Romancing the Web
By Gary Crucefix
Despite the bewildering paraphernalia of the late Twentieth Century, Romance Fiction remains all the rage.
Publisher's Harlequin Mills and Boon (HMB) the Romance specialists sell millions of copies each year. Print runs start at 100,000 in stark contrast to the average 10,000 run for a novel, with many titles breaking the half-million barrier.
Other players in the market are Avon Books and Ballentine Publishing Group. Elsewhere on the bookshelf, Hodder Headline imprints retail steamier passions while the more explicit market is dominated by Black Lace (Virgin) and X Libris (Little Brown).
Romance authors on the Net include: Venessa Grant http://www.vgrant.com/, Mary Z. Wolf http://www.coredcs.com/~mermaid/mary.html, Pam McCutcheon http://www.pammc.com/ and Suzette L. Mako http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/smako/makoangl.htm.
Don't be surprised to find these pages out of date, nonetheless, they yield some useful information and links.
There is a glut of resources for Romance writers: Science Fiction Romance http://members.aol.com/sfreditor/index.htm, A celebration of Regency Romance http://www.simegen.com/romance/1005/beaumonde-3.html, Inkspot resources for Romance writers http://www.inkspot.com/ss/genres/romance.html, Fiction House Romance Resource http://www.fictionhouse.com/cgi-bin/pod.cgi?dir=/Arts/Writers_Resources/Fiction/Romance/ and Authorlink http://www.authorlink.com/ to name but a few.
HMB is an excellent, moneymaking market to break into. They have the following imprints: Mills & Boon Presents (50-55,000 words): contemporary romances with international settings, focusing intensely on hero and heroine, with happy endings assured. Mills & Boon Medical Romance (50-55,000 words): with modern medical practice providing a background to love stories.
Mills & Boon Historical Romance (75-80,000 words). Also: Mira (minimum 100,000 words): Individual women's fiction. Mills &Boon Enchanted. Their US-based Silhouette imprints are Desire, Special Edition, Sensation and Intrigue.
To submit your work to Harlequin you can only do so online through Authorlink using their guidelines and submission form http://www.authorlink.com/asublist.html. Authorlink are not agents, self-publishers or an editorial service. They do not take commissions for work sold. They are an electronic clearinghouse and marketer for traditional publishers, agents and authors. Authorlink helps professional writers--whether represented or not--market their work to editors and agents internationally. They do more than idly list your work. They aggressively market to publishers and agents, through:
6-8 direct mailings per year to editors and agents presence at conferences personal contact the Internet and other channels Authorlink depends upon small listing fees, sponsorships and co-operation to provide this valuable service. The site has been extremely successful in matching qualified writers with literary agencies. On average, agents and editors request 65-75% of their evaluated manuscripts. Of these, 30-36% percent is accepted for literary representation.
A committee of published writers reviews all submissions. There is no reading fee. If approved, your listing will appear in Author Showcase for experienced writers. Those not chosen for Author Showcase but who show considerable promise, are automatically listed in their Emerging Writers section for developing talent, unless the writer specifically instructs them otherwise. They reserve the right to refuse any listing.
Referrals to writers' support groups are available to anyone who wants additional help. The same work may be submitted a second time after editing. Submissions of new work are always welcome. Represented writers are encouraged to participate.
Inquiries can be forwarded either to the writer or to the agent, as you choose.
In the first instance, submit a query letter stating the length of your manuscript and enclose a brief synopsis as well as any pertinent information about yourself, including publishing credits and professional affiliations.
Equal consideration is given to authors whether represented or not. They will not accept simultaneous submissions and you should include sufficient return postage in a money order or international reply coupons. Upper right hand corner of each page should have author's last name and page number.
At Romance Net http://www.romance.net.au/index.html there are writers guidelines for the aspiring romance author that cover editorial guidelines for Mills & Boon, Harlequin, Silhouette and MIRA romance series.
One of Random House Inc.'s current operations is Ballantine Publishing Ltd http://www.randomhouse.com/backyard/div.html. The Ballantine Publishing Group offers a unique Romantic fiction publishing program. They publish a select number of historical and contemporary romances, and choose those books on their quality of content, not because they adhere to any specific guidelines. They do not publish an individual line or categorise romances titles, and are looking for fresh, well-paced works that do not adhere to a strict "formula." Best-selling authors such as Diana Palmer, Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, Bertrice Small, and Phyllis Whitney are published alongside mainstream fiction best sellers like Michael Crichton and Anne Rice.
Ballantine prefer to look at represented submissions, but if you do not have an agent and would like to submit your work for consideration, send a query letter The Ballantine Publishing Group, 201 East 50th Street New York, NY 10022 mailto:loveletters@randomhouse.com. Include a brief synopsis of your plot, setting, and character descriptions, and any personal information that you feel is relevant. Do not send the manuscript or sample chapters unless requested to do so.
Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for reply, which you should receive within three to four months.
For those of you without Surfboards:
Harlequin Mills & Boon tip-sheets and guidelines are available from: Harlequin Mills & Boon Editorial Dept, Eton House, 18-24Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR. Tel: 0181 948 0444.
Hodder & Stoughton: Submit 3 chapters (or about 40 pages), synopsis and character list to: Carolyn Mays, Hodder & Stoughton General, 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH. Tel: 0171873 6000.
Headline: Submit 3 chapters (or about 40 pages), synopsis and character list to Jane Morpeth, Headline Book Publishing, 338Euston Road, London NW1 3BH. Tel: 0207 873 6000.
Black Lace (Virgin): Preliminary letter to Kerri Sharp, Editor.
Virgin Publishing Ltd, Thames Wharf Studios, Rainville Road, London W6 9HT. Tel: 0171 386 3300.
X Libris (Little Brown): Preliminary letter to Hilary Hale, Editor. Little Brown and Co. (UK), Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, London WC2E 7EN. Tel: 0207 911 8000.
Pan: Submit 3 chapters (or about 40 pages), synopsis and character list to: Peter Lavery, Macmillan Publishers Ltd, 25 Eccleston Place, London SW1W 9NF. Tel: 0207 881 8000.
Piatkus Books: Submit as above to Gill Cormode, Piatkus Books, 5 Windmill Street, London W1P 1HF. Tel: 0207 631 0710.
Souvenir Press: Prefers an initial letter of enquiry before sending manuscript. Contact: Tessa Harrow, Souvenir Press Ltd,43 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3PA. Tel: 0207 580 9307/8.
Gary Crucefix is founding editor of 'Fiction House'
Email: editor@fictionhouse.com WWW: www.fictionhouse.com
Fiction House is a guide to writing and getting published,designed to put you in touch with what's new and exciting in Fiction throughout the Internet. Every month we guarantee to supply you with more proven, practical and profitable leads than you'll know what to do with.
Copyright 2000 by Gary Crucefix.
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