I have gotten lots feedback about the website this week.  It has all been positive, and for that I am grateful.  I have noticed that no one has asked me “why”.  Now generally, why is not a question that you want to ask in certain situations.

Example-

Me:  Tyler, why did you leave your shoes in the middle of the floor?  I just tripped over them.

Possible Response #1:  blank stare with a shrug and no answer

Possible Response #2:  just a shrug and no answer

Possible Response #3:  blank stare, no shrug, and no answer

And, do I really need to hear:  “I was just lazy and didn’t feel like taking them to my room”.  I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t be good. 

And to be honest, I don’t like answering why questions that much either.

Except today.  Today I want to tell you why.

Around the late 90s or so, the publishing industry discovered that African Americans do indeed read.  They also figured out that African American females read just as much romance and contemporary fiction as “everyone” else.  Why did this come as a big surprise after Terri McMillan came on the scene in the 80s and began debunking the myths? And not just Terri, but also many writers who came before (and after) her?  Because the “establishment” decided that they were one-offs.  Exceptions to the rule. 

If you think it’s hard out here for a pimp, how about try being a writer. 

And then The Powers That Be figured out that African Americans were getting their reading on directly from the source: self-published writers.  E. Lynn Harris, Zane, Karen E. Quinones-Miller, Mary B. Morrison- just to name a few.  And they snapped these guys up.  And they have done well. 

But, as is often the case, The Establishment became myopic in its focus.  It was all about the benjamins.  Which meant that Urban/Street fiction became the focus because it was flying off the shelves.  Which meant that my purchases of African American contemporary fiction almost came to a grinding halt.  I didn’t stop reading, by any means.  I just heavily curtailed reading books that were and are being marketed to African Americans. 

(Sidebar here:  I am not hating on Urban/Street fiction. It is just not for me.  I don’t read a lot of romance unless heavily disguised as something else either.)

Where was the Chick Lit for the chocolate girls?  I love Chick Lit.  Where were the coming of age stories?  How about the working out my dysfunctional family stuff?  I’m not saying this stuff wasn’t being written, I’m just saying it was getting harder and harder to find.

When I started writing, I decided to write stuff that I wanted to read.   

I like to read about strong women with character flaws.  Strong men who love their women and children, and may have a few cracks in their surfaces as well.  Kids who think it’s their job to make their parents insane.  Families loving each other, in spite of it all.

Diva Fiction Bytes is my attempt at giving what I’m asking for.  Stick around and tell me how I’m doing.