Tiffany Reisz and Tiffany Ashley discuss diversity in romance
It's the invasion of the Tiffanys at HEA! Which is never a bad thing when they're these particular Tiffanys. Tiffany Reisz, author of The Saint (Original Sinners book five), and Tiffany Ashley, author of Beyond the Velvet Rope, answer some questions about diversity in romance novels, including their own.
Q: Diversity comes in so many forms. Can you talk about how diversity is represented in your recent book?
Tiffany R.: The book I'm current writing (The Virgin, Original Sinners book seven) has two dueling plotlines. One follows my heroine, Nora, as she hides out from her ex-lover in a convent and has an affair with a young nun. The other storyline concerns my hero, Kingsley, as he runs away to Haiti and falls in love with a beautiful Haitian woman. So in one plot, I have two women falling for each other. The other plot is an interracial romance between a rich white Frenchman and a beautiful black Haitian woman with a dark secret. So we have LGBT characters and a multicultural love story in one book.
Q: As an African-American writer, Tiffany A., do you feel more pressure to portray your characters in a certain way?:
Tiffany A.: I do not feel pressure to portray my characters a certain way. However, I do feel a certain obligation to reveal human relationships as realistic as I possibly can. Throughout my life, I've found the things that divide us are not as simple as skin color. Social class, upbringing, finances, and life experiences mold us into the individuals we are and define (if not strengthen) our stereotypes. The need to feel a part of a group is as strong as creating a sense of exclusivity. As a writer, my job is to uncover the good and bad in all my characters, expose their weaknesses and emphasize their strengths. Only by doing this, am I able to humanize my characters. And once humanized, the reader is able to connect (if not sympathize) with the character's situation. Allowing any character to easily fall into a general stereotype would be irresponsible, and to be quite honest, damn lazy.
Q: Tiffany R., many people don't immediately think of diversity as reflecting different cultures or parts of the world. Can you talk about why this is an important part of your books?
Tiffany R.: There is more to the world than just the United States. Shocking to hear that, especially in a publication called Paste BN. My favorite books growing up were the ones that took me away from the world I knew (a small town in Kentucky) to other countries, other times, other cultures so it's only natural I have characters from all over the world in my books (UK, Canada, Denmark, France, Australia, Germany, Haiti).
Q: Can you each speak about the current market as you see it for diversity in Romance?
Tiffany A.: The popularity of e-books and social media has immensely helped the growth of diversity within the romance genre. I truly believe, had it not been for the power of the Internet, authors specializing in multicultural relationships would not have a market. Due to the strength of customer reviews, YouTube channels, and online book clubs, readers are exposed to more options. Little-known and self-published authors actually have a chance to compete against the more widely publicized authors.
Tiffany R.: I have a character in my Original Sinners series who's from Wales. She has a small part in the books but an important one, and I wrote her with all the love I have to give a fictional character (which is a lot). I've received dozens of e-mails from Welsh readers who were grateful and thrilled that an American writer had even heard of Wales, much less created a Welsh heroine. There is no better feeling than reading a book and seeing yourself in the pages in one way or another. That's the joy of writing diverse characters. You get letters like I get from fans who are thrilled to see themselves represented on the page. I get the same thrill when I read a book and see myself in a character. It's nice to know someone just like you can be the hero of a story. The kind of diversity we need is every kind of diversity, every kind of author (black, white, Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, gay, bi, straight, trans) telling the sort of stories only they can tell.
Q: Is there an author you think is nailing it or is there a kind of diversity you wish you saw more of?
Tiffany A.: Hands-down, Jaid Black has nailed it. I adore her edgy writing style. She takes risks, which is something I can't help but appreciate.
Q: What do you think people expect when they read your books, and what are they surprised about in terms of diverse characters?
Tiffany A.: Without question, my readers anticipate a good romance ... loaded with tantalizing love scenes. In short: SEX. I wish I could say something more eloquent. LOL. But the fact of the matter is, my readers have high expectations for me to deliver a kickass erotic story. However, readers are often surprised by how emotionally involved the story line can become. As the plot unfolds, the characters become more complex. So complex, the very thing the reader originally thought they wanted becomes a side note. The need to see the characters work through their issues becomes so much more powerful than the desire to simply get them into bed. I invest a lot into making my characters as intricate as possible. There is no picture-perfect character, who always makes the right decisions, or says the right words. Everyone has their flaws, and working through those imperfections is what makes my books a unique experience.
Tiffany R.: I highly doubt my readers expected what they got when they read my first book, The Siren. My leading lady, Mistress Nora, is a bisexual Dominatrix who has sex with no less than four people in book one in the series (one woman, three men). The second book, The Angel, had a male/male subplot. The third book, The Prince, has a male/male main plot. Hopefully by now they know they're not going to get a traditional love story with the Original Sinners series. But then again, at the end of the day, love is love and love is not defined by skin color or body parts. No matter your race, your sex, or your orientation, we all have our hearts in the same spot. And that's where the love comes from.
Q: Tiffany R., the LGBT community has seen a surge in representation lately, especially with m/m erotica novels. Do you think this is the romance community embracing our current culture? How does that translate to you and some of your characters?
Tiffany R.: Most of my characters are bisexual. All three main characters in the Original Sinners series are and most of the minor characters. I'll admit I created them that way simply because it makes writing them more fun. Sex is sexy — gay sex, straight sex, threesomes. Bring it on! I've loved both men and women in my life, so it's only natural that my characters are like me in that respect. I think same-sex romance is slowly finding a broader audience. We're not there yet. But the day is coming when the No. 1 movie at the box office will be a same-sex romantic comedy and the No. 1 book on the Paste BN best-seller list will be a same-sex romance (written by me, I hope!).
Q: Tiffany A., your characters are not only ethnically diverse, but also in terms of personality and drive. An independent woman side by side with vulnerability is also important to show diversity of character. Can you speak to that a bit?
Tiffany A.: I honestly believe "in order to be a strong person, you have to be aware of your weaknesses." For me, diversity is best exemplified when "all the cards are on the table." The good and the bad. It's not a character's strengths that endear me to them, but rather their ability to overcome their vulnerabilities. For example, in my new novel, Beyond the Velvet Rope, the heroine, Thandie Shaw, is a successful publicist. Even though she presents a strong face in public, she constantly questions her actions. Working at Club Babylon is not easy. We, as the reader, watch Thandie experience one setback after the next. Add her unusual relationship with the club's handsome owner, Elliot Richards, Thandie's trip to Miami is nothing short of exciting.
Find out more about the Tiffanys at their websites, www.tiffanyreisz.com and www.tiffanyashleybooks.com.