http://www.falconesse.com/2009/11/21/harlequin-horizons-and-the-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-deal/

Numbers and all, people. It’s long, but read the whole thing and you’ll see that if you want to self-publish, it’s a whole other animal than going the vanity press route.

Harlequin isn’t the only romance novel publisher in the world; a lot of their rejections are submitted to, and picked up by, other publishers and do well. Normally, that’s part of the submission process. You keep sending the manuscript out until it finds a home.

Harlequin is derailing this for writers by making it seem like, even though a manuscript has been refused by the main house imprint, it’s been accepted by a subsidiary imprint if the author is willing to pay “a little” out-of-pocket. For a new author who has their heart set on a dream of Harlequin fame, or doesn’t have the thick skin needed to forge ahead in spite of rejection letters, or just doesn’t understand the process, this makes it look like they’re actually achieving their dream. They don’t realize that their chances of their novel finding its way to any bestseller list — or even finding its way into the hands of readers past their own circle of friends — has just been largely negated. And it’s entirely possible that their novel would have been published successfully if they’d just kept going, and not stalled at Harlequin.

In effect, forwarding the “rejects” to an affiliated vanity press has the potential to ruin a writer’s career prospects. Especially because they won’t learn how to craft and revise their works to suit the demands of editors and the market, so their next novel won’t be in any better position for acceptance. This approach doesn’t open doors to an author; it slams them shut and locks them.

All links to Harlequin Horizons, aka Ho’ are now off the eharlequin site and they’re changing the name Harlequin Horizons to…something else. All they have to do after that is remove all mention of Ho from rejection letters, from anything Harlequin. Have there be no connection. I really think Harlequin will do exactly that and be re-recognized. Soon.

Harlequin has worked hard for years to build the brand and its respectability. Somebody really dropped the ball on this one at HQ and I’m thinking they’ll be mopping up the mess right fast.

Yeah I get they would have to be well written stories, believe me, but it is still a viable solution. As a new author, I always say my stuff isn’t that great, but I get wonderful feedback and just recently got picked up by a wonderful epub,(after almost being duped by another epub *coughs* XOXO *cough*)

Do I have dreams of greatness, sure doesn’t everyone, but I think I have become a little wiser and yeah I feel bad for those who will fall for this.

Lee

Why not instead of vanity publishing, set it up so the ones they don’t get to can go there and still get the same opportunity?

Because epresses don’t guarantee every book will be published. The epresses would only take well-written, good stories.

I imagine there are a lot of good books in the slush pile.

But there are also a lot of crap books. This way, there is money to be made off those crap books, if anybody wants to front the money.

Why not instead of vanity publishing, set it up so the ones they don’t get to can go there and still get the same opportunity?

I think some where along the lines someone dropped the ball. And yes my heart goes out to the HQN authors especially the ones who only have one publication contract.

What I still don’t get may never get is, why is MWA giving them the chance to “fix” the situation? Obviously they think what they are doing is right, so why not just go ahead and do what you feel is right and pull your endorcements?

It’s all kinds of crazy, but in a way its putting the publication word on its toes and paying attention. Bet HQN never thought it would go this far.

I support RWA on this issue, but my heart goes out to the HQN authors who do care.