
by the age of 7, I was already reading books that fell into the adult category.
And even with those stories that touched on all the emotions and books that
some people were surprised I was even reading and all the characters were
white. If there was a black character it was one who didn’t have good qualities
or they were unimportant characters that were not really in there for a real purpose
or so. Or again they were the kind that perpetrated bad stereotypes.
And then I think
about the big debate there was when Noma Dumezweni was casted to play Hermione
Granger and the big uproar. As an avid reader and diehard fan of the Harry
Potter series, I was happy that she was casted. Why? Mostly because I related
to Hermione in so many ways. She was brave and smart. And she loved her
friends. She was absolutely brilliant. I related to her so much when I first
read that series. And while I loved Emma Watson’s portrayal of Hermione, it was
good as an adult to see a woman of color, a black woman play one of my absolute
favorite characters in literature ever. Many people got to see a character they
related to on such a personal level look like them. I think that was a big
thing for me.
Now many years later as I write romance books, I try
my hardest to include people of color. I think for the most part anyone who
reads romance, wants a good love story. And I am a firm believer that all
people want to find love and be loved. So, why can’t we show that with
beautifully written and diverse characters in books? Is it really that
complicated to see a person that doesn’t look like you find love like all the
many white characters on the pages of written words? I had someone say that to
me about 2 years ago, that she couldn’t read books with black women because she
felt that she couldn’t relate to the character if she wasn’t white. I can’t
pretend to understand that kind of logic because simple us women of color have
been reading characters that did not look like us for years. It is a common
sentiment of many women of color, we would read something and still find
something that we related to even though we didn’t look like us. It made me
question were we (women of color) that difficult to get? And then I realized
that no, it was a narrow minded thing to say. They didn’t want to get out of
their comfort zone and they didn’t want to accept that the world is diverse and
it is diverse in literature too.
With my most recent release Free Me, my heroine is
Puerto Rican and my hero is Korean American. I truly enjoyed writing them
because not only did I get to be inclusive, but I got to learn many things
about their culture along the way, and still gave them the HEA (happily ever
after) that they deserved. And while most of the time I write sassy, smart
black women as my heroines, I like to keep in mind that if a character comes to
me, and they aren’t what I am, then I will do my best to give them a story they
deserve. I think people see diversity as a phase and it isn’t a phase. People
of color are here and we are here to stay. We aren’t going anywhere and most
importantly our stories are true. They matter. We matter and we deserve to see
ourselves depicted in fiction whether it’s television or literature. Let the
things we read depict the reality of the world even if it is fiction.
Check out ALL of Kay's books!
Book 1: Second Time’s A
Charm
Blurb:
She
wasn’t supposed to still feel this way?
Liz Alexander hasn’t been to New York City in six years. She left behind the life as she knew it and the man that broke her heart. When tragedy strikes, Liz is forced to go back and face the man she thought she no longer loved.
Liam Parker hasn’t seen Liz since she packed her bags and moved across country. Now seeing Liz again after all this time made Liam realize that he would do anything to get the woman he loves back.
Will the past get in the way? Or will their love have a second chance?
Liz Alexander hasn’t been to New York City in six years. She left behind the life as she knew it and the man that broke her heart. When tragedy strikes, Liz is forced to go back and face the man she thought she no longer loved.
Liam Parker hasn’t seen Liz since she packed her bags and moved across country. Now seeing Liz again after all this time made Liam realize that he would do anything to get the woman he loves back.
Will the past get in the way? Or will their love have a second chance?
Book 2: Protecting Eden
Blurb:
An Interracial Romantic Suspense
Novella.
Eden has always taken care of
herself. She didn’t need or accept any
help from anyone. It’s always been that way. She finally thought her life was
back on track until her boss was murdered in front of her.
After ending up in the hospital and
finding out that the ones who killed her boss were still at large, Eden is sure
that her best bet would be to get out of the city and fast.
Steven has been living his life one
day at a time, battling the demons from his past. When his old army buddy calls and asks for a
favor, he is hesitant. Needing the money, begrudgingly he takes the job which
requires that he keeps Eden safe.
With Eden being headstrong, and
Steven worried that he may not be the right man for the job, they can’t deny
that they are attracted to each other.
Can Steven get past his demons and
work his way into Eden’s heart while keeping her safe? Can Eden let her guard
down enough to trust Steven can take care of her and her heart?
Book Links:
Book 3: Catch Me If I
Fall
Blurb:
Kasi
I have reached rock bottom. The kind of bottom that is so dark, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is nothing, but pain, loneliness, and helpless despair. I didn't picture my life going this way. I wasn't supposed to be unhappy and broken.
How can someone find the good in me when all the good I had was taken from me?
Jae
Helping people makes me feel good. I don't do it for any accolades. I do it because when I needed someone to talk to, when I needed someone to keep me from spiraling out of control, I found it.
From the first time I saw her, I knew that there was something about her. I didn't know what, but like a gravitational pull I wanted to know more about her even if she was here only to find some support for her grief.
Maybe I couldn't solve her problems, but I won't let her face them alone.
I have reached rock bottom. The kind of bottom that is so dark, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is nothing, but pain, loneliness, and helpless despair. I didn't picture my life going this way. I wasn't supposed to be unhappy and broken.
How can someone find the good in me when all the good I had was taken from me?
Jae
Helping people makes me feel good. I don't do it for any accolades. I do it because when I needed someone to talk to, when I needed someone to keep me from spiraling out of control, I found it.
From the first time I saw her, I knew that there was something about her. I didn't know what, but like a gravitational pull I wanted to know more about her even if she was here only to find some support for her grief.
Maybe I couldn't solve her problems, but I won't let her face them alone.
Book
4: I Knew You Were Trouble
Blurb:
He seemed to be nothing
but trouble.
Ally had
something to prove. She wanted a new start. So, she took a job across the
country to be the personal photographer to this up and coming rock band called
Runnin on E. What she didn’t expect was to be captivated by the lead singer of
the band Ethan Avery. Ethan’s blond hair, blue eyes and a voice that can melt
the panties off of any woman spelled trouble. Big trouble. And after what she
left behind she couldn’t afford any more.
But sometimes temptation is just too hard to resist.
Music was my only solace
until I met her.
From the
outside looking in, Ethan has everything. He’s the lead singer of the new rock
band Runnin on E’. He has devastating good looks and women. Lots of women. But
Ethan has his demons. He hides them behind the lyrics of his songs. New found
fame is nice, but Ethan wants something more. He wants someone who knows
there’s more to him than what meets the eye.
And that
someone is Ally. She’s beautiful. She’s different. She sees him. All of him.
And now he wants her more than he’s ever wanted anything.
Can he leave his past demons behind and have the
future he never thought he deserved?
Book 5: Free Me
Blurb:
Savannah:
My biggest focus in life is taking the steps
necessary to get back to the person I used to be. And dancing seems to be the
only thing that’s keeping that part of me alive. I love dancing. Love it with
my whole being.
And then there’s David. He’s different. He’s
intriguing. And he is making me question all the things I’ve said about being
in relationships.
I’m afraid of being hurt again. I’m afraid of
failing like I’ve done before.
But maybe there is more room in my life for more
than I originally thought.
David:
I’m not going to lie, I don’t take much seriously.
Life is to be lived and life is for having fun. And so, I do just that. I live
my life the way I see fit, and I repeat that mantra every day. No commitments. No attachments. Just
uninhibited fun.
But then I literally bump into the most memorizing,
woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.
And now I’m torn between being the person I thought
I wanted to be and wanting to be a better me for her.
Book 6:
Lost and Found (A Novelette)
Blurb:
Zoe Reynolds life is
thrown in a tailspin when she catches her fiancé sleeping with his
receptionist. Reeling from his betrayal and wanting a change fast, she cuts her
hair and purchases tickets to go on a seven day cruise to the Caribbean. All
Zoe wanted was some fun in the sun and some time to paint. That was until she
meets handsome but shy Donatello “Donnie” Carson a forensics investigator who
is on the cruise only to appease his best friend. Donnie is still hung up over
bitter loses in his life, but with Zoe he is able to start living again.
Though both have past wounds, sparks fly and their connection sends them on a whirlwind romance. Can Zoe and Donnie let go of the past and find solace in each other?
Though both have past wounds, sparks fly and their connection sends them on a whirlwind romance. Can Zoe and Donnie let go of the past and find solace in each other?
Book 7: Breathe You (A Novelette)
A
marriage on the rocks and one weekend!
Bree met Mason when he saved her from what could have been an unfortunate situation. They became friends, lovers, and then husband and wife.
After being separated for almost a year, they take up the suggestion of their marriage counselor to go away together for the weekend to try and reconnect.
Can these two work out their issues, and save their marriage?
Bree met Mason when he saved her from what could have been an unfortunate situation. They became friends, lovers, and then husband and wife.
After being separated for almost a year, they take up the suggestion of their marriage counselor to go away together for the weekend to try and reconnect.
Can these two work out their issues, and save their marriage?
About the Author
Kay is an
award winning author who writes sassy, sexy and sweet contemporary and
interracial romance. She is from arguably the greatest city in the world. (New
York). She is a sarcastic sweetheart who prefers snuggling at home with a good
book. Kay is a mom of 3 cubs and a wife. Kay indulges in strawberry
cheesecake, horror movies, Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, wrestling and of
course a happily ever after.
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