I read a post, recently, by a white woman wanting to know how to find & support #ownvoices because she had no idea how to find books by non-white, non straight, non Christian, non cisgendered & differently abled authors.

I got the feeling that while she came from a place of ignorance her heart was right. She really wanted to expand her experience. Kudos to her for being open. I believe this is where we need to start in order to effect change.

But…..

It’s not our marginalized friends’ job to spoon feed us. WE need to do the work on our own. So as a white, straight, cis, able bodied person who reads I’m here to hopefully help out.

First of all, what IS #ownvoices?

“Own voices” means that you are a member of a marginalized group writing characters and stories FROM YOUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE.

I often write characters who are not like me. That does NOT make me or my books #ownvoices because

A: I’m not a member of a marginalized group.

and

B: Well, there is no B. It’s full stop, do not pass go, do not collect $200. I’m not a member of a marginalized group.

If you are like me and the lady I spoke about above, how do you find and support #ownvoices?

Here’s a list of the work I’ve done & ways non marginalized readers & authors can expand their mind & experiences.

1. Get out and meet non white, non Christian, non cis, non straight, & differently abled authors at conferences, local meetings, & events.

Follow them on social media. Chances are they’re going to promote their books and books similar to theirs.

They also probably follow other non white, non Christian, non cis, non straight & differently abled authors who also promote their books. Follow & read them too.

2. Check out social media hashtags like:

#ownvoices

#WeNeedDiverseRomance

#WeNeedDiverseBooks

#WOCINR

3. On social media follow influencers who regularly support and share #ownvoices like:

The Ripped Bodice book store

WOC (women of color) In Romance

Smart Bitches Trashy Books

Shondaland

Lambda Literary Foundation

The American Library Association (ALA)

4. There are websites too!

We Need Diverse Books: https://diversebooks.org/

WOC in Romance: http://www.wocinromance.com/

Shondaland: https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/books/

Smart Bitches Trashy Books: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/own-voices

American Library Association: http://yalsa.ala.org/…/30-days-of-social-justice-why-the-o…/

5. Join local or online writer groups that highlight #ownvoices like the Cultural, Interracial, Multicultural Special Interest chapter of RWA & Rainbow Romance Writers.

6. Find an online or local book club that regularly features & celebrates #ownvoices.

7. Look for publishers that regularly and consistently publish #ownvoices.

For the past three years the Ripped Bodice book store has done the work for us in the romance genre and published The State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing Report.

Link to past reports: https://www.therippedbodicela.com/state-racial-diversity-ro…

8. Contests & awards:

Lambda Literary Award

Stonewall Book Awards

Abalone Awards contest

Rainbow Romance Award

9. Lists:

The American Library Association

Goodreads has tons of lists compiled by readers for readers.

10: Bookstores:

Both online & physical bookstores have experts ready to sell you #ownvoices books.

11. The library:

You guys! LIBRARIANS are gods on earth. They know books. They probably have a degree in books. Plus it’s free to read so if you don’t connect with their first suggestion, try the 50 trillion others they’ll probably offer you.

My resources are slanted toward romance because that’s what I like to read & write #notsorry, but the resources are out there in other genres too. Just google #ownvoices & you’ll get a great big list of #ownvoices in every genre.

Now go out and read some awesome #ownvoices books!?