Charlatan Whorizons Gets Harlequit By The RWA UPDATE!

Thanks to EREC for the heads up…

With the launch of Harlequin Horizons, Harlequin Enterprises no longer meets the requirements to be eligible for RWA-provided conference resources. This does not mean that Harlequin Enterprises cannot attend the conference. Like all non-eligible publishers, they are welcome to attend. However, as a non-eligible publisher, they would fund their own conference fees and they would not be provided with conference resources by RWA to publicize or promote the company or its imprints.
Michelle Monkou
RWA President

I know authors are asking why is every division of Harlequin suffering for this one Imprint. I honestly think when Harlequin states publicly that the Harlequin Horizons option will be offered on every rejection slip for all the Imprints then they have made the Vanity Press part of every aspect of their business. When they publicly state that an author paying for Harlequin Horizons will get considered for one of the other Imprints that is blatantly making offers to blur the lines for “the right price”.

Listen after an afternoon spent watching Malle Vallik, Harlequin’s Digital Director answer any questions about Harlequin Horizons like she was on the Titanic and failed to notice the iceberg approaching. Not to mention the Digital Director showing a total lack of understanding about even simple publishing concepts like First Sale… Who does she work for? She is no Angela James that’s for sure. In fact I am right now feeling really really sorry for Angela. I mean it this all looks bad even for Carina Press because Malle has her fingers in that pie too. I am not going near Harlequin as a whole now. No way!

I don’t like seeing out right lies and misinformation about publishing and it’s practices like the stuff Malle was saying. All I can say is if they feel comfortable enough to state that false crap on a site with published authors talking to them what the hell type of “information about publishing” are they telling their own authors or people interested in Harlequin?

Oh sorry, we know what they are saying. They have links and stuff for Harlequin Horizons all over the Harlequin websites “How To Write For Us” pages. Shall I go on about the whole 50% royalties after you pay them to publish the damn book? This is hurting authors folks plain and simple. Pay to play! When a publisher starts thinking it’s “reasonable” to expect it’s authors to pay for them to print their books and then pay them 50% royalties on top of that just for their name watch out.

So yeah, I agree with the RWA that Harlequin as a whole probably needs a good review especially if every Imprint and the whole Harlequin website is basically funneling new and rejected authors into this Harlequin Horizons scam and I guess it is up to the authors working there to let Harlequin know how they feel. It looks like the Titanic to me.

This just in….

Predators & Editors: 11/17/09: Harlequin becomes vanity publisher. Though they call it self-publishing, it will be under their Harlequin Horizons imprint and hence qualifies as vanity.

Writer Beware Blogs! Harlequin Horizons: Another Major Publisher Adds A Self-Publishing Division

These are the real experts all saying this is crap. So some of you go on arguing about the size of the iceburg and if the ship will actually sink or not as the deck tilts or how Bernie Madoff’s family and secretary did not know anything about his “business” and maybe even be ignorant and callous and blame the victims for not doing enough research. I just hope the smart people jump in time. I know I would not want my name involved with Harlequin or Publish America or AuthorHouse or their “business” either but that’s just how I roll with at least a little integrity.

UPDATE!

From Writer Beware Blogs: Harlequin Horizons: Another Major Publisher Adds A Self-Publishing Division

On November 9, Mystery Writers of America sent a letter to Harlequin about the “eHarlequin Manuscript Critique Service,” notifying Harlequin that it is in violation of our rules and suggesting steps that Harlequin could take to remain on our Approved Publishers list. The steps outlined at that time included 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. Since that letter went out, Harlequin has launched “Harlequin Horizons,” a self-publishing program.

MWA’s November 9 letter asks that Harlequin respond to our concerns and recommendations by December 15. We look forward to receiving their response and working with them to protect the interests of aspiring writers. If MWA and Harlequin are unable to reach an agreement, MWA will take appropriate action which may include removing Harlequin from the list of MWA approved publishers, declining future membership applications from authors published by Harlequin and declaring that books published by Harlequin will not be eligible for the Edgar Awards.

Tags: Harlequin, RWA

Tags: Harlequin, RWA