March’s TGTBTU Harlequin Insider gives us the skinny on a new ebook line, Harlequin’s efforts against illiteracy, and info on some very cool podcasts. And have we mentioned lately how much we love Michelle Styles?  Read on and stay informed…

TGTBTU Harlequin Insider: March BITEs Literate Podpeople
by Michelle Styles

Following on from the hugely successful Spice BRIEFS, Harlequin is launching another direct-to-ebook novella line – Nocturne BITES. These 10k-15k word novellas will pack all the dark sensuous punch of the longer Nocturne’s urban fantasy. They will feature both established and new authors and will provide readers with an opportunity to get to learn more about the world of their favourite Nocturne series. For example, Vivi Anna who writes the Valorian Chronicles has signed up to BITE. Her Bite is scheduled the month before her next Valorian Chronicle. Aspiring writers can find out more on the eHarlequin BITES guideline site.

E-harlequin is currently having a 100,000 Book Challenge. For every book read, Harlequin will be donating a book to National Center for Family Literacy. If the 100,000 total is reached, it will be the same as donating approximately $700,000 as the average price of the books they donating is US$7. You do need to blog about the book on the eHarlequin site and they do ask that 50% of your books be from one of their many series. There is no limit on how few or how many books you can read.

Betina Krahn, winner of the 2007 Rita for Best short historical, has announced that she is writing two Blazes – one historical, one contemporary. Her first will be a historical, as Blaze is adding historicals to its offerings with Hope Tarr’s Bound to Please out in July 08. Rumor has it that Jacquie D’Alessandro will also be doing one. Of course, a number of Blaze authors write historicals including Joanne Rock whose A Knight Most Wicked is out 1 March 08 with Harlequin Historicals.

It is one more indication, if anyone needed it, that historical romance is on the upswing.

March sees the debut of Harlequin Historical author Bronwyn Scott with Pickpocket Countess. Bronwyn has also published historical romance for Avalon under her real name of Nikki Poppen.

C.J. Carmichael has a new Three Good Men trilogy starting with Superromance. The first one is The Dad Next Door and has a father struggling to cope with the demands of his young daughter who is desperate for a mother.

Sometimes, people dismiss secret baby stories, but Donna Alward‘s The Soldier’s Homecoming (coming 11 March) demonstrates why secret baby stories are a perennial favourite. The story deals with the reunion facing a now battle-hardened and wounded Canadian soldier, who returns to the town where he enjoyed a basic training romance, only to discover that he has a daughter.

Kate Hardy‘s In Bed with Her Italian Boss is in April (and therefore March on eHarlequin) as a Present Promotional. Kate won the Romantic Novelists Association’s Romance Prize with this book under its British title of Breakfast at Giovanni’s. At the moment, when the Modern Heats are coming to the US, they are coming with more Presents-type titles. This can make it confusing but whatever the title, it makes for a heart-warming read with all the heat of the line thrown in.

For aspiring authors, there are now half-hour long podcasts with editors discussing various lines. The podcasts are introduced by Randall Toye, Director of Global Series, and feature one line per podcast. First up are the editors of Silhouette Desire discussing what makes that line — passionate, powerful, and provocative. They also explain the differences between Desire alpha males and Presents alpha males as well as why they love mini-series. Authors they suggest reading include Maureen Child, Day Leclaire, and new to the line author Olivia Gates.

Be sure to read April’s column when I will bring you news about a two time Rita winner’s 50^th book, the start of a major new mini-series in Romance, and much more.