Wings of Equity was released last week. And so far it’s garnered a lovely review at Jessewave’s, although some comments on the post by other readers gave me a bit of a sober pause. In her review Kassa pointed out that “although featuring a lesbian relationship within an m/m romance is a chance, it’s one that pays off entirely“, and to be honest I hadn’t really thought that until I saw some of the comments. Because when I was writing WOE, I fell in love with the characters of Jazz and Lady Bart, and just assumed that other readers would as well. I didn’t really think that featuring secondary lesbian characters would be a ‘thing’, although I probably should have known better because truth be told sometimes it is hard to find strong female characters in the genre of M/M. And why is that? True, the books are about romance between two men, but men are never devoid of women in their life – no matter what their sexuality. Women are often used as plot points – and sometimes as really bad tropes like the vengeful ex or the scheming hussy who thinks she can ‘turn’ one of the heroes, or the saintly best friend. But if women are rare enough in M/M, lesbians are practically non-existent.
And again, why? Gay men often have lesbian friends – solidarity through shared experience. And Lady Bart and Jazz came into being because my friend Fran (whose name I stole for a heterosexual married woman in Tigers and Devils in all irony, although a lot of her traits ended up filtering into the character) asked me if I was ever going to include any lesbian characters because she wanted to read them. And from that small comment they took on a life of their own. To the point that I find their characters just as important and integral to the story (and in the planned sequels) – to the point where I am contemplating sticking my toe into the pond of F/F fiction at some later point so they can have their own adventures.
Because one of my biggest regrets is that although I tried to make them well-rounded characters, I only hinted at their sexual escapades in WOE, whereas the men had theirs described. And yes, WOE is primarily M/M fiction – but perhaps on some level I knew that F/F wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms in M/M stories. Maybe I was scared that sales would be affected once word got out. And I don’t really like that about myself. Kassa said to me on Twitter today that I was pushing boundaries, but I didn’t push them enough.
Some of those comments about Jazz and Lady Bart’s relationships kind of prove it though. I’m not having a go at anybody here – romances of any kind have their ‘rules’, and readers want to know of any ’surprises’ that may pop up. I do it myself – I don’t like unexpected menages in M/M romance. But M/M readers should not be scared of ‘girl cooties’ (not my words) – after all, the majority of the readers are girls!
Which leads me to another thought. If M/M readers saw other readers having that reaction about the hot man-loving, they would be justified in thinking there was a bit of homophobia going on in such a reaction. Is it fair to suggest that the reverse is happening here – that such reactions to F/F are on a par with those against M/M?
I hope not. I’d like to believe that readers of M/M fiction are just as open-minded about our beautiful lesbian sisters (allow me to get sentimental here).
All I am trying to say, is if you want to do some realistic world-building for your gay men, there is a place for gay women to co-exist with them in the M/M genre.
I’m not sure if I’m making any sense any more. So I’m going back to listening to Tori Amos and thinking of the next adventure for Ezra, Icarus, Jazz and the formidable Lady Bart.
Thanks, Heidi!
It’s true – women always seem to be rather harsh with each other (has Tori’s “Cornflake Girl” in my head now).
I know that if the f/f gets written it won’t get the same audience WOE did – there may be some crossover – but judging from some of the reactions I’m certainly not expecting it.
It’s true – women always seem to be rather harsh with each other (has Tori’s “Cornflake Girl” in my head now).
I know that if the f/f gets written it won’t get the same audience WOE did – there may be some crossover – but judging from some of the reactions I’m certainly not expecting it.
It’s true – women always seem to be rather harsh with each other (has Tori’s “Cornflake Girl” in my head now).
I know that if the f/f gets written it won’t get the same audience WOE did – there may be some crossover – but judging from some of the reactions I’m certainly not expecting it.
I must defend Kassa here – she actually didn’t make that comment. She just pointed out in the review that there was no f/f smexxin’ – which is fair enough, because I know that probably would have been on the mind of those people reading it.
And yay for more lesbians in upcoming m/m fiction!
I must defend Kassa here – she actually didn’t make that comment. She just pointed out in the review that there was no f/f smexxin’ – which is fair enough, because I know that probably would have been on the mind of those people reading it.
And yay for more lesbians in upcoming m/m fiction!
I must defend Kassa here – she actually didn’t make that comment. She just pointed out in the review that there was no f/f smexxin’ – which is fair enough, because I know that probably would have been on the mind of those people reading it.
And yay for more lesbians in upcoming m/m fiction!
Thanks, Catt. Our minds are usually on the same frequency, which is why I think we are such good friends.
And, uh, now back to DD2?
Thanks, Catt. Our minds are usually on the same frequency, which is why I think we are such good friends.
And, uh, now back to DD2?
Thanks, Catt. Our minds are usually on the same frequency, which is why I think we are such good friends.
And, uh, now back to DD2?
That’s a really good point about women being used as “plot points” I never really thought about it like that but wow…really opened my eyes. I’m glad you’ve included a f/f pairing in your book and it makes me even more anxious to read it
That’s a really good point about women being used as “plot points” I never really thought about it like that but wow…really opened my eyes. I’m glad you’ve included a f/f pairing in your book and it makes me even more anxious to read it
That’s a really good point about women being used as “plot points” I never really thought about it like that but wow…really opened my eyes. I’m glad you’ve included a f/f pairing in your book and it makes me even more anxious to read it
I am going to run straight out (to the internet) and buy it.This one sounds absolutely fabulous.
Thank you for being wonderful and inclusive. And so totally beyond the petty that it surprised you.
I am going to run straight out (to the internet) and buy it.This one sounds absolutely fabulous.
Thank you for being wonderful and inclusive. And so totally beyond the petty that it surprised you.
I am going to run straight out (to the internet) and buy it.This one sounds absolutely fabulous.
Thank you for being wonderful and inclusive. And so totally beyond the petty that it surprised you.