by Michelle Styles
Actually this was written a little while ago, but things became crazy. Do not ask. I am in currently doing massive revisions and am reminded of the Maxine cartoon where she asks if there is a vaccine for stupidity. Eventually, it will be a good book. So massive apologies. [Ed. Note: No worries, Michelle, things are always crazy here at the pond.]
When summer first starts, you think you have all the time in the world, but suddenly the long slow days of August end and it is September [Ed. Note: Word]. Lots of new beginnings and things to celebrate at Harlequin this month.
If you have ever wanted to comment on a series, or give your opinion about cover design, then Harlequin has a new program with you in mind. Tell Harlequin is meant to encourage reader participation in a wide variety of surveys. As a thank you for participating, readers can earn free books. So consider signing up today – it is free but it is only open to North American residents.
It is also time for the annual Romance Report Survey. This year, Harlequin has a dedicated site and wants to encourage everyone to answer the questions. The Romance Report comes in February and is aimed at media around the world. The survey does not take long to fill in.
Acting Senior Editor, Joanne Carr, asked that the “Feel the Heat”contest be highlighted. The strict closing date is 15 September 2008. Full details of how to enter are on I heart Presents as well as lots of tips about what the editors are looking for. As Trish Wylie (author of the September 2008 Harlequin Romance, The Millionaire’s Proposal) explained on her blog, this year the RWA Nationals buzzed with excitement about this vibrant new line. Modern Heat has arrived.
At the RWA Nationals, Presents author Sandra Marton received a Tiffany key chain for writing 75 books for Harlequin. This month sees the start of her new Sheikh Tycoon Trilogy and this is what Sandra had to say about it:
One of the things I love about writing for Presents is the freedom I have to combine the elements of writing I most enjoy. For instance, I delight in creating my own mini-series and giving my characters ample opportunity to relate to each other from book to book. I love, too, creating heroes who have allegiances to the old world as well as the new. As for sheikhs… well, they’re among the ultimate Alpha heroes. Strong, proud, wealthy, often torn between what their people want from them and what they want for themselves, sheikhs can be the ultimate fantasy lovers. My heroes in the Sheikh Tycoon trilogy are old friends. Not one of them is looking for love. Lust? Well, that’s different. These guys are in their prime. They’re accustomed to having women fall at their feet. But none of my heroines would do such a thing. None would bend to a man’s wishes, and none would take orders. That’s when my very Westernized sheikhs begin to lose their civilized veneer. And that, I think, is the start of really entertaining escapist fiction.
September also sees the start of Harlequin Intrigue author Dani Sinclair’s new two book mini-series with the release of Bodyguard to the Bride. The sequel, The Missing Millionaire, comes out in December. Dani calls this “one wedding, two stories” and explained how the books came about:
I actually submitted the proposal for The Missing Millionaire first and my fantastic editor suggested it would be fun to tell two different stories that center around the same wedding and a pair of bodyguards. From a writing standpoint I’m not so sure about the fun part, but it was certainly challenging. Since both books take place at the same time and in the same area, details in Bodyguard to the Bride have to mesh with details in The Missing Millionaire. This proved to be more of a challenge than I expected. For example, a thunderstorm that played an integral role in the first book, had to be accounted for in the second book as well. I had to keep an hourly chart to tell me where the characters in each book were at any given time.
And as September is supposed to be a TGTBTU spotlight on Presents/Modern, I wanted to highlight the editorial podcast from the Modern/Presents editors. Among other things, Tessa Shapcott and Sally Williamson discuss the reasoning behind the titles! So if you want to hear more, make sure you listen to the podcasts.
The September RWR has reported its annual romance statistics. Romance was the largest genre in the US book market in 2007 with $1.375 billion in sales. Harlequin remains the top Romance publisher. Of all the romance books published in 2007, 25.7 % were contemporary series romance.
Next month, I will be giving news of the annual Association of Mills and Boon Author’s lunch and toast which happens on the 18th as looking at more milestone authors and seeing what is coming up for Christmas. Until then, happy reading and for all writers out there — may your revisions make your book stronger!
