By: Gabrielle in MD

Gabrielle in MD — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:24:33 +0000

I don’t care for the afro-pics cover, but I’m not offended by it. I think “we” do such a disservice by segmenting our books out of the mainstream and then wondering why no one is reading what we write. I read everything from YA books to sci-fi to romance. I want to sell to everyone, not just black readers. I agree with poster #1 in that a lot of AA fiction isn’t that great anymore. It’s all the same. The market is too saturated. People should market to all audiences, not just AA.

By: moncita

moncita — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:08:21 +0000

Just as there is variety in mainstream fiction there must be variety in African American fiction. As an avid reader I supported our local bookstore Black Images. They offered a wide selection of books and the 2 women who owned the store were very knowledgeable about the books that they carried. However when the big box stores began to offer the same books at a discount the customers left and after 10 years they closed. I must admit that before they closed I did not purchase as many books as I did in the past. Why? Because African American fiction was no longer good fiction. The Terry McMillan school of writing opened. Everyone wrote the same story. The only difference is the names used to tell the story. Publishers and writers should realize that diversity in storytelling will sell books.

Comments on: “Afro Picks” from Publishers Weekly

By: Gabrielle in MD

By: moncita