Rebekah Weatherspoon Explained

Rebekah Weatherspoon
Occupation:Writer
Language:English
Genre:
  • Romance
  • Erotica
Awards:Lambda Literary Award (2017)
Years Active:2011 – present

Rebekah Weatherspoon is an American author and romance novelist. Her books often feature heroines who are Black, plus-size, disabled, and/or LGBTQ. She founded the website WOC in Romance. Weatherspoon received a 2017 Lambda Literary Award for her novel Soul to Keep and was an honoree at the inaugural Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romance Fiction for Xeni.[1]

Career

Weatherspoon previously worked at Disney and was asked by an executive to read Twilight due to the buzz around it. She then began to read fan fiction based on the book, as well as romance novels.[2] Weatherspoon wrote her own fanfic in digital fandom communities and received positive feedback. Her debut, Better Off Red, was published in 2011.[3] She published a trilogy called FIT featuring a BDSM story line under Bold Strokes Books in 2014.

Weatherspoon has self-published and released her work through traditional publishers.[4] She is known for featuring Black women protagonists in her books, many who are LGBTQ or plus-size.[5] Her books often combine romance and erotica.

In 2015, Weatherspoon was influenced by the We Need Diverse Books and #WeNeedDiverseRomance campaigns to found the website WOC in Romance. The site shares information about romance novels written by women of color and those who are non-binary and gender fluid.[6]

On February 25, 2020, she published the debut novel in the Cowboys of California series, a Cowboy to Remember, a Western romance and a remake of Sleeping Beauty.[7] [8] It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.[9] Kirkus Reviews described the book: "an amnesia plot done right and a fantastic heroine mark a strong series debut."[10] Maureen Lee Lenker wrote in a review for EW, "most refreshingly, her cowboys don’t fall prey to any of the traps of toxic masculinity that can overwhelm the sub-genre. Instead, it engages only with the positive aspects – the boot-knocking inherent sexiness of cowboys; the hard work of maintaining a ranch; and the natural ethos of family and community."[11] A television series adaptation is in development by Valerie C. Woods' MVC Productions.[12]

In February 2021, Weatherspoon's upcoming YA romance novel Her Good Side was acquired by Razorbill. It is scheduled for release in fall 2022.[13]

Personal life

Weatherspoon resides in southern California. She has identified as queer and pansexual.[14]

Accolades

Bibliography

Series

Vampire Sorority Series

Beards and Bondage

Loose Ends

Cowboys of California

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pereira. Carina. 2019-12-18. 11 of the Best Debut Novels By Queer Authors for Read Harder 2020. 2020-07-15. BOOK RIOT. en-US.
  2. Web site: Perkins. Nichole. Rebekah Weatherspoon Writes Kinky Sex with Funny, Real World Twists. 2020-07-16. Bitch Media. en.
  3. Book: Weatherspoon, Rebekah. Better off red. 2011. Bold Strokes Books. 978-1-60282-610-6. Valley Falls, N.Y.. English. 798578393.
  4. News: Alter. Alexandra. 2018-07-07. The Changing Face of Romance Novels. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-07-16. 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: Weatherspoon. Rebekah. 2018-11-16. Top 5 Reasons I Love Writing Lesbian Romance. 2020-07-16. AfterEllen.
  6. Web site: Faircloth. Kelly. 2015-05-22. Inside the Push for a More Diverse Romance Genre. 2020-07-16. Jezebel. en-us.
  7. Web site: Walker. Savanna. 2020-02-25. Author Interview - Rebekah Weatherspoon, author of A Cowboy to Remember. 2020-07-16. BookPage.com. en.
  8. Web site: Day. Meagan. 2019-12-01. A Cowboy To Remember. 2020-07-16. Library Journal.
  9. Web site: 2020-01-02. A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon. 2020-07-16. PublishersWeekly.com. en.
  10. Web site: 2020-01-13. A Cowboy to Remember. 2020-07-15. Kirkus Reviews.
  11. Web site: Lenker. Maureen Lee. 2020-03-06. Hot Stuff: New romances find the sexy and swoony amidst sibling rivalry. 2020-07-16. EW.com. EN.
  12. Web site: Perez. Lexy. 2021-03-12. Rebekah Weatherspoon's 'Cowboys of California' Trilogy Optioned for TV (Exclusive). 2021-08-23. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  13. Web site: Lenker. Maureen Lee. 2021-02-11. Razorbill acquires Rebekah Weatherspoon's YA romance 'Her Good Side' about a fake homecoming date. 2021-08-23. EW.com. en.
  14. Web site: Grimaldi. Christine. 2015-10-08. Can LGBTQ Romance Give Happily-Ever-Afters to Identities Beyond Gay and Lesbian?. 2020-07-16. Slate Magazine. en.
  15. Web site: Hertzler. Laurie. 2014-03-06. Minneapolis writers are finalists for Lambda Award. 2020-07-16. Star Tribune.
  16. Web site: 2017-03-14. 29th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced. 2020-07-16. Lambda Literary. en.
  17. Web site: 2018-06-21. 100 Women We Love: Class Of 2018 Page 25 of 97. 2020-07-16. GO Magazine. en-US.
  18. Web site: Doherty . Alison . The Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romantic Fiction Announced . Book Riot . 14 February 2020 . 6 October 2021.
  19. Book: Booklist Editors' Choice: Adult Books, 2021, by Booklist Online.