When I started writing fourteen years ago, I knew that having a main character with a disability in a love story was almost unheard of in the publishing world, especially when the character was portrayed accurately and authentically. That was the reason I sat down to write one. I wanted to break the unspoken rule that romance heroes and heroines had to be ‘perfect’ for readers to fall in love with their story. As a writer with a disability, my goal was to challenge the idea that the character’s disability or illness had to be ‘overcome’ by the end of the book for them to be happy. The disabled community deserves characters who look like us, as we live our lives the same way able-bodied people do, including falling in love, having families, and working jobs across all industries. As someone who often felt overlooked in the largest fiction genre in the world, it was also essential that I create change in how our community was portrayed by those who weren’t part of it. Writing stories that made readers within my community feel seen was a great place to start.
With each book I released, readers began to embrace my characters, their disabilities, their joys, their pain, and their happily ever after endings. It was crucial to write the stories with an eye to accuracy, to prevent perpetuating the same stereotypes that those of us in the disabled community have faced for years. What I heard from readers was that, for them, that’s what made the stories stand out. They walked away from the book feeling uplifted, but not because the book was written as ‘inspirational.’ The character’s determination to find someone who supported and loved them as they were, made the reader feel like part of their world as they read. Authentic inclusivity was the uplifting aspect of the book for many readers who had never seen themselves represented in a romance novel.
Fast forward fourteen years to today, and I’ve released my eighth book with Harlequin Intrigue. Tracing Her Stolen Identity features a main character with a disability, which is prominently displayed on the cover. The very idea that I would ever see a cover like that from the largest romance publisher in the world was unfathomable to me when I started writing. For years, I didn’t have covers that represented the character’s disability because those stock images didn’t exist. Now, as authentic representation of the disabled community grows, we’re able to find images that portray us in real life rather than just as ‘inspirational.’ You’ve all seen the images of someone sitting in a wheelchair with their hands in the air as they look out over a lake. Those are the stereotypes we’re breaking when we have covers like Tracing Her Stolen Identity featuring a woman using a wheelchair front and center on the shelf. It fills me with satisfaction to see publishers embracing the idea of diversity in romance not as a ‘trend,’ but as a necessity.
I’m often asked why inclusivity matters in romance. I could write an entire blog post on that question alone, but I thought I’d let one of my readers explain why it’s important to them. After sharing an image of Tracing Her Stolen Identity in my newsletter, I received this email: “I absolutely cannot wait to read Skylar’s story at the end of the month! I’m so excited because I love reading books where the main character is in a wheelchair, as I’ve been in a wheelchair my whole life!” Imagine opening your email or being at the bookstore and, for the first time, spotting a romance novel with a character who looks like you on the cover. How would you feel? Elated? Joyful? Respected? That’s the moment authentic inclusivity in romance matters, not just for one reader, but for all readers. I sincerely believe that everyone should see themselves represented with respect in the genres they love to read, and I’m fortunate to write for a publisher that shares this belief. That’s why I’ll continue to write about my community and for my community, because we all deserve a great love story!
Katie Mettner’s latest Intrigue title, Tracing Her Stolen Identity, is available now!
Hunting the enemy who erased her identity plunges them into a fight for their lives…
Skylar Sullivan no longer exists. The obliteration of her identity is only the first step in a diabolical plan to frame the artist for crimes she couldn’t have physically committed from her wheelchair. Turning to the one person she can trust brings back memories of a night fourteen years ago when Sky lost the boy she loved. Reece Palmer failed Sky once. When he vows to protect her with his life in a way he couldn’t in the past, the cybersecurity expert must take down a mortal threat before a cold-blooded avenger makes Sky disappear forever.
Check out Tracing Her Stolen Identity on Harlequin.com today!
