Labels

When I started my journey with Taylor Case, I can’t say I ever imagined what an exciting trip it would turn out to be. I always pictured Dr. Case as a lesbian. There was no need to keep her in the closet. I also imagined her as a very strong and talented (wildly so) crime-fighter, fashioned after my own childhood heroes like James Bond and television favorites like McGyver. And she was—as we all are—flawed and on her own quest to find peace and happiness in her life.
When I finished Case Study, my goal was to see this wonderful character--a lesbian protagonist--represented on the genre mystery shelf in my local bookstore. You wouldn’t believe what a challenge that has been.
As I approached publishers and agents to consider my book, I actually had people tell me that they really liked my work, but to get it published, I would need to change my protagonist’s love interest to a man, perhaps Agent Anderson. I would like to tell you that I never considered it, but all authors want to sell their work. The GLBT publishers wanted more sex and more graphic sex. “It is a mystery/suspense novel, not erotica!” I protested. It was difficult for Dr. Case not to be a cliché, but in the end, I had to stay true to my character as I wrote her or there would never be any joy in publishing the book.
Gay and lesbian non-fiction is routinely published by major publishing houses, but not so with fiction. More than 90% of GLBT fiction is published by independent publishing houses that only publish for that market. And all of these books go to a specific section in the bookstore called ‘Gay and Lesbian’ regardless of the genre-- mystery, romance, etc. However, Case Study is not GLBT fiction, and I just refuse to believe that a lesbian protagonist couldn’t be fairly reviewed and read right alongside every other mystery novel in the mainstream MYSTERY/SUSPENSE section of the bookstore. So I kept knocking on doors and asking questions like: Why isn’t James Patterson in the African American section? His protagonist, Alex Cross, is black. Why isn’t Jeffrey Deaver in the ‘persons with disabilities’ section? His protagonist, Lincoln Rhyme, is a quadriplegic.
Now, 5 years after I started typing my first words of Case Study, I am proud to say it is published (by an independent mysteries publisher), and I have been getting some great reviews. One, more mature female reviewer for Best Seller’s World gave Case Study 5/5 stars in her own mystery-readers blog (Bloodstained Book Reviews), lesbian protagonist and all! How exciting that is! And yes, Case Study is selling right alongside every other mystery/suspense book on the bookstore shelf and can be ordered from any bookseller right out of the major catalogs.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing with reviewers. One pre-publication reviewer exclaimed that when Dr. Case “began cavorting in a lesbian relationship” her “objectivity was tossed out the window” and she “wondered if it were possible to complete the book.” Several pre-pub reviewers of Case Study suggested a “warning label” on the cover to inform potential readers of the protagonist’s sexual preference. So I asked my editor: Why don’t all mystery books where the protagonist has a romantic interest carry a warning label? Would it be equally ludicrous to suggest that GLBT readers would never purchase a popular mystery book from authors like Patricia Cornwell or Tess Gerritsen because the protagonist is heterosexual? When I think of this, I am reminded of the quote from Martina Navratilova, “Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people.” And labels are not for books.
It isn’t easy for a first-time author to get recognition. Harlan Coben had to publish 5 books before he could support himself from writing, and now… So, to all my new fans who are out there talking about my book and encouraging their friends to read it, I say “Thank you, thank you.” Your support and recommendations have been priceless to me. I am going to keep writing, and I am going to keep fighting to break down barriers on the bookshelf because I still believe that it is possible to have a bestseller with a GLBT protagonist.
I would love to hear your feedback on Case Study. When you have time to share your thoughts on the book, please email me at author@crcardin.com.

The ebook and going green.


In 2007 400,000 books were published or distributed. The U.S. publishing industry emits over 12.4 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, or about 8.85 pounds per book, according to the findings in the just-released report, Environmental Trends and Climate Impacts: Findings from the U.S. Book Industry. The study, coordinated by the Book Industry Study Group and the Green Press Initiative, looked to establish industry benchmarks related to publishing’s impact on the environment. The cutting of trees for paper was found to have the most significant impact on the industry’s carbon footprint, although the report says the use of recycled paper and fibers has increased over the last several years.—Publisher’s Weekly, March 10, 2008.
So why haven’t you purchased a book reader? Why are we still buying paper novels? Take the poll.