Dangerous Job: Book Reviewer/Author

When I first started this blog, I thought being the book reviewer would be fun. I always wanted to share my opinion about books and have that lovely conversation about my favorite books.

However, from year to year, it seems like it's getting more and more dangerous to be a book reviewer.

What do I mean by that?

Anytime I critique a book, I look at the reviews. Of course, I read the book, form my own opinion, then write the review. Then I glance at what other people have to say.

Then when I see nothing but 4 to 5 stars for a book that didn't seem to earn it, it leaves me in a quite an odd spot.

It's always easy to agree with other reviewers but it takes a bit of . . . something to be able to stick with your review.

It can be so tempting to just say, "Maybe I was wrong about the book. Maybe I didn't read it right. Maybe I missed something they didn't."

That's what makes writing reviews challenging at times.

Another part of this dangerous jobs are the folks that just love the author so much they are willing to defend the book to the ends of the earth.


Granted, I totally understand the fan club dedicated to Twilight series or the Divergent series. I, myself, was an avid Harry Potter, Twilight, and Chronicles of the Unicorn (by Bruce Coville) fan.

And it can be so easy to criticize other people who do not value your book. Especially Harry Potter.

Slight side track: Quick story, I was walking down the school hallways with my friends and I mentioned that I fell asleep reading the fifth Harry Potter book. For some reason, I seriously could NOT stay awake. In fact, I tried to re-read for the second time, and fell asleep again.

Well, once those words poured out of my mouth. It was on like donkey kong.

"How can you fall asleep during Harry Potter!?"

"How can you call yourself a fan and fall asleep! Shame!"

I mean, really? These were my best friends and they didn't even try to be supportive or even lenient with their tone. They thrashed me a good one. Just for an honest comment.

Nobody mentioned the fact that the fifth book compared to the fourth epic book of the Harry Potter series was just suck-tastic. Nope. I was clearly in the wrong since I fell asleep.

This is the perfect example of what can happen to a reviewer.

There have been plenty of times where a reviewer or even an average joe reader will write a review of a book and then get thrashed.

Maybe even cyber bullied about their opinion.

It amazes me what a simple opinion can cause.

There have been countless battles between book blog reviewer and authors and fans. It's probably as old as time. The book reviewer with their nose so high in the air versus the honest author who has slaved over a book for months to only be ridiculed about their book.

And sometimes it can be vice versa.

Sometimes the author can be in the right. Some bloggers intentionally read a book they KNOW they will hate with every fiber of their being and review it anyway.

And they trash it from beginning to end. Just because they can. Just because they want to get a rise out of the author.

And sometimes they get what they want. And sometimes they don't.

However, this is all besides the point.

My point in writing all of this is to caution young book bloggers and authors alike. Sure, reviewing a book you received for free can be the best thing eva since sliced bread.

I will fully admit, receiving the free books is the best part of this job.

But, like Rumplestilskin says in Once Upon a Time, there's always a price.

Just like Claudia says in Warehouse 13, there's always a downside.

Even though those are fantasy shows, there is always a grain of truth.

There's always a consequence for our actions and choices.

Nobody forced me to be a blogger. Nobody forced me to be a teacher. Nobody forced me to be an author.

For one of them, I was chosen to be one. And I fought it fighting and screaming the whole way.

I'll let you decide which one. :)

All of this to say, be careful for what you sign up for. Make sure to get tough leather skin for this business.
It can literally eat you alive with anger and guilt. The blame game can go rampant. Depression and rejection can share company at times and the life can get lonely. Ever so lonely.

However, remind yourself everyday as to why you signed up to do this. Why you chose to write, teach or blog. You chose this for a reason. You are here on this earth for a reason.

Fulfill your purpose and let fate determine the rest.

What do YOU think is the most dangerous job out of all three: teacher, writer or blogger?

Expectations Vs. Reality: Tip My Hat to Donalyn Miller and Nancie Atwell

You know, as a first year teacher, I had high expectations.

I really wanted my students to fall in love with reading. Then of course reality kicked me in the gut. Teachers wondered what I was doing. The administration didn't believe in what I was doing. 

Standards of Learning was all I was taught. Standards of Learning was all I heard. Scores, scores, scores.

But where did this leave our students?

My students weren't stupid. They knew a lot more than I gave them credit for. They knew the push for scores. They knew that what I was doing int he classroom was completely out of their comfort zone. 

Out of their realm of expectations.

To read? With no tests tacked on? With no quizzes? With no boundaries?

You have to be kidding me?!

We're being forced to read for fifteen minutes everyday? Any book that we choose?

My answer: Absolutely.

They fought me tooth and nail. They talked during the reading, they laughed, they pulled me aside and tried to talk me out of it. Parents didn't understand. Other teachers gave me the eyebrow: Is she really trying to get these students to read? What is she trying to accomplish?

These students were low score readers. Most of them didn't pass the SOL tests last year FOR reading.

What was I trying to do?

The impossible.

Make my students CARE about reading.

But God gave me strength and the courage to see: All things are possible to those who believe.

To God be the glory for the great things he has done.

I kept hearing his words over and over again as people would see homework: Read for 15 minutes and laugh. This year is focused on writing for the state test.

Why have the students read?

Then the impossible happened: My students read.

After a full two months of struggle to get them to see what I see: That reading can be FUN! They actually start complaining when the time would end. I was actually smiling. It worked. The impossible worked! 

Until one day, the reading ended and they all groaned. One student raised their hands and asked, "Could we have a longer time to read?"

Then the popular jock student, Kevin, raised his hand, "Could we extend it to like twenty minutes?"

Everybody murmured their agreement. twenty minutes sounded good to them. They were asking me what they swore would never happen: More time to enjoy reading.

Of course I told them, "I'll think about it." Little did they know I expanded it to twenty minutes already, so they got their wish.

What does this all have to do with reading?

As a teacher, I was never given support to introduce reading as fun. I was told to stick to tradition. Open the large textbook, have students read a literature selection outloud, ask questions ad nasuem, and test then on their knowledge.

Expectation versus reality.

The reality that people didn't understand: Our students need both types of reading. They need to learn reading to access knowledge, and the other one to just have fun.

Where has tradition brought us, as far as reading literature only in the classroom?

Where has "Read then test" really brought us?

Nowhere.

All I ever wanted to do was introduce my students to a new world: Reading can be fun.

And I get shut down, and told by a former reading specialist, "Reading like that doesn't belong in the classroom."

And then people wonder why students don't like to read. Because we as educators or parents fail to introduce our youth to fun reading. We need to introduce them to the library as a fun place to explore different voices, experiences in life.

Instead we stick to tradition. 

Where will this lead us as a nation?

Expectations versus reality.

We expect our youth to know how to read. Instead we push them as far away as possible by giving them literature that is far beyond their level. 

The more we do this, the more we take money out of education, the more we undervalue reading, the more we will have students who cannot read past the kindergarten reading level who will drop out in high school.

It's time for a change. And hopefully, next year, I will able to make this change.

Will you?

Black Writer, White Characters: Too Weird?

I always get this look when I mention that I (as an African American woman) that I don't write urban fiction. You know the type they put in African American section in Barnes and Noble?

Yep. That's the one. 

It's not like I have anything against authors like Sister Souljah. Quite the contrary. I look up to these authors since they can write with the authentic African American voice. 

Even though some people forget that not all African Americans live this way (I timidly raise my hand), these are still stories that are important to our culture and are now valued.

However, I just don't write these type of stories.

Now will I say I will NEVER write these type of stories?

No.

But as of right now, I'm not writing urban fiction. I like to write with European American characters (a.k.a. white characters).

Why?

One word: Suburban.

I've lived in the suburbs my whole life and pulling from my experience, it's just easier for me. It's not like I'm denying my African American roots or history. I'm just not writing stories about it. Yet.

Now, I will eventually write minority characters and in fact, I have inserted some minority characters into my stories. Specifically Angel Diaries and some short stories most recently.

And I will start a novel with a main character of a minority race. I just have to pull all of the information and write it.

Until then though, my main characters will be white.

Is that too weird that I write with white characters instead of black? Or should I, as an author, have the right to choose how I want to star in my novels?

Bullying: Never Suffer Alone

 A lot of the stories I write about have bullying in it. 

Okay, maybe not a lot, but it seems to be a topic I can't seem to dance out of. I write about it constantly. I think about it alot. 

And as the school year approaches, I know that I will probably see it right in the hallways. It's practically unavoidable.

It's such a weird and awkward role for me to now be holding the power of bullies.

For so long I've been tormented by bullies and now, as a teacher, I can actually be a powerful enforcer of a zero tolerance policy.

And I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels that bullying has forever changed their lives. I just never knew how big of an impact it can have.

For years, I've hidden the pain and suffering of being bullying. But just as suddenly, it appears in my writing. The dark past I've forever ran away from has come to the forefront. It has overloaded my senses with memories I wish I could bury for good.

And yet I know that my story (along with a certain family member's) needs to be heard by others who may be victims of bullying. They need to know that they are not alone. And that they will make it through tough times.

I just hope being a teacher will be the change the other students need.  

If you saw a student being bullied, as a teacher, what would you do?

Hush, Hush for 6th Graders?

There I was, innocently standing there with my teacher, talking about lesson plans (what else?). Then I saw this sixth grader (which I know he is) carrying this book, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Now normally, I would brush it off and keep it moving. But this has really stuck with me in my mind. I just had to know: How did this kid get his hands on this book? I'm not saying there should be any censorship of books in a library.

I'm just wondering if the little guy knows what he's getting into. Not only is this book not in the juvenile fiction section, it's a paranormal romance which is just a whole different thing altogether. 

I know if he was my student, then I would definitely ask him about what he thinks the book is about. Just because I know if he was my son, then I wouldn't let him read that book.

I know, totally old fashioned of me. I just think that as sixth graders, they aren't even preteens yet. Should they be introduced adult books and topics (not just sex) so young? This book is all about these adult questions and answers, and I wonder if he knows this.

I have to wonder if his parents even had "The Talk" with him and yet he's reading this book about . . . Well, it's not all about sex, but it definitely has some steamy situations in it that I personally wouldn't recommend to a 10 year old.

I mean, I'm not making the case that he should return the book or anything. The book he chooses is totally up to him. He has every right to pick up the book. I just think there should be some adult guidance in his choice.

As a teacher, we are suppose to help students (or more like force them) to make appropriate choices.

So, I'll leave it up to you guys: Do you think Hush, Hush is an appropriate choice for a 10 year old boy? And if you were the teacher in his classroom, what would you do about it, if anything at all?

To Read a Review or Not: That is the Question!

I know corny question but hey, I'm an English teacher now! :D 

Or at least for this semester until I become an official licensed English teacher.

Anyway . . .

There was a debate about if a writer should read or not read a review. At first I thought: Duh! Of course we should read the review because it makes us better writers.

It made such a strong difference in my writing life.

But then I thought about all the times where when I faced my other WIP (works in progress) and how those reviews knocked me off my game.

Not to mention my pride was injured. I work really, really hard on my books to make them the best I can be. Then I get knocked off my tower once and a while from a book blogger who let's me know, "Hey, your book: Yeah, needs a LOT of work! Let me tell you why . . ."

And not just negative reviews. 

The one star and two star thing use to bother me. I fully admit it. I would be like, "Hey, you know what? I worked hard on my book! I should deserve, at least, three stars since I hired an editor, care about my work, and did my research to find your blog."

But everyone is entitled to their opinion. 

And sometimes those opinions help me out in the long run. Especially with Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology.

Some people might think a short story is 15-20 pages long. Well, in technicality, it doesn't have to be that long. And so when a reviewer writes that they thought a paragraph or five pages is too short for them, then a potential buyer might read it and think, "Hmm, her short stories are only 5 pages? Thanks, but I don't want to read a short story that is only 5 pages."

Which is fine by me! I would rather a customer know what they are buying into before giving me a low score and giving me low ratings because I stick to the definition of short story.

And as a reader, let's not fool ourselves: We read the lowest rating on books.

Why?

Well, we all know that answer: We want a review with meaning.

Reading: I LOOOOOVVVVEEE this book and this author! Isn't very helpful. At all. Therefore, we read what the other customers have to say about the book like the ending was too fast, for example, and determine if we want to risk our money and time with a book like that.

So on both ends reading a review is informational and helpful.

But lately, I'm starting to think I shouldn't read my reviews. I just think that it messes up with my writing.

When I'm fully into my writing mode, thinking about past reviews and thinking, "Man, who's REALLY going to read this? They hated my past book, what makes THIS so different?!" Is not the right style to go into a writing frenzy.

Sure, the great reviews perk me up and gives me the zeal to want to finish the book I'm currently writing Angel Diaries 2.

But the rough reviews just make me want to stop and wonder if I'm doing the right thing. And deep down, I know I am. But second guessing myself isn't going to help my readers. Second guessing myself isn't going to help me get anywhere.

In order for me to write a decent book (or even a likeable first draft) I need to get into the zone. And I have to say it's hard so with all of these negative influences.

I wish sometimes I could just disconnect from the internet just for like a full month. To just let everything blow over and not even care but the fact is I do care.

So I'm stuck: Either I should develop tough skin that alligators use (here alligator alligator, come to mama!) or I should just ignore reviews all together and write another kickass addition to my trilogy Angel Diaries. 

What do you guys think?

Perfect Chemistry: White Savior Syndrome

Blurb

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

 

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Topic of choice: White Savior Syndrome

Okay, I'm going to try something a bit different on this blog. But before you go screaming off in a direction cursing the word change, just hear me out.

Basically, I want to use books as a diving board into assessing and understanding western (mostly American) culture better. Sometimes for better or for worse.

Now, I know this may seem weird. Odd. Or even plain downright uncomfortable, but bear with me. 

This isn't exactly my comfort zone either. Even though it feels right, I don't know how many of you will stick around after this.

Now onward with the interesting yet completely out of the blue topic: Perfect Chemistry.

The Persephone Prophecy: The Gift by Zia Marie

Blurb

Sixteen-year-old Alexandra Williams is adjusting to life as an only child following the disappearance of her older brother, Ben, two years ago. She has battled alcoholism and is constantly dealing with her own feelings of guilt and weakness in the aftermath. 

On the last night of her summer vacation, she and her boyfriend, Andrew, come across a car wreck and discover Quinn Reyes trapped inside. With a touch of his hand, her already fragile world is shaken, especially when demon hunter Milo Montgomery comes to town looking for her. 
She learns that Milo and Quinn were searching for a person nicknamed The Persephone Prophecy because of her ability to walk between the human world and the demon underworld. 

Thrust into a new existence, Alexandra will be forced to confront her own demons and discover that she is far stronger than she could have ever imagined.

Introducing a dark new young adult trilogy packed with romance, action and demon lore. The first book in the Persephone Prophecy trilogy.

My Thoughts:

Okay, where to start with this book? 

I'm so disappointed on so many fronts with this book and the author that I don't even know where to start. I guess at the beginning would be appropriate.

I won this book at LibraryThing. Well, more specifically I won the second book in this series. So the author, who I thought was kind and sweet, gave me the first book. 

So I started to read it recently and I couldn't finish it. It wasn't because of the typos (the book was grammatically clean), it because of all the newbie errors. I will list them here, but be warned: It's a lot. 

So here's the list as to why I didn't finish it:

The Established Route: Traditional Publishing

I've hoped you noticed lately, my lovely followers and readers, that I've been getting a lot of reviews on my anthology, Everblossom.

I know, I'm excited! Even though you're wondering: What is the connection between self-publishing and your rant?

Well, to get all of those reviews, I have to submit requests for book reviews. Practically everyday I wake up, look at my notebook (where I have the reviewers contact info) and submit my book to book bloggers who will hopefully understand and maybe even love my book.

But while I was searching for potential reviewers I found this: I will accept self-published works, but they will have to prove themselves as great as writers who took the established route.

You see my eyes rolling can't you?

Yep, that's pretty much my facial expression: You have GOT to be kidding me.

Cue rant.

The Truth About Traditional Publishing

I know some people still hold out on the vain hope on landing a traditional publishing deal. I can hear the groans now, "Why is she messing with the traditional publishing companies? Why can't she stay with self-publishing and leave the rest of us alone?"

Complaints

Well, as some you of you might know, I'm preparing to be a student teacher for next semester. Part of that preparing means me actually stepping foot in the classroom. Well, I did today and boy did I learn alot! 

Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grade Teacher?

Well are you? Do you think you have what it takes to beat a fifth grade teacher?

Hot Topic Tuesday: Best of the Best or Nothing at All

Do you guys remember that review I gave for Jacob Jones, The Septavalent Stone?

Well, if you don't remember I'll give you some hints: I gave it a review, I told him to work on it, and he basically said he will.

He lied.

He's still publishing the book as is. Even though it's not up to par. Even though it's not really that great as it stands, he's still publishing it on August 1st. You can check it out on his blog if you wish. August 1st in big bold come buy it letters. I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. Why?

Simply because I think his book could be spectacular if only he would wait and get it fixed.

What's the lesson here, ladies and gentlemen?

Wait.

I know I hear some of the writers in the peanut gallery whine and complain that they are done and are sick and tired of reading and editing it. What do you do then?

Stop. Read something else, then get back to editing your book. 

Why?

Because that's what we writers do. Heck yeah, it's hard work. Yes, it's tedious and often thankless job but if you're going to go out there and present yourself put a bow on it and make it your best. Don't go out there half-assed and expect fantastic reviews. 

It's just like with an interview. You don't go out there with your hair unkempt, your shirt untucked, and ugly shoes. You go out there with your best foot forward and I'm sorry to say,  Jacob Jones isn't doing so.

You know how you wish things could be different? That maybe I could just leap into one of my stories and bring out the happy endings for everyone? I so desperately wish I could tell everyone that all you have to do is wish it to be so, and tada! Your book is done. And you'll know it, but that's not true at all.

Not one little bit.

I've edited Angel Diaries AT LEAST four times. Yes, you counted it right four times over the past four years. I even got a contract to publish it but things didn't work out. Sure it hurt. I cried. I wanted to throw a hissy fit and stomp all over the room and wonder why me? I thought I was ready to put my baby into the spotlight.

Hell, I thought I was ready to be published and take in all the success or fairy tale mumbo jumbo that I thought was traditional publishing. But I wasn't. I was young, naive, and I still had a lot to learn. I knew for sure though that Angel Diaries was a hit. I put it up on a critique site and everybody loved it. Seriously. A lot of people approached me and told me up front that they wanted to buy it and asked me when will it be available.

To make a long story short, I knew I had a diamond in the rough story. I just had to carve it, shape it, mold it into something even better. I knew I had the basics down. I just had to fix the darn thing so that it would really blow people's minds. To make it leave an impact so big it challenged people's thoughts. And to do that I have to edit it. Over, and over, and over, and over again.

And when do you stop editing? Until it's in perfect shape. Or at least what you think, as the writer, is perfect shape.

Then guess what the next move is? Getting a second opinion.

Join a critique site.

Get some beta readers.

Gather up your reader friends to read over your book and see what they think.

And please, for the love of God, get people who will be straight up honest with you. Don't get the friends who will just tell you, "This is great." That doesn't help at all. What was great? What did you really like about it? Did you like the whole thing? Well, you couldn't find one problem with it? Not one?

In other words, get some feedback that will really help you become a better writer instead of a big headed one. Especially if you're going to self-publish your work.

There are already people out there, nay-sayers, who say that self-publish work sucks. And if you put your work out there half done, not up to your full potential just for some stupid deadline, then what will that tell your readers?

"I don't care. I'm all about that bottom line."

That's what you're saying. Especially if they find out someone told you EXACTLY what to change and how to change it. It's not rocket science. Fix it. Your readers will thank you for it later.

I mean, of course they will never know. But then in comes the fan mail.

Every time I think of fan mail, I get all tingly inside. That HAS to be the best part of being a writer. I even hand out fan mail to my writers once in a while, just to cheer them up. Especially Meg Cabot.

Don't look at me that way! I know she will eventually read it, and be like, "Thanks for that, chica! It really helps!" She was actually the first writer that I gave fan mail to. And I continue to. When I have the time.

What can I say? I love to cheer good writers on.

Don't you?!

Anyway, as a reader, I love to give authors good reviews, refer them to other readers and be like,

"Hey check this cat out!"

"For reals?!"

"Yeah, girl, Barry Lyga is an AWESOME writer!"

I love to do that. Heck, it's part of the reason why I put up this blog so that I could promote the writers who may not be on NYT bestsellers list like Dia Reeves! Or Barry Lyga! Or Patrick Ness! Or anybody else I might mention in the future. Point is, I like spreading good words about authors.

I don't like it when I see so much potential in an author get crushed down into little bits and pieces. I hate being fooled by pretty covers, yet I fall for it every single time. I hate buying a book that was on discount to find out that it's on the discount rack for a reason. I hate . . .

Well, the list could go on and on. And I bet a lot of people would agree when I say: I hate it when I give an author GREAT advice and they don't take it. Instead, they just fling it to the way side and decide to publish crap anyway. Just for a deadline.

Just because they told everyone that this was the date.

I fully believe that are certain things in this lifetime that could be put on hold. Growing up. Putting on makeup. Dating for God sakes. So many other things that I won't even list them. Everything is just so fast paced in this life that sometimes, I just want to slow them down and enjoy life. Enjoy the luxury of waiting. Enjoy natures beauty of what God has created. Just enjoy the thrills of being young.

Yet, sometimes life just rushes us by and we don't take the time to put effort into what we know could be good. Just because we need to rush them. Just because we want things now. Microwave generation they call us.

But the best things in life, funny as this is, are things that don't come right now.

And I think The Septavalent Stone, along with so many other books, could have been better with time. Like wine.

And I'm sorry Jacob if you find this offensive, or rude, or just plain ol' mean, but this is how I feel about it. And this is my blog. So if you want to comment. Go ahead. I won't delete it.

So please feel free to comment. I officially hand the reins over to you to explain why there's such a rush on The Septavalent Stone when it clearly needs the effort and time to become so much better and fully enjoyed by the reader.

Please take the floor and explain. Because as a reader, I do not understand.

Promotion of Stereotypes through the Traditional Publishing Industry

After reviewing over my historical romance books that I wrote when I was younger, I really started thinking about these stereotypes of Native Americans in historical romance. These buff strong Native men who usually fall in love with the European women. You know the type of story I'm talking about.

These men grace our shelves virtually and on literal shelves that promote this Native American man as a strong warrior. Or even a half breed who is literally stuck between two worlds only to be partially accepted in one world.

By putting these men on our shelves, are we promoting a stereotypical view of a culture? As historical romance writers are we stereotyping Native American men into one specific category?

Then this led me on to my favorite subject: The African American section. I know you've seen it! I was shocked when I first saw it in Barnes and Noble, right in the front. Almost proudly saying loudly, "Yeah we have African American books! They no longer hide in fear."

So what does that say about African American books that they have to have their own section? You don't see an Asian American section, Native American section, Hispanic American section (except for the books that are in Spanish for obvious reasons) or European American section. So what is this segregation carrying back from the past carrying right through to the future?

That section has always gave me mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's like yeah! We've got our own section. No more going through the Fiction section trying to find urban books, but then on the other side of things why is this so? Why is it deemed okay to separate the section like that? Not every single African American book is over in that section. Just certain ones. Toni Morrison isn't over there, she is still stuck along with Alice Walker in the Fiction section. Along with Precious and a few others that aren't coming to mind right now.

Is it because Carl Weber, for example, isn't assimilating into the European American ideal culture that his books along with several others are automatically "punished" and set aside in a separate section as to not contaminate the other "acceptable" literary fiction books? Is that why they are in their own section?

Okay, maybe I'm thinking about this too deep or maybe other people haven't thought about that. Maybe it's just seen as a simple marketing strategy for African Americans. To let them know that they are important in a society.

Well, let's take this one step further.

How many books in the young adult section have African Americans? How many books in the same section were written by Hispanic Americans? Compare that to European American books. Compare that to the stories of African Americans/Hispanic Americans/Asian Americans told by a person of European American descent.

Is that how America is? Just filled with European American voices to snuff out the other cultures? To control the other cultures through the lens of European Americans?

How many writers can get another culture correct? How can a majority write a story from a minority point of view?

I'm not saying it's impossible but I think it's strange that the story of a minority struggle is told from somebody who isn't Asian. Black. Hispanic. Indian. Why can't we tell the story? Why does our message have to be contained (a.k.a. filtered) in a white envelope?

Let's take a different approach.

Let's look at the young adult fantasy/paranormal fantasy section. What do you see? Black. Dark colors. Are there any minorities on the cover?

No.

Why? It makes no sense why minorities read these types of books all the time but yet are denied passage in the book.

There was this one book called Leaving Atlanta.

It's not that greatest book in the world. Sorry Professor Walker, but I've read better. Anyway main point: There was something the author said that I will never forget. There was little boy in there walking to school with his neighbor. They were both black. These angels came to him and they talked. He said that he wanted his angel to look like him, African American. The angels were white.

Main point: Why can't our heroes look like us? Why can't the superheros be a minority race?

This led to an even bigger question: How did this happen?

Of course all of these books being published and selected didn't happen over night. Who are the gate keepers to determine which books make it on the shelves?

The Big 6.

Is traditional publishing keeping out the minority characters that could inspire little kids to look up to them and say, hey he's black/asian/hispanic/native american like me!?

Are they promoting these stereotypes of the gruff hood rat and the smart Asian?

Are they saying that it is okay to have the stereotypical Native American hot rod on the cover and make him just like every other Native American on the shelves as long as they make money on it? Is it okay to have the stereotypes as long as they make money?

I'm not saying that traditional publishing is one big scam. Or that all publishing companies are racist. I'm not saying that at all to be perfectly clear but to end this post I want all of you to think about this:

Are traditional publishers promoting stereotypes? And does this leave the opportunity of minorities to speak out through self-publishing?

There was this writer who came to my school and talked about this subject and it has always stuck with me. All of these Twilight books, Nightshade, Shiver, and all of these paranormal romance books all have the main characters (girls) are what? European American. Why couldn't there be another book like Dia Reeves to set the tone? Why can't we have more books like that? Why is the book so hard to find in the bookstore? Or any other type of books that aren't "popular"?

What are we telling our students/children, that are of minority race, when we go to the library and see all of these other books chock full of European American characters but minority characters are more of the side characters?

It's all right there. All you have to do is observe, question and think.

I would love to hear your thoughts upon the subject.

Are traditional publishers promoting stereotypes? Are they blocking out potential saviors of different races?

Tell me what you think.