Welcome
to BRB, everyone!
Have you ever wondered why you chose to become an author?
Like many of us, I do it because I love writing. Period. My imagination won’t
stop; it seems to run full tilt twenty-four seven. Story ideas come to me
almost on a daily basis. Whether I develop all my ideas or not is another
issue. I create a goal for the short term and try my best. Right now I’ve got
one book with an editor, and another, what I call a “final draft,” which means it's nearly ready for editing. So, that’s two new releases under Blak Rayne. But, I also have
another WIP almost finished, which will be published under a different name. In
fact, I’ve got several novels nearing completion strictly for my other
pseudonyms. Then there are the rewrites. In my spare time, what little I have,
I try to work on re-editing past publications for republication. I know, this
all sounds confusing, but really, it isn’t.
I divide my time for each project
and work diligently to complete them all. The people I feel sorry for are my
editors. Because very soon I’m going to dump several manuscripts in their laps
and say: “I need it now!” I’m just kidding. The editors I work with are so
wonderful, and I can’t thank them enough.
My
point is, as an author I work tirelessly to get the next project done, and I
also work to promote. The other day, a close friend and fellow scribe asked me
if I’d be willing to do an author interview for her blog. However, she didn’t
want me to do it as Blak Rayne because she’s a YA writer, which is totally
understandable. But she didn’t know how to mention it without hurting my
feelings. Finally, she just asked straight out and I immediately responded
with: “Of course, I will! No problem. I don’t want any of my pen names
associated with one another at this point, anyway.”
Lately,
I’ve experienced some really, what I would call, harsh Neanderthal reactions
from people. They ask what genre I write, I tell them, and then I see that
horrified face—the one that exemplifies disbelief and OMG disgust! When I first
started in this business asshole comments and revulsion were almost expected as part
of the territory, and honestly, I remained stoic in the face of that prejudice.
But lately, it’s happening again. I don’t know if everyone’s forgotten but we
are living in the 21st Century. Gays, as well as their supporters, have rights
in this country. I can read and publish whatever the hell genre I want. And I’m
tired of people looking down at me for what I enjoy doing. That’s why I’ve
chosen, at least for now, to separate my pseudonyms: two female names and one
male. It isn’t that I’m embarrassed by what I write, it’s the fact I’m sick of
people judging my work based on their narrow-minded views. As if gay romance
doesn’t have a place on the shelves, it’s somehow insignificant and doesn’t
require any thought process to create, and neither does it deserve any literary
merit.
“She
publishes gay romance so her writing can't be that good.” Yes, a woman actually said
that under her breath, and she thought I didn’t hear her.
Broken
Back Mountain leaps to mind, and it won awards for its literary merit.
Eventually, when the time is right, I will link all three. But for now, I chose
to avoid the stigma by keeping the genres separate. Perhaps then someone will
notice that I am capable of putting cohesive thoughts together on paper, for
real.
Happy Yaoi Hunting!
Blak Rayne
No comments:
Post a Comment