It’s likely many of you have gotten wind of the turmoil going on within Romance Writers of America (RWA). I won’t go into details, as there are plenty of summaries and reports out there. If I seem silent (or relatively so) it is because I am listening to voices too long spoken over and pushed to the side. I am also sitting in the uncomfortable space of recognizing that I have often been oblivious to others’ exclusion and pain and have benefited from my own privilege of being a white cishet Christian woman writing stories that largely reflect that lived experience. Sitting at the table has been a privilege I too long took for granted, and I have to come to terms with that truth.
However, if you’ve met me or read my books it should come as no surprise that I believe in and value inclusivity. Period. No qualifications. No discussions. I have been warned in the past few days to be careful about what I say and do. I have been chided that social media isn’t the “place” for this discussion. I have been told, ironically, that inclusivity is divisive.
Friends, this is MY table. You are ALL invited to sit here. If sharing this table with those who look different than you, love differently than you, or hold different beliefs or experiences than you makes you uncomfortable, I invite you to sit here for a while anyway. Listen. Share this table even if it places you in a seat which challenges you. There will be those who do not choose to sit in this space with me. That is their choice. Their seat remains open.
What happens next? I will continue to write books in the genre I love, and I look forward to building and supporting a community of like-minded souls. Whether that takes place within or outside of RWA remains to be seen. I’m at peace with that. This blog post isn’t meant to induce discussion or divert attention from the important revelations taking place elsewhere, but to share my thoughts, as I believe that honesty, transparency, and love should guide my every action, even professionally. So here we are.
I don’t know how this post will sit with folks, and I am accepting of that discomfort, too. It’s how I grow and become a better person. I hope you’ll join me.
