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.
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.
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!
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.
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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