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12/17/2005: "Your Harlequin"
I know some folks have talked about the changes at Harlequin with regard to story length. I had heard about the word count changes, but I don't like to jump to conclusions, so I called my editor to ask her about it. She told me that I shouldn't worry about it. My books were fine, and my word counts were fine. No problem.
The reason I'm posting this on the blog is so that folks didn't think every book by Harlequin is now going to be half a story, or that the reader will be cheated. Some books, by some authors, have been coming in very long and when printed, the print bleeds into the margins, making it difficult for some readers. From what I understand, that's all they're trying to fix. The aim is to give folks a more pleasant reading experience.
Interestingly enough, I read an article just yesterday in AARP (yes, I'm that old) that begins: "Call me ecstatic: the days of tiny type in paperback books may be ending. Publishers Simon & Schuster, Penguin Group and Harlequin Enterprises have begun releasing taller paperback books that allow for bigger type and more space between lines - a move aimed almost entirely at older readers." …."Market research shows that buyers over 50, who are the core market for pocket-size books, want the bigger type…"
I don't know if the core market for Harlequin is over 50, but considering that the population is aging and that the most money and the most buying power now rests in the pockets of those 50+, I think it's important to pay attention. Not to ignore a younger market, because well, where are you going to get the new readers, but it's true. The Boomers are getting up there.
Anyway - for those of you who love category romance, don't give up on them. If you find you're not pleased with the direction of a line, or that the books aren't meeting your expectations, let them know!
The snail mail address is:
Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.
225 Duncan Mill Road
Don Mills, Ontario
M3B 3K9
