Thinking about self-publishing a book? Wondering what a publishing house really has to offer you, if you’re digitally savvy and know your XML from your epub, and already know marketing and promotion are on your shoulders?
To hell with apps: say it with me now. There’s a Harlequin for that.
Harlequin announced today that they’re launching Harlequin Horizons, a self-publishing enterprise in partnership with Author Solutions, Inc.. From the press release:
Harlequin, Book Business Magazine’s 2009 Publishing Innovator of the Year, regards the self-publishing venture as an accessible opportunity for emerging authors to bring themselves to the attention of the reading public….
Through this strategic alliance; all sales, marketing, publishing, distribution, and book-selling services will be fulfilled by ASI; but Harlequin Horizons will exist as a division of Harlequin Enterprises Limited. Harlequin will monitor sales of books published through the self-publisher for possible pickup by its traditional imprints….
Harlequin Horizons is the second such partnership ASI has launched with a leading trade publisher in the last two months. The parent company of industry-leading self-publishing imprints AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford Publishing, and Xlibris, ASI brought to market more than 21,000 new titles in 2008.
The packages offered online range from $599.00 to $1599.00, and can include various services from editorial to copyright registration. The basics includes an ISBN number, softcover, and several other services, but every package includes softcover and ebook formatting for Kindle and Sony Reader.
I’m going to order some custom socks from Etsy with the Harlequin logo on them, because they keep knocking my current socks off. It is November, people, chill already. Seriously, this is some ground-breaking news that makes me think and rethink and rethink again about the viability of self publishing, print on demand services, and the opportunities that exist at present for authors looking to market their work.
Now that Harlequin has entered the self-publishing market, after having gone DRM-free with Carina, what’s next? And does this make you interested in or curious about self publishing?
It probably does belong on a different thread, but I think what you’re describing is just weak characterization. Here’s a lovely, short essay on the topic:
http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/04/character-driven-vs-plot-driven.html
And I cordially disagree with your implication that Ms. Roberts’ characterization is weak.
no, no! Nora’s characterization is strong – her novels (most of em at any rate, I haven’t read them all) (although I’m trying) are my model for what a character-driven story can be (well, Nora and Lois Bujold)
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Me too! Nobody does characters and story like Nora. She’s m’avelous, d’aling, simply m’avelous.
Cher
Oops. Got mixed up about who posted what. I’d better quit now. Sorry.
I just read that Harlequin Horizons is now called DellArte Press. Apparently there is no mention of Harlequin on the new site. One of their publishing packages has been named Horizons.
Cher
I cannot help myself. The turkey is in the oven and for a few hours I can relax and have some fun. This type of craptastic site searching fun:
http://causticcovercritic.blogspot.com/2009/11/god-blessing-me-to-beast-feed-my-babies.html
Yes folks, you too can possess one of these fabulous ASI covers. And see, we will not in any way mess with your content. The world of published author is your oyster.
Lol!
Don’t forget that Rebecca Brandewyne sued Authorhouse for libel and won; they were responsible for the content of the book (written by her ex-husband) even thought they admit they didn’t read it and indeed don’t read any of the books they publish:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6335209.html
So before we even start there’s one romance author who was hurt by ASI.
Nora Roberts is the touchstone of characterization for any genre. Every character is different from the last book and deeply memoriable. How she does it is amazing. What a mind that woman has!