How it all began
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If you've found yourself on this page I assume it means you're curious how Regency in Color became a thing. An entire series of Regency romance novellas featuring main characters of color. The honest answer isn't a sexy story of activism or wanting to change the publishing landscape. The honest answer is that it came about through fear.
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Back at the beginning of 2020, I was approached by an amazing publisher about writing a historical romance series. At the time I was only writing American based historical romance novels because that was where I felt comfortable. I saw this offer from the publisher as a great opportunity to expand into a genre that I've always wanted to write in. You guessed it, Regency romance. I mean, who doesn't want to be swept off their feet by a dashing, silver-tongued, eight-pack having duke?
When the publisher approached me, it wasn't that long after I had joined a multi-author series and was shook to my core by the vehemence that I received about my black heroine, her white love interest, and the story line which didn't center on race. I have to admit after that experience, the thought of writing for this publisher made my anxiety fly through the roof. It meant that the more my readership grew the more I opened myself up to hate. And yes all authors face trolls, but I am who I am, and although I can let a mean comment about not liking my writing slide, one about something that is part of my core being is harder to ignore.
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While excited about the chance to work with this publisher, I couldn't help second guessing everything. I thought that maybe I should write white characters. Or since I like to write interracial romance, that I should only have the hero on the cover. And on and on, I spiraled down a rabbit hole of what-ifs. I have to add that this was pre-Bridgerton and lets face it, the backlash from that kinda proves my fears weren't completely unfounded.
But anywho, in the end I chose not to publish with this publisher. Now before you go, 'Nnnnoooo! You let the haters win'. I'm happy to report that although I couldn't face my fears on that big of a scale, I faced them on a smaller scale.
I created this series, Regency in Color. I asked an amazing group of fellow authors to join me on the journey of writing stories featuring the heroes and heroines of a darker persuasion. And being the badass sheros that they are, they picked up their pens and said hell yeah!
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Regency in Color was originally only meant to be a limited time boxed set, but we loved writing the stories so much and the chorus of "finally a regency heroine that looks like me" from readers was so profound, we decided keep it going.
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So, welcome to our world and we hope that you enjoy our offerings. This series truly is a labor of love.
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~Gabrielle Carr
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