Romance, thy name is Vanity (Press)
Harlequin, that bastion of romance fiction publishing, recently announced a deal wherein they will be passing on unacceptable manuscripts to Author Solution, Inc., a company who charges authors for printing and editorial services for their books. The venture was originally named Harlequin Horizons, but when authors squawked about diminishing the Harlequin brand, the venture was rechristened, DellArte Press. While DellArte Press is officially a division of Harlequin Enterprises Limited don’t expect to find any lingering reference to this relationship on the DellArte Press or Harlequin websites. The furor is still singeing the Internet-waves since rather than making authors money, Harlequin would be taking authors’ money. Romance Writers of America issued a quick interdict stripping Harlequin’s membership benefits, which may end up hurting Harlequin’s writers more than the company.
Voice your opinion on this topic by participating in our latest Romance Poll: Should Harlequin promote Vanity Publishing?
Vanity Publishing vs. Print on Demand
Oh, the murky waters between Vanity Publishing and Print on Demand. Can we actually find a distinction between the two? Publishers have been shafting authors for years. So what's new? Shouldn’t authors have the right to throw away their money like anyone else in this land of the free. Why do we assume they are stupid and don't recognize the risks and drawbacks? They are continually frustrated with the egg and chicken syndrome of large publishing houses—you have a hard time getting your manuscript read without an agent and you have a hard time getting a reputable agent without being published.
But if any would-be author thinks that being steered to a Vanity Press by Harlequin will increase their chances of being accepted by any publisher, they should take a reality check. They might be better served to hone their skills with the myriad eBook publishers, who are often more willing to take a chance on a promising author. Notwithstanding RWA’s insistence on relegating eBook publishing to pariah status (they’re SO behind the times), there are more and more writers who stumbled a bit starting out, but who are now bonefide, enjoyable and bankable eBook authors.
Power to the writer!
MyRomanceStory, an imprint of Arrow Publications, LLC, is the premier source for romance graphic novels in eBooks, for the iPhone and in paperbacks available in English and Spanish. Our novels are distributed online, in paperbacks and are available at the iTunes App Store—to locate type in keywords “myromancestory” or “romance story”. For licensing, advertising and distribution information, contact Valencia Wood, Director of Media Development at valenciaw@arrowpub.com. |
November 29, 2009
In This Issue |
| Romance Story G010: Always in Style: For Liz, a budding fashion magazine photographer, it was a dream come true. Off to Venice for a three-week photo shoot! And they would be working and staying at a fabulous palazzo. What could go wrong? Then Dante, the handsome, aristocratic scion of the family who owns the palazzo, thrusts his arrogant attentions on Liz—but for reasons much darker than simple desire… More titles at MyRomanceStory.com |
