ONLINE CLASS: The Art of Critique TODAY!

New Class: The Art of Critique today!

It’s time to step up to the big time—getting critiqued and giving critiques as a professional writer.

In this class, we’ll look at the attendees’ manuscripts/WIPS, learning how to analyze a story on different levels. WIPs are expected to be shared with the class for discussion. We’ll have guest speakers as well as contests and prizes.

When you apply for the class, tell them Alley sent ya.

Go here to register: http://www.fthrw.com/workshops/wkshop_2013_02.php

Questions? email me: Pat.Hauldren (at) tx.rr. com

Spotlight on...Harlequin Single Title

The editors featured the following lines during their presentation - MIRA, HQN, Harlequin Teen, LUNA & Spice.

• Harlequin accepts agented submissions only.
• Harlequin Teen is aimed at the 13-18 year-old market, all genres accepted. They're looking for exception writing and a strong voice.
• MIRA is their main core romance imprint - historical fiction, thrillers, paranormals, commercial literary fiction. They publish in paperback, trade size, hardback and e-books.
• HQN is their single title romance line - contemporary romance, historical romance, western romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Must be fulfilling, romantic reads. 90-100K word length with a unique premise and strong voice.
• LUNA is their single title fantasy with romantic elements line. this line publishes 12 titles/year in trade paperback size. Must have a strong female protagonist, believable world building, single book or series or loosely linked stand-alones OK. They're looking for fresh voices in the following genres - urban fantasy, other-world or fantasy. Manuscripts must be between 90-120K word length. Submissions must have a query letter, 3 chapters & synopsis. Please see website for elements required in a LUNA imprint, see the titles being published now and in the past - these are not your typical romance book.
• Spice is their single title erotic fiction sold in trade paperback size. They're looking for all genres. Can be erotic romance or erotic only. Tone is very sexy, steamy, language is explicit - no euphemisms please, feel free to push the envelope with romance/sex scenarios, all variations accepted. Not necessarily a happily ever after ending but must be satisfying. While this is an erotic imprint the stories must be good and well told.

#NB: While these facts are as up to date as possible the author strongly advises anyone to check the Harlequin website before submitting work. They are the best source of accurate information.

Spotlight on...Ellora's Cave

At the recent RWA® Nationals, I attended a couple of Spotlight on... sessions where publishers highlighted what they were up to in the coming months and what they were looking for in terms of submissions.

For those interested in the the e-pub market, here's what the editors at Ellora's Cave imparted in their session.

• Ellora's Cave is the largest erotic publisher in the e-book marketplace with 450 authors, 3200 e-books & 900 print books on offer.
• Cerridwen Press (Ellora's Cave's non-erotic imprint) is rebranding itself and will be relaunched at the end of the year. Submissions are only open to established authors.
• A book is originally published as an e-book then anywhere from 6 months to 3 years then it may go to print.
• Ellora's Cave is actively seeking new authors - 50 new authors have been signed this year so far.
• Best selling e-books continue to be in the paranormal, erotic and BDSM genres.
• Ellora's Cave has several lines - Erotic, Romantica, GenEdge & Branded.
• In the Erotic line they're looking for the following sorts of genre submissions - erotic steampunk, erotic urban fantasy, fem.dom., M/M. Are keen to find more F/F and are branching into horror erotica, fetish/kink, voyerism. This line doesn't have to meet the requirements of a regular "romance" but does have to have a satisfying ending. Anywhere between 7K(novella-size) to 125K (single title) in length. The flexibility of e-print allows the larger word limit. See their facts page on What is Romantica? to get an idea of what is expected for these lines.
• Gen-Edge is a new line aimed at younger female readers with heroines aged between 18-25yo, heroes can be any age, has be written in a young voice.
• Branded is also a new line catering to a market where readers don't want to see penetrative sex unless it occurs within a marriage. Characters are heterosexual and monogamous. Foreplay and orgasms outside marriage OK, wording can be graphic and explicit. Any genre OK.

Submission guidelines are on-line at their website. No paper submissions accepted, email only.


#NB: While these facts are as up to date as possible the author strongly advises anyone to check the Ellora's Cave website before submitting work. They are the best source of accurate information.

Ask an editor RIGHT NOW

There is a Twitter "ask an editor" Q/A discussion underway as I write this! (Began at 2:30 PM EST.)

Lindsey Faber of Samhain
Megan Records of Kensington

Hashtag: #askeditor

Go forth and ask questions!