Ethics, Censorship and Romance Writers of America….

Are all of the diversities of romance and those who read, write and enjoy them truly welcome at RWA? And/or is it permissible for someone to censor and remove materials and choose what others see and do not see?

Louise and I got our duds on and went off to the Marriott in San Francisco for this year's Romance Writers of America. We found upon arriving that the Hotel looked beautiful and there were crowds upon crowds of excited attendees from the Speakers, to the Authors to the fresh faced aspiring authors. Throw into the mix the press, agents and publishers you have a huge crowd of conventioneers ready to get their learning on, and then of course their fun thrown in.

We first went up to the famous (maybe infamous) Goody Room where attendees can pick up books, book marks, pens, trade magazines catalogues and such to their hearts content. Like all of the others, we were just as anxious to get our magazines, subscription cards and business cards out and into the mix. In typical fashion we observed the unwritten courtesy of not violating anyone's space and creating your display as to not block the view of another with their goodies oh display. As I have done in the past, I put the magazines out in three different spaces in the room with business and subscription cards next to them.

Displays in place, we were off to explore all that RWA had going on, as well as a very nice visit to the press room for our credentials and to look through the things they had on display from the convention sponsors, and collect any in which we could work into our coverage of this year's RWA.

Louise and I had high hopes for this year's event and were excited about going. That being said, it is always difficult when something happens which tends to dampen the good time and excitement of RWA. First let me say that the ladies of that organization work their respective tails off to coordinate and manage an event such as this. Their literature, program and set-up were certainly first rate from top to bottom.

Around mid-afternoon I went back to the goody room to restock magazines, business cards and subscription cards only to find that all had been removed. In the places where we had been set up was a virtually identical set up of Romantic Times magazine. All of our business cards, magazines and subscription cards had been removed and replaced. I immediately went to the Press Room and spoke to Judy Scott about it, and she was very concerned about such behavior and referred me to the Registration Desk to find her supervisor Alicia. Alicia was not there so I spoke to the girl at the desk, who quite frankly did not care about any of it. Her remarks included the fact that they could not concern themselves with any of those sorts of issues. When asked if I could have her name and quote her, she declined. I left my business card and asked her to have Alicia call me so we could discuss this.

I then returned to the goody room to restock the missing materials. Again, I did not move nor remove anybody's materials and actually set up our displays again right next to where they were before without disturbing any of the RT display. While I was doing this, I noticed an author who was looking for a contest bin she had set up. She had left it earlier with several entries in it and had come back to collect them so subsequent visitors could have ample space for their entries. Her entire bin was gone. After visiting with several of the participants in the room, I found out that many people had things who had just disappeared and their space taken over like they had never been there. Among this group were the alternative lifestyle authors as well as some of the other groups who might not walk the traditional path.

After this I returned to Judy Scott, informed her that the problem with missing displays was a larger scale problem than just the Affaire de Coeur magazines and that, perhaps, in the best interest of all of the participants they should look at it. She was very concerned and assured me that she would look into it and that Alicia would call me to discuss this issue.

Last year when I attended in Dallas, I suspected that this same thing had happened, but it was not as blatant as this and I let it go. This year, I'm convinced it is done by parties who feel that they have the right to edit and control what all participants see.

Alicia has not contacted me nor made an effort to. I thank Judy Scott for her interest and good intentions.

The fact is that the literary world is not defined by one group's opinions nor are they in a position to determine what all of the attendees are exposed to. Sadly, based on past issues of this sort, they will continue to behave in this dishonorable manner and RWA and similar organizations will just allow it.

We will continue to restock and play fair and decently. Hopefully the parties guilty of this will learn a lesson, but I doubt they have the strength of character to learn about courtesy and fair play. This is very sad for them. The rest of us know how to behave, treat all decently and equally and that is why organizations such as RWA and others will continue to put on a beautiful gathering for those who wish to learn, promote and socialize within this industry we all love.

We will be blogging again tomorrow with all of the fun and challenges of a new day at RWA.

Bonny Kirby
Vice President of Advertising & Promotion