Harlequin Horizons

[pbray]

As someone who got my start writing romances (Zebra Regencies), I've been watching the developments with Harlequin Horizons with interest. If you haven't heard about it, here's a few links that explain what's happening.

Jackie Kessler analyzes the new venture and RWA's reaction.
Edited on 11-20-09 followup entry on Harlequin's response.

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books-- short blog post followed by hundreds of comments.

The always savvy Writer Beware weighs in.

Any bets on how long before an SF&F publisher follows Harlequin's example?

Comments

[lagilman]

Any bets on how long before an SF&F publisher follows Harlequin's example?


I doubt it -- there just aren't enough of us to make that a going concern, and this sort of thing requires an all-company mandate, not just a single imprint.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

You're probably right, the SF&F pool isn't big enough for the individual imprints to do this.

Romance is over 50% of the fiction market, but I suspect romance writers are an even larger percentage of the actively submitting unpublished writers pool, and most of them at least consider Harlequin at some point.

[mtlawson.livejournal.com]

Okay, for this non-romance reader, exactly how dominant is Harlequin in the business? I figure the only way they could hope to get away with this is because they are the 800 lb. gorilla in the room. (Or, if you're like me and in the IT field, the Microsoft in the room.)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Harlequin is huge (but not as huge nor as profitable as they once were.) They dominate the category romance market (titles published by month for specific lines that are often sold in nonbook outlets such as supermarkets), and as I recall they publish over half the romance titles in the US, so they are not Microsoft dominant, but they're the major player.

And many romance authors have gone started their careers at Harlequin and then gone on to great things, so it's always been considered a good place to break in.

[mtlawson.livejournal.com]

They dominate the category romance market (titles published by month for specific lines that are often sold in nonbook outlets such as supermarkets)

Yeah, I noticed that. The last time I happened to be wheeling ye olde shopping cart past the book section in Kroger's, I had a hard time noticing anything other than Romance titles. Gone are the days when you could find some actual SF/F books at a supermarket (not written by J.K. Rowling, that is. Or Stephanie Meyer.)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

One more thing to think about, Harlequin is the parent company of the SF&F imprint LUNA.

[lagilman]

*sigh* Yes. Luna is sort of removed from all this, since most of us are SFWAns, not RWAns, but... it is being contemplated and talked about.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

:-( I can't imagine the editorial staff was thrilled by this, though naturally they are too professional to comment.

[mtlawson.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was my follow up question, actually.... What LUNA is saying about this.

[lagilman]

Luna (not LUNA, that's the protein bar) isn't saying anything -- you don't bite the corporate hand. Not more than once, anyway.


MWA just came out and announced that Harlequin books will not be eligible for the Edgar so long as Harlequin is considered "non-pro." SFWA hasn't made a statement yet, but our Pres tells me he is in discussions with the Board. So we'll see...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

:-(

[mtlawson.livejournal.com]

Luna (not LUNA, that's the protein bar)

Ouch. Brain fart.

Where's alcohol when you need it?