So I was catching up with some other blogs when I happened upon this post over at Babbling About Books, And More! about the upcoming Qhuinn/Blay storyline. What caught my attention was this quote from a J. R. Ward book signing report at the Twilight Lexicon forums:
Qhuinn and Blaylock...*sigh* Qhuinn and Blay WILL get together, but it will be in a novella. This accomplishes a couple of things. First of all, those who don't wish to read about that particular kind of relationship can choose to skip it. Ward intimated that it would be "steamy" on par with the motel three-way in Payne's book. Those who want to read about this pairing won't have to wade through the subplots of a longer book (here she suggested it would be more like Wrath or Rhage's book where it really just concentrates on the pairing) and no other characters will have to share their book with Qhuinn and Blay's relationship as a subplot. This was compromise that she reached with her publisher, without whom she was quick to point out, there would be no series, to publish a story at all about the pair rather than veto it outright. Re: Adult Thread ~ BDB series ~ Bow chika bow by nissanmama » Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:58 pm
Sigh. This depresses me.
I mean, am I supposed to say hooray that publishers are making it easier for homophobes to avoid the dirty dirty ghay?
Or am I supposed to be happy that I can read this storyline without getting bogged down by (the often annoying) subplots? 'Cause that doesn't seem to be an issue when it comes to the hetero stories.
Here's my interpretation: We know that there is a significant minority clamoring for the Blay/Qhuinn pairing and we want your money so we'll publish it but it's gonna be a novella that won't effect the major canon so that homophobes won't miss out on important story information. We don't want to offend them; after all, we want their money too.
Rationalizing that at least the book will be published just doesn't cut it. Don't get me wrong, I am happy that it will be published but it is hard to see this as a victory. The BDB is one of the biggest paranormal series out there, selling boatloads of copies, with legions of fans. Publishing this story should be a given, not one that marginalizes two popular characters because it is a same sex romance.
This is the kind of thinking that comes from folks who say things like:
I'm not homophobic but I don't want teh ghay shoved in my face.
I'm not homophobic but I wouldn't want my kid to be ghay.
I'm not homophobic. Some of my best friends are ghay.
Me? I just want a good story. I want well written characters. Solid world building. Some hot sex would be nice. I couldn't care less about straight, gay, transgender or cisgender. I don't know why it matters to some people. If it's a good story, it's a good story. But then again, I'm not homophobic. Some of my best friends are gay.
I see your point and I'm sure that homophobic tendencies did come into play when making this decision, but ... M/M fiction IS a small market and publishers are in the business of making money, yes? So I can't really fault them for finding a way to give hardcore fans and/or people who are down with M/M fiction/erotica what we want while still placating the general readership.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, publishers are in the business of making money but protecting the general public from the gay assumes the general public is more homophobic than I believe them to be. I'm just ready for this kind of placating to cease to be necessary. To be honest, I am not sure it is necessary.
ReplyDeleteThe best way to combat this type of thinking is for folks to buy lots and lots of copies of Ward's book. I don't usually buy her books but I think I'll buy this one.
Well, in Brazil (I'm a brasilian chick) BDB is growing up. Lover Enshrined will be lauched in july. But every BDB fan is fan to the core (like me). The couple I luv the most is Blay&Qhuinn. I guess, after all, this is the best way to please everyone: people who love and hate ghay guys. I certanly, certanly, certanly buy their novella in pre-sale. But I really think that a bigger part of JRW fans will buy that and it will be a big slap on the face of the homophobic ones. Just want this novella come soon!!
ReplyDeleteBlay and Qhuinn are a great star-crossed couple and my hope is that when their book comes out, it sells really really well. Maybe then, the closet door will open and authors can just write good stories with compelling characters, no matter what the sexuality, without having to be shutteled into some gay ghetto.
ReplyDeleteBlay and Qhuinn are the star of the series since they show up on book 4! I dont see anything wrong about it :) people who hates gay are cynic
ReplyDeleteActually I dont think people realise just how big the m/m market is! And it really is sad when such wondsrful artwork like this series are impacted by this. Love is love people it comes in all different ways and forms. Blay and Qhuinn are a true love story people would be crazy to not want to read. I'll be one of the first to buy it!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I fail to see how a m/m story could seriously hurt this series. It's already chock full of homoerotic undertones, and not just the Blay/Qhuinn.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me really sad when people say I am not homophobic but I don't want to read a m/m couple. The problem is that (it seems to me) thr majority of people on her FB page are Qhuay fans. Why can't her publishers look there and other parts of the net? I think maybe she would pick up more fans from the gay community. Maybe that would even out the "fans" that don't want to read about a "gay" couple. I am not gay but I love them. They are so sexy. Oh both of their kisses make my blood boil!
ReplyDeleteOk so I'm a hardcore BDB fan. Vampires, werewolves, and demons O MY! I just love para-romance. With that being said, it wou ld suck big time if Blay & Quinn didn't get their own novel. One of my fav authors is Joyee Flynn a MM writer. Love stories are so touching. STOP BEING AFRAID OF WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! Give the ppl what they want! BLAY AND QUINN FULL NOVEL!
ReplyDeleteThe good thing is that not too long ago Ward announced that the next book in the series will be about Blay & Qhuinn so it looks like the people will get what they want. I posted about it briefly here with a link to more in depth info.:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.soireadthisbook.com/2012/04/whell-whell-whell.html