Harlequin

Not long after kicking off a commemoration of its 60 years in the publishing industry, Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. now has another cause for celebration—the announcement this week of its launch of Carina Press, a digital-only publishing house.

Unexpected Good News from Book Publishers' 3Q Reports

3 Number of titles Harlequin Teen will publish in 2009, beginning with the late-July release of “My Soul to Take,” by Rachel Vincent. The imprint—which launched in July and is aimed at readers 12 to 18 years old—plans to release 17 titles in 2010.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2009

Harlequin is targeting teen readers with its new imprint

More U.S. adults had read an e-book (15 percent) than had actually paid for an e-book this year, according to Michael Norris, senior analyst at Simba Information, based on the results of a recent Simba study called, "Trade E-book Publishing 2009."

"Wherever women are, we are,” says Malle Vallik, director, digital content and interactivity for Harlequin Enterprises. You’ll hear this mantra uttered by other Harlequin executives, but it is much more than corporate speak. It is part of a “deliberate strategy,” says Vallik, and the driving force behind Harlequin’s evolution over the past 60 years.

From multimillion-dollar acquisitions to multimillion-dollar best-sellers, powerful women stand at every pivotal, decision-making point in the book publishing process. Book Business’ first annual “50 Top Women in Book Publishing” feature recognizes and honors some of these industry leaders who affect and transform how publishing companies do business, and what—and how—consumers read.

Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. has received certification through the Book Industry Study Group's (BISG) Product Data Certification Program (PDCP), a voluntary certification program that objectively evaluates publishers’ product information, either as ONIX or Excel files, against the criteria defined in BISG’s Product Metadata Best Practices (http://www.BISG.org/documents/metadata.html). The goal of the PDCP is to lead publishers toward adherence to agreed-upon standards of electronic communication, resulting in more efficient and cost-effective business transactions for all.

With so much bad news in publishing these days, it is especially important to celebrate the industry's good news. Please join Book Business and Publishing Executive magazines at a special awards dinner on Monday evening, March 23, as they recognize the significant achievements of our publishing colleagues:

Book Business has named Toronto-based Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. Publishing Innovator of the Year in book publishing. The women's fiction publisher will be honored at an awards dinner to be held Monday, March 23, during the Publishing Business Conference & Expo at the New York Marriott Marquis.