Harlequin Enterprises Limited, the world’s leading publisher of series romance and women’s fiction, announced today an agreement with OverDrive, Inc., the national provider of download Audiobooks and eBooks to libraries, that will make many of Harlequin’s famous collection of novels available as downloadable eBooks through library websites. From the comfort of home, avid readers will be able to checkout, download, and read best-selling romance on their PCs, Macs, PDAs and Smartphones.
The agreement between the two companies makes dozens of Harlequin’s most popular and captivating titles available to millions of library patrons at home, the office, or on-the-go. Harlequin eBooks include titles from their most celebrated series, such as New York Times Best-Sellers, like “50 Harbor Street,” by Debbie Macomber; and popular titles from Red Dress Ink, HQN Books, Steeple Hill, Luna Books, Harlequin Blaze, MIRA Books, Silhouette Desire, Harlequin Presents, and more.
Each month, Harlequin will update the eBook collection with new titles. The library download editions will be available in Adobe PDF and other popular eBook formats, making it simple for patrons to read them on their PCs, Macs, PDAs and SmartPhones. At the end of the lending period titles automatically expire and are made available to the next patron.
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Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. has purchased the assets of BET Books, the publishing arm of the U.S.-based Black Entertainment Television, the company announced Thursday.
The new ownership deal is expected to close Nov. 30. Financial details were not released. The addition of BET Books, a leading publisher of African American women's fiction and the imprints Arabesque, Sepia and New Spirit to the Harlequin portfolio will enhance the position of Harlequin within a strong growth segment in the American book market.
"This acquisition supports a key strategic initiative for Harlequin of offering greater breadth in publishing niches that can create future growth
Scott Pomfret and Scott Whittier discussed how they developed Romentics, a brand dedicated to "true love for gay me," Wednesday at the Rainbow Center.
Romentics is Pomfret and Whittier's company under which they have publish gay romance novels.
Pomfret and Whittier met, fell in love and are currently living together in Boston. Although they say the concept for their gay romance novels came from their love for each other, Pomfret said he also got the idea from his mom. His mom subscribed to a Harlequinn book of the month club, and he realized romance novels were something everyone could enjoy. According to
You can't mistake a romance novel, with its richly illustrated cover -- usually depicting a beautiful woman and a handsome man in some type of embrace -- and a title that promises passion inside the covers -- Dead on the Dance Floor… Dangerous Affair… Learning Curves… Eye of a Hunter… Kiss and Make Up. But there's more to romance novels than romance; they're a source of entertainment, comfort, even spiritual inspiration. And they're a big part of the global publishing industry, as was easy to see at the 25th annual Romance Writers of America conference last month.
Some 2000 mostly female
In romance novels you get inside the bedroom door but not down to naming body parts, Hobart romance writer "Melanie Milburne" says.
"You are talking about romance, not all the clinical detail. It's not erotica but it is erotic," she said.
"I have a reputation for my sensual writing."
Melanie Milburne is her pseudonym.
The 46-year-old mother of two grown sons, and wife of a medical specialist and former teacher would rather be referred to by her pseudonym when discussing her career.
Ms Milburne was at Launceston's High St Adult Education centre yesterday conducting a workshop entitled: How To Write a Romance Novel That
Although it cops a bit of flack in literary circles, romance writing is still number one when it comes to sales.
In the United States, romance books account for nearly 50% of all paperback sales, and some of that is flowing back to New Zealand, where romance writing and reading is flourishing.
New Zealand romance author Susan Napier makes a living out of romance - she has had more than 30 books published and translated into 20 languages.
"Mills and Boon always warns beginner writers not to give up their day jobs, and then they warn writers after a few years not to