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Zane
Regular Poster
Username: Zane
Post Number: 86
Registered: 11-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 13 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 12:15 pm: | 
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Zane’s Apology for the Status of Today’s World
At first, I was going to hold my tongue about this issue; I really was. When one of the biggest National chain bookstores informed my publicist that my latest book was “too racy” for me to do signings there, I discussed it with a few people and let it go. When a book club service that has carried every last one of my other titles decided “to pass” on this one because they did not feel it fit their demographics, I let it go. But, there is always that proverbial last straw and that straw broke the camel’s back last night. I received an “Apology” email from a person who runs an online magazine. It was an apology to her subscribers because someone was offended by her promotion of my latest title. She vowed to not promote any more erotica or books that were not PG-13 rated. I emailed her back to ask if that includes street fiction or roughly 85% of the novels on the market that have some form of violence, profanity, or sexual content.
The book that I am referring to is “Purple Panties: The Eroticanoir.com Anthology.” Now there have been many Eroticanoir.com Anthologies, including “Succulent: Chocolate Flava 2” that just celebrated six weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List earlier this year. No one had a problem with that anthology or any of the ones before it. They sold them like candy, threw them in the front windows of bookstores and had huge displays, and made them the automatic shipments for book club members. From day one, with “The Sex Chronicles: Shattering the Myth,” I have never toned down my content. It has always been what is has been. All of a sudden, there is “an issue.”
The only difference between “Purple Panties” and the nearly two dozen other titles that I have written or edited is that it is a collection of LESBIAN EROTICA. To that, I say shame on it all. It saddens me that we still live in a world that is so sexually oppressed. Now I am not saying that people need to rush out and read the book, or any of my books. I am saying, point blank, that people have a ton of sexual hang-ups that they need to get over. Everything is not for everybody but to “be offended,” to claim that a book is “too racy” for booksignings but “Succulent” was not too racy a couple of months ago, nor “Dear G Spot” before that, or the book before that and so on, makes the real rationale behind it obvious. Will they feel that same way when “Honey Flava” comes out two weeks from now or “Another Time, Another Place” in early June? “Zane’s Sex Chronicles” in August? “Sensualidad: Caramel Flava 2” in August? Will they feel that same way when my next full-length novel “Total Eclipse of the Heart” comes out in November? “Head Bangers 2: An APF Sexcapade” in March? Will those books be “too racy” for booksignings or to be featured?
Do not mistake this as some sort of plea to sell books. “Purple Panties” is currently #442 on Amazon.com, just as high, or higher, in rank than any book that I have ever put out. It will sell like crazy because it is a book that was long overdue. There are millions of people in this world in same gender loving (SGL) relationships. Who has the right to judge them, or tell them what they should or should not do with their lives?
This saddens me because I have now gotten a glimpse—just a tiny, miniscule glimpse—of the discrimination that homosexual and bisexual people face in this world; especially in American society. Eleven years ago I set out on a quest to liberate and empower women—both sexually and overall. To know that we still have such a very long way to go is disappointing. I am not a lesbian but not because I have anything against it. I am just attracted to men. However, I know consider myself an “honorary lesbian” because I am pissed off at the injustices directed towards them and their gay male counterparts.
I am not going to go on and on about this but I had to speak on it. Life goes on.
Blessings,
Zane
P.S. Do not think that, for one second, this will deter me from my path. “Missionary No More: Purple Panties 2” is complete and will be released on schedule next January. “Flesh to Flesh” edited by Lee A. Hayes, a collection of GAY EROTICA, will be released later this month. I am proud of that book as well. People love as they love; not as directed.
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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1268
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 06:53 pm: |
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Zane your perspective and insight is very interesting -- thanks for sharing it.
For the period March 1st through April 30th 2008; Purple Panties: An Eroticanoir.com Anthology was the #2 Best Selling Book. This was, amazingly, how I learned about the book.
A #2 best seller before the May 6th publication date!
Another title, Hiding In Hip Hop - On The Down Low in the Entertainment Industry from Music to Hollywood by Terrance Dean, also addresses same gender sex albeit from a Karrine Steffanian, blow and tell, viewpoint.
Dean's book was the #8 bestselling book; and it does not publish until Tuesday.
I too believe both books will "sell like crazy".
But Zane, you know as well as I do (if not better) that there are those who find the subject matter not only abhorrent, but literarily a damnable abomination.
Sure your other books are racy, but the difference now is the overt homosexuality -- this I'm sure is the "issue". Now as a dude the cover of PP is hot (please invite me to the PP2 photo shoot). I can easily see where a large number of women would immediately be put off by the cover. It is just not a cover that can play, today, in the mass market.
If you look at Terrance Dean's cover:
The Gay male theme is very subtle. Now if you have two scantily clad men pressed up against each other on Flesh to Flesh; the reaction would be far worse than you have witnessed for PP -- not unless you just want it to only be in gay bookstores.
I would not hold it against the properties that choose not to carry or promote this PPbook. If they feel it offends the sensitivities of their audience, you have to respect that position because the too have businesses to run and they can not be expected to advance the cause of SGL at the risk of their businesses. Besides you know they will be there to support Sensualidad: Caramel Flava 2
That just means for sales of PP for AALBC.com.
Needless to say, I have no problem including PP on my site -- even if it were not a best seller. My position is to celebrate all of our work; regardless of how I or a segment of my visitors might feel.
At the end of the day the book will sell well and you may even be creating a market to serve an audience that is largely ignored, if not altogether condemned. I would not allow a few folks to discourage you to do what you feel is an important part of your mission.
Pure capitalists do not understand folks who are "mission driven".
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Zane
Regular Poster
Username: Zane
Post Number: 87
Registered: 11-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 09:38 am: |
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Troy,
I appreciate your words and the books sales are not what I am worried about. I am concerned because for years I have heard, from both authors and publishers alike, that the gay and lesbian market is hard to break into. I have seen excellent authors lose their contracts because of poor sales and their subject matter. It is not fair.
Never have I felt so compelled to prove a point since before the release of "The Sex Chronicles" when people had a fit about a black woman speaking openly about sex. I am a crusader and a publisher of several gay and lesbian authors and I will not watch them fall to the wayside because of ignorance.
I am glad this has happened, to be frank. If it had not, they could have continued to blame it on the authors but, in this case, it is too blatantly obvious what the real problem is and why the majority of gay and lesbian books continue to do poorly--with few exceptions like E. Lynn Harris and now Purple Panties.
So this is the next leg of my crusade--making sure that gay and lesbian authors are allowed to have a voice. I am up to the challenge and I welcome it because I will not drop the issue. Since I sent out the email yesterday I have received hundreds of replies, many from authors who have been afraid to embrace their true sexuality because of this very reason.
Zane |
Jackie
Veteran Poster
Username: Jackie
Post Number: 617
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 09:55 pm: |
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Zane: This saddens me because I have now gotten a glimpse—just a tiny, miniscule glimpse—of the discrimination that homosexual and bisexual people face in this world; especially in American society.
Really ? I've been arguing this for years and on this board as well. Didn't these readers read the PP synopsis ? How could they not know it was about gay sex ? It's a double standard...and in the eyes of some readers as Troy put it...An abomination ! lol. |
Thumper
Veteran Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 501
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 12:51 am: |
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Hello All,
Zane: I am so glad that you are sticking to your guns! Everyone's voice should be allowed to be heard, because there are those of us who want to hear them. |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2883
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 10:48 am: |
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So this is the next leg of my crusade--making sure that gay and lesbian authors are allowed to have a voice.
Wonderful, Zane. Sounds like you are becomming an important ally in this effort.
Troy, re: I can easily see where a large number of women would immediately be put off by the cover.
I think you might be surprised at the extent to which this is not true. Women (heterosexual) have long been appreciative of the attractiveness of other women, and have generally closer relationships with other women than men (heterosexual) do with other men. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1273
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 04:22 pm: |
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Yvettep, naw, I would not be surprised. I've subsequently spoken with folks about this. One owns a web site and would not post the book.
You know maybe I'll dig up my survey software an post a poll to see what folks think.
Hey Purple Panties: An Eroticanoir.com Anthology is the #2 selling book on Amazon (according to my less than perfect sorting). |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1274
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 05:15 pm: |
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Here is the link to a simple survey. I'll post the result after I get a couple hundred responses:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8T8_2bxt60oEcT4pyAyYZfww_3d_3d |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2884
Registered: 01-2005
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 01:31 pm: |
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OK, Troy. But I notice you do not ask responders to indicate if they are male or female. (And/or gay/lesbian/bisexual or not.) This information would be required for you to examine your initial hypothesis about (straight) women being put off by the cover. Not to force you to get all scientific and whatnot, though of course that is my professional bias. Just saying. LOL |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1276
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 01:52 pm: |
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Hey Yvette,
I freely admit my survey is non-scientific.
However, my original assumption was not based upon the sexual orientation of the reader. One could safely assume the majority of lesbians would have not have problem with the book and are not the ones refusing to showcase it.
I was curious what the average reader thought about the cover. |
Jackie
Veteran Poster
Username: Jackie
Post Number: 618
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 06:26 pm: |
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It would make a difference based on the sexual orientation/religion/gender/natiionality of the reader. And we really can't assume that lesbians would not have a problem with the cover. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1279
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 06:52 pm: |
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Hi Jackie. Of course if would make a difference based upon the characteristics of the reader. I'm just simply not trying to measure that.
Don't confuse my assumption that your garden variety lesbian would be cool with the Purpule Panties book to mean that ALL lesbians would be cool with the book: Like everyone else Lesbians don't agree on all things.
That said, I would be willing to bet that Lesbian women would report a higher percentage of liking the book than a similar sample of non-Lesbian women. Would you bet the opposite or just refuse to bet?
So far, SurveyMonkey says:
47% of the voters selected "Great - I would definitely read it" regarding the book's subject matter
Click here to take the survey |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2885
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 11:44 am: |
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Sorry, Troy. It is a fun survey and I did take it myself. I just get a little obsessive about research--no matter how informal. It'll be interesting to hear the results once you decide to close out polling. Oh--and don't you LOVE Survey Monkey! It has really opened the door for more students to do research, reaching hard to access populations, and on a low (or no!) budget.
As to your "bet" I think lesbians (and perhaps bisexual women) might have objections based on other factors as some non-lesbian/bisexual women. FOr example, they might object that the women on the cover are more for the "male gaze" of men who want to see a certain kind of "girl-on-girl action." I don't know--that's just off the top of my head. You could always visit some lesbian forums or blogs and ask specifically.
Now. If you could explain what a "garden variety lesbian" is. As opposed to, say, a greenhouse variety, or maybe an exotic jungle strain? LOLOL (Sorry, just messing with you.) |
Jackie
Veteran Poster
Username: Jackie
Post Number: 619
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 12:23 pm: |
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Yeah Troy, is that like a garden variety side salad to a Mc Donald's salad ??? Or Olive Garden ? Wait are there Olive Garden restuarants on the east coast ? loooool ! Jokes aside tho, I know it's not a scientific survey by all means. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1280
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 05:19 pm: |
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LOL
Yvettep what you say about "male gaze" might be true, but I'd still take the bet.
Jackie, "garden variety" is a term like "run of the mill", or "off the self" -- basically I meant to say your "average" lesbian.
OK I'm sure I offended someone at this stage but you know what I mean, right? |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2887
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 07:59 pm: |
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Troy, I knew what you meant. But it came out funny, like you could go out in your backyard and pick a bouquet of women from a bed of perennials... |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1288
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 01:15 pm: |
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SurveyMonkey Says:
How do you feel about this book's subject matter?
62.5% - Great - I would definitely read it
What do you thing about the book's cover?
60.9% - Great - Attractive and tasteful
I'll publish the full results after I get back from Book Expo |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1304
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 - 06:18 pm: |
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Hey I see survey Monkey ends after 100 votes. i guess I need to upgrade from the free service at anyrate here are the full results:
1. How do you feel about this book's subject matter?
Great - I would definitely read it: 62.0%
Good - I would consider reading it: 21.0%
Indifferent - No opinion: 9.0%
Not Good - I would definitely not read it: 5.0%
Terrible - I wish these types of books were not published: 3.0%
2. What do you thing about the book's cover?
Great - Attractive and tasteful: 61.6%
Good - Well done, but nothing spectacular: 18.2%
Indifferent - No opinion: 11.1%
Not Good - It could have been better: 3.0%
Terrible - I find the cover offensive and unappealing: 6.1%
(question #2 has fractional results because one person surveyed on answered the first question)
Most of the people who clicked the questionnaire viewed in on the AALBC.com Homepage, and the Maya Angelou and Alice Walker pages.
Across the site it had a very high click through rate. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1411
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 12:03 pm: |
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For anyone interested in this subject; I'll be moderating a panel discussion about it at the Harlem Book Fair: http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/1/38425.html
Unfortunately Zane will not be attending the book fair this year and could not make participate on this panel. However I have a few other people participating that can speak to different aspects of the subject quite well.
Peace,
Troy |
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