Karen Fox - Market News

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4/13/2010: (from Publisher's Lunch) Today Random House took the next step set in motion from the companywide reorganization in late 2008, consolidating the Ballantine and Bantam Dell lines into a new, single from within the Random House Publishing Group--finally has an answer. This morning RH group head Gina Centrello announced the consolidation of the two lines in a new Ballantine Bantam Dell group. Libby McGuire will run the merged group as svp, publisher, as Bantam Dell evp, publisher and editor-in-chief Nita Taublib leaves the company. Read more.

1/15/2010: Chelsea Gilmore joined the Maria Carvainis Agency as an agent on Jan. 4. Kensington Publishing appointed Alicia Condon, formerly with Dorchester, to succeed Kate Duffy as editorial director of Brava Books. Kerry Donovan has been promoted to editor at NAL.

1/20/2009: (from Publisher's Lunch)
Harlequin Drops Brand from Self-Publishing Line, As Criticism Continues
Harlequin has continued to suffer criticism from multiple fronts for their new self-publishing program, and while they have not altered the offering itself, they are removing the name Harlequin from the line.

CEO Donna Hayes said in a statement replying to the Romance Writers of America's declaration that the publisher would no longer be eligible for certain resources at the organizations conference: "We are changing the name of the self-publishing company from Harlequin Horizons to a designation that will not refer to Harlequin in any way. We will initiate this process immediately. We hope this allays the fears many of you have communicated to us."

Hayes expressed surprise and dismay at the RWA's notice, particularly "before allowing Harlequin to respond or engage in a discussion about it with the RWA board." And she added, "It is disappointing that the RWA has not recognized that publishing models have and will continue to change. As a leading publisher of women's fiction in a rapidly changing environment, Harlequin's intention is to provide authors access to all publishing opportunities, traditional or otherwise."

But bestselling author Nora Roberts was among those who continued to oppose the spirit and practice of the program itself, in a variety of comments at Smart Bitches: "Vanity press is called vanity for a reason. You're paying for your ego. That's fine, dealer's choice. But it's a different matter when a big brand publisher uses its name and its resources to sell this as dream fulfillment, advertises it as such while trying to claim it's not really their brand being used to make money on mss they've rejected as not worthy of that brand in the first place."

Roberts added in another comment: "it's deceptive vanity.... Taking the Harlequin name off is important, but it doesn't address what Horizons is, or all those links on their website, or directing rejected authors to Horizons as another channel to publication, and so on."

Both the Science Fiction Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America also issued statements criticizing the new venture. The SFWA is concerned that the new venture's "sole purpose appears to be the enrichment of the corporate coffers at the expense of aspiring writers." They have declared that "NO titles from ANY Harlequin imprint will be counted as qualifying for membership in SFWA."

The MWA has even broader concerns, saying that they wrote to Harlequin on November 9 to express dismay over a separate paid offer, the "eHarlequin Manuscript Critique Service," suggesting the "removing mention of this for-pay service entirely from its manuscript submission guidelines, clearly identifying any mention of this program as paid advertisement, and, adding prominent disclaimers that this venture was totally unaffiliated with the editorial side of Harlequin, and that paying for this service is not a factor in the consideration of manuscripts."

11/18/2009: In response to Harlequin's announcement of its self-publishing venture, RWA has removed Harlequin's recognized publisher status. For more information, visit the RWA website.

11/17/2009: From Publisher's Lunch. Harlequin is launching a self-pubilshing venture known as Harlequin Horizons. More information is available at their website: http://www.harlequinhorizons.com/

11/9/2009: Harlequin has announced the creation of a digital-only publishing house separate from their other traditional publishing business, Carina Press. eBooks will be sold direct to consumers through the Carina Press Web site and numerous third-party Web sites. Carina Press will publish a wide range of women's fiction -- romance, erotica, science fiction, mystery, family sagas, choose your own adventures, horror, thriller and more, including every conceivable subgenre of these categories.

Carina Press is currently accepting submissions in all genres of commercial fiction. Carina Press willconsider shorter stories, genre novels of 50,000 to 100,000 words and longer, and complex narratives of over 100,000 words. Carina Press will also acquire books that have been previously released in print form, but for which the author has either retained digital rights or had digital rights revert to them. All submissions should be sent to submissions@carinapress.com. Carina Press plans to launch in summer 2010 and will release new titles on a weekly basis.

10/21/2009: From Publisher's Lunch: Agent Amy Tipton has left FinePrint Literary Management to join Signature Literary Agency.

10/19/2009: From Publisher's Lunch: Kara Cesare is joining Gallery Books as executive editor in November. She has been at NAL.

9/29/2009: From Publisher's Lunch: Kensington editor Kate Duffy, 56, died recently after a long illness. Among the many honors she received, Duffy won the Romance Writers of America's inaugural Industry Award in 1991. Her long career as a romance editor included serving as founding editor of Silhouette Books and founder of Harlequin's Worldwide Library imprint and Pocket's Tapestry Books, while at Kensington she established Brava Books. A memorial service will be scheduled soon.

9/28/2009: Via Susan Wiggs -- Kate Duffy, Editorial Director at Kensington Books has passed away. She will be greatly missed.

9/1/2009: From Publisher's Weekly: Two editors at Pocket, including editorial director Maggie Crawford, and an editorial assistant at Simon Spotlight Entertainment were laid off last week, the Observer reports.

8/19/2009: From Publisher's Weekly: Harlequin Books has partnered with Flower Pot Press to produce a new stationary line featuring vintage cover art from the 1940s and 1950s. Read more here.

7/2/2009: From Publisher's Weekly: Nancy Yost is leaving Lowenstein-Yost Associates Inc. to start up her own literary agency. She may be reached at nancy@nyliterary.com.

1. Roberta Brown
2. Kimberly Whalen
3. Laura Bradford
4. Jennifer Schober
5. Kevan Lyon
6. Natasha Kern
7. Pamela Harty
8. Emily Sylvan Kim
9. Deidre Knight
10. Karen Solem

1. Cindy Hwang
2. John Scognamiglio
3. Deb Werksman
4. Kate Seaver
5. Audrey LaFehr
6. Diana Ventimiglia
7. Melissa Endlich
8. Susan Pezzack-Swinwood
9. Ann Leslie Tuttle
10. Kate Duffy

Romance Deals

NYT bestselling author Joan Johnston's next three western historicals, the UNEXPECTED BRIDES series, to Scott Shannon at Ballantine, by Robert Gottlieb at Trident Media Group. -- Publisher's Lunch 7/15/2010

Jenna Kernan's SOUL STALKER, about a Native American shape-shifting Raven who needs the help of an enemy, who can speak to the dead, in order to stop a supernatural killer, to Ann Leslie Tuttle at Silhouette Nocturne, in a nice deal ($1 - $49,000), by Pamela Harty at The Knight Agency. -- Publisher's Lunch 7/14/2010

Amy Kathleen Ryan's THE CHILDREN OF NEW HOPE, the first in a trilogy, about two young lovers en route to colonize a distant planet who are attacked by their supposed allies and separated, and now must find a way back to each other to save their ship, their mission, and the future of the human race, to Jennifer Weis at St. Martin's, in a major deal ($500,000 and up), in a three-book deal, by Kathleen Anderson at Anderson Literary Management (World English). Rights also to Pan Macmillan Australia, Pan Macmillan UK, and Droemer in Germany. Mollie.Traver@stmartins.com -- Publisher's Lunch 7/13/2010

Cassie Miles's TRIGGERED MEMORY, in which an amnesia victim tries to discover if he's a trained assassin or a true hero, to Allison Lyons at Harlequin Intrigue, by Melissa Jeglinski at The Knight Agency. -- Publisher's Lunch 7/13/2010

Lisa Childs's PRISON BREAK, to Tara Gavin at Harlequin Intrigue, in a two book deal, by Melissa Jeglinski at The Knight Agency. -- Publisher's Lunch 7/13/2010

Kristen Simmons's ARTICLE 5, the first installment of a YA dystopian thriller series set in a world where religious zealotry governs, but true love still prevails and led by a strong-willed heroine who is more Katniss than Bella, to Melissa Frain at Tor, in a three-book deal, for publication in 2011, by Joanna MacKenzie at Browne & Miller Literary Associates (World). -- Publisher's Lunch 7/13/2010

Kathleen Peacock's debut HEMLOCK, set in a small town under siege by a werewolf virus, following a girl who must track down her best friend's killer while trying to choose between the human boy who loves her and the troubled werewolf who saves her life, to Claudia Gabel at Katherine Tegen Books, in a significant deal ($251,000 - $499,000), in a three-book deal, for publication in fall 2011, by Emmanuelle Alspaugh at Judith Ehrlich Literary Management (NA). Foreign: wlee@fieldingagency.com -- Publisher's Lunch 7/13/2010

Anne Marsh's HIS DARK BOND, about fallen angels in search of their soul mates, to Alicia Condon at Kensington Brava, in a two-book deal, by Roberta Brown of the Brown Literary Agency. -- Publisher's Lunch 7/13/2010

Rita-finalist Teresa Hill's COMING APART AT THE SEAMS, in which a wedding dress designer is rescued by a former fiance when her groom dumps her during fashion week and an anonymous bridal blogger suggests her dresses are bad luck for brides, to Charles Griemsman at Silhouette Special Edition, in a nice deal ($1 - $49,000), in a two-book deal, for publication in 2011, by Helen Breitwieser at Cornerstone Literary (World). -- Publisher's Lunch 7/12/2010

Sarah Zettel writing as Marissa Day's THE SEDUCTION OF MIRANDA PROSPER and THE SURRENDER OF LADY JANE, to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley Heat, in a nice deal ($1 - $49,000), for publication in January 2011, by Shawna McCarthy at The McCarthy Agency (World). -- Publisher's Lunch 7/9/2010

Megan Crewe's THE WAY WE FALL, in which a 16-year-old challenges her fears, finds a second chance at love, and fights to keep her family and friends safe as a deadly new virus devastates her island community, to Catherine Onder at Disney-Hyperion, in a significant deal ($251,000 - $499,000), at auction, in a three-book deal, for publication in Winter 2012, by Josh Adams at Adams Literary (NA). josh@adamsliterary.com -- Publisher's Lunch 7/8/2010

Three new FBI thrillers by No. 1 NYT bestselling author Catherine Coulter, featuring her lead characters Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich, to Ivan Held at Putnam, in a major deal ($500,000 and up), for publication once a year, by Robert Gottlieb at Trident Media Group (NA). -- Publisher's Lunch 7/7/2010

Caroline Fyffe's TEXAS HONEY, hearts collide when a newly engaged doctor is thrown together with a German immigrant during a stagecoach attack where her elderly aunt is badly wounded, to Chris Keeslar at Dorchester, by Mary Sue Seymour at The Seymour Agency. -- Publisher's Lunch 7/6/2010

Indonesian rights to to Susan Elizabeth Phillips's HEAVEN TEXAS, IT HAD TO BE YOU and NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE, to Gagasmedia, by Big Apple Agency on behalf of The Axelrod Agency. -- Publisher's Lunch 7/2/2010

Sarah McCarty's next book in her Hell's Eight western series, to Susan Swinwood at Harlequin Spice, in a good deal, in a four-book deal, by Roberta Brown of the Brown Literary Agency. -- Publisher's Lunch 7/1/2010

Robin Kaye's next book in the DOMESTIC GODS GONE WILD series, where Brooklyn, New York meets the wild west and the clash of cultures creates much more interesting sparks than anyone could ever have imagined, to Deb Werksman at Sourcebooks, in a three-book deal, by Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (World). -- Publisher's Lunch 7/1/2010

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