by Rachelle Storm
There are two things to know about me as an author. One, I am a proud, Black woman who loves writing diverse, multiracial characters in complicated, nuanced worlds. Two, I have been an unapologetic fandom geek since well before it was popular to deem yourself as one. I love fandoms, popular culture, and embrace the truly powerful ways humans come together in fandoms when they enjoy a fictional universe. Depending on where you look up the definition, fandom is described as a “condition” or “state of being.” Fandoms are immersive and embody so much more than simply sharing a love for a fictional universe or world-building experience. In its best form, a fandom is a space of compassion, a sense of belonging, and a place to embrace diversity in ways many spaces in society still struggle with today.
As a Black woman, my love of fandom stems from the way I have been embraced and able to explore the intersectionality of my identity over the years. Whether it is at a convention or through the friends and connections I have made in online spaces, fandoms have given me the space I have always yearned for as a woman of color to explore my interests, fascinations, identity, and even my life philosophy. Fandoms have always been about more than just the fictional characters and canons we love. They are often communities of people moving toward common goals and human connections. For example, I remember how the Twilight fandom came together to pay respect to a fan that was tragically killed right before a Comic-Con event. Twilighters embraced the fan’s love of fanfiction to create a collection of stories in her honor and gave the proceeds from the donations to her family. Fandoms often contribute and donate to causes, such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand, The Go Campaign, and Saving Innocence as ways to connect their love with causes for the greater good of society.
Personally, the most impactful way a fandom has reached beyond fictional characters to connect with others is the way conversations in multiple fandoms about queer-baiting and representation led to a shift in approach for Hollywood studios. Whether it is infamously, rumored deleted scenes from Pitch Perfect 3 that left Bechloe fans irked or fans critiquing the use of Lena Luthor and Kara Danvers as queer-bait in the CW’s Supergirl, fandoms continue to demand diversity and inclusion onscreen and on the page. In the past five years alone, there has been a shift in the mainstream due to this demand. Teen Vogue’s 2021 article “On Racebending and Seeing Yourself in Fandom” and Rowan Ellis’s YouTube video “The Evolution Of Queerbaiting: From Queercoding to Queercatching” are examples of the impact fandoms have on problematic histories of discrimination in Hollywood and mainstream media. And while studios remain stubborn and discriminatory in their practices, change is on the rise due to fan reactions and the support garnered. The harsh truth is when it comes to mainstream media and popular culture, these spaces have historically been rooted in archaic tropes of identity while oppressing marginalized voices and representation. I have spent most of my life enjoying fandoms, but I will be the first to admit that when I first started engaging with novels, shows, and films where fandoms were embraced, I was painfully aware of how the spaces centered whiteness, heteronormative tropes, and stereotypical, flat marginalized characters. This is still an issue today, but there is a shift that only fandoms can cause, a shift in the mainstream.
When I wrote the first novel in the Absolution Series, I wrote with this shift in mind. I thought about how mainstream fandoms helped me when I was growing up, but also how they left me wanting more in terms of feeling seen and included in the worlds I admire so much. Absolution is unique because of its hybridity and way it plays with traditional tropes in fantasy and romance genres. The series embraces diversity with multiracial characters looking to break through the glass ceiling and shatter the expectations of what love interests and heroes in the genres of mainstream romance and fantasy can embody. The story is essentially a love letter to the YA fandoms of the past that embraced and welcomed me as a young adult, but also a universe with characters that represent more than just one type of human or ideal. Absolution is a statement as a fandom geek trying to remind us that the hero and love interest of mainstream fantasy and paranormal romances are not always predominantly white. Overall, Absolution is an epic fantasy romance that will hopefully remind readers of the YA fandoms they once belonged to and still probably do, but with more inclusion and diversity in mind.
While there are many stories out there focusing on diverse, often marginalized characters and representation, mainstream media and fandoms are still catching up to the way readers and fans choose to embrace the world. Whether it is on social media, websites, fanfiction, or fan events, fandoms continue to be a space for explorations of identity and this fandom geek is very happy to see so many outlets for readers from all types of backgrounds popping up. Fandom will always be love and family. I am just happy that love and family openly includes all of us now.
--
Rachelle Storm has been a fandom geek since its earliest beginnings and never stopped. A Black scholar holding a doctoral degree in Writing Studies, she researches rhetoric, music, and popular culture. In truth, Rachelle never isn’t writing or sharing her knowledge with her fans. However, on the off-chance she isn't working or experimenting with paper and ink, you can find her at music festivals and independent bookstores. Absolution is her debut novel. The second book in the series, Absolution: Revelations, will be published July 2022. Find her online at rachellestorm.com or connect with her on social media (Instagram; TikTok; Twitter; and Facebook). Join the Absolution fandom on Facebook or Goodreads.