The Lavender Ghetto
EPIC--the Electronically Published Internet Connection--has posted its rules, categories and FAQs for the 2008 Eppies. Looking the categories over, I have to say that they're a bit on the schizo side--not to mention homophobic.
To start out, here's the definition of "contemporary romance":
( A story that takes one central, monogamous, romantic relationship between a man and woman )
To start out, here's the definition of "contemporary romance":
( A story that takes one central, monogamous, romantic relationship between a man and woman )
Comments 16
This is one reason that I'll probably never write the novel that's in my head.
In it, there is one character who struggles with his sexuality, however, that's part of the story. It's not the entire story. The entire story is about the struggles that people in my generation go through, and yes, that is one of them.
I don't understand people who think that a single- (or dubious-) gender relationship is completely about sex. My father is somewhat of that ideal, as are quite a few conservative people I know. I guess I just need to keep living my life and showing people that love is love no matter what package it's in. *fumes* (and yes, I actually have shown a few people that. It's amusing as all frell when people put it together. 'you're a lesbian!' 'so?' 'I would have never guessed!')
.... wow. End long rant.
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I don't understand people who think that a single- (or dubious-) gender relationship is completely about sex. My father is somewhat of that ideal, as are quite a few conservative people I know.
I don't get that. It's the most idiotic idea ever, both in writing and in relationships! No one over at EPIC is saying that a het romance involving sex HAS to be erotica, so how come gay romance has to be?
People can be such fools. *hugs*
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And, yeah. There are so many het relationships that I know that're all about sex, and there are gay relationships that are about love and commitment. I think a lot of it is xenophobia in the true sense of the word. People are afraid of what is ailen to them.
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Not that I plan to enter, or ever wanted to. But this kind of attitude totally grates my nerves.
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Frankly, until this year, Ms, [Scroll], it has never been a problem.
You could enter your book into one of the Historical categories which would be taking a chance that someone will think it's in the wrong category. You're only two choices would be to enter it in the GLBT category or one of the historical categories, knowing the chance you take.
We have had past finalists in the GLBT category from the historic genres.
Unfortunately, we can't go back and change the rules this year. BUT we can note your concern and file your email for next year when we again define the EPPIE categories.
Thanks for letting us know your concern. We take seriously every complaint in regards to the EPPIE contest.
Carol MacLeod
EPIC President
I guess we'll see. The 2009 categories still define historical romance (and all other romances, eg contemporary, fantasy, even horror) as het only. Grrr.
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Do we know about this? Is scrollgirl a penname for someone I already know or is there a new book we should be adding to Speak Its Name?
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The 2008 eppies were for material published *approximately* oct 06 to sept 07. The 2009 eppies are for material "released for sale between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008." Your link is to the 2008 eppies, and while mostly the same, there are some refinements to the categories for the 2009 eppies. 2009 Category Descriptions are here:
http://www.epicauthors.com/eppiecatagories2009.html
If people start from the EPPIES homepage, they'll get all the 2009 links
http://www.epicauthors.com/eppies.html
There is still a lot to complain about, though :-)
AV
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*mentally reviews characters in novels currently in relationships*
Let's see, one single mother who's never been married
a pair of male teenagers in a somewhat serious relationship, another pair of men who are practically married except for the fact that one is a king and needs to marry a woman, another pair in a slave/master relationship, a teenage girl who'll have sex with anyone, a young adult male who's kinda asexual (he'd rather tinker than have a relationship), several loving heterosexual couples. No actual on screen sex. Lots of magic.
I fail to see any erotica here.
EPIC fails.
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It may seem contradictory since one of my books won the first GLBT Eppie, but as a historical it was competing with a lot of other good stories, and the m/m relationship was the only thing they had in common.
Epic's organizers have a tough set of choices to make, and the voices of homophobia are quite shrill and vindictively persistent. It always amazes me that people can be so utterly certain that they know God's will when odds are they don't even know the airspeed of a laden swallow.
Ah, well.
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