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Romance novels are known for their simple plot lines, cheesy, overly dramatic cover illustrations and happy endings. But romance sales outperform all other fiction genres. The trouble is a noticeable lack of honest Native American portrayals. If Native people are ever featured in romance novels, they typically end up as some version of a 1950s Wild West movie stereotype. The Romance Writers of America acknowledged the genre’s decided lack of multicultural understanding in a statement last year, saying “members from the historically marginalized groups have felt unheard, unseen, and unrepresented.” But some Native authors are taking to the genre with complex, realistic Native characters, with details that Native readers might relate to. Native romance novelists will talk to us about the business and process of writing Native love stories.
Guests:
Maggie Blackbird (Ojibwe) – writes romance starring Canada’s Indigenous people
Malea Powell (Indiana Miami ancestry) – professor in the college of arts and letters at the Michigan State University, an avid romance reader and writer and faculty in American Indian Studies
Karen Kay (Choctaw and adopted Blackfeet) – historical romance author
Break 1 music: Kaaka-ggua Cauyalriitqa (song) Pamyua (artist) Mengluni (The Beginning) (album)
Break 2 music: Way Ya Hey Ya (song) Dawa (artist) A Joyful Defiant Tone (album)
So glad to hear about Native romance writers! Romance usually gets a bad rap and it’s great to hear encouraging words about the writers and genre. I plan to look for Maggie Blackbird and Karen Kay in my local independent bookstore and Half Price Books. Amazon may be convenient but there’s nothing like finding a book you want on the shelf and bringing it home to read.