Harlequin announces the launch of Harlequin Insider, a desktop application that brings the interactive world of eHarlequin.com right to you. Get all the latest news from eHarlequin.com delivered directly to your computer desktop.
It's easy to set up and in just a few minutes, Harlequin Insider will be available at your fingertips. You'll get regular updates of new releases, hot titles, community events, daily reads, special offers and more...
You can also enjoy Harlequin's interactive daily polls and hero of the day feature.
Enjoy!
Sign up here!
Also Check out Harlequin on MySpace
Silhouette on MySpace
Harlequin on Twitter
Get Harlequinized! Too much is never enough....
Showing posts with label silhouette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label silhouette. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Monday, February 02, 2009
- Harlequin: Celebrating 60 years of pure reading pleasure
- 60 years
- 5.8 billion books sold
- 2,700 authors
- 34,000 titles
- 640 bestseller placements
- 1 Publisher
To thank our many readers for taking Harlequin into your hearts and homes for 60 years and making us the world’s leading publisher of romantic fiction, Harlequin is giving every woman in America a free book.
In fact, we’re giving away 16 free Books that you can download from our website, starting January 29!
Please share this giveaway with friends, family, neighbors – and with that colleague or acquaintance you know would love a romance if she (or he!) would just read one....
Here's a list of the free books:
Harlequin
Harlequin American Romance, Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren
Harlequin Blaze, Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly
Harlequin Historical, His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls
Harlequin Intrigue, Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels
Harlequin Presents, Price of Passion by Susan Napier
Harlequin Romance, The Bride’s Baby by Liz Fielding
Harlequin Superromance, Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson
Silhouette
Silhouette Desire, Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child
Silhouette Nocturne, Kiss Me Deadly by Michele Hauf
Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Stranded with a Spy by Merline Lovelace
Silhouette Special Edition, Dancing in the Moonlight by Raeanne Thayne
Steeple Hill Love Inspired
Love Inspired, A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
Love Inspired Historical, Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
Love Inspired Suspense, Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
Kimani
Kimani Romance, Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson
Nascar
Nascar, Speed Dating by Nancy Warren
You have to admit that is one compelling line up of great authors and great stories--something for everyone! You can download the books as a PDF or as an eBook. Moreover, in a couple of weeks you will be able to download a version for your iPhone.
Harlequin has a lot more celebrating planned throughout the year for their 60th anniversary including:
The Harlequin Famous Firsts Collection:
– In March, June and September, look for reissues of some of the very first series books written by current New York Times bestselling writers,
The Heart of a Woman:
- Harlequin Cover Art 1949-2009: Harlequin is sponsoring and exhibition of original cover art at the Openhouse Gallery, May 29 to June 12 in New York City.
Series Spotlight:
– Every month a different series is in the spotlight. Look for diamond-themed miniseries, series stars and more from all the Harlequin and Silhouette lines.
Little did Richard and Mary Bonnycastle know what they were starting 60 years ago when they founded Harlequin, but we’ve been satisfying women’s desire for romance, speaking to their hearts and transporting them beyond themselves ever since.
With hopes of continuing to touch your heart and share stories that will inspire, comfort and delight you in the years to come!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Presenting...Diana Ventimiglia
Name: Diana VentimigliaTitle: Associate Editor, Desire
Born: Long Island
Lives: Astoria, Queens
What is the last book you bought? Between You and I (and yes it is actually spelled that way; I gasped too)
Last non-job related book you read?
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, currently reading
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Whose books are must-haves for you?
Anything Hemingway and Nick Hornby. I won't say I'm obsessed but I am.
If you were going to the Oscars, what color would you wear? Probably yellow or emerald green.
When you have a terrible day, what comfort food do you have to have?
Burgers and Cupcakes...there's actually a place that sells both and it is the best place on earth.
The movie you need to watch at least once a year:
About A Boy, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (that is certainly the gift that keeps on giving the whole year through), Super Troopers, and When Harry Met Sally...I could watch that movie everyday for a whole year.
What is your theme song?
Sex Bomb by Tom Jones (this could be because I want to go on a date with him) Walk the Dinosaur by Was not Wuz...if you haven't heard it check back to 1986 and you'll thank me.
Go to movies/netflix/buy?
Go.
When you’re not at work, what do you do?
Go to the gym, write, draw, hang out with friends, walk to Magnolia's to get cupcakes.
Where would you live/what would you do if you didn’t have to worry about working?
I think I would live everywhere...or at least try to visit as many places as possible...I'd also study some languages...Italian, French, Japanese.
Who is your longest friend that you still talk to weekly?
My friend Kevin that I've known since middle school.
What was your favorite class in school and why?
Art because there were so many things to experiment with and tools to express myself.
How would you like to become famous?
I'd like to win Project Runway...but first I'll need to learn how to sew....
What do you wish you had invented?
Hmm...cell phones, although I really hate them sometimes.
What other occupation would want?
I would love to be a photo journalist for National Geographic/Anything business... absolutely not want?
Traders, brokers, blah, blah. I don't think I could ever muster the energy to like it.
If you had the option of living one hundred years in the past or future, which would you choose and why?
I've always wanted to go back in the past and see what New York looked like, what my home town looked like, etc.
Which TV show/movie would you like to be on and which character would you play?
Dee from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia...because I have a girl crush on her and I love that show.
What is your least and most favorite household task? Oddly enough I like cleaning the bathroom...I hate doing dishes
What was your favorite childhood book? When did you last reread it? Norma Jean Jumping Bean!!! If anyone has ever heard of it or seen it please let me know!!! I haven’t read it in years!
What would other students have said about you way back when?
They would have said I was outgoing and had really big hair...I'm not kidding, I used to pick out my curly hair in middle school because I didn't know what to do with it.
Do you believe in ESP/magic/ghosts/aliens?
I totally believe in ghosts and they scare the bejesus out of me!
What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?
I used to figure skate competitively.
What is your favorite sound?
The rain.
Do you have pets?
No, but would like to sneak one into my apartment!
Name one guilty pleasure:
Celebrity magazines--love them!
Who are your role models?
My mom and my friend Mara who has the biggest heart of anyone I know.
And, to paraphrase James Lipton from The Actor’s Studio, when you arrive at the pearly gates, what would you like God/Allah/Mohamed/Moses (insert any other deities here) to say to you?
That I was a kind person who cared about people...and that they have a Burgers and Cupcakes 2 blocks down that way.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Presenting...Allison Lyons
Here's a series of questions Allison answered for an internal wiki that she agreed to share. Some of you may have already 'met' Allison when she posted earlier with her report on the Emerald City Conference.
Name
Allison Lyons
Title
Editor, Continuities
Where were you born?
Queens
Where do you live now?
Queens
Where would you live if you didn’t have to worry about working?
In the mountains
What was your favorite class in school and why?
English--books...
Favorite book you’ve worked out that is out? Ever?
Too many to choose from.
What is the most fun part of your job?
Editing
How would you like to become famous?
I wouldn't...ever
What do you wish you had invented?
The electric fan
If you had the option of living one hundred years in the past or future, which would you choose and why?
Past--I always wanted to know what it was like in turn of the century New York
Which TV show/movie would you like to be on and which character would you play?
TV:
Jane Tennison on Prime Suspect
Movie:
Amelie as Amelie
What is your least and most favorite household task?
least:
Washing floors
most:
Making the bed
What was your favorite childhood book? When did you last reread it?
The Tiny Little House, by Eleanor Clymer--can't remember the last time I read it
Did you ever look back on your high school quote? What do you think about it now?
Yes and it makes no sense--then or now
Do you believe in ESP/magic/ghosts/aliens?
Yes
Name
Allison Lyons
Title
Editor, Continuities
Where were you born?
Queens
Where do you live now?
Queens
Where would you live if you didn’t have to worry about working?
In the mountains
What was your favorite class in school and why?
English--books...
Favorite book you’ve worked out that is out? Ever?
Too many to choose from.
What is the most fun part of your job?
Editing
How would you like to become famous?
I wouldn't...ever
What do you wish you had invented?
The electric fan
If you had the option of living one hundred years in the past or future, which would you choose and why?
Past--I always wanted to know what it was like in turn of the century New York
Which TV show/movie would you like to be on and which character would you play?
TV:
Jane Tennison on Prime Suspect
Movie:
Amelie as Amelie
What is your least and most favorite household task?
least:
Washing floors
most:
Making the bed
What was your favorite childhood book? When did you last reread it?
The Tiny Little House, by Eleanor Clymer--can't remember the last time I read it
Did you ever look back on your high school quote? What do you think about it now?
Yes and it makes no sense--then or now
Do you believe in ESP/magic/ghosts/aliens?
Yes
Thursday, April 03, 2008
- Presenting...Mary-Theresa Hussey, Executive Editor
Presenting...Mary-Theresa HusseyDid you know that when Harlequin Presents launched, it was intended to simply be a verb, that is Harlequin was "presenting" the author to the readers? Well, here I am to present Mary-Theresa Hussey, Executive Editor of the Silhouette imprint.
What does she do? She is responsible for overseeing the overall direction for all Silhouette lines: Desire, Special Edition and Romantic Suspense at the moment, as well as working with her own individual author base.
She is a remarkable reader with an amazing memory and is the unofficial "go to" person for all queries received that start: "I read a book about a guy with a girl and an escaped bear and a car race, but I can't remember..." But let me let her speak in her own words! Tell us, how did it all begin?
"I began as an Editorial Assistant for Silhouette Romance, working for Tara Gavin in '89. She said she knew she wanted to hire me when I sat down, saw Diana Palmer and Ann Major covers on her wall and knew the characters names!
From that point on I moved from Silhouette Romance, Special Edition and Intimate Moments, back to Silhouette Romance to be Senior Editor and then Executive Editor for Silhouette. I was also lucky enough to be in on the start of LUNA Books, and still work with many of those authors."
My list is fairly eclectic. I’d love some Romantic Suspense or Desire writers, and currently work with Red Dress Ink and MIRA authors as well as a lot of paranormal/fantasy writers for Romantic Suspense and Nocturne as well as LUNA. While I’m not as active in acquiring as some other editors--I have a lot of management responsibilities as well--I do keep an eye out for strong projects to bring forward for the company.
"I first started reading series romance when I was 11. We were in Ireland and I ran out of my Nancy Drew titles and my aunt (also Mary Theresa), gave me a batch of Mills & Boon titles. The first one was a Janet Dailey title called THE MASTER FIDDLER and I was hooked by Cholla (yes, that was the hero’s name!). After that, I discovered the stash in the library and used book stores and I’ve never looked back!
"Even in college I used a friend’s local address to get access to the library so I could feed my addiction throughout the year. (I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations has run out on that crime. :-) ) I still love the books we publish, and my only frustration is that I’ll never get to read them all!
"I read a lot of Presents, Desire, Romantic Suspense, Special Edition, Intrigue and Blaze and a smattering from the other lines. I’ll also read a bunch of the MIRA and HQN titles as well. And of course all the LUNA titles I didn’t work on! So when I graduated and discovered I could actually get a job working for this company and get these books for free…Well, my fate was sealed!
"I was a series addict from a young age! Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Rick Brant, Cherry Ames, Vicki Barr, Trixie Belden, The Happy Hollisters , The Bobbsey Twins, Tom Swift, Tom Corbett and more were followed by Tolkien, Heinlein, Norton and others. Characterization, dialogue and fast-paced plotting are and were key. Along with romance, I still love fantasy, romantic suspense, mystery, thriller and larger than life stories.
"The best part of this job is access to the wonderful people—authors and colleagues and readers. Even when I’m reading a manuscript that won’t be publishable, I feel that there’s a sense of hope and positivism in romance that I don’t always find when reading other genres.
"For me, the most difficult part of the job is rejecting manuscripts and dashing hopes. It’s especially hard when it comes to projects that aren’t really very bad, but there’s nothing special about them. As we say, we can often work with a storyteller who needs structure, but someone who has structure but no voice, well, that just isn’t something that an editor can easily fix.
"On the positive side, one of my most recent and exciting purchases has been for debut author Rachel Vincent’s werecat series. STRAY came out in '07 and ROGUE is out right now--April, 2008. [Isabel interjects that she's just learned Rachel will make her debut on the April 13th New York Times Bestseller list at #32, whoo hoo!]. I’ve already read PRIDE and the proposal for PREY. She’s got a wonderful voice and energy and enthusiasm and I really look forward to everyone else reading these projects.
"I have always felt that series novels have a 'formula' in the same way that other genre fiction or certain types of poetry does. There’s a structure, a rhyme scheme, an expected conclusion and a theme, but the writer’s voice and subject matter make it sing...or falter.
"And at the heart of genre fiction is the characters. The reason readers can return to a familiar story idea is the characters are believable, relatable and filled with emotion. The ability to have a reader live vicariously through the character is what makes a real storyteller.
"It’s not an easy thing to do either—I’ve tried maybe twice to write something and never got beyond two pages. The commitment needed to finish a book is intense, and the work is hard! I have total respect and admiration for those who make it look easy and who can face the screen or empty page day after day.
"As for what it takes to make a good editor, most editors I know are intensely curious about a lot of things, but always about people. They watch movies, read magazines, obsess about TV and pop culture. They respond to the zeitgeist, but what interests them is the individual in the situation. They also have to have great memories and incredible patience, as they read a manuscript multiple times!
"They must be willing to invest themselves by striving to help the author say what she wants to say as clearly and cleanly as possible, walking a delicate balance between being a “first reader,” a representative of the publisher and an advocate for the author. Communication is key, and making sure that the end goal—of a “good story, well told”—is achieved.
"If I wasn't going to be an editor—and money, skill and talent were no object!—I’d probably like to be a photographer for children, landscape or even weddings. But it makes a nice hobby at least!"
Their loss is our gain—though Matrice is also our unofficial photographer and in between the numerous piles of books, her office has many beautiful photographs of children and landscapes and family events. Truly, a renaissance woman.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Presenting...Elizabeth Mazer
Name: Elizabeth Mazer Title: Editorial Assistant, Steeple Hill/Silhouette
Role: Responsible for providing administrative and editorial support to the Senior Editor of Love Inspired/Love Inspired Suspense and the Executive Editor of Silhouette Books primarily through evaluating submissions, providing author support and guiding manuscripts through the stages of production.
Publishing Background: I began at Harlequin in my current position in April, 2007. Prior to that, I worked in the editorial department at what was then known as Bookspan (now Bertelsmann Direct North America) first with Crossings Book Club, and later with Book Development.
Submissions: We’re actively looking for new authors for Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, and the Silhouette lines, and will consider both agented and unagented submissions.
As for formatting, I’d prefer to receive a full synopsis along with the first three chapters. Please list the specific line you’re targeting.
Pet Peeve: Insufficient research! Misspelling my name, or the name of the line in the cover letter can make it very hard for me to give the rest of the submission serious consideration.
The author has to sell me not just on the qualities of her book, but also on how well her story would fit into our line, and I become very hard to convince when I sense that the author hasn’t done her homework.
What I Want to See: Strong, sympathetic characterization. The harder I have to work to relate to the characters, the more likely I am to give up on the book altogether!
Thank you, Elizabeth. So there you have it--I couldn't add a thing. Which comment, coming from an editor, is a real compliment!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Today is Category Romance Day @ Romance Novel TV
Thursday, January 17th--today!--Romance Novel TV will be devoting the day to category romances.
They have special Guest Blogger, Jane Litte, from Dear Author and a new video segment featuring the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books .
It’s all about how much they love category romances and what Harlequin has done for the genre. So check it out, stop by and comment.
See you there!
They have special Guest Blogger, Jane Litte, from Dear Author and a new video segment featuring the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books .
It’s all about how much they love category romances and what Harlequin has done for the genre. So check it out, stop by and comment.
See you there!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Spotlight on Harlequin
For those who may have missed the info on Dearauthor.com, here it is:
SPOTLIGHT ON HARLEQUIN
Fall '07: What’s new for Harlequin Enterprises/Series and Single Title Imprints, all formats. What is HQE publishing ? What is HQE looking to publish?
- Information about & HQE looking for
- HQE Publishing Program
eBOOKS & AUDIO & NEW INITIATIVES - Malle Vallik
eBooks
• As of September 1st, Harlequin is delivering 100% frontlist in eBook format—the only major trade publisher offering 100% of their frontlist
• Spice Briefs launched to great success in August 2007: original, exclusive eBook content
• Created “one-click buys” for the passion series for the avid reader & made it available to all eBook retailers (i.e. package all 8 Presents titles together as one unit)
• Continue to create eBook bundles of selected backlist, for example all of Caridad Pinero’s “Calling” titles together in the Calling Collection (October)
• Creating new eBook product by “chunking” anthologies--each novella with be its own eBook. Part of an Holiday promotion – 12 Christmas short stories for your digital stocking!
• New programs are in development!
Audio
• Ongoing program with Audible.com delivering 5 – 6 titles (offering both series and single titles, debut and established authors) per month
• Launching an audio continuity featuring 2 Blaze titles every month for $9.95
• Ongoing radio program on XM radio: Sonic Theater channel. Our website is ttp://sonictheater.xmradio.com, and Harlequin Romance Radio is aired at 1 am and 9 am Eastern time on channel 163.
Social Media
• 2nd Life author reading event on September 25 with M.J. Rose, featuring her book THE REINCARNATIONIST
• Launched & ongoing Harlequin Author Spotlight podcasts
• Launched and ongoing I Heart Presents blog (at www.iheartpresent.com)
• Will be launching a new romance blog in October
• MySpace profiles: SpiceBriefs complete—check out http://myspace.com/spicebriefs
• MySpace profiles to come: Harlequin, Kimani Tru, MIRA
• Launched digital author toolkit – updated monthly—check out http://www.digitalauthortoolkit.com/
***************************************************************************************************************
SPICE BRIEFS– NEW INITIATIVE– Susan Swinwood
Writing guidelines for Spice Briefs
Fall 07 - Top titles for Spice Briefs:
GILT AND MIDNIGHT by Megan Hart (September)
TOKYO RENDEZVOUS by Jina Bacarr (November)
SPICE – Susan Swinwood
Writing guidelines for Spice
Fall 07 - Top titles for Spice:
There are two fall titles for Spice in '07:
THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES/Nancy Madore, September
CAINE’S RECKONING/Sarah McCarty, November
Both are fantastic books – Nancy’s is a collection of erotic stories based on a traditional fairy tale; each chapter of the story is devoted to one of the twelve princesses as she searches for the solution to her sexual frustrations.
Sarah’s book is the first in her historical western erotica series: the men of Hell’s Eight. Each of these eight Texas Rangers are tough, sexy, hardened men…until they meet the women who make them weak.
***************************************************************************************************************
HQN & LUNA - Tracy Farrell
Fall 2007 – Top Titles for HQN:
October is a stellar month at HQN, topped by Brenda Joyce’s next Masters of Time paranormal, DARK RIVAL and a new Carly Phillips contemporary, SEALED WITH A KISS.
November features a new Shannon Drake historical from Heather Graham, THE QUEEN’S LADY, a Diana Palmer seasonal hardcover reissue, LONG TALL TEXAN LEGACY and our 2nd NASCAR collection, NASCAR HOLIDAY 2.
December delivers an original romantic suspense story from New York Times bestselling author, Beverly Barton, A TIME TO DIE.
What HQN is looking for:
HQN publishes strong, complex single title romances. Our current focus is on acquiring author who write historical and contemporary single titles, but we are always looking for other romance sub-genres, paranormal in particular, if the material is exceptional.
LUNA Fall '07 – Top Titles:
October, Jeri Smith-Ready continues her RITA nominated series with VOICE OF CROW.
November, C.E. Murphy begins her new Negotiator series with HEART OF STONE.
December, Diana Palmer makes a guest appearance with THE MORCAI BATTALION, a completely revised version of the only fantasy novel ever written by the author, originally published in 1980 and out of print for decades.
What LUNA is looking for:
We’re primarily looking for urban fantasy and otherworld fantasy and are no longer looking for historical fantasy at this time. We’re particularly interested in loosely-linked series of stand-alone titles featuring strong female leads, unique storylines and a fresh narrative voice that will appeal to fantasy, romance and mainstream readers alike.
MIRA & Red Dress Ink – Margaret Marbury
MIRA Fall '07 – Top Titles:
September:
76 SEASIDE AVENUE by Debbie Macomber (massmarket paperback)
THE REINCARNATIONIST by M.J. Rose (hardcover)
October:
WHERE ANGELS GO by Debbie Macomber (hardcover)
THE SÉANCE by Heather Graham (massmarket paperback)
LAST KNOWN VICTIM by Erica Spindler (mass market paperback)
MENDING FENCES by Sherryl Woods (mass market paperback,)
November:
THE LAST NOEL by Heather Graham (hardcover)
December:
THE WIDOW by Carla Neggers (first time mass market paperback)
SILENT IN THE GRAVE by Deanna Raybourn (tirst time mass market paperback)
DEMON’S KISS by Maggie Shayne (massmarket paperback)
• For MIRA, we are primarily looking for strong historical fiction and commercial literary fiction
Red Dress Ink Fall '07 – Top Titles:
SORCERY AND THE SINGLE GIRL by Mindy Klasky October tradepaperback
• For Red Dress Ink, we only looking at exceptional, smart and funny chick lit.
The imprint STEEPLE HILL - Joan Marlow Golan, with Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, Steeple Hill Cafe; KIMANI PRESS - Linda Gill, with Sepia , Arabesque, New Spirit, Kimani Romance, Kimani TRU, GOLD EAGLE - Feroze Mohammed, with the Mack Bolan, Stony Man, Deathland, Outlander and Rogue Angel series and WORLDWIDE LIBRARY with its Mystery series are also part of the HQE family, but are not listed in detail here.
***************************************************************************************************************
SERIES - Harlequin & Silhouette - Birgit Davis Todd & Mary Theresa Hussey
The fall of 2007 has many of the themes and initiatives that are clear reader favorites and important for the series business throughout the year.
As always, our focus is on finding, developing and publishing “good stories, well-told." And to get those stories, our editors work with authors through all phases of story development - and then with art and marketing to ensure those stories get the right packages.
We also try to emphasize connected miniseries in our publishing schedule. There are multiple continuities appearing in the series lines, including the conclusions of The Royal House of Niroli from Harlequin Presents, Mission: Impassioned from Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Dynasty: The Garrisons from Silhouette Desire, Montana Mavericks: Strike It Rich from Special Edition, Dark Enchantments from Silhouette Nocturne, Secrets We Keep from Harlequin Romance, Texas Legacies: The Carrigans from Harlequin American, Million Dollar Secrets from Harlequin Blaze and many more.
Harlequin and Silhouette series programs are known for their long-standing commitment to authors, with many authors celebrating 25, 50, even 100 book milestones with us. We work with both new and established authors to develop long-running, successful series with their own characters, as well as encouraging strong, standalone titles that lead new readers to discover new favorites.
As a mark of this commitment, we have multi-New York Times bestselling authors Diana Palmer and Linda Lael Miller publishing in series this fall.
Another strong component of our publishing program is our continual search for new authors. We are one of the few publishers accepting unagented material, and we also run contests to find new authors. Check out the Harlequin Superromance Conflict of Interest Contest at www.eharlequin.com in Writing Challenges. The contest is open to all writers and the deadline is fast approaching!
Just this fall, from September to December, we are publishing more than thirty new-to-the-company authors, many of them first-time-ever authors as well. With three new authors in Harlequin Presents, and first-time authors in Silhouette Desire, Harlequin Everlasting, Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Blaze, Silhouette Special Edition, Harlequin Superromance, Harlequin Intrigue as well as in our Kimani Press and single title programs, Harlequin is a wonderful place to be discovered--and some amazing authors have published their first books with Harlequin and Silhouette.
We also have some great programs in place for readers to discover these authors! Along with our marketing and terrific bookstore support, there are a number of digital and hard-copy sampling programs in our future. We firmly believe that if you try a Harlequin or Silhouette title, you will love it! And so we plan to take advantage of as many outlets as we can to start the "addiction"...
We also experiment with anthologies within the series to highlight strong authors and themes, and encourage exploration of innovative ideas and stories to attract new readers.
Do be sure to visit our website at http://www.eharlequin.com/ to get the latest updates on word counts and tips from the webhosts as well as from past articles done about writing. We also have frequent visits from editors to talk about their individual lines, and fellow authors are a terrific resources as well.
In short, the fall of 2007 is all about the strengths that writing for HQE Series always displays: commitment to excellent stories by terrific authors, published across the nation and around the world.
Pick up a book and join us!
SPOTLIGHT ON HARLEQUIN
Fall '07: What’s new for Harlequin Enterprises/Series and Single Title Imprints, all formats. What is HQE publishing ? What is HQE looking to publish?
- Information about & HQE looking for
- HQE Publishing Program
eBOOKS & AUDIO & NEW INITIATIVES - Malle Vallik
eBooks
• As of September 1st, Harlequin is delivering 100% frontlist in eBook format—the only major trade publisher offering 100% of their frontlist
• Spice Briefs launched to great success in August 2007: original, exclusive eBook content
• Created “one-click buys” for the passion series for the avid reader & made it available to all eBook retailers (i.e. package all 8 Presents titles together as one unit)
• Continue to create eBook bundles of selected backlist, for example all of Caridad Pinero’s “Calling” titles together in the Calling Collection (October)
• Creating new eBook product by “chunking” anthologies--each novella with be its own eBook. Part of an Holiday promotion – 12 Christmas short stories for your digital stocking!
• New programs are in development!
Audio
• Ongoing program with Audible.com delivering 5 – 6 titles (offering both series and single titles, debut and established authors) per month
• Launching an audio continuity featuring 2 Blaze titles every month for $9.95
• Ongoing radio program on XM radio: Sonic Theater channel. Our website is ttp://sonictheater.xmradio.com, and Harlequin Romance Radio is aired at 1 am and 9 am Eastern time on channel 163.
Social Media
• 2nd Life author reading event on September 25 with M.J. Rose, featuring her book THE REINCARNATIONIST
• Launched & ongoing Harlequin Author Spotlight podcasts
• Launched and ongoing I Heart Presents blog (at www.iheartpresent.com)
• Will be launching a new romance blog in October
• MySpace profiles: SpiceBriefs complete—check out http://myspace.com/spicebriefs
• MySpace profiles to come: Harlequin, Kimani Tru, MIRA
• Launched digital author toolkit – updated monthly—check out http://www.digitalauthortoolkit.com/
***************************************************************************************************************
SPICE BRIEFS– NEW INITIATIVE– Susan Swinwood
Writing guidelines for Spice Briefs
Fall 07 - Top titles for Spice Briefs:
GILT AND MIDNIGHT by Megan Hart (September)
TOKYO RENDEZVOUS by Jina Bacarr (November)
SPICE – Susan Swinwood
Writing guidelines for Spice
Fall 07 - Top titles for Spice:
There are two fall titles for Spice in '07:
THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES/Nancy Madore, September
CAINE’S RECKONING/Sarah McCarty, November
Both are fantastic books – Nancy’s is a collection of erotic stories based on a traditional fairy tale; each chapter of the story is devoted to one of the twelve princesses as she searches for the solution to her sexual frustrations.
Sarah’s book is the first in her historical western erotica series: the men of Hell’s Eight. Each of these eight Texas Rangers are tough, sexy, hardened men…until they meet the women who make them weak.
***************************************************************************************************************
HQN & LUNA - Tracy Farrell
Fall 2007 – Top Titles for HQN:
October is a stellar month at HQN, topped by Brenda Joyce’s next Masters of Time paranormal, DARK RIVAL and a new Carly Phillips contemporary, SEALED WITH A KISS.
November features a new Shannon Drake historical from Heather Graham, THE QUEEN’S LADY, a Diana Palmer seasonal hardcover reissue, LONG TALL TEXAN LEGACY and our 2nd NASCAR collection, NASCAR HOLIDAY 2.
December delivers an original romantic suspense story from New York Times bestselling author, Beverly Barton, A TIME TO DIE.
What HQN is looking for:
HQN publishes strong, complex single title romances. Our current focus is on acquiring author who write historical and contemporary single titles, but we are always looking for other romance sub-genres, paranormal in particular, if the material is exceptional.
LUNA Fall '07 – Top Titles:
October, Jeri Smith-Ready continues her RITA nominated series with VOICE OF CROW.
November, C.E. Murphy begins her new Negotiator series with HEART OF STONE.
December, Diana Palmer makes a guest appearance with THE MORCAI BATTALION, a completely revised version of the only fantasy novel ever written by the author, originally published in 1980 and out of print for decades.
What LUNA is looking for:
We’re primarily looking for urban fantasy and otherworld fantasy and are no longer looking for historical fantasy at this time. We’re particularly interested in loosely-linked series of stand-alone titles featuring strong female leads, unique storylines and a fresh narrative voice that will appeal to fantasy, romance and mainstream readers alike.
MIRA & Red Dress Ink – Margaret Marbury
MIRA Fall '07 – Top Titles:
September:
76 SEASIDE AVENUE by Debbie Macomber (massmarket paperback)
THE REINCARNATIONIST by M.J. Rose (hardcover)
October:
WHERE ANGELS GO by Debbie Macomber (hardcover)
THE SÉANCE by Heather Graham (massmarket paperback)
LAST KNOWN VICTIM by Erica Spindler (mass market paperback)
MENDING FENCES by Sherryl Woods (mass market paperback,)
November:
THE LAST NOEL by Heather Graham (hardcover)
December:
THE WIDOW by Carla Neggers (first time mass market paperback)
SILENT IN THE GRAVE by Deanna Raybourn (tirst time mass market paperback)
DEMON’S KISS by Maggie Shayne (massmarket paperback)
• For MIRA, we are primarily looking for strong historical fiction and commercial literary fiction
Red Dress Ink Fall '07 – Top Titles:
SORCERY AND THE SINGLE GIRL by Mindy Klasky October tradepaperback
• For Red Dress Ink, we only looking at exceptional, smart and funny chick lit.
The imprint STEEPLE HILL - Joan Marlow Golan, with Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, Steeple Hill Cafe; KIMANI PRESS - Linda Gill, with Sepia , Arabesque, New Spirit, Kimani Romance, Kimani TRU, GOLD EAGLE - Feroze Mohammed, with the Mack Bolan, Stony Man, Deathland, Outlander and Rogue Angel series and WORLDWIDE LIBRARY with its Mystery series are also part of the HQE family, but are not listed in detail here.
***************************************************************************************************************
SERIES - Harlequin & Silhouette - Birgit Davis Todd & Mary Theresa Hussey
The fall of 2007 has many of the themes and initiatives that are clear reader favorites and important for the series business throughout the year.
As always, our focus is on finding, developing and publishing “good stories, well-told." And to get those stories, our editors work with authors through all phases of story development - and then with art and marketing to ensure those stories get the right packages.
We also try to emphasize connected miniseries in our publishing schedule. There are multiple continuities appearing in the series lines, including the conclusions of The Royal House of Niroli from Harlequin Presents, Mission: Impassioned from Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Dynasty: The Garrisons from Silhouette Desire, Montana Mavericks: Strike It Rich from Special Edition, Dark Enchantments from Silhouette Nocturne, Secrets We Keep from Harlequin Romance, Texas Legacies: The Carrigans from Harlequin American, Million Dollar Secrets from Harlequin Blaze and many more.
Harlequin and Silhouette series programs are known for their long-standing commitment to authors, with many authors celebrating 25, 50, even 100 book milestones with us. We work with both new and established authors to develop long-running, successful series with their own characters, as well as encouraging strong, standalone titles that lead new readers to discover new favorites.
As a mark of this commitment, we have multi-New York Times bestselling authors Diana Palmer and Linda Lael Miller publishing in series this fall.
Another strong component of our publishing program is our continual search for new authors. We are one of the few publishers accepting unagented material, and we also run contests to find new authors. Check out the Harlequin Superromance Conflict of Interest Contest at www.eharlequin.com in Writing Challenges. The contest is open to all writers and the deadline is fast approaching!
Just this fall, from September to December, we are publishing more than thirty new-to-the-company authors, many of them first-time-ever authors as well. With three new authors in Harlequin Presents, and first-time authors in Silhouette Desire, Harlequin Everlasting, Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Blaze, Silhouette Special Edition, Harlequin Superromance, Harlequin Intrigue as well as in our Kimani Press and single title programs, Harlequin is a wonderful place to be discovered--and some amazing authors have published their first books with Harlequin and Silhouette.
We also have some great programs in place for readers to discover these authors! Along with our marketing and terrific bookstore support, there are a number of digital and hard-copy sampling programs in our future. We firmly believe that if you try a Harlequin or Silhouette title, you will love it! And so we plan to take advantage of as many outlets as we can to start the "addiction"...
We also experiment with anthologies within the series to highlight strong authors and themes, and encourage exploration of innovative ideas and stories to attract new readers.
Do be sure to visit our website at http://www.eharlequin.com/ to get the latest updates on word counts and tips from the webhosts as well as from past articles done about writing. We also have frequent visits from editors to talk about their individual lines, and fellow authors are a terrific resources as well.
In short, the fall of 2007 is all about the strengths that writing for HQE Series always displays: commitment to excellent stories by terrific authors, published across the nation and around the world.
Pick up a book and join us!
Friday, September 07, 2007
Congratulations Debbie on # 1 on USA Today and New York Times! A first!
The seventh in Debbie's bestselling Cedar Cove series (hint, the address tips you off to the placement in the series, SEVENty four Seaside Avenue) hits the USA Today List at #1 . Look for it in the same location on the September 19th New York Times Paperback Bestseller list (Mira, paperback original).
Debbie is not only a prolific writer and gifted storyteller, appearing frequently on the USA Today, New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists, but she can knit! She even taught me to knit.
She's a miracle worker and an inspiration to many, indeed Debbie published her first book, Heartsong, an Inspirational romance with Silhouette in 1984 and has written over 100 titles since! She's written award winning stories for both Silhouette and Harlequin for many series--Special Edition, SuperRomance, Americans, and Romance to name a few! She created groundbreaking continuity stories and writes her signature bestselling single titles for MIRA.
Her work is available in countless languages and formats around the world--including eBooks. Or have a listen to Debbie's interview at Audible.com --it's a free download.
Look for Where Angels Go a new Shirley, Goodness and Mercy title coming out in gift hardcover in October!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Does Blogging Make a Difference for an Author?
Suzanne McMinn, author and one of my fairy blogmothers, (see prior post) just sent me a comment one of her readers sent to her.
Suzanne wrote: Hi, Isabel! We talked some time ago about blogging, particularly in relation to how it can help authors. I know it's been helpful for me in drawing readers, though I don't often get direct confirmation.
Given the general lack of hard 'evidence,' I wanted to share an email I recently received that I thought was very well-expressed. It came from a reader about how my blog specifically caused her to buy my latest book.
I thought you might find it interesting and would enjoy seeing it in the reader's own words, about her view of the effectiveness of an author's blog in relation to sales. (She says she doesn't think she expresses it well, but I think she does.) Her email attached below:
Best,
Suzanne McMinn
Available Now: SECRETS RISING, July 2007, Silhouette Romantic Suspense
Reader Letter
Subj: Your Blog/Web Site
Date: 8/1/2007 11:51:02 AM
Suzanne,
I wanted to mention that when I first found your web site, I had just finished reading "Deep Blue." I Googled your name, found your site and have been visiting every week day since. That's what? About a month or six weeks ago?
I know I stated in one of my comments how impressed I am with your site, how much discipline you do have to update it and make it so fun. I wanted you to know that your web site and blog are the reasons I ordered "Secrets Rising," and will continue to order and read your books. Not that I didn't enjoy the Pax books; I did! I just meant that your site is very effective, in my opinion, in garnering readers/fans. I love the personal touch and that makes *me* want to keep coming back again and again.
I'm probably not expressing myself well enough--a health professional told me yesterday to give up coffee and I'm fuzzy-headed at the moment. LOL. The bottom line is that I think your web site is a very effective marketing/promotional tool and I hope you are able to continue to make such successful use of it.
All the best.
Kim of Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Isabel wrote: I don't think blogging is for everyone, but I think it is one way to connect with readers and for some authors and some readers, or even a particular project, that can be a valued opportunity.
Here, I think the reader really articulated her position and thoughts well. She expressed the desire and comfort of getting to know the artist & of feeling connected/respectful/interested in the mind that was creating the stories she is immersing herself in, the characters she is caring about, the worlds she is stepping into.
It makes a lot of sense to me, especially in this day and age of spin, denial, and the fact that for many, truthfulness has been replaced by "truthiness" and for some, that just isn't appealing. Finding a place where the words and the music are in harmony is a beautiful thing.
Many people, especially romance and women's fiction readers, repond to sincerity--that's what we talk about when we say, "Write from the heart." Sounds like you deliver!
Suzanne wrote: Hi, Isabel! We talked some time ago about blogging, particularly in relation to how it can help authors. I know it's been helpful for me in drawing readers, though I don't often get direct confirmation.
Given the general lack of hard 'evidence,' I wanted to share an email I recently received that I thought was very well-expressed. It came from a reader about how my blog specifically caused her to buy my latest book.
I thought you might find it interesting and would enjoy seeing it in the reader's own words, about her view of the effectiveness of an author's blog in relation to sales. (She says she doesn't think she expresses it well, but I think she does.) Her email attached below:
Best,
Suzanne McMinn
Available Now: SECRETS RISING, July 2007, Silhouette Romantic Suspense
Reader Letter
Subj: Your Blog/Web Site
Date: 8/1/2007 11:51:02 AM
Suzanne,
I wanted to mention that when I first found your web site, I had just finished reading "Deep Blue." I Googled your name, found your site and have been visiting every week day since. That's what? About a month or six weeks ago?
I know I stated in one of my comments how impressed I am with your site, how much discipline you do have to update it and make it so fun. I wanted you to know that your web site and blog are the reasons I ordered "Secrets Rising," and will continue to order and read your books. Not that I didn't enjoy the Pax books; I did! I just meant that your site is very effective, in my opinion, in garnering readers/fans. I love the personal touch and that makes *me* want to keep coming back again and again.
I'm probably not expressing myself well enough--a health professional told me yesterday to give up coffee and I'm fuzzy-headed at the moment. LOL. The bottom line is that I think your web site is a very effective marketing/promotional tool and I hope you are able to continue to make such successful use of it.
All the best.
Kim of Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Isabel wrote: I don't think blogging is for everyone, but I think it is one way to connect with readers and for some authors and some readers, or even a particular project, that can be a valued opportunity.
Here, I think the reader really articulated her position and thoughts well. She expressed the desire and comfort of getting to know the artist & of feeling connected/respectful/interested in the mind that was creating the stories she is immersing herself in, the characters she is caring about, the worlds she is stepping into.
It makes a lot of sense to me, especially in this day and age of spin, denial, and the fact that for many, truthfulness has been replaced by "truthiness" and for some, that just isn't appealing. Finding a place where the words and the music are in harmony is a beautiful thing.
Many people, especially romance and women's fiction readers, repond to sincerity--that's what we talk about when we say, "Write from the heart." Sounds like you deliver!
Monday, February 05, 2007
Consider it your job
- Go watch the Nora Roberts movie Monday, February 5th on Lifetime at 9:00. It's Montana Sky, and there will be two more, Blue Smoke and Carolina Moon, for the next 2 Mondays! Though none of them are Silhouettes (sniff) they are all Nora's, so they are wonderful stories. Did you see Angels Fall? Its available on iTunes now. I really liked it--loved the cooking and getting those cowboys to eat herbs...and I don't even cook!
- We not only should support our very own national treasure, we need to show Lifetime there is a real audience for stories that deliver a feel-good experience. Consider it your job!
Click on Lifetime for updated info on the shows, repeats, and on Nora's website for up-to-date info too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
