Romance Writers of America files for bankruptcy amid bitter racism battle

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https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/may/30/romance-writers-america-bankruptcy

Romance Writers of America files for bankruptcy amid bitter racism battle

Group says membership crisis means it cannot pay conference contracts as top writer condemns RWA’s ‘retreat from commitment to equality’

Lois Beckett
Thu 30 May 2024 07.00 EDT

For decades, the Romance Writers of America (RWA) served as a champion for the mostly female authors of one of the country’s most popular – and denigrated – genres of fiction.

But even as sales of romance novels have boomed in recent years, RWA has struggled, reporting that its membership has declined 80% amid bitter internal battles over racism within publishing, and within the group itself.

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(For example…)

Despite efforts by new leadership to address concerns over racism and rename its awards to honor Stephens’ role in founding the organization, RWA controversies continued. In 2021, the RWA gave an award to a historical romance novel with a protagonist who took part in the 1890 massacre of more than 300 Lakota men, women and children at the Battle of Wounded Knee. It later rescinded that award.

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As the RWA has struggled, other romance organizations that explicitly prioritize diversity have grown. The Steamy Lit conference, first held in 2023, focuses on creating a welcoming environment for romance readers and writers of color, founder Melissa Saavedra said. An estimated 1,900 people are expected to attend its August conference this year.

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