More on Harlequin Horizons and RWA drama LINK UPDATE

What’s my take on the latest developments regarding the RWA move and Harlequin?

First, I noticed on the digital only Harlequin epress, Carnia Press, no real mention was made of the connection to Harlequin. Now on the bottom of the site, there is a Harlequin Enterprises copyright notice.

Second, on the Harlequin Horizons website, you now have to dig to find the mention of Harlequin Enterprises. The “About Us” page is buried.

Third, the impact of the RWA’s notice to label Harlequin a vanity/subsidy press is going to be huge. Hundreds of authors are affected. None can enter the RITAs. Heck, RITA categories will have to be redone as some were specific to the Harlequin lines.

Harlequin publishes hundreds of books a month. Think about all the lines they publish from Harlequin Blaze to Harlequin Presents to Silhouette Desire to Spice to MIRA to Luna. Many of their lines publish more than one book a month, like Blaze puts out six a month. I think Presents puts out eight and an additional four “Special” Presents, for twelve books a month.

What does it mean for someone like me wanting to break into Harlequin? I am going to continue with the goal to finish my WIP and send the full to Blaze ASAP, but also, I am considering other avenues. I am not happy at this development, not at all.

How many aspiring Harlequin (non vanity aspiring authors) are reconsidering their submissions? How many existing authors are reconsidering their future with the company?

My prediction is Harlequin Horizons will never open. Like Quartet, it will fold before opening. There are millions of dollars at stake (figure the advances for MIRA and HQN books alone). The few thousand to be made offering vanity services is just not worth all the loss.

As a side note, I fully applaud the RWA for stepping up to the plate on this.

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Some informative posts about the web about the Harlequin shake up:

Dear Author
11/19/2009 - Harlequin Horizons, What’s In It For You
11/18/2009 - Malle Vallik, Harlequin’s Digital Director, Answers Questions on Harlequin Horizons
11/17/2009 - Harlequin Horizons: Shortsighted or Farseeing?

Smart Bitches, Trashy Novels
11/17/2009 - Harlequin Horizons: Want to Self Publish? How about Harlequin?

Writers Beware
11/18/2009 - Harlequin Horizons: Another Major Publisher Adds A Self-Publishing Division

Readers Blogging (worse than authors blogging about this IMHO)
11/19/2009 - TeddyPig: Charlatan Whorizons Gets Harlequit By The RWA

The Examiner (various articles)
11/19/2009 - Nora Roberts comments on controversy
11/19/2009 - RWA reacts to Harlequin Horizons

And this scathing article from The New Yorker. Be prepared, it is horrid!
11/19/2009 - Harlequin Hacks