So, there I was...checking e-mail, when I saw a message from a dear friend, Helen Madden. Now, I've known Helen for years, first on ERWA (Erotic Readers and Writers Association) and then on EPIC lists. She's a great lady, a great writer and is always there to help out, in a pinch. So, it was a major surprise to me to get a letter asking me what she should do about someone misrepresenting what EPIC is on a forum for a book event. She'd already posted her own reply to it, saying that the woman's interpretation is incorrect, but she was truly at a loss.
Without reposting what this cowardly individual -- who posts on the forum without giving ANY contact information off the forum, I might note -- actually said, I'll give you the gist of it. She represents EPIC as an "erotic writers' group" that is depraved, producing pornography and should be boycotted, should we attend any function in her area. She's also thrown any number of veiled threats and personal attacks at the individuals and EPIC as a whole, including her opinions that none of us should be allowed within 1000 yards of any school zone. I won't repeat my thought process on this person's character, but you can guess by the fact that she heavily quotes Jerry Fallwell and Pat Robertson in her tirades...but notably not the Bible.
Now, there are two major issues here, IMO. The first is the idea anyone involved in this matter has anything to apologize for...to her, to God/any other deity of choice...that there is, in fact, something wrong with writing erotic fiction. Not to mention, there is the issue of her complete disconnect with what erotic is vs. what pornography is.
Obviously, I can't agree that there is something wrong with it. If I could, would I be here?
There are generally-accepted definitions of what pornography is or isn't. I could start with the US Supreme Court definition, which states that pornographic is prurient and possessing of no other qualities of value. Obviously, what we write does not fit that definition, no matter what this woman wants to rant on the subject. Further, I might point to the industry definitions, which are not universal but closely enough to it to use as an example. I recently discussed this on my own blog at this link.
Neither has there been any reputable scientific and/or psychiatric study done that proves there is anything inherently dangerous to the individual or to society (save the studies on violent pornography, but that's not what we're discussing...we're discussing erotic romance and erotica). Neither has there been a single reputable study that shows a high likelihood that readers of erotic writing will become addicted and show addictive traits.
At this point, I would point readers to a second blog post of mine... I stand by it. Hacks can make whatever correlations they want to, but what it comes down to is that any "supposed results" people claim for their own political and religious ends are based more in the unbalance of the individual than the danger of the book.
If a psychotic drowns an innocent person after visiting a lake and...whispering...getting the idea while sitting on the shore, would you make the correlation that water was inherently evil for tempting him to drown someone? I should hope not.
In the same way, sex has been around since the beginning of sexually-reproducing creatures. If "the creator" didn't want us to enjoy sex, would He/She/They/It have made it enjoyable? Probably not. We would have been like some animals, with mating seasons and drives, maybe or maybe not mating for life, but with no choice in the matter. Happily, that is not the case.
Further, I guarantee that the woman who is making this attack is the result of parents who engaged in the act, as were those parents and so on. I'd wager she's engaged in it, herself. Sex is not inherently evil, and since she makes no distinction between erotic romance, which is BASED on the concept of a committed relationship between two (or more) people, and all other manner of sexual materials, including pornography, I'd say her attacks are more than a little skewed.
Answer to first attack? I have no reason to apologize for writing, reading or helping promote what I do.
The second problem is the problem of her attacks on EPIC itself.
I'm caught between a couple of emotions here. One is admittedly exasperation with people who are so zealous in their beliefs that they don't use common sense in looking at what an organization is or is not. This reminds me of the rant I read about the Harry Potter books, making correlations that not even someone with a heavy religious background could have made, because they just DON'T exist.
On that note, it's clear enough to anyone who is not so afflicted with blinders, that EPIC is not an organization of "erotic" authors. EPIC is not ERWA, EAA, RWA's Passionate Pen Chapter or any other erotic organization. EPIC is, in fact, The Electronically Published Internet Connection, a professional organization, consisting of e-published and print-published authors and industry professionals. We're a worldwide organization, currently in our 10th year, which (at this moment) boasts 636 members in upwards of 9 countries around the globe. We accept writers and publishers of EVERY genre of fiction and non-fiction, erotic writing being among them.
What EPIC does NOT do is skewer or exclude someone for what they write or do not write. We don't show a bias, based on religion, political affiliation, genre, sex, age, sexual orientation or any other label one might use. Neither do we allow any person or group to be maligned in such a fashion on our lists. I find it incomprehensible that anyone feels the need to attack such a force of unity, support, purpose and fellowship, on the basis that there must be something wrong with a group that is not intolerant by nature.
Neither is is true that EPIC "produces pornography." EPIC is not a publisher. The only things EPIC "publishes" or "produces" are free guides to publishing, marketing and internet usage (specifically designed to aid teachers in the classroom). There is nothing pornographic in an article about making your own web site or formatting to guidelines.
Neither is EPIC out to promote the erotic authors and publisher-members, to anyone's detriment, least of all...children, as the poster accuses. When we hold our EPICon every year, we have an e-Fiesta, designed to bring in readers. It is designed as a family-friendly event. We have snacks and bubbles for the kids, coloring sheets, etc. The promo at the event is required to be PG-13 or below. We have never had a problem with inappropriate materials being passed at e-Fiesta. If we can pull that off, with more than 200 promo items being sent for e-Fiesta per year, we can certainly do the same for someone else's event. In fact, sensual and erotic authors make a habit of asking if the venue is open to erotic, before sending anything to an event.
Someone asked me whether or not I was concerned about bad press for EPIC out of this, being EPIC president and all. I'll post my reply here.
Bring it on. I will be more than happy to counter this and teach them the solid truth of smear campaigns in the 21st Century. It's going to backfire, because I have the internet working in my favor, and I'll bet money on the fact that I disseminate the truth of what EPIC is and is not, while we continue to look like the professional organization we are.
Here's what they clearly don't get. You get Robertson involved (or someone of his status) and what happens? It gets national media. National media contacts the EPIC board and finds that Robertson and friends are maligning a professional organization of writers for no good reason, if the organization she touts would actually back her in this, to begin with. Enough said. Yes, there will be a few right-wing religious papers that will tar and feather us, but I'd bet I could get a NY Times article or Washington Post article, with the truth about EPIC, spread a hell of a lot further than they can get theirs. We might even get a Tonight Show top ten joke about it. Who does that hurt? Not us, that's for sure. It's all free advertising for us and e-books and even erotic romance/erotica, as long as they spell the name right. It's a lousy way to get exposure, but there is no way that I will back down and slink away when faced with such an attack.
12 comments:
Excellent rebuttal, Brenna. As an EPIC member and a writer with an e-pubbed poetry book about to come out, I'm apalled that anyone could think EPIC is only for erotic romance, and at the same time grateful for a venue wide and open enough to support all the e-pub genres.
Betty
http://bvos98.googlepages.com/
Very well written, Brenna. And it's a pity that this woman is so caught up in her own bias that she's willing to make a fool of herself.
I believe threats, even veiled, on the internet are a crime? Though I'd have to check there, I know outright ones certainly are...
Terri Pray
Outright ones are. If she pursues this harassment off of forum and into private e-mail, the laws here will come into play.
I have requested that the personal attacks on individuals be removed from the forum. I don't know if they'll remove them, but I had to try. I didn't ask for a word about myself or EPIC to be removed, but what was said about others went beyond the pale, IMO.
Brenna
I know the truth. I got your back, yanno, Brenna--and I don't even *know* you. I figure the fearful will slam whatever they don't understand and hide behind a wall of faith that can come crumbling down the minute there's a crisis.
What we write is not porno. You want porno? Go somewhere else. You want passion? Stick around.
Is this woman protesting The Song of Solomon, too?
LOL! She notably doesn't ever quote the Bible, which is amusing, since her detractors ARE quoting it.
I'll be the first to say that I have nothing against religion. I have nothing against Christianity, either. What I find hard to stomach is a zealot, no matter what flag they wave and who they claim to follow.
If that flag is Christianity, people will always assume that the person who disagrees has something against the faith, in general. That's a head game. The truth is, zealots rarely accurately live to the faith they PROFESS to believe in.
Brenna
Thank you Brenna! Beautifully written rebuttal, lady. How very sad that this still goes on. With each generation there seems to be those few who can't deal with the romantic/erotic sexuality of those around them. How sad for them and even more so for their children. I used to think that my generation would see the end of this idiocy. Well that didn't happen. I hope that one day it will.
Hugs
Jude
Oh, Brenna - why are you getting all verbose and heated up about this? Surely you of all people -- and it's "you" that I keep reading on NCP lists -- should know that the more you explain and deny the more heated the issue will get. Why not be business-like about it and state: The EPIC stands for The Electronic Publishers Internet Connection. Please look up each word's definition in the Meriam-Webster and it should give you a good understanding what the EPIC is about. Yours truly....
But if you want to keep the issue boiling, you will do rebuttals...which, of course, results in great publicity but isn't that what you bemoaned... decide whether you want peace and silence or negative but loud publicity and then be plain about it. Edita.
With her, I was professional. I do tend to need to vent, like any human does. And, I feel strongly that this is a situation erotic authors of all sorts are going to have to face, over and over. It just amazes me that someone carried it the direction she did, trying to drag an organization that is NOT erotic by nature into her rant.
As for making up my mind, it seems I have. While I wouldn't want to have to fight some of the people that could take offense, neither will I cower. That's not my style.
Brenna
Brenna, thank you so much for your support and for your help in this matter. I've always known at some point I was going to come up against the religious zealots one day, especially living where I live. I'm happy to say that the issue has been settled. EPIC Virginia WILL be at the convention, and we will have a promo table. I promise you that. Thanks again!
Helen E. H. Madden
I read and write a lot of romances, all types (and rating levels), from a variety of publishers. And I have to be honest, I don't know why some are rated erotic and others "in the mainstream" aren't. I see most of the same acts and language. And then there are some that are SO far apart in what they offer the reader that there is no question as to what they are.
But, if you want to get a strictly g-rated romance, you need to buy Avalon or Treble Heart Books. They are the only two publishers of romance I know of that keep language and behavior at a g-rating. There may be others. But even Kensington and Harlequin have gone to spicier and erotic lines of books and are progressively moreso in their "lighter lines."
Personally, I am offended when I read erotic material that isn't labeled. I'm sure you'll think that odd when you see my signature and realize I write erotica. Sometimes I want nothing more than a sweet, g-rated romance, though.
But sometimes I like edgier stuff (like my werewolves) or sensually or surreally stimulating things (like my vampires) or things that push my thinking about racism or sexuality/homosexuality. While I don't condemn or condone those in my stories, I sometimes have characters that struggle with those real world issues.
Erotica Publishers allow more realistic characters who speak like the majority of Americans (with some swearing and honest references to body parts). But they also have many characters that never swear, and who aren't vulgar in any way.
Anyone who thinks erotic romance is horrid, debased, or nothing but pornography hasn't read much of it. Sure, there are a few writers and publishers who just string sex scenes together and those come across vulgar.
But that's true in standard romances sometimes, too. They throw in "an act" or a kiss or whatever just to fix their bad pacing.
To be labeled erotica, a story is required to have some explicit behavior depicted--as opposed to a "fade to black" scene where they went into the bedroom and you just knew they did the deed. But it can be a regular novel written, say, for Harlequin with similar everything to what you've read at that house, but then bumped up in the bedroom or make-out scenes. It gets rid of that feeling of disappointment, in my opinion. Way too often, I've pouted over "being cheated" out of a romantic scene that didn't pan out, that went to a "they shut the door behind them."
I read romance because I want to see a romance unfold. And if characters make sexual mistakes or good moves, I want to know about them. I mean, if the girl regrets kissing the guy, I want to know what she is regretting. And I love a character who reaches out for the things most of us only dream of.
Personally, I have never been promiscuous but I would LIKE to be sometimes. And reading about a character who is feeds that part of me that wants to live on the edge, and do things I would never do.
But, I want to say that I haven't written one erotic romance that doesn't have literary value behind it. Even in my edgy werewolf series, I have characters who think about things like using protection, thinking about consequence, bemoaning mistakes, considering political ramifications and racism. The list goes on and on.
If you've read my romances and didn't get the literary issues laid in, email me, I'll elaborate on the story for you--or maybe you should read it again and look for underlying themes.
There is a readership out there (mine!) who will pick up erotic romance and not a Harlequin, and those female readers need female heroes that aren't goody goody because they, as real people, don't live like that, and they desperately need examples of females who triumph and conquer every day issues.
In a Harlequin Romance, for example, the girl is dead broke and meets a rich guy. In my stories, the girl is dead broke, a little overweight, and depressed and sometimes ready to kill herself. Or she can see no light at the end of the tunnel. When she meets her hero, he helps her find her own inner strengths. While he often has the world in his hands, he isn't a perfect man. (Is there one?)
My point is that you can't judge all erotica by one writer or one publisher. And, honestly, if you blackball erotica writers from wherever you congregate, you miss a great opportunity to learn about what they write, and to share your own views.
This, to me, is like a Christian who judges someone that doesn't "get Christianity". First of all, the judgment isn't Christ-like. Christ didn't chastise or mistreat sinners. He embraced them so he could speak with them and share his thinking. He didn't talk down to them. He simply pointed them to a higher path. He loved unconditionally.
Any time you judge someone who is different than you or outside your personal "accepted actions"--it shows that you don't get the basic of "how to persuade someone to your point of view." Attacks never work. They just alienate and make the attacker look like a wounded animal. It's pathetic, in my opinion.
You can't convert me to your way of thinking, church, doctrine, or preferred reading material or writing standards if you don't make the effort to befriend me, and reason with me by showing why your lifestyle or choices (or religion) are better than mine. That is not to say "Lord it over me" or "Show me how much better you are than me." That never works.
I say...embrace every writer and reader. Feed the sheep. Be a good shepherd, and bring them into the fold, and into your circle of reach so you can take care of their needs. Redirect them to a path you'd like them to take by LEADING THE WAY. But be a leader someone would want to follow.
Don't be the wolf who eats the sheep--or bites at them repeatedly. We all know what happens to the wolves. Sooner or later a good shepherd finds a way to get rid of them.
Negative behavior and comments to others in the publishing profession are not professional. Attacks on writers of any other genre than your own is unprofessional. If I were a publisher, the writer who started the attacks would be on my blackball list.
It doesn't surprise me, Carys! You see, I've blogged on the situation before.
If you purchase what you BELIEVE is one thing and it's another, it's bait and switch. Whether you thought you were getting erotic romance and got erotica or you thought you were getting sweet and got sensual, I'd agree you have every right to be upset. You buy what you're in the mood for, what you want to read. Being given something different is not a good situation.
Kudos to your entire post! I can't argue it.
Brenna
One proud Christian romance writer and member of EPIC here!!
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