Market research was quite disturbing. “There’s no market for gay fiction novels. If you want to succeed in the Gay & Lesbian genre, you have to write novellas / short stories for women. That’s what’s selling. There’re massive online eBook retailers devoted to it. And it wouldn’t hurt to develop a female alias.”
I considered it.
I recently promoted Duke – Book 1: Alpha Rising, my pride
and joy and the first in a series of three (so far). I posted a notice in a M/M
Romance group I was a member of, among other places. I was very pleased with
the response, until the reviews came in . . . from women:
While they all liked the writing, characters, and
world-building, etc., they added, “It wasn’t a bad book; it just wasn’t for me –
2/5 stars.” I wanted to say, “Well, I didn’t write it for you.”
“It’s awful that someone in a relationship would have that
much recreational sex with others – 2/5 stars.” I wanted to say, (or actually,
I did say), “The book blurb clearly states that the main character had a lover
and someone else would compete for his affection.”
Another along those lines, "I have a bit of a problem with all the cheating/swapping - 1/5 stars."
Another along those lines, "I have a bit of a problem with all the cheating/swapping - 1/5 stars."
“All the sex is just frivolous. I don’t think the author had
any other purpose than this – 2/5 stars” I replied, “The book blurb clearly
states that the book is an EROTIC drama, with laughter and tears, his story
will touch you and have you TOUCHING YOURSELF.”
“There’re no werewolves – 2/5 stars.” I replied, “The book blurb
clearly mentions a German Shepherd, an Irish Setter, and even a tortoise.”
Instead of appreciating the book for what is was, they were not
appreciating it for what it wasn’t.
In challenging their reviews, I was told that, “Negative
ratings can be useful to an author to learn what appeals to readers and what
doesn't.”
What appeals to WHICH readers? That’s when I snapped.
THIS ISN’T A M/M ROMANCE WEREWOLF ‘STORY’, NO
FUCKING WEREWOLVES! THIS ISN’T A M/M ROMANCE, THIS IS GAY FICTION. I DIDN’T
WRITE IT FOR YOU! I WROTE IT FOR GAY MEN!
And reviews came in from gay men, and they were positive.
To think I almost kowtowed to these people.
I’m glad women like M/M Romance, good for them, but NOT to
the EXCLUSION of gay men; I find this completely IMBALANCED.
Websites and blogs
celebrate ‘the best in gay fiction for women’ . . . M/M Romance groups started
and dominated by women . . . gay Literature retreats where 80% of the featured
authors are women . . . gay male authors stop writing gay fiction for gay men
to write M/M Romance for women . . . and a gay man releasing a gay fiction book
written for gay men that gets slammed for not catering to what women want.
That’s when I started a new group, no girls allowed! (gay men only). The response by gay men has been positive. The response by women, well,
I was cautioned that I might be thought of as misogynistic for excluding them.
I’ll have to find a word to call them for what they’re
doing.