Wine on the Keyboard

from RWA National 2007 Harlequin Silhouette Spotlight

Blaze
60,000 words
6 books a month
3 new authors in last 6 months
sexiest series, racier now (Blaze Extreme-sensuality as high as it gets)
next year doing a Blaze historical
can use secondary POV
sexy hook, classic romantic hooks
characterization is the key, identify with heroine, reader fall in love with hero
Hero, heroine, committed relationship at end

Harlequin Historical
75,000
6 books a month
12 new authors in last 2 years
richly textured, wide range of settings
one western, one regency a month, plus others
bring period to life, believable for your time period
historical detail add color, not take over
variety of sexuality
Hero-strong, dependable
Heroine- spirited, willful, sympathetic

Writing by Kacey
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continuing…

Everlasting Love
70,000-75,000 words
2 books a month
some new authors 5?
almost all entered their contest
cover 20 to 75 years, life long love
first or third person
or 2 parallel love stories
can be chronological, present to frame the past, journal entries, flashbacks

Medical
50,000-55,000 words
6 titles a month
3 new American authors recently
drama, rich settings
don’t have to be a medical professional to write these
Hero & heroine work together on medical cases
voice appeal to global market
variety of sexual content & sensuality
send 3 chapters & short 1-3 page synopsis

Next
70,000 - 75,000
2 books a month
what happened after first love, first job, first child, first marriage
over 40, reaching for dreams
real life fantasy, optimistic
happy ending, but not necessarily like romance happily ever after
in Sept. relaunch of line. New cover to emphasis a series & romantic element

Writing by Kacey
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From RWA National 2007 Harlequin Silhouette Spotlight. As usual all mistakes or misinterpretations are my own:

Harlequin Romance
50,000 - 50,000 words
6 titles a month
(from their website Silhouette Romance and Harlequin Romance)
traditional romance
new look
emotional depth-not tragedy
sexual tension, can have sex before marriage, no details

Presents
Harlequin Presents Collections
Mills & Boon
in August introduced stories aimed at younger readers. M&B Modern Extras-were published as these first. Now Harlequin Presents Collections

Hero-young, charismatic, compromised on things he holds dear, believable, great body, lighthearted, done well, but still climbing, sexy, sensual
Heroine- urban in outlook, hangs in bars, goes to clubs, global settings

smoldering, hint of humor & wit
looking for new authors.
Synopsis & 3 chapters

Harlequin Presents
Mills & Boon Modern Extra
50,000 words
8 titles a month
passionate, sizzle w/ sexual, sensual
Hero - alpha
Heroine - fiesty
international settings, exotic resorts
alpha male as fantasy, intensely focused on heroine
Marriage of convenience, secret pregnancy, royalty, revenge, Mediterranean heroes
send synopsis & 3 chapters

Writing by Kacey
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