Filing for bankruptcy isn't very romantic

On the Romance Writers of America, and what you're reading this summer

View this email online June 8, 2024 by Andrew Limbong Hey newsletter readers! Hope you're keeping cool. Later on we'll talk about the books you're reading this summer (I saw Amor Towles' name in the inbox a few times). If you want to share yours, email us at bookoftheday@npr.org, And if you want to hear the latest author interviews from across NPR, subscribe to NPR's Book of the Day podcast. Here's this week's letter! Romance is now big business. But the RWA couldn't keep up. The Romance Writers of America is a trade org for, well, romance writers. The group encourages and supports romance writers by offering sessions with editors and agents on things like how to sell your book, or advice from accountants on how to make the numbers work. According to court documents, in 2019, the group was nearly 10,000 members strong. Huge numbers! Then things went awry. NPR has reported on the details of what happened, but the tl;dr of it all is that both readers and its own members accused the group of various instances of racism. The group tried to make up for it through different statements and board shake ups, but the damage was done and membership tanked to what is now approximately 3,000 members. At the same time, the org signed years-long contracts with various Marriott Hotels for their annual summer conferences. Also at the same time, COVID happened. You can see how the numbers don’t work, here. Now, the RWA has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. I talked to Jayashree Kamblé, an English professor at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY with an expertise in mass-market romance, who said that she’s been watching this all unfold with some sadness. “Because there is and was so much valuable work that the RWA did, especially for women who maybe otherwise would not have been able to break through,” she said. “But we always have to be conscious that every organization that is maybe doing something good for some folks may not be doing the same for some other folks.” As a reader, you might not see the impacts of this directly. But seeing as it’s hard enough to eke out a living as a writer as is, the loss of a robust and supportive writing community will eventually affect us as book lovers. What do you all think? Do we have any romance writers who wanna chime in? Any romance fans have thoughts on how the org dealt with the racism accusations? Let us know – bookoftheday@npr.org. Meghan, on to you! Newsletter continues after sponsor message TBR Pile This week, NPR reporter Alana Wise wrote about a controversial self-published book Seven Shoulders: Taxonomizing Racism in Modern America. The author, “Sam Forster, a white man, said he ‘disguised’ himself as Black — donning an Afro wig and dark foundation — to get a firsthand account of modern life as a person of color.” There are a lot of questions swirling around why he felt he needed to take this approach rather than speaking to Black people directly about their lived experiences. We also had some fun Book of the Day pods I’ll call out this week. First, we got to share with you an interview Rachel Martin did with U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón for NPR’s new podcast called Wild Card. The conversation touches on Limón ‘s new book, You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World, but is also wide-ranging, with discussions of everything from fertility to memory and mortality. We also bring to you two BOTD originals this week – Kelly McEvers spoke with Kathleen Hanna on her new book Rebel Girl, then, our pod producer Isabella Gomez Sarmiento interviewed Marcela Fuentes about her debut novel, Malas. Happy listening! Mailbag! Summer reading assignments used to be a drag. Now it’s a gift. Funny how time works. Here’s what you’ve all got tee’d up to read this summer. Kathy S. recommends Thomas Mullen’s The Rumor Game. “Historical fiction – very interesting and a great story – and of course a murder!! Takes place in Boston just before we entered WW2. It has anti semitism, the mob, the nazis, unions, immigrants, fascism, and so much more!!” Charlie R. is hitting the beach with Maria Dahvana Headly’s translation of Beowulf. “Her diction is absolutely outstanding. I laughed on nearly every page. In this feminist take, Grendel is not a monster, she's merely a mother concerned for her offspring.” And Judy K. is looking forward to Enlightenment by Sarah Perry. “Heard Scott Simon’s interview with her this morning and it sounds fascinating. Also want to read her book The Essex Serpent.” See you next week! PS: If a friend forwarded you this newsletter and you want to get it yourself, here's where to sign up: https://www.npr.org/newsletter/books Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from Central Florida Public Media (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: bookoftheday@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Pop Culture, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Books emails. 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