For your reference, links to key posts on this issue:
“Why has the launch of Harlequin Horizons provoked such a gigantic firestorm of indignation” when similar ventures haven’t?” asks Victoria Strauss via Writer Beware Blogs!
“Author Solutions has teamed up with Harlequin to form Harlequin Horizons, a new imprint for self-published romance authors. The imprint will recruit writers in two ways: authors whose manuscripts have been rejected by Harlequin will be made aware of the Harlequin Horizons option and authors who sign with Author Solutions will be given the opportunity to be published under the Harlequin Horizons imprint. According to an Author Solutions spokesperson, the imprint will offer special services aimed at the romance market, including unique marketing and distribution services. All services are on a pay-for-service basis.” via Publishers Weekly (bold, italics are mine)
“”The offer is reprehensible: For between $600 and $1,600 you can pretend to be a published author. You won’t be, really published, because no commercial publisher liked your book well enough to bring it to market. They will just pretend to offer it for sale if you pay the costs.” via Ashley Grayson Literary Agency Blog
“Vanity press is called vanity for a reason. You’re paying for your ego. That’s fine, dealer’s choice. But it’s a different matter when a big brand publisher uses its name and its resources to sell this as dream fulfillment, advertises it as such while trying to claim it’s not really their brand being used to make money on mss they’ve rejected as not worthy of that brand in the first place.” via Nora Roberts 11.19.09 at 03:40 AM, Smart Bitches Trashy Books Blog
“To reiterate: if your work isn’t good enough for Harlequin to pay you to publish your book, you can still pay Harlequin to print your not-good-enough book and then not distribute it.” A detailed overview of the issue via Jackie Kessler – Insert Witty Title Here.
“The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA) finds it extremely disappointing that Harlequin has chosen to launch an imprint whose sole purpose appears to be the enrichment of the corporate coffers at the expense of aspiring writers.” via SFWA Statement
RWA, MWA and SFWA speak out against Harlequin’s self-publishing imprint. Harlequin says it will change imprint’s name. via Publishers Weekly
Mary Ann de Stefano
