Harlequin NEXT turnaround time

Couple of interesting questions here, Laurie.

Does anyone have experience with NEXT?

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I don't personally have experience with them, and those I know who DO were "insiders", meaning they moved from other lines at H/S (Harlequin/Silhouette), which would affect the response time. But I'll ask around on some of the RWA chapters I belong to to see if anyone is debuting there.

Since it's been five months should I assume they're passing on it?

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NEVER presume any publisher is passing because you HAVEN'T heard from them. Really, nobody throws away submissions at Harlequin. Five months isn't very long in the real world of publishing, as agonizing as it seems when you're waiting. Hang in there!

I've read since that publishers can't send back material in metered envelopes

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I haven't heard this and I can't imagine that the editors would even worry about it. They'll stick it in the SASE and put it in their out box for the mail room to deal with. But it IS possible that if the meter pre-dates the calendar date it's actually shipped, it will require special handling at the post office. I'll look into that and report back here, because I know of other people who have done this. Still, it's wise (for the future) to use stamps for SASEs.

Anyone else here have any insights into NEXT?

Don't sweat the postage. They'll just take care of it.

Sometimes the longer something is there, the better. It means they didn't reject it out of hand. Never assume they're passing on it because it's been there a while. Those piles they have to wade through can be pretty high.

If you don't hear back before I go to RWA National in 17 days (not that I'm counting or anything) I can ask there.

Susan G.

Don't worry about it. Work on your next three books.

If they accept THIS one, they'll want more from you--so be ready!

And working will keep your head from exploding.

I think the general HQ goal is 6 weeks on a query, 5 months on partial, 9 months on a full. But I read that on a blog somewhere, so who knows if it is true - though it has been my experience.

At the 6 month mark you can send a follow up email or postcard to make sure they have it on file.

Just a quick update on the postage issue. I went over to the USPS website and searched through their Mailing Guideline Manual. I looked under the postage meter requirements first. Postage meter strips and prints (where the ink is directly on the envelope) CAN be used for reply mail. In the case of reply mail, the date the postage is purchased shouldn't appear.

However, nowhere in the "Treatment of Mail" section, where a postal employee determines whether the mail is lacking a feature that would make it undeliverable or returnable to sender, does mis-dated mail appear. It's also not a consideration in whether the mail has "proper postage affixed".

Finally, in the event of SELF-addressed mail, any potential violation would merely make it returnable to the SENDER--meaning you. The postal worker would have no way of knowing what other entity deposited it at the post office.

In other words, don't worry about it (but I'd still suggest stamps in the future. The treatment might well depend on what the clerk had for breakfast that day... )