Harlequin is at it again... and really, it's starting to look like some kind of bizarre publishing suicide. What gives? This is... what, the fifteenth screw up in three weeks?
This time they had a contest for "aspiring authors." Their own rules are very specific and clearly state:
This contest is open to entrants who are 18 years of age or older and is void wherever prohibited by law; all applicable laws and regulations apply. Employees and immediate family members of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd and Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited, including contracted authors, their parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and all other agencies, entities and persons connected with the use, marketing or conduct of this Contest are not eligible to enter. By acceptance of a prize, the winner consents to use of his/her name, photograph or other likeness for purposes of advertising, trade and promotion on behalf of Harlequin Enterprises Limited and Harlequin Mills & Boon, without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.
It's entirely possible that both authors were sloppy and didn't read the rules carefully. It's also possible that the judges and officials were equally sloppy in checking entrants. But the whole thing is not just sloppy. It's yet another black eye to Harlequin, who seems to be begging for it these days.
It's no secret that I often judge books by their covers, simply because beautiful covers make my heart stop. I dream of them. I lust after them. And yes... I buy them like a brain damaged waif follows the Pied Piper out of town. Money flies from my fingers when i see them. Two absolutely stunning YA titles suckered me in this week.
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick is absolutely glorious, don't you think? The novel is a glorious, tense, romantic paranormal involving a battle between immortals and the fallen. I love the starkness of it... the agony and beauty of the shredded wings against the light. It makes me shiver.
Speaking of which... Fallen, by Lauren Kate, is another dark and lovely cover for yet another twisty, angsty paranormal romance. I haven't read either of these, but I think this one will get my first crack. The ravens drifting through the dark forest surrounding her-- they take my breath away. Her lace covered hands, her hunched posture... gorgeous. Beautiful, painful, anguished-- MAGNIFICENT!
I really love great covers. Feel free to share some of your favorites!!
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This month... on AS THE WEB TURNS... we had a lot of drama out here in the Interwebs Region of Romancelandia. Harlequin launched an epub; Harlequin became a Vanity pub; RWA wigged out and did something right; RWA wigged out and did something wrong; the mean girls got bitch-slapped, but it was for all the wrong reasons. In the end it has seemed to cause a quiet vacuum out here in Interwebby Romancelandia. Like... is everyone sulking, freaked out, scared, or just dumbstruck?
I'll be honest... the entire end of November had me depressed and disgusted. Oh, I'll admit to loving the drama initially. How could I not? I loves me a bandwagon; I luuuuuurves me a cat fight. But this was embarrassing. This was my profession looking stupid, petty, and tacky... again.
Still, the past week, perhaps in contrast or just as a result of the unnatural calm, has been too quiet. Spanked mean girls are sulking quietly. Harlequin gave a non-reversal reversal. The RWA is back to being a bunch of ridiculous warmed-up-cheerleader-leftovers... which is actually more par for the course. I feel a little like Alice after falling through the looking glass.
And I'll be honest... I'd love a good scandal right now. A nasty cat fight. As long as this kitty isn't in it.
Well I have always disliked Harlequin for its cheese factor, but had some favorite authors publishing under their off-shoot brands. Today I am feeling smugly amused that they jumped the shark with a ginourmous splash.
Harlequin, which showed some business sense with the launch of their new epublishing line, completely erased all positive vibes with the announcement that it is now a Vanity press eager to take the hard earned cash of dupes everywhere so they, too, can be a "Harlequin author." The new line, Harlequin Horizons, is designed to lure fools who will then get suckered into paying absolutely obscene "editing" package fees. It will feed on the dreamers, but give nothing back other than a name that has grown increasingly silly ever year.
