I mean that in the movie way not me way…
The ever wonderful jordan posts about about romance and romantica and updates us on some finding from the Desert Dreams Conference.
Jordan writes
I’m going to start with Brenda Chin’s talk about what Harlequin Blaze has in store over the next year and a half. First let me say that Brenda is extremely patient with confused authors. No, I won’t elaborate. *g* Blush. Now to the good stuff. Harlequin plans to add Temptations’ Wrong Bed to the Blaze lineup. They are also going to continue 24hrs and add Secret Santa, Valentine’s Curse, Under-construction (think Lucky Vanos (sp) in the diet Coke commercial), Forbidden Fantasies, Adrenaline Rush (action/adventures), Desperate Housewives, and a ‘Just’ series.
As if action/adventures weren’t cool enough, starting this year Blaze is going to release Gothics (written in 1st and 3rd person), a series called Perfect Timing (time-travels), Vampires, and a ‘Ground Hog Day’ (where the day repeats) sort of book. If these books do well, they will continue to buy more.
I’ll be honest, I was jazzed after listening to this talk. Brenda said she wants people to stop thinking about Blaze as a category line. She wants stories that read like single titles. The fact they’re open to first and third person POV in the same book is fantastic. Did I mention paranormals? Oh yeah.
I can see how that is nifty for a writer but as a reader… well I don’t think it is so nifty.
And I haven’t completely wrapped my arms around why yet. I agree the category seems to be in trouble. But isn’t Blaze a line that is doing well? Or isn’t it? To my readerself, when I pick up a Blaze I want a hot, a fast paced read and one heavy on character. Why do away with the Temptation line to try and push it into a Blaze format? Why do Blaze Chick-lit when there are other lines this fits into.
It is just me? Do other readers want a potluck Blaze? Will there be a different logo for each Blaze category? Will the line be a category within a category?
speaking of new Harlequins….
So what happens? Somehow I get signed up for Harlequins reader service, still not sure WHICH one and what free books do I get sent? Leaving Normal and You’ve Got Male yeah, I need to send these back cuz fuckital if I am gonna be on the reader service it needs to be HH, Spice or Blaze (depending on what happens with this).
Tease by Suzanne Forster. Since I am broker than broke and don’t see being about to get this any times soon, anyone have a good Suzanne Forster rec of a past book? In case you haven’t seen, Spice has a sale going on Buy 1 get the second 1/2 priceAnd regardless of how good this is, do we need or want 13 dollar Harlequins?