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Interview With Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
AE: AfterEllen.com has an international audience, so I’m interested in finding
out if you’ve noticed any strong differences in reaction to your books outside
the U.S. compared to inside the U.S. How would you characterize those
differences? Ah, but we’re back to labels, aren’t we. Funny how in the USA we allow cities and states to have Spanish names and be American (Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Colorado, Florida, etc.), but we do not often extend this same courtesy to our denizens.
AE: You have a reputation for being outspoken because in the past you’ve
been open about the sexism and racism you experienced while working as a
journalist. Looking back from your current vantage point, do you have any
advice, encouragement or words of caution to give our readers about speaking
out? But in all seriousness, let me say this: I don’t like the word “outspoken” any more than I like the phrase “she’s got a mind of her own.” (Whose mind would you prefer I used?) The word “outspoken” tends in contemporary American society to simply mean “lots of conservative idiots wish you’d shut up.” Rush Limbaugh is not “outspoken.” Sean Hannity is not “outspoken.” Lou Dobbs is not “outspoken.” Right? They are ... what? What are they? Defenders of the American way or some garbage. Why is it that a smart, progressive woman who also happens to be honest and unafraid is “outspoken” for simply speaking her (own) mind? Hmm.
AE: Do you have any plans to explore lesbian or bisexual themes or
characters in your future work? Or is that not something you can plan
for? And in my third novel, Make Him Look Good, I have an evil lesbian newspaper columnist, Lilia, because, you know, we come in all shapes and sizes. She’s not evil because she’s a lesbian, but in spite of being a lesbian, and her evilness revolves mostly around her thinking everyone is in love with her even though she looks like Kathy Bates in too-tight men’s khaki shorts ― a high crime in my book. But in answer to your actual question pertaining to the future, yes. I’m writing a book called The Husband Habit, to be released in the summer of ’09, which has a straight lead character (woman) whose closest friend at work is a lesbian waitress named Hazel, who, in spite of her name, is quite hot. The lead character, a chef named Vanessa, caters Hazel’s bachelorette party, and Hazel, for her part, surprises Vanessa with a gift she’ll never forget. (Get your mind out of the gutter, ladies; it’s not like THAT.) Buy Dirty Girls on Top or download the audio book, and check out her website at alisavaldesrodriguez.com |
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Casturbate! *snort*
Oh my, this was one of the funniest interviews I've read on this site!
I picked up "Dirty Girls Social Club" knowing nothing about it. It was a light, fun read and then I got to the part where she describes Elizabeth sneaking into a club to watch her butch, Anglo girlfriend read poetry. Then I knew I wasn't reading a Latina version of your basic chick-lit! I'm a fan of Ms. Valdes-Rodriguez's work and am now a fan of the woman herself.
Thank you Afterellen for this interview!
An Author Comes Out
www.myspace.com/lunakiss7
I figured Mrs.Valdez-Rodriquez might had some same gender interest ....but I'm glad she admitted to a Gay press that she's bisexual. I love her novels. I will keep my eye out on her new one. I'm happy she will continue to add gay characters in her novels. More power to her! Touching and indeed funny interview.
Loving this Great American Author
Thanks for the article
Where the heck have I been??? I can't wait to read her books and can't believe they flew under my radar this long.
I loved her comments on labels and speaking her own mind---damned fine points. Especially the point of having her books be segregated to a separate shelf. I feel the same way about separating gay and lesbian novels from "regular" fiction.
My hope is that some day we will look back on these "sections" in bookstores as the ridiculous things that they are: The back of the bus sections out of the mainstream (high traffic) areas of the business. Its as ridiculous as having fiction with characters of people with children be pulled out into a BREEDER section of the bookstore---So silly. Non-fiction areas for Gay and Lesbian (and parenting) I get, but the way they do it now is wrong. Separate is NOT equal.
---Mari
Mari SanGiovanni
Author of: Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer...
www.GreetingsFromJamaica.com
Books are pithier than she's sometimes given credit for
what a funny, thoughtful
woman. Just reading this interview makes you want to read her books.
On the topic of book segregation, I have to say, I have split feelings. Bookstores are not just divided into "normal" fiction, gay fiction and non-fiction. Under both non-fiction and fiction you have several umbrellas, indicating genres that help people find what they are looking for. Somtimes a really great genre book will also be recognized as great (i.e. literary) fiction.
Most (not all) gay/lesbian books are not great fiction. Let's be honest... and the ones that are (Sarah Waters, Emma Donoghue, etc.) are usually found in the "mainstream" fiction area (at least I've found that the case when I'm browsing).
You'll note that Ammonite, a science fiction novel written by a lesiban with basically an all-female "cast," is typically found in the sci-fi section... not the gay section. I guess I'm just trying to say it's not atypical for books to be sub-categorized to where publishers/booksellers feel the major interest lies, and until more gay/lesbian books are so well written that straight people want to read them, I don't see them crossing the aisle to mainstream fiction.
If a book is by a gay author and has gay content but is plot-oriented, such as Waters and Donoghue and Nicola Griffith, rather than a typical lesbian romance, I think it does tend to go to the mainstream area. But lesbian/gay romance novels, erotica, are going to be sub-labeled. That's just the way it is. Straight romance novels (bodice-rippers, etc.) are also segregated away from mainstream lit into their own section.
My suggestion, though I don't know how feasible it would be for bookstores, would be to keep the gay/lesbian section for folks who LIKE to walk in and know where to find what they are looking for, and then include a copy in the mainstream section for browers who like to discover things.
Anyway, happy reading, wherever you find your books.
Great Read!
Removing previously posted comment so as not to engage poster Mari Sangiovanni in irrelevant discourse that detracts from the focus of this article -- the terrific writing of a New York Times best-selling author! Unfortunately, I am unable to remove the subsequent replies which only exacerbated further "last words." My apologies to Alisa and the readers of this forum.
Not "complaining", thanks very much...
Just stating a different opinion, not seeking advice...I'm not even "frustrated"....just pointing out a different view :)
The author herself even stated: "I am still set apart by booksellers" so clearly there is a point here.
I also hope that bookstores do not become old school. I love a good bookstore as a destination.
--Mari
Mari SanGiovanni
Author of: Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer...
www.GreetingsFromJamaica.com
I hope there's room here...
for more than just one "view." My comments are not directed to you as an individual (which is why it is not a "reply" to your posting), but rather commentary to the author community and others in this dialogue regarding labels and book sectioning.
I'm also not calling for the extinction of brick-and-mortar bookstores. Rather, I'm speaking of the emergence of online bookselling which banishes the whole concept of "back of the bus" positioning on the floor. Search by "label" (how convenient!), point, click and wait for the package to arrive at my door. In the words of Martha Stewart, "It's a good thing!"
Let's all play nice in the sandbox now, okay?? :-)
I love a good romp in the sandbox!
Of course there is room for more than one view----that was exactly my point. I was saying that my view (and others who share it) are not "compaining" when we express it. I guess i am still a little sensitive from the spelling lesson you gave me last time this subject came up! ....Maybe if I had played less in the sandbox and paid more attention to my spelling lesson we would all be better off!!!
Hey---is that a cat over there? Get out of this sandbox, kitty!
--Mari
Mari SanGiovanni
Author of: Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer...
www.GreetingsFromJamaica.com
Buying books is a good thing
I think reading books, no matter where you buy them, is a good thing. So many people don't read anymore.
I wrote a piece recently in my blog on "Why read fiction?" I did some research and it turns out that reading fiction is good for us. It makes us more empathetic, smarter and savvier in social situations and in relationships. Reading fiction, supposedly, also gives us a greater emotional range. (And of course women statistically read much more fiction than men.)
So why isn't everyone reading more fiction if it has all these benefits? Beats me. But I am grateful every time a fiction writer, and especially a woman, gets the spotlight with a good interview where she gets to talk about her books.
Thanks, AE!
www.SeekingSaraSummers.com
Um, is there any way to
Um, is there any way to re-direct this thread to back to the actual author and her work and the interview? 'Cause as funny as she is, she's got some interesting things to say: i.e. about the lack of visibility of Latina women who are queer.
Just sayin'
Book.
'cause I can't resist
"(who, as it happens, is faithfully married to a man and therefore living a “straight” life)"
did she say that or is that the author's opinion?
She doesn't sound like she's living a straight life at all.
If she was with a woman would she therefore be living a "Lesbian" life?
If so, then how does one live a bisexual life?
Is it not possible to be a bisexual while being in a commited relationship? Or do we have to trudge through the stereotype that bisexuals have to have both?
Just curious because it's such an odd statement...
Fantastic
Now I'm really glad I found this site and joined, or else I might have never known about these books or this author. Being a "bi latina" myself I'd love to read something I could identify strongly with, plus, I found Rodriguez's answers to be very smart and witty, traits which I hope are reflective of her writing style. Me thinks I shall soon be looking to purchase a couple of books on line.
"This is my letter to the world who never wrote me"
E. Dickinson