Romance Novel Authors?

I'll let this post float here in novels for awhile to see if you get any replies. If you don't get many, I'll move it to the Romance section lower on the board. You'll probably pick up more replies there.

Hmm. Good question. I'll see what information I can find to pass on!

Well, I wish I could give you better news, but there really aren't any YA romance publishers left. The last imprint, Dorchester's Smooch line, just went under. Most high schoolers are choosing adult romances, and sales just didn't merit keeping the line going.


However, since you mentioned it was a long road to your marriage, how long was it? Was it in to college, or even later that you finally decided to pair up? Romances that extend over a long period of time might find a better home in women's fiction. Most of the books on the market today take place over a few weeks or months. Although... there IS a new Harlequin line that is doing "epic" romances, ones that go over years and years. They just changed the name of the line and I'm not sure what it is anymore.

Susan, annie? Any assistance (they're our resident H/S, Harlequin/Silhouette, experts, BTW.)

The new Harlequin line is Harlequin Everlasting.

It needs to be 75K, and it can have a non-linear narrative, multiple POVs, letters/diaries/etc, and not necessarily a happy ending.

here are the guidelines

http://www.eharlequin.com/cms/learntowrite/ltwArticle.jhtml?pageID=050606wu01001

Thanks, Pepper. I've added that one to my Favourites. Bye the way, congratulations and best of luck with your Harlequin project.

I'd forgo even the suggestion of Romance publishers. What you have may well fall into a sort of sub genre that the casual reader might call romance but is not the stuff of the Bit "R" genre - the male written (usually tragic) romance.

I think if you have something to tug at heartstrings and even better, bring tears then you might have a better chance.

Spark's The Notebook was based on the true story of his in-laws, for example. You might check out some of this style and see if you can shape your story that way. Some books to check out: Sparks: The Wedding Message in a Bottle. A Walk to Remember
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas - James Patterson (not a love story but in the same vein, sort of)
The Christmas Box, The Locket. The Sunflower and so on - Richard Paul Evans

Annie
Luanne Jones
(Heathen Girls - Mira)
ps YA novels that are selling now are not Romances. Series like The Clique and Gossip Girls are NOT about finding love.

Wow--that was fast--Dorcester's Smooch line only came out last year, didn't it?

I have to agree with all the posters, esp. what L.Jones said. Read those books to get an idea of story line, flow, etc.

This is just what I have been looking for. My book Second Chances (working on a title) Follows Tracy, a young woman who falls head over heels for Matt, who later tragically dies and she meets another love, John, and she is caught between her feelings for Matt and her new feelings for John.

I keep on hearing the "It's great and well written and touching, but we don't know where to market it" line.

Thanks for posting this!

Sara