Malorie Blackman
Well said.
“Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.”
― Malorie Blackman
This quote is included my new book Diversify Your Romance: A Reading Journal.
Malorie Blackman’s words beautifully capture why reading matters. Stories like her delicious African futurism novel Noughts & Crosses allow us to step into someone else’s life, feeling their experiences, joys, and struggles as our own. Romance, in particular, gives us a chance to see the world through the eyes of characters whose love, pain, and growth reflect the diversity of human experience. Through these stories, we learn empathy, understanding, and the power of connection.
Blackman’s insight resonates deeply with the inspiration behind the Diversify Your Romance journal. As readers, we often find ourselves deeply moved by characters who are different from us, yet whose emotions and challenges feel so familiar. Romance novels, with their focus on love in all its messy, transformative glory, offer a window into worlds we might never otherwise explore—showing us that, no matter our background, love is a universal language.
In today’s world, reading diversely is more important than ever. The Diversify Your Romance journal was created to help readers explore a wide range of love stories—ones that break from traditional narratives and introduce new voices, perspectives, and experiences. This journal is a tool to encourage you to understand love from a fresh point of view.
What’s Inside the Journal?
Guided Challenges to explore new subgenres and authors like Malorie Blackman
Book Recommendations to expand your romance reading
Customizable Tracker to chart your reading journey
Reflection Prompts to pause and think about how stories change your perspective
Ready to walk in someone else’s shoes? Grab your copy today on Amazon or direct from my website and join the #DiversifyYourRomanceChallenge!
