A Little Bit of Me
Update 5/29/2011: Since I first wrote this blog post, I have sold an interracial romance to Presents titled The Highest Price to Pay, you can see the cover and description here. It releases July 15th, 2011 in the UK and is available for preorder on Book Depository and Amazon UK.
A little bit of me goes into every book I write. No, I’ve never proposed a marriage of convenience to an Italian billionaire, I’ve never been pregnant with a prince’s baby thanks to a clinic mix-up, and I’ve never toured Paris with a sheikh. But when I write, of course bits of my world view make it into my books.
That’s not to say everything my characters do, I would do, or that I only write characters that are like me. But of course my perspective will leak onto the page.
One of my favorite instance of this was putting a petty argument on the page between my sheikh and my princess, in The Inherited Bride. It’s the kind of argument my husband and I had all the time when we were first married. She wanted something from him, but didn’t tell him, because she wanted him to figure it out on his own (as she put it, it’s like asking someone to buy you flowers). He didn’t understand how he was supposed to read her mind. It was extra funny to me, because it was very true to real life, my real life. 🙂 And even a princess and a sheikh have similar problems in some ways.
Way a long time back, last November, I think, before I sold His Virgin Acquisition, I wrote a post about interracial romance. I was talking about interracial romance where the racial differences aren’t the central conflict. (A fabulous commenter brought up Harry Potter and Cho Chang 🙂 )
That was a book I always wanted to read, and most especially in my most favorite line, Presents. Presents very much
trades on the difference between the hero and heroine, whether it’s a difference in social status, in experience or in culture.. It helps create a lot of tension and emotion, so it seemed a perfect place to me, to have a true interracial romance. (I have to give a shout out to Kelly Hunter here, and her book, Red Hot Rogue, which features an Asian heroine and a white hero. I haven’t read it but I definitely intend to!)
This is where the piece of me comes in. My husband is biracial. His father is black, his mother is white. And if you’ve seen my picture, you can be in now doubt that I’m pale pasty white. 😉 So what does that difference in skin color mean to us? A big fat nothing. I love him, he loves me, any conflict we have is centered on arguments like I mentioned above. (Just tell me next time! If I tell you it doesn’t mean anything!)
And that’s why I wanted to write a book that reflected that. An interracial romance that is really just a romance. A Presents. 🙂
My Frenchman is the son of a French blue-blood and a woman from Africa. He’s biracial. My heroine is white. Their conflict has nothing to do with that. Because for me, that’s real life. It isn’t as though we don’t see the difference in skin tone, but it’s something we appreciate in each other. And I think it’s something special. 🙂
There is a lot of me in this book. This book was a dream of mine before I sold.
And even writing this post, I was almost hesitant. Because essentially, this Presents is no different than any other. It’s full of passion, seduction and glamor. It’s about two people who overcome their personal demons, who help each other heal. Two people who find love where they didn’t expect it. They are like every couple, if a bit Presentsified. 😀 Which I think is the point, ultimately.
No matter what the difference between the H and h, whether she’s a pampered princess from Europe and he’s a battle-hardened sheikh, or she’s a fashion designer with a flamboyant streak and he’s a financier that’s conservative down to his loafers (that’s the Frenchman!), it all comes down to love.
I didn’t write this book to be preachy, or to make a point really. It’s just something I wanted to do. (And I really did think it was just about time to have a black Presents hero!) It’s very possible some people won’t like it. IBut you take that risk with every book you write.
I had to say something because I just realized today that this was another dream of mine that I’m seeing come true. I don’t know how extensive the revisions might be on this MS, since I just turned it in, but I’m just very happy right at this moment. 🙂
Comments
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Always wondered why there weren’t more black Presents hero’s, definitely thought they were missing, looking forward to reading yours x
Glad to hear that, Susan! 😀 And I’m glad you’re looking forward to the book. I find him to be a very sexy hero.
Those photos are so lovely, Maisey – there’s true romance in your eyes. Everybody say aaah!
I can’t wait to read your interracial romance although quite honestly, as long as a Presents hero bursts off the page as master of all he surveys, all other details are as oil on the beautifully toned bicep to me(as opposed to icing on the cake). I love them all!
Christina, I absolutely agree with you! I do not discriminate when it comes to sexy men. Give me a sheikh, an Italian, an American, a Russian…you get the idea…if he’s a vibrant character, I’ll love him.
And thanks re the pictures. I still get that look on my face when I see him!
“An interracial romance that is really just a romance.”
This sounds fabulous to me as someone with family members of different races and/or more than one race, but just as importantly as a reader! I love the fantasy element of a romance, but I also like it when something in the story reflects the world we live in today.
Ooo I like to have a selection of sexy men too – no discrimination here. You look so beautiful in your wedding photos Maisey! I love your dress and bouquet and your hair and… Let’s face it you plan a heck of a wedding.
Such a beautiful couple you are!
And I think you’re right. A relationship where racial differences aren’t the focus of the relationship reflects my own experiences. (No, no biracial anything here; we are Floridians-who-fear-the-sun kind of pale)
Jill, I think it’s definitely reflective of how life is. Which is a very good thing! It’s still fantasy, with some reality sprinkled in. 😀
Lacey, glad you like the pics! I worked at a bridal store at the time, so had loads of ideas and discounts available! The whole wedding cost three thousand dollars, which isn’t shabby! (having a free venue helped a lot!)
Julia, I fear the sun too…oh the irony. 😀 When I was in Florida in July I feared I might frighten the natives!
It’s lovely to see other people excited! LOL!
B&E are fabulous m’dear, never doubt it. Blaise is sooo sexy! The cover party for that one is gonna be huuuuge! 🙂 Love the wedding pics too.
Thank you, Jackie, and of course for all your help. You practically read the end as I was writing it! Oh yes, the cover will be gorgeous!
Love the photos! You look beautiful and your hero…better not say anything!
Having recently finished your Prince, I’m VERY excited to read this one. And what gorgeous pics of you and your man. Thanks for sharing!
Nas, quite all right, I’m used to him being on the receiving end of female admiration. ;)He’s truly a handsome man. And that pic is a bit old (five yrs)…he’s only gotten better with age!
Rach, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the Prince. I truly love Max. He’s a good guy. 😉 As for me and my real life hero, glad you enjoyed the pics! I always love looking at them again. We had the best photographer.
Maisey! Yum! You’ve got vintage girl! You know the saying…the longer the wine …
Agreed!!
Maisey, what a beautiful picture. I can’t wait to read this story.
Thank you, Anne! It was an emotional one to write…for a lot of reasons.
Maisey, love those pics and hubby is cute. Does he have a brother?
I think if the story is good, the other stuff doesn’t matter. And actually, I read a Brenda Jackson book and I found that even though the characters were black, I found when I imagined the characters I imagined them as I would like them so I think if people don’t like an interracial hero, they can ‘change’ him. If all else fails, put a pic of Mr. Yates on the cover!
He has two. 😉 And one is still single! (also, Mr. Yates’ head is expanding as we speak…)
That’s the beauty of books, I think. Characters and settings looks can be changed to suit the reader, and the thing that’s left is story and the heart of the characters.
Okay, don’t let Mr. Yates read anymore lest he might not be able to fit his head through the door.
The picture of you two up top looks like you just came of the top of a wedding cake.
You probably won’t even see this post. I love it, love you and love the dimple on your handsome groom. What a great team! I was going crazy trying to find a back story, it was so worth the research and I adored The Inherited Bride! xxoo
Marilyn I did see it! And if you need backstory, all you have to do is ask, I can gab for days. 😉
I’m glad you enjoyed Inherited Bride…and my hubby. 🙂