Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary

I don’t know if this is common knowledge or not, but Harlequin is one of the few major publishers that still accept un-agented manuscripts (Dorchester and Tor are others). From time to time Harlequin holds writing contests and the winners receive the editing services of a Harlequin editor for a year. One thing that was shared with us bloggers at the Harlequin dinner is that these contests are really great for discovering new talent. Mills & Boon, the UK version of Harlequin, is trying out one of these contests. More details below:

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The FEEL THE HEAT writing competition!

Do you have a fresh, vibrant, sassy voice and a passion for sexy alpha heroes? Can you write sparky dialogue, create great sensual tension and hot love-scenes?

If so, then we want to hear from you!

Details:

Email your first chapter and synopsis of a Modern Heat novel to: feeltheheat@hmb.co.uk by 15th September 2008.

Prizes:

The WINNER receives an editor for a year!
TWO RUNNERS-UP will be given critiques of their first chapter entries and an editorial telephone consultation!

The winner will be announced October 1st 2008.

The Modern Heat guidelines can be found at Writing Contest: Mills …

For our UK readers, the 100 Years of Mills & Boon Centenary Exhibition opens on June 6th at the Manchester Central Library. According to the Manchester site,
The exhibition explores the evolution of 20th century social and sexual mores in Britain, alongside the development of the world’s leading romance publisher. You’ll also find a company history and centenary time line, a fascinating collection of books and cover art, writer biographies, manuscripts, original correspondence between authors and editors and associated memorabilia.
The website has a brief timeline. As of 2000,
Mills & Boon books are sold in 109 countries, translated into 26 languages. 130 million were sold last year, and a Mills & Boon book is bought every three seconds
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Mills & Boon was purchased by Harlequin in October 1971 (according to Pamela Regis).

The Centenary Exhibition has increased literary news coverage of Mills & Boon and the latest is an interesting article out of The Independent which features quotes from Penny Jordan, author of over 100 romances. She gives the secret of a good romantic read:
What is secret of a good romantic read? “There is no secret. I still worry about each book I submit; you never know …

Is it the anniversary of Mills&Boon, the publishing juggernaught that is Mills&Boon or the impending holiday that is all above “love” (gag gag)? Whatever the reason, Guardian can’t stop writing about Mills &Boons books. Another article about the publishing house that sells a book every 6.6 seconds in the UK addresses, a bit, the idea of the books’ “retrogressive plots” (I love that term btw) and the snobbery toward the genre.

Via The Guardian.

Mills & Boon, the UK arm of Harlequin (or is it the other way around?) will be testing the paranormal market with the release of Raintree: Infernoby Linda Howard and its two sister books. According to Bookseller.com, Mills & Boon believes that the paranormal romance market is small but profitable. Keri Arthur and Sherrilyn Kenyon sell, on average, “3,500 copies per book according to Nielsen BookScan.”